Hong Kong: Surveillance commissioner named

Justice Wally Yeung has been appointed Commissioner on Interception of Communications & Surveillance for three years from August 17.

The appointment was made by the Chief Executive upon the Chief Justices recommendation.

Justice Yeung is currently Vice-President of the Court of Appeal of the High Court.

Commenting on the appointment, Chief Executive Carrie Lam lauded Justice Yeung as being a judge with a wealth of experience.

She said: I am confident that he will be able to perform this important task most capably, and to perform the role of an independent oversight authority under the Interception of Communications & Surveillance Ordinance to ensure the law enforcement agencies' compliance and the effective operation of the regulatory regime.

Outgoing commissioner Azizul Rahman Suffiad will retire on August 16. The Chief Executive said the Government is grateful for the dedicated services Mr Suffiad provided. She thanked him for his valuable contribution and wished him well in his future endeavours.

This story has been published on: 2021-07-23. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
South Africa: Nzimande congratulates Biovac on Pfizer-BioNTech distribution appointment

Higher Education, Science and Innovation Minister, Dr Blade Nzimande, has congratulated Biovac for being appointed as manufacturer of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine for distribution within the African Union.

The announcement, which was made on Wednesday, makes Biovac the first company in Africa to produce an mRNA-based vaccine.

Biovac was set to immediately commence technical transfer activities, which included on-site development and equipment installation activities.

As you may be aware, the DSI holds, on behalf of government, 47.5% shareholding in Biovac. Our primary goal has always been through Biovac, to ensure that South Africa and Africa become active participants in the global vaccine manufacturing value chain, the Minister said in a statement on Friday.

The Minister said that the Department of Science and Innovation chose a vaccine manufacturing strategy that would first build capacity to fill and finish and then move towards actually manufacturing the active pharmaceutical ingredients and therefore to develop from scratch, the countrys very own vaccines.

He said: I am pleased that in this journey, it is not the first time that Pfizer has shown confidence in our vision and commitment. We have just concluded another Tech Transfer for Prevnar 13 vaccine with Pfizer.

Also, our Pre-clinical Drugs Development Platform at the University of North-West (UNW) has also benefited from [a] donation of knockout mice a few years back. It is therefore safe to say that the relationship with Pfizer goes a long way.

The Minister is pleased that this will add the much-needed boost to the countrys recently announced hosting of the mRNA tech transfer hub.

Having experienced the devastating effects of diseases outbreak to the economy and livelihoods, this partnership does indeed help put our feet firmly in the right direction in terms of supporting our current and future endeavours to respond to pandemics, he said.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2021-07-23. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
RTHK: Heavy rains kill at least 18 in western India

At least 18 people have died in the western Indian state of Maharashtra after torrential monsoon rains caused landslides and flooding that submerged low lying areas and cut off hundreds of villages, authorities said on Friday.

Rivers in Maharashtra were flooded after authorities released water from dams made full after many parts on the west coast received more than 200 mm (8 inches) of rain in 24 hours and some parts received as high as 594 mm rainfall.

At least four people died after a building collapsed in the financial capital Mumbai, and another 14 were killed in four landslides in other parts of Maharashtra, state government officials said.

"Rescue operations are going on at various places in Satara, Raigad and Ratnagiri. Due to heavy rainfall and flooded rivers, we are struggling to move rescue machinery quickly," said a state government official, who declined to be named.

Several dozen people were feared to have been trapped at landslides in Satara and Raigad districts, the official said.

In coastal districts, the Indian navy and army have been helping in rescue operation, Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray said.

Thousands of trucks were stuck on a national highway linking Mumbai with the southern technology hub of Bengaluru, with the road submerged in some places, another Maharashtra government official said.

Hundreds of villages and dozens of towns in the affected areas of Maharashtra were without electricity and drinking water, he said.

In neighbouring southern states of Karnataka and Telangana some rivers are overflowing, and authorities are monitoring the situation, government officials said.

Seasonal monsoon rains from June to September cause deaths and mass displacement across South Asia every year but they also deliver more than 70 percent of India's rainfall and are crucial for farmers. (Reuters)

This story has been published on: 2021-07-23. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Hong Kong: HK reports 2 imported COVID cases

The Centre for Health Protection today said it is investigating two additional COVID-19 cases involving female patients who arrived from the United Arab Emirates and Bangladesh.

A total of 23 cases were reported in Hong Kong in the past 14 days, including 22 imported cases and one import-related case.

For information and health advice on COVID-19, visit the Governments dedicated webpage.

This story has been published on: 2021-07-23. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
South Africa: Ikosi Mahlangu hailed for his activism

Ikosi Sipho Mahlangu has been hailed for advocating and advancing the agenda of land, people in rural areas, women and youth.

The late Ikosi, of the Ndzundza Mabusa Traditional Council, served as chairperson of Parliaments National House of Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders (NHTKL) passed away last week.

Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) Minister, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, delivered the eulogy at the monarchs funeral service on Friday.

Even though he could have basked in the glory, he chose to be a foot soldier in our fight against hunger, poverty, inequality, unemployment, landlessness and gender based violence and femicide.

She expressed pride at having been led by Inkosi uMahlangu.

He led without fear or favour, he led by his conviction."

The King was the youngest leader of both the provincial and national house. He ascended the latter in 2015.

He was also witness to the evils and brutalities of the Apartheid South African Police establishment. And of course, he emerged from that. It was always his wish that a monument of stone of remembrance be erected in memory of those gruesome battles, Dlamini-Zuma said.

The King was also a custodian of the agenda for the return of land to the landless.

In a 2018 media interview, he said he would fight any advanced opposition that seeks to separate black South Africans from the land.

The Minister said the Kings conviction to the land issue was not for his sake, but he recognised that land is an essential asset for the development of the rural masses.

For him, that birth right is the non-negotiable by which our people can be commanders of their own destiny, and securing prosperity and food security.

She lauded the monarch for his innovative farm in the box initiative that enables peri-urban communities with limited access to land to plant and produce their own fruits and vegetables.

By the time we launched the Invest Rural Masterplan in the North West in February this year, one could sense [the] impatience. For him the masterplan was a practical step by which he called that developmental monarchs could carve out their transformative role in our society, she said.

For him and the NHTKL, the masterplan was fundamental to the radical transformation of the structure and ownership patterns of the economy. He believed that the plan had to be aligned with the President's observations on economic transformation and must be underpinned in the economic future that will need to be crafted.

Opportunities for women and young people

Dlamini-Zuma also hailed Mahlangu for having understood the centrality of the skills revolution in meeting the objectives of the masterplan.

His energies were invested in encouraging and finding opportunities for young people, and women in key economic sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, as well as arts, culture, and heritage.

Government also sought to align the document with society wide initiatives, such as the District Development Model.

She said Mahlangu understood that it was only through alignment of coordinated efforts that the aspirations of the rural masses could find economic expression.

She added that as malls destroyed in the recent public unrest in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal began to rebuild, the participation of young people and women was important.

This, she said, would empower local communities, including cooperatives and SMMEs.

This will enable community members to truly see these structures as also important local assets. This will also contribute to our fight against hunger, poverty, unemployment and inequality.

Two months after the launch of the masterplan, the CoGTA on Thursday launched the first project, a biomed factory in Isthebe, Mandeni, in KwaZulu-Natal.

During his chairpersonship of the house, the King met with Minister of Finance to discuss the remuneration of traditional leaders, the launch of the South African laptop, the macadamia nut farm projects in the Eastern Cape, the Maqoma citrus project as well as the Invest Rural Roadshow in the North West, among others.

Addressing gender-based violence

She said the King was someone who stood at the forefront of the fight against gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF), long before many men were willing to be associated with that fight.

He was one of the first traditional leaders to convene a men's dialogue aimed at addressing the silent scourge of GBVF. He contributed to loudly blowing the whistle against what the President calls the second pandemic. Our fight against GBVF has lost a capable leader.

During a GBV dialogue last year, the King committed to transform the sector, protect and cherish women, and empower them by giving more opportunities to the girl-child.

In his honour, we must redouble our empowerment efforts. We must also ensure that the South African boys and men are shaped in his mould. They must be exemplary boys and men who lift your hand or impose no financial or emotional abuse against females and children," said the Minister.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2021-07-23. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
South Africa: NW completes poultry abattoir for emerging farmers

North West Agriculture and Rural Development MEC, Desbo Mohono, has welcomed the completion of the first departmentally-owned poultry abattoir in the province.

The facility is situated at Kgora Farmers Training Centre near Mahikeng, and it is the first of many projects currently ongoing at Kgora.

The new abattoir can slaughter up to 500 birds a day and it operates fully under the supervision of an independent meat inspector as it is the requirement by law.

It is fully compliant and has been registered as a low throughput abattoir.

Mohono said the facility is already benefiting the local farmers who are mostly newcomers to the poultry industry with limited resources and who cannot afford the cost of private abattoir services.

The facility is one of many important interventions by the department aimed to improve the lives of communities in the rural areas, through infrastructure development. Among the departments goals with the establishment of facilities of this kind, is to give local food producers a platform to grow their businesses, the local economy and to create job opportunities.

We have a meat inspector at the abattoir so we can confidently say to the farmers who are bringing in their chickens for slaughter that we are slaughtering under proper hygienic conditions," Mohono said.

The abattoir will also be used to train university students.

The MEC noted that the International Meat Quality Assurance Services (IMQAS) has recently trained a group of over 50 third-year animal health students from North West University in the facility, and they want to bring other universities.

A local farmer who is benefitting from the abattoir, Sipho Khoza from Bodibe Village, outside Mahikeng, said he is happy about the quality of services he has received from the abattoir.

Khoza, who runs a poultry business and employs 17 temporary workers, has used the facility to slaughter his chickens.

I brought to the facility 200 chickens from my farm for slaughtering at this abattoir and after the service, all I can say is that I was happy. All of the chickens were sold to one of the local shops on the same day I will definitely call again, said Khoza.

Founder and owner of Keatlaretse Tumediso Farming, Keatlaretse Mosiane from Ramatlabama, also praised the department for building a slaughterhouse that accommodates emerging poultry farmers.

It was thoughtful of government to build such infrastructure to promote us emerging farmers, Mosiane said

Mosiane said at some stage she wanted to use one of the privately-owned abattoirs to slaughter her chickens but she was told the abattoir can only slaughter a minimum of 1000 chickens. At the time she had only 200 chickens.

We are grateful for this facility and what the department has done for us as emerging farmers, Mosiane said.

The department said the facility stands ready to be used to train farmers who own, or want to own a poultry abattoir.

For training offered at the Kgora Farmers Training Centre and all other requirements to utilise this departmental owned facility, farmers are encouraged to enquire with State Extension Officers or with their local agricultural area offices, the department said.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2021-07-23. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
South Africa: SA plans to vaccinate at least 400 000 people per day

South Africas vaccination programme is picking up pace, as the country aims to surpass the 300 000 target and inoculate at least 400 000 people per day.

Acting Health Minister, Mmamoloko Kubayi, on Friday said the number of those who have been vaccinated surpassed the six million mark on Thursday.

Its a milestone for us and were quite excited about it. But we do note that in terms of our population, its still a very low [number].

The number of daily-administered vaccines has been ranging between 225 000 and 250 000 a day.

Although yesterday [the numbers] dropped, were very confident that we will see our target being reached, the Minister said at a briefing on Friday.

She said the vaccination programme has picked up speed because of a productive and coordinated working relationship between government and the private sector.

The Minister also paid a special tribute to the healthcare workers, vaccinators, data capturers, those assisting with queues at health facilities, and those who are working behind the scenes.

Meanwhile, Kubayi said the private sector, through Business for South Africa (B4SA), is working closely with government to bring vaccines to the people.

The Minister told the media that through this collaboration, they have managed to rope in 1 500 volunteers. These include doctors, nurses, and other healthcare workers to help to vaccinate on weekends at various sites across all nine provinces.

Age-based approached

The Minister announced that the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Vaccines has agreed to do away with sectoral prioritisation to inoculation.

"The age-based strategy will be our approach going forward. It is more effective and helps us to reach a wider spectrum of South Africans," she explained.

Meanwhile, she said they are in the final stages in terms of the next cohort that is legible to sign up for the COVID-19 vaccine.

"As soon as we're ready, the announcement will be made in the coming week or so, it can even be days. We're not looking at 30 plus, we're looking at the 18 plus [age group]," she told the media.

In addition, the Minister said they have reprogrammed the Electronic Vaccination Data System (EVDS) to allow for self-scheduling, meaning people will now choose the site where they want to receive their jab, including the date that suits them.

In addition, Isizulu, IsiXhosa, Sesotho, and Afrikaans have gone live on the site and the department is still working on other languages.

Mass vaccination sites

Kubayi said government has agreed with the Solidarity Fund that there should be mass vaccination sites in all metros to cater to the large population densities.

The first model will be roving vaccination sites, which will move from one community to the next, based on the demand, she explained.

According to the Health Departments Director-General, Dr Sandile Buthelezi, the additional sites in different areas will ensure equitable coverage of the population.

In addition, Buthelezi said they will also be focusing on the temporary outreach sites, such as those found at the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) pay points.

We can get more numbers, as compared to the nearest public health facility, he said, adding that the plan is to target the elderly they have missed.

Meanwhile, Buthelezi said according to the snap survey they have conducted, 30% of the people approached at sites said they do not want the vaccine, while 13% said they had concerns about the safety of vaccines. However, 40% informed the team they have already received the jab and 30% indicated that they would vaccinate on the day the survey was conducted.

The roving teams will consist of those who will visit community areas and do mass vaccinations to ensure vaccines are brought to the people.

Buthelezi said they are planning to administer more than 1 000 vaccinations per day at each site from August to January 2022.

Private sector sites

B4SAs Martin Kingston said the private sector is currently administering about 121 000 jabs a day.

However, he believes that the country will be able to break through the target, and even reach 420 000 across the public and private sectors by September.

That will enable us to administer some 35 million first doses by the end of this year, he said, adding some private sector distributors are still awaiting permits and are almost ready to come online.

We think that means that 50% of the over 35-year-olds should have received their first dose by the end of August, Kingston said.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2021-07-23. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
RTHK: Great Barrier Reef avoids UNESCO 'in danger' listing

Australia on Friday avoided having the Great Barrier Reef listed as an endangered world heritage site by UNESCO, despite extensive climate change-fuelled damage to the ecosystem's corals.

After a concerted lobbying effort by Canberra, members of the World Heritage Committee  including leading fossil fuel producers Russia and Saudi Arabia  voted to give Australian conservation efforts more time.

The group brushed aside UNESCO experts' recommendation that the reef's World Heritage status be downgraded because of dramatic coral decline, instead telling Australia to report on the reef's status by 2022.

The 2,300-kilometre-long ecosystem has suffered three mass coral bleaching events since 2016, caused by rising ocean temperatures due to global warming.

Areas once teeming with vibrant corals have become lifeless washed-out wastelands, and two-thirds of the reef is believed to have been damaged in some way.

Despite the damage, the reef remains a vital tourist draw for Australia, which had feared an "in danger" label could deter post-pandemic visitors.

Australia's environment minister Sussan Ley had flown to Paris earlier this month to personally lobby member states on the committee, while key ambassadors were invited on a reef snorkelling trip.

On Friday, Ley welcomed the decision, thanking "esteemed delegates for recognising Australia's commitment to protecting the Great Barrier Reef".

Environmental groups decried the decision as a political stitch-up. "This is a victory for one of the most cynical lobbying efforts in recent history," said Greenpeace Australia Pacific CEO David Ritter.

"This is not an achievement  it is a day of infamy for the Australian government."

Though Australian government scientists say corals have shown signs of recovery in the past 12 months, they admit the reef's long-term outlook remains "very poor".

As well as coral bleaching, the reef is also susceptible to damage from cyclones and outbreaks of crown-of-thorns starfish, which eat the coral. (AFP)

This story has been published on: 2021-07-23. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Top geology award goes to Ian Dalziel of The University of Texas at Austin

Ian W.D. Dalziel, a professor in the Jackson School of Geosciences at The University of Texas at Austin, has been awarded the Geological Society of America's Penrose Medal for pioneering discoveries about Earth's ancient geography and its past supercontinents. Established in 1927, the Penrose Medal is widely considered to be geology's most prestigious career award.

In a letter, GSA Past-President Doug Walker said that Dalziel's scientific contributions marked a major advance in the science of geology and shed new light on key periods in our planet's distant past, such as the "Snowball Earth" and the "Cambrian Explosion" of multicellular life.

Dalziel's work has been important in reconstructing the position of our planet's past continents. His discoveries include evidence that half a billion years ago, during the Cambrian Explosion, Texas lay alongside Antarctica. He also uncovered geology showing that 50 million years later it was part of a large plateau joining ancestral North America to the Andes of Argentina. These and other discoveries spurred a new interest in the geography of our planet from before Pangea, the last time Earth's landmasses assembled as one, and inspired the idea that other supercontinents had previously existed.

"Ian has certainly earned his place among geology's scientific giants" said Demian Saffer, director of the University of Texas Institute for Geophysics (UTIG) where Dalziel has worked since 1985. "He is a prolific field scientist whose vision exemplifies the spirit of discovery that is at the heart of UTIG's mission."

This year's award is the fifth time that a Penrose Medal has gone to a faculty member or an alumnus of UT's Jackson School. Past recipients include the legendary oceanographer Maurice "Doc" Ewing (UTIG's founder) and former Jackson School faculty member Robert Folk.

The award was announced in the July issue of GSA Today.

Dalziel became fascinated with geology at an early age when, as a child, his parents took him on weeks-long treks across the islands and Highlands of Scotland--where he is from. After graduating from the University of Edinburgh with a Ph.D. in geology, Dalziel joined the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1963, and the Department of Geology and Lamont Doherty Geological (now Earth) Observatory of Columbia University in 1968. His first breakthrough came in 1973 when he visited South Georgia, an inhospitable island about 1,000 miles to the east of Cape Horn. There, he found identical geology to that he had encountered in the southernmost Andes of Chile and Argentina: proof that until at least 100 million years ago, the now distant places were joined, an important idea at the time considering many geologists were still adjusting to the new paradigm of plate tectonics.

The discovery earned Dalziel an honorary membership with the Argentine Geological Association.

"Ian had energy, expertise and willingness to work in places no one had worked before," said Victor Ramos, who was the association's president at the time and is now professor emeritus at the University of Buenos Aires. "Most importantly, he worked closely with the scientific community in Chile and Argentina. That way of working was very welcome in South America at the time."

Dalziel continued searching for signs of Earth's tectonic history in Antarctica, where he and his colleagues found that the West Antarctic Ice Sheet--the least stable on the planet--lies on an archipelago made up of distinct blocks of crust, all of which had moved, and might still be moving separately. After joining UT in 1985, Dalziel led a team that placed a network of GPS receivers across West Antarctica. For the first time, scientists watched the bedrock rise as the weight of the ice melted away. The findings helped raise the alarm that Antarctica's melting ice was a more urgent threat to global sea level rise than anyone had expected.

Perhaps Dalziel's most noteworthy contribution, however, is research that led to the theory of supercontinent cycles--the idea that every several hundred million years, Earth's continents merge into a single landmass. In 1989, he convinced 25 of the world's top geologists to accompany him on a field trip to Antarctica where he had a hunch he might find physical clues to Earth's geography prior to the assembly of Pangea, the only known supercontinent at the time.

"The idea was to bring Antarctic geology into the global mainstream," Dalziel said

It did. Ideas sparked by the expedition kicked off a wave of research that opened the way to testable hypotheses about pre-Pangea geography, past supercontinents and their sway over global environments.

Now in his 80s, Dalziel intends to continue seeking answers (and adventure) in far flung places.

"There's always connections to be made over the horizon," Dalziel said, who is currently planning a return to South Georgia. "There's so much geology out there in some ways choosing where to look for the right clues becomes almost a measure of scientific taste."

Ian Dalziel will be presented the Penrose Medal on October 10 during a ceremony at GSA Connects 2021 in Portland, Oregon.

The previous UT recipients of the Penrose Medal are Department of Geological Sciences faculty members Bob Folk (2000) and "Doc" Ewing (1974), Bureau of Economic Geology research scientist Preston Cloud (1976), and Department of Geological Sciences alumnus John Crowell (1995).

###

This story has been published on: 2021-07-23. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
South Africa: Five suspects arrested in connection to Phoenix murders

Acting Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni says five suspects have been arrested in relation to the murders in Phoenix, in KwaZulu-Natal following incidents of unrest in the area a week ago.

Ntshavheni said this when she briefed the media to provide an update on the security situation after a week of violence and looting as well as outline governments interventions to rebuild the economy.

In terms of arrests that are related to the murders, five additional people were arrested for the unrest-related murders in KwaZulu-Natal, and bringing the total arrests for the murders to 20. The 5 additional arrests are in connection to the murders in Phoenix, she said.

She said there were no new updates on the arrest of instigators and key roleplayers in the unrest.

Also, given that the security situation has stabilised, security updates will now be done once a week to allow law enforcement to focus on their investigations.

Ntshavheni said the SA Police Service has not revised the death toll in Gauteng since her last media briefing, which remains at 79. However, in KwaZulu-Natal, the death toll figures have been revised downwards from 258 to 251, as some deaths that were previously included were not related to the unrest.

Giving a breakdown of murders recorded per district in Gauteng, Ntshavheni said to date, there were 4 murders in Sedebeng, 11 in Johannesburg and 27 in Ekurhuleni, bringing the total number of murders in the province to 42.

In terms of inquest dockets that have been opened, three were from Sedibeng, 12 from Johannesburg, and 22 were from Ekurhuleni, bringing to total number of inquest dockets in the province to 37.

Ntshavheni said to date, there are no deaths reported in Tshwane and in the West Rand.

Giving a breakdown of murders recorded per district in KwaZulu-Natal, Ntshavheni said of the 251 murders that were reported, 1 was from Amajuba, 3 from Harry Gwala, 3 were from Umzinyathi, 3 from Umkhanyakude, 6 from King Cetshwayo, 8 from ILembe, 9 from Ugu, 20 from UmGungundlovu and 110 came from eThekwini. This brings the total number of murder cases to 163.

Ntshavheni said in terms of the number of inquest dockets that were opened in KwaZulu-Natal, 3 were opened in Amajuba, 7 in Harry Gwala, 3 in Umzinyathi, 1 in Umkhanyakude, 2 were from King Cetshwayo, 8 were in ILembe, 4 in Ugu, 15 in UmGungundlovu and 52 came from eThekwini.

This brings the total number of inquest dockets opened in the province to 87.

To date, there are no deaths reported in Uthukela and Zululand.

Ntshavheni said a case of culpable homicide was opened after a person was run over during looting incidents in the province.

She said after President Cyril Ramaphosa addresses the nation on Sunday, Ministers in the Economic Cluster will hold a media briefing to update the nation on the package of interventions that have been put together to help businesses affected by the unrest.

Meanwhile, Acting Minister of Health, Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane, is currently in KwaZulu-Natal to assess the impact of the unrest on both the vaccination programme and the healthcare services in general to enable the department to support the province on a catch-up programme.

Following the looting of medicines, Ntshavheni said government continues to remind South Africans not to buy stolen medicines as they may be contaminated and dangerous.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2021-07-23. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Hong Kong: CE visits Polytechnic University

Chief Executive Carrie Lam visited Polytechnic University today to learn about its scientific research and meet the senior management to understand the universitys latest developments.

She toured the Precision Robotics Laboratory of the Research Centre for Deep Space Explorations and the University Research Facility in Materials Characterization & Device Fabrication, where she was briefed on the universitys research and applications in aerospace technology and advanced materials.

The university and the China Academy of Space Technology jointly manufactured various advanced space instruments that were adopted in the nations lunar and Mars exploration missions.

The universitys cross-discipline scientific research team has distinguished deep space exploration capability and possesses practical experience in international space missions, contributing to the nations aerospace development with encouraging achievements, she noted.

Mrs Lam then visited the Clean Room which supports the development of products like COVID-19 antibody biosensors, health monitoring devices, soft robotics, on-skin electronics and neuromorphic vision sensors using microfabrication tools for advanced device innovation.

With Hong Kongs innovative and technological capabilities fully recognised by the central authorities in recent years, Mrs Lam hoped the university will continue to pursue excellence and encourage more young people to join in research and development field.

She also anticipated that coupling with the massive resources allocated by the Government, the university will play a role in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Areas development as an international innovation and technology hub and make more contributions to the nations space projects.

This story has been published on: 2021-07-23. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
RTHK: EU regulators clear Moderna jab for adolescents

Moderna's Covid-19 vaccine could become the second shot okayed for adolescent use in the European Union after regulators on Friday recommended approving it for 12- to 17-year-olds ahead of US authorities.

Use of the vaccine, Spikevax, will be the same in adolescents as in people over 18, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) said, adding the shot produced a comparable antibody response to that seen in 18- to 25-year-olds.

Vaccinating children has been considered important for reaching herd immunity and in light of the highly contagious Delta variant. Moderna in May said its vaccine was found to be safe and effective in teenagers.

The EMA said the two-dose vaccine is given four weeks apart, and its human medicines committee's recommendation was based on a study of 3,732 participants.

Most children with Covid-19 develop only mild symptoms or none. Yet children remain at risk of becoming seriously ill and can spread the virus. Pfizer and German partner BioNTech's vaccine was approved for teen use in May.

The regulator said common side effects in teenagers after vaccination with Spikevax were similar to those seen in older people. But due to a smaller study size, the trial could not detect new uncommon side effects or estimate the risk of known ones such as myocarditis and pericarditis.

"The overall safety profile of Spikevax determined in adults was confirmed in the adolescent study; the CHMP (Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use) therefore considered that the benefits of Spikevax in children aged 12 to 17 outweigh the risks," the EMA said.

Heart inflammation such as myocarditis and pericarditis have been listed by the EMA as a possible, but rare side effect from use of mRNA vaccines such as Moderna's and Pfizer's in adults.

Spikevax is already being used in the European Union for people over 18, and in the United States and Canada. The company has also sought authorisation in the United States and Canada for use in adolescents.

Moderna said on Friday it had submitted data to authorities around the world and expects authorisations for adolescents in the coming weeks.

Formal approval from the European Commission would be needed to start rolling out the vaccine for teenagers in Europe. The executive body typically follows EMA recommendations. (Reuters)

This story has been published on: 2021-07-23. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Early antiviral response in the nose may determine the course of COVID-19

At a glance:

Researchers studied cells collected by nasal swabs at the moment of diagnosis for both mild and severe COVID-19 patients

Cells taken from patients who went on to develop severe disease had a muted antiviral response compared to those who went on to develop mild disease

This suggests that it may be possible to develop early interventions that prevent severe COVID-19 from developing

The team also identified infected host cells and pathways associated with protection against infection that may enable new therapeutic strategies for COVID-19 and other respiratory viral infections

CAMBRIDGE, MA (July 23, 2021) -- Over the past 18 months, researchers have learned much about COVID-19 and its viral cause, SARS-CoV-2. They know how the virus enters the body, coming in through the nose and mouth and beginning its infection in the mucus layers of the nasal passageway. They know that infections that remain in the upper airway are likely to be mild or asymptomatic, while infections that progress down the airway to the lungs are much more severe and can lead to fatal disease. And they have identified common risk factors for severe disease, like age, gender, and obesity. But there are still many unanswered questions -- such as when, and where, the course of severe COVID-19 is determined. Does the pathway to severe disease begin only after the body has failed to control mild disease, or could it start much earlier than that?

Researchers at the Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT, and Harvard; the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard; Boston Children's Hospital (BCH); MIT; and the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) wondered whether this path towards severe disease could start much earlier than expected -- perhaps even within the initial response created when the virus enters the nose.

To test this, they studied cells taken from nasal swabs of patients at the time of their initial COVID-19 diagnosis, comparing patients who went on to develop mild COVID-19 to those who progressed into more severe disease and eventually required respiratory support. Their results showed that patients who went on to develop severe COVID-19 exhibited a much more muted antiviral response in the cells collected from those early swabs, compared to patients who had a mild course of disease. The paper appears in Cell.

"We wanted to understand if there were pronounced differences in samples taken early in the course of disease that were associated with different severities of COVID-19 as the disease progressed," said co-senior author Jose Ordovas-Montanes, an associate member in the Klarman Cell Observatory at Broad and assistant professor at BCH and Harvard Medical School. "Our findings suggest that the course of severe COVID-19 may be determined by the body's intrinsic antiviral response to initial infection, opening up new avenues for early interventions that could prevent severe disease."

To understand the early response to infection, Sarah Glover of the Division of Digestive Diseases at UMMC and her laboratory collected nasal swabs from 58 people. Thirty-five swabs came from COVID-19 patients, taken at the time of diagnosis, representing a variety of disease states from mild to severe. Seventeen swabs came from healthy volunteers and six came from patients with respiratory failure due to other causes. The team isolated individual cells from each sample and sequenced them, looking for RNA that would indicate what kind of proteins the cells were making -- a proxy for understanding what a given cell is doing at the moment of collection.

Cells use RNA as instructions to make proteins -- tools, machinery, and building blocks used within and by the cell to perform different functions and respond to its environment. By studying the collection of RNA in a cell -- its transcriptome -- researchers understand how a cell is responding, at that particular moment in time, to environmental changes such as a viral infection. Researchers can even use the transcriptome to see if individual cells are infected by an RNA virus like SARS-CoV-2.

Alex Shalek, co-senior author on the study, a member of the Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT, and Harvard, and institute member at Broad, specializes in studying the transcriptomes of individual cells. His lab has helped develop innovative approaches to sequence thousands of single cells from low-input clinical samples, like the nasal swab of COVID-19 patients, and uses the resulting data to create high-resolution pictures of the body's orchestrated response to infection at the sample site.

"Our single-cell sequencing approaches allow us to comprehensively study the body's response to disease at a specific moment in time," said Shalek, who is also an associate professor at MIT in the Institute for Medical Engineering & Science, the Department of Chemistry, and the Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research. "This gives us the ability to systematically explore features that differentiate one course of disease from another as well as cells that are infected from those that are not. We can then leverage this information to guide the development of more effective preventions and cures for COVID-19 and other viral infections."

Ordovas-Montanes's lab studies inflammatory responses and their memory, specializing in those found in epithelial cells -- the top layer of cells, like those that line your nasal passageways and are collected by nasal swabs. Working with the Shalek lab and that of Bruce Horwitz, a senior associate physician in the BCH Division of Emergency Medicine, the researchers interrogated how both epithelial and immune cells were responding to early COVID-19 infection from the single-cell transcriptome data.

First, the team found that the antiviral response, driven by a family of proteins called interferons, was much more muted in patients who went on to develop severe COVID-19. Second, patients with severe COVID-19 had higher amounts of highly inflammatory macrophages, immune cells that contribute to high amounts of inflammation, often found in severe or fatal COVID-19.

Since these samples were taken well before COVID-19 had reached its peak state of disease in the patients, both these findings indicate that the course of COVID-19 may be determined by the initial or very early response of the nasal epithelial and immune cells to the virus. The lack of strong initial antiviral response may allow the virus to spread more rapidly, increasing the chances that it can move from the upper to lower airways, while the recruitment of inflammatory immune cells could help drive the dangerous inflammation in severe disease.

Finally, the team also identified infected host cells and pathways associated with protection against infection -- cells and responses unique to patients that went on to develop a mild disease. These findings may allow researchers to discover new therapeutic strategies for COVID-19 and other respiratory viral infections.

If, as the team's evidence suggests, the early stages of infection can determine disease, it opens a path for scientists to develop early interventions that can help prevent severe COVID-19 from developing. The team's work even identified potential markers of severe disease, genes that were expressed in mild COVID-19 but not in severe COVID-19.

"Nearly all our severe COVID-19 samples lacked expression of several genes we would typically expect to see in an antiviral response," said Carly Ziegler, a graduate student in the Health Science and Technology program at MIT and Harvard and one of the study's co-first authors. "If further studies support our findings, we could use the same nasal swabs we use to diagnose COVID-19 to identity potentially severe cases before severe disease develops, creating an opportunity for effective early intervention."

###

Support for this study was provided by the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, the Richard and Susan Smith Family Foundation, the AGA Research Foundation, the New York Stem Cell Foundation, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, the National Institute on Aging, the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust, the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation, the Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard, and other sources.

About the Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard

The Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard was established in 2009 with a gift from the Phillip T. and Susan M. Ragon Foundation, creating a collaborative scientific mission among these institutions to harness the immune system to combat and cure human diseases. The Ragon Institute draws scientists, clinicians and engineers from diverse backgrounds and areas of expertise to study and understand the immune system with the goal of benefiting patients. For more information, visit http://www. ragoninstitute. org

About Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard

The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard was founded in 2003 to empower this generation of creative scientists to transform medicine with new genome-based knowledge. The Broad Institute seeks to describe the molecular components of life and their connections; discover the molecular basis of major human diseases; develop effective new approaches to diagnostics and therapeutics; and disseminate discoveries, tools, methods and data openly to the entire scientific community.

Founded by MIT, Harvard and its affiliated hospitals, and the visionary Los Angeles philanthropists Eli and Edythe L. Broad, the Broad Institute includes faculty, professional staff and students from throughout the MIT and Harvard biomedical research communities and beyond, with collaborations spanning over a hundred private and public institutions in more than 40 countries worldwide. For further information about the Broad Institute, go to http://www. broadinstitute. org .

This story has been published on: 2021-07-23. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
AZ heroes study awarded $15M to continue, expand evaluation of COVID-19 immunity

A University of Arizona Health Sciences study of COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness and immunity among frontline workers has received a $15 million award from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to continue the current research for another year and expand to include children and focus on underserved populations.

"This phase of the AZ HEROES study will build on what we have already learned, expand our knowledge of vaccine effectiveness as more youth receive the vaccine and provide vital knowledge as new COVID-19 variants with increased transmissibility expand globally," said Jeff Burgess, MD, MPH, MS, who leads AZ HEROES and is the associate dean for research and a professor at the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health.

AZ HEROES - the Arizona Healthcare, Emergency Response, and Other Essential Workers Surveillance study - is expanding participation to include children aged 4 months to 17 years and increasing its focus on underserved populations. The study initially sought to evaluate incidence of COVID-19 infection, reinfection and immunity among health care personnel, first responders and other essential workers.

Recent findings published in the New England Journal of Medicine showed that individuals who contract COVID-19 even after vaccination are likely to have a lower viral load, experience a shorter infection time and have milder symptoms than people who are unvaccinated.

Over the next year, researchers will continue to evaluate vaccine effectiveness, including different vaccine types and adherence to recommended vaccine doses and timing. They will also assess the duration of vaccine protection, the degree to which the vaccines prevent more severe illness in those cases when vaccinated individuals do become infected, and the degree to which prior infection impacts vaccine effectiveness.

"This new round of funding from the CDC is a vote of confidence in the critical research University of Arizona Health Sciences researchers are doing on COVID-19 vaccines and immunity," said University of Arizona President Robert C. Robbins, MD. "Dr. Burgess has put together an amazing team to work on the AZ HEROES study. The information they are gathering will benefit people around the world as we continue to find solutions to the global pandemic. This is another outstanding example of the University of Arizona's leadership and expertise in research that makes a difference in people's lives."

AZ HEROES was launched last year by researchers at the Zuckerman College of Public Health and UArizona College of Medicine - Tucson, thanks to a $7.7 million CDC grant. Early findings helped establish patterns of COVID-19 immunity over time in previously infected and newly infected individuals who tested positive for COVID-19 antibodies.

"The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of public health research, and our Zuckerman College of Public Health has shown impressive leadership in collaboration with our other Health Sciences colleges and the CDC to gather vital data on COVID immunity and vaccine effectiveness across a range of populations," said Michael D. Dake, MD, senior vice president for the University of Arizona Health Sciences. "The AZ HEROES study showcases our public health expertise on the national stage."

With direction from the CDC, the AZ HEROES study expanded in December to include college student participants and evaluate vaccine effectiveness. The research team has since published data in the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report showing that the Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna vaccines are highly effective in real-world conditions.

AZ HEROES researchers are also characterizing the knowledge, attitudes and practices related to COVID-19 vaccines among essential workers and participant groups. As the study expands, they will continue to examine the associations between those three factors and subsequent vaccination behaviors, including vaccine refusal, hesitancy or incomplete adherence to vaccination recommendations.

In addition to Dr. Burgess, the AZ HEROES research team includes: Karen Lutrick, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the College of Medicine - Tucson, Janko Nikolich-Zugich, MD, PhD, head of the College of Medicine - Tucson's Department of Immunobiology and co-director of the Center on Aging; and Ed Bedrick, PhD, Kate Ellingson, PhD, Joe Gerald, MD, PhD, Lynn Gerald, PhD, Purnima Madhivanan, PhD, and Xiaoxiao Sun, PhD, at the Zuckerman College of Public Health.

"I'm very proud of our public health faculty. This study shows how they collaborate to deliver top level research in a time of crisis, research that builds on their complimentary expertise and experience," said Iman Hakim, MD, dean of the Zuckerman College of Public Health. "This research shows our abilities at the national level. And what we learn from this study will advance the public health response to COVID worldwide and save lives."

###

AZ HEROES is still recruiting participants, including health care workers, first responders, and other frontline and essential workers, as well as student workers who have not already been vaccinated, and now youth aged 4 months to 17 years of age. Participants both with and without past COVID-19 infection are welcome to join.

To learn more about the study please visit the AZ HEROES website.

This story has been published on: 2021-07-23. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
New insights into immune responses to malaria

Advanced technologies have been used to solve a long-standing mystery about why some people develop serious illness when they are infected with the malaria parasite, while others carry the infection asymptomatically.

An international team used mass cytometry - an in-depth way of characterising individual cells - and machine learning to discover 'immune signatures' associated with symptomatic or asymptomatic infections in people infected with the Plasmodium vivax parasite. This uncovered an unexpected role for immune T cells in protection against malaria, a finding that could help to improve the development of much-needed malaria vaccines.

The research, which was published in the journal JCI Insight was led by WEHI's Dr Lisa Ioannidis and Associate Professor Diana Hansen, in collaboration with Professor Ric Price from the Menzies School of Health Research, Darwin, and Dr Rintis Noviyanti from the Eijkman Institute for Molecular Biology, Indonesia.

At a glance

Advanced technologies have revealed 'immune signatures' that differentiate immune responses that drive symptomatic or asymptomatic Plasmodium vivax malaria infections.

The international collaboration revealed a previously unrecognised role for immune CD4 T cells in preventing serious disease and controlling asymptomatic infection of low parasite burden.

The findings could guide to the development of better vaccines against malaria, a disease that kills hundreds of thousands of people around the world each year.

Variable immune responses

Malaria is a parasitic disease impacting hundreds of millions of people each year. After infection, people develop immunity to the Plasmodium parasite that causes malaria - but this immunity only reduces the disease severity rather than preventing infection altogether. Despite the immense global impact of malaria, there are not yet vaccines in clinical use to prevent this disease.

The immune response to malaria is a 'double-edged sword', Associate Professor Hansen said. "While an immune response to the parasite can prevent severe disease, in some people it is an excessive immune response - driving severe inflammation - that exacerbates malaria, causing the most severe, and potentially fatal, symptoms," she said.

"Our research has investigated the longstanding question of how immune responses differ between people with symptomatic and asymptomatic malaria infections. We focussed on the Plasmodium vivax form of malaria, which is most common in the Asia-Pacific and Latin America. This species is a particular challenge to control as infected people can carry it for many months in the liver without symptoms."

Using the University of Melbourne's mass cytometry facility, the research team were able to undertake in-depth, multi-dimensional assessments of the immune cells in blood samples provided by people living in a vivax malaria-endemic region of Indonesia. Dr Ioannidis said the team compared many aspects of immunity in samples from people who were uninfected, asymptomatically infected, or symptomatically infected with P. vivax.

"In collaboration with a WEHI bioinformatics team led by Professor Gordon Smyth, we used machine learning to develop an 'immune signature' that distinguised between these three categories of samples. These signatures could be applied to new blood samples from people infected with malaria, to accurately predict the severity of their infection," Dr Ioannidis said.

Enhancing malaria control

Dr Ioannidis said the immune signatures revealed the key components of the immune response that drive immunity to malaria. "Antibodies produced by B cells were one important component, especially in people with high parasite loads and symptomatic disease, but we also discovered that certain types of CD4 T cells were critical to keep infections in check, preventing symptoms," she said.

"This is the first time CD4 T cells have been shown to be important for controlling asymptomatic P. vivax infections."

Associate Professor Hansen said the discovery could lead to better approaches to controlling - or even eliminating - malaria. "Malaria vaccine development has focussed almost entirely on measuring antibody responses as a marker of vaccine success. Our research has revealed the important role of CD4 T cells in controlling malaria infections - and we think these cells need much more consideration when designing malaria vaccines. Because vivax malaria can persist in asymptomatic people, it is critical that vaccines activate CD4 T cells to control these low-grade infections," Associate Professor Hansen said.

###

The research was supported by the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council, the Australian Academy of Science, the Wellcome Trust, the Indonesian Ministry of Research and Technology and the Victorian Government.

This story has been published on: 2021-07-23. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
For Iraqi Assyrians, Scenes of Both Horror and Hope

Some 70 children received their first communion in the Nineveh Plains, in northern Iraq, on July 17, 2021. ( Father Karam Shamasha) As Iraqis sort through the rubble of the latest terrorist attack Tuesday, an attack on a busy market in downtown Baghdad that left at least 30 people dead, one Catholic priest in Iraq says it's important not just to focus on the horror of life in the country but also the hope.

As it happens, the bombing came four days after 70 children received their first communion in the city of Telskuf in the Nineveh Plains, a region in northern Iraq that borders with the Kurdistan region, and which was invaded by IS in 2014.

Father Karam Shamasha shared on Twitter the image of the 70 children, all dressed in pristine white, on Sunday, noting that the region from where they hail "was heavily attacked by Islamic State militants a few years ago to exterminate Christians, scream out loud today: Our Faith and our Cross have won."

On Tuesday, he told Crux that it's "not easy to explain the emotions I had seeing these children all born in times of war. They have never known what peace is."

Yet the possibility on Friday to "sing and praise the Lord in Aramaic, the language of Jesus, was truly an occasion for my whole country, so many families came from outside the country to share these important moments for the life and faith of our children and the future of Christianity in our land," Shamasha said.

Tuesday's attack came when a device exploded in the al-Wuhailat market, in the northern Sadr City area, as families prepared for the Islamic festival of Eid al-Adha. It was the deadliest bombing in Baghdad in six months.

Pope Francis sent a telegram renewing his prayers so that "no act of violence will diminish the efforts of those who strive to promote reconciliation and peace in Iraq."

Francis, "deeply saddened to learn of the loss of life," sent a telegram through his Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, in which he expressed his condolences to the families and friends of those who have died.

The Argentine pontiff became the first pope to visit Iraq last March.

The terrorist organization Islamic State, which perpetrated genocide against Christians, Yazidis and other minorities during their reign of terror in northern Iraq and Syria between 2014 and 2017, claimed responsibility for Tuesday's bombing, saying one of its members detonated an explosive vest.

Shamasha sees a striking juxtaposition between the carnage in Baghdad and the scenes on the Nineveh Plains. Confession was available for the children and their families before Mass, and emotions ran high, the priest said.

Those who made their first communion, as Shamasha explained, know nothing of the thriving communities that one lived in the Nineveh Plains, for centuries considered a Christian stronghold in the Middle East, anchored by a series of traditionally Christian villages. In fact, when ISIS first arose, many experts toyed with the idea of encouraging Christians from elsewhere to move there as a safe haven.

But ISIS arrived in 2014 and things changed overnight: more than 100,000 Christians were forced to flee and their villages were gutted. Churches, monasteries, businesses and private homes were torched, torn down, or badly defaced. With the help of the Nineveh Plains Reconstruction Project, organized and led by the local churches, and backed by donors such as the papal foundation Aid to the Church in Need and the Knights of Columbus, places such as Qaraqosh, Teleskof, Karamless, Alqosh have been rising from the ruins since late 2017.

Today, however, those towns are rising from the ashes, and many Christians, though not all, are coming back. Places with names such as Qaraqosh, Teleskof, Karamless, Alqosh, and others, are once again thriving Christian communities, with big plans for the future.

Hence the importance of 70 children receiving their first communion on Friday, according to Shamasha.

"We saw the joy and hope in the eyes of the families after the dark days of 2014, that began with the invasion of Islamic terrorists on August 6, 2014," he said.

On the heels of the deadly terrorist attack, Friday's celebration was a timely reminder as to why many, including Shamasha, believe Christians are the "salt of the earth" in the Nineveh Plains.
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- FAW Group will acquire 5% stake in Changan Mazda, currently a 50/50 joint venture between Chongqing Changan Automobile Co., Ltd. and Mazda Motor Corporation, according to a local media outlet. Meanwhile, the equity proportion of two existing shareholders will be each diluted to 47.5%.



Mazda3 Axela; photo credit: Changan Mazda



It was rumored in early July that FAW Mazda and Changan Mazda would soon announce merger of their businesses and combine sales channels in September. The share acquisition by FAW Group may be the final solution to the merger of Mazda's two Chinese joint ventures, said a person with direct knowledge.

In June 2021, China Beijing Equity Exchange (CBEX) published a capital increase project of Changan Mazda. The joint venture was trying to raise money by soliciting an eligible investor, who would hold no more than 5% of equity interests in Changan Mazda. The funds raised would be used to help the company improve its management quality, perfect its industrial deployment, and enhance its competitiveness. After completing the capital increase, the joint venture's registered capital would be increased by $5.84 million.

Another local media channel reported in April that FAW Group, Mazda and Changan Automobile were in talks with the attempt to make the business of FAW Mazda merge with that of Changan Mazda.

Aside from the combination on the level of dealership, the production of vehicle models like the Atenza would be taken over by Changan Mazda as well, said the media channel, citing sources briefed on the matter.
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian's Regular Press Conference on July 23, 2021

2021/07/23

At the invitation of State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, the Maltese Minister for Foreign and European Affairs Evarist Bartolo, Pakistani Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmmod Hussain Qureshi, Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto and Mongolian Foreign Minister Battsetseg Batmunkh will pay official visits to China from July 22 to 28. State Councilor Wang Yi will receive the foreign ministers of Malta, Pakistan and Finland in Chengdu, and foreign minister of Mongolia in Tianjin.

CCTV: We have noted that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has recently arranged trips for foreign envoys and representatives of international organizations in China to Guizhou and Fujian separately. Can you give us more details?

Zhao Lijian: From July 11 to 17, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs arranged separate trips for foreign envoys and representatives of international organizations in China to visit Guizhou and Fujian provinces. Through field trips, seminars and discussions, the envoys deepened their understanding of China and the Communist Party of China (CPC), and found more opportunities for synergizing the cooperation between their respective countries and China.

The journey helps participants to understand the magnificent century-old history of the CPC. After visiting the sites of Zunyi Meeting, Gouba Meeting and Gutian Meeting, the envoys commended the CPC for its strong leadership in the success of China's revolution. They said that to understand China, one must understand the CPC. Throughout its 100 years of history, what remains unchanged is the CPC's vision, perseverance and the founding mission of seeking happiness for the Chinese people.

The journey showcases the tremendous changes and development potential of the Chinese society. From the first poverty alleviation village in the Ningde city and the demonstration site of the housing project for residents who used to live on boats in Xiaqi Village in Fujian Province to the Haohuahong village of Buyi minority ethnic group and the poverty elimination demonstration village of Huamao in Guizhou Province, the envoys saw the remarkable changes China's poverty elimination efforts have brought to the people's lives. From the national big data comprehensive pilot zone and the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope (FAST, also known as China's Tianyan) in Guizhou to the high-tech microelectronics enterprises in Xiamen, the envoys marveled at the booming development of scientific and technological innovation in China. From the China Tea Expo in Guizhou to the Yundang Lake in Xiamen, the envoys have gained helpful experience from China's ecological and environmental governance.

The journey offers opportunities to learn about the profound Chinese culture. In Fujian, the envoys visited the Quanzhou Maritime Museum, where they appreciated the inclusiveness and historical charm of Quanzhou, the starting point of the ancient Maritime Silk Road that preceded the Belt and Road Initiative. They also visited the museum of Hakka family precepts in Tulou or earthen buildings in Yongding District, Longyan City, and experienced the historical inheritance of the fine family values of the Chinese nation.

During the visits, the envoys spoke highly of China's achievements in poverty alleviation, scientific and technological innovation, ecological progress and cultural heritage protection, and expressed their expectation to strengthen exchanges and carry out more mutually beneficial cooperation with Guizhou and Fujian. We will, as always, welcome foreign envoys in China and others to visit various parts of China and get a panoramic and multidimensional view of China as it is.

Xinhua News Agency: US State Department spokesperson Ned Price said the other day that the China-US relationship is fundamentally competitive at its core. There are elements of this relationship that are adversarial, but there are also going to be elements where our interests are aligned. As for Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman's upcoming visit to China, Price said that the US hopes this visit will help to advance US interests and values and allow it to responsibly manage the bilateral relationship. He said the US will continue to engage with China from "a position of strength" and there should be guardrails to ensure and to see to it that competition doesn't spill over into conflict. Do you have any comment?

Zhao Lijian: The so-called "competition, cooperation and confrontation" approach for dealing with China by the US side is in essence defining China as a competitor, stoking confrontation and containing and suppressing China's development. This approach does not distinguish between the major aspect and minor aspect of China-US relations. It is not in line with the facts, the fundamental interests of the two peoples or the trend of the times. It fundamentally originates from a zero-sum mentality.

I would like to stress that the US has repeatedly claimed to talk to China from "a position of strength", which reflects its arrogance and bullying. As China has pointed out many times, the US is in no position to lecture or point fingers at China, or to deal with China from "a position of strength". We didn't buy that in Anchorage, and we certainly won't buy that in Tianjin.

China always believes that China-US relations should be based on mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit, rather than one side taking the benefit only. The development of China-US relations needs a "guardrail", but it cannot be defined by the US unilaterally. The US should stop interfering in China's internal affairs, stop smearing China and harming China's interests. This is the "guard rail" for the bilateral ties in a real sense.

During Deputy Secretary Sherman's visit to China, we will continue to elaborate on China's principled position on developing China-US relations and firmly safeguard sovereignty, security and development interests.

CRI: Wendy Sherman, Deputy Secretary of State of the US, will visit China on July 25 and 26. Who will be the principal Chinese official to hold talks with her? Will State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi meet with her?

Zhao Lijian: Vice Foreign Minister Xie Feng, who is in charge of China-US relations at China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will be the principal official to hold talks with Deputy Secretary Sherman. The US side repeatedly expressed the hope of meeting with Chinese leaders. By convention, China considers the arrangement of a meeting between State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Deputy Secretary Sherman after her talks with Vice Foreign Minister Xie Feng.

Hubei Media Group: The Australian Human Rights Commission recently released its Sharing the Stories of Australian Muslims Report 2021. It outlined widespread discrimination against Australian Muslims and the increasing risk of violent and terrorist acts by extremists targeting Muslims. Do you have any comment?

Zhao Lijian: We've also noted the report. It pointed out that Australian Muslims suffer from widespread discrimination, with 80% of respondents saying they "experienced some form of unfavorable treatment based on their religion, race or ethnicity" in public spaces like shopping centres and prayer spaces. One in four felt unable to speak up or act when faced with discrimination. According to the report, a study by the Australian National University found that job seekers in Australia with Middle Eastern names need to submit over 50% more applications to be granted the same opportunities as an applicant with an Anglo-sounding name. Many respondents say they experienced increasing harassment from extremists, which has taken a toll on their sense of safety. It also pointed out that some right-wing politicians in Australia, driven by personal political gains, often make irresponsible remarks on the Muslim community, misleading public perception and leading directly to the increase of violent and terrorist incidents targeting Australian Muslims.

The facts revealed by the report once again exposed Australia's hypocrisy and double standards on human rights. For some time, certain Australian politicians, based on lies and bias, have wantonly criticized the human rights conditions of Muslims in China's Xinjiang region and blatantly smeared and maligned China. This is beyond preposterous. They are in no position to do this. We urge some people in Australia to take off the hypocritical mask of "human rights lecturer", have self-reflection and earnestly tackle the human rights issues of Australian Muslims, rather than slander other countries under the cover of concern for Muslims' human rights.

AFP: Since the Pakistani Foreign Minister is here, are there any updates about the investigation into the recent bus blast that killed several Chinese nationals? Is it an act of terrorism? And if so, who is behind it?

Zhao Lijian: China and Pakistan are still conducting investigation into the terrorist attack. I have nothing to add for the moment.

Beijing Daily: On July 22, the US Treasury Department announced imposition of sanctions on Cuba's Minister of Revolutionary Armed Forces and other officials and institutions under the so-called Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, citing the so-called "repression of protests in Cuba". The US also said in a statement that it would "continue to sanction individuals responsible for oppression of the Cuban people". Separately, it's said that the US is trying to garner support among other countries to either sign a joint statement or issue a statement in national capacity in condemning Cuba. What is China's comment on that?

Zhao Lijian: China firmly supports the efforts of the Cuban government and people to maintain social stability. We resolutely reject any external interference in other countries' internal affairs, imposition of unilateral sanctions, and attempt to gang up on other countries under the pretext of "freedom", "democracy" and "human rights". As Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla suggests, the US "should rather apply unto itself the Magnitsky Global Act for systematic repression and police brutality that took the lives of 1021 persons in 2020". The US should first and foremost examine its own human rights issues, instead of wielding the big stick of sanctions, grossly interfering in other's internal affairs and creating division or confrontation.

China maintains that mutual respect, fairness, justice and win-win cooperation are the right way to conduct state-to-state relations. At present, Cuba is at a critical moment in its fight against COVID-19 and in its efforts to alleviate people's suffering. The US must immediately and completely lift unilateral sanctions against Cuba in compliance with the purposes of the UN Charter and basic norms governing international relations, and do more to improve US-Cuba relations and contribute to international and regional stability.

Shenzhen TV: The WHO Secretariat notified its member states of its work plan on the second-phase origins study on July 16 and asked them to give feedback before July 23. Has China submitted its feedback to the WHO? Will China participate in the second phase of origins study?

Zhao Lijian: At the briefing with WHO member states on July 16, China and some other countries already made clear their basic positions on WHO's work plan on the second-phase origins study proposed by the WHO Secretariat. The Permanent Mission of China to the United Nations Office at Geneva has also further stated its view and proposition in written form. We will continue to put forward China's proposal. I'd like to stress the following points:

First, this work plan is inconsistent with the requirements of the resolution of the 73rd WHA. The resolution clearly stipulates that the WHO Secretary-General will continue to work closely with member states to identify the zoonotic source of the virus and the route of introduction to the human population. This means that the formulation of the next-phase origin tracing work plan need to be led by WHO member states, and the WHO has to reach consensus with its members states after full consultation.

Second, this work plan is inconsistent with the conclusions and recommendations of the WHO-China joint mission report. The report was compiled by a joint team of experts from WHO and China, which is the China Part of the WHO-convened global study of origins of SARS-CoV-2. The authoritative conclusions and scientific recommendations in the report should serve as the important foundation for next-phase global origins study.

China, as well as many other WHO member states, noted with regret that the work plan was heavily disrupted by politicization and was a document that lost scientific principles and lacked a spirit of cooperation. Let me give you an example. The WHO-China joint mission report clearly concluded that lab leak is extremely unlikely, and there is broad consensus in the international scientific community on this. However, this work plan still lists the hypothesis that "a Chinese violation of laboratory protocols had caused the virus to leak during research" as a research priority, and deliberately ignores important research directions including the early cases globally and cold-chain transmission of the virus. One cannot help but think that this work plan is made to echo the "lab leak theory" advocated by certain countries such as the United States. And the lack of transparency in the drafting process also added to the suspicion that the work plan is the product of political manipulation.

To conclude, I want to stress that China always attaches great importance to the issue of origin-tracing and will continue to advance its own research in this respect. At the same time, as a leading country in cooperation with WHO on origins study, China will continue to actively participate in the next phase of global origin-tracing cooperation. We hope that the WHO will uphold the spirit of science, professionalism and objectivity, work with the international community to safeguard the scientific nature and seriousness of the origins study, resist the retrogressive trend of politicizing the issue of origin-tracing, and jointly maintain a sound atmosphere for global anti-epidemic cooperation.

Global Times: In response to a question concerning WHO's plan of phase two origin tracing at a briefing, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said "We are deeply disappointed (at the Chinese side). Their position is irresponsible and, frankly, dangerous...we continue to call for China to provide the needed access to data and samples. This is about saving lives in the future, and it's not a time to be stonewalling." What's your comment?

Zhao Lijian: The slander and denigration against China by some individuals in the US are disregarding common sense and defying science. China categorically rejects that.

In the face of the sudden onslaught of COVID-19, China contained the rising spread of the virus in little more than a single month; in around two months, the daily increase in domestic coronavirus cases was reduced to single digits; and in approximately three months, a major strategic outcome was secured in the battle against the epidemic. China has not only taken the lead in bringing the epidemic under control at home, but also provided more than 300 billion masks, 3.7 billion protective gears, 4.8 billion testing kits and other anti-epidemic supplies to more than 200 countries and regions, and over 600 million doses of vaccines to other countries, making an important contribution to the global fight against the epidemic. China's fight against COVID-19 can stand the test of history and the scrutiny of the people.

It is what the US has done that deeply disappoints its own people and the international community. Up to now, over 34 million Americans have been infected with COVID-19 and over 600,000 already lost their lives to the virus. Core indicators of the epidemic, such as daily new confirmed cases, hospitalizations and deaths, are all on the rebound. Compared to the white people, racial minorities in the US have a much higher risk of infection, hospitalization and death but a far lower rate of vaccination, with unevenly distributed medical resources. The US has fallen into the quagmire of "deterioration-mitigation-resurgence", but certain individuals still puts their selfish political gains above science. What they did is called extremely irresponsible, which has failed its own people and disappointed the world.

China has been open and transparent on the issue of origin-tracing and invited WHO experts to China twice. The experts went to every place they asked to see, and met everyone they wanted to meet. However, the US has yet to respond to the reports that there may have been COVID-19 cases earlier than had initially been reported. The National Institutes of Health found evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infections which was present in five states in the US as far back as December 2019. In Florida, 171 patients had coronavirus symptoms before any cases were announced to the public. The mayor of Belleville, New Jersey was sick with the virus in November 2019, over two months earlier than the first confirmed case in the US. Patients of the EVALI outbreak in July 2019 in several states in the US have symptoms highly similar to that of COVID-19. Donated blood check-ups in nine US states found that 106 blood samples, ranging from December 13, 2019 to January 17, 2020, tested positive for coronavirus antibodies. And what's on this list also includes Fort Detrick lab and the over 200 bio labs of the US overseas repeatedly questioned by the public. The US has all along clammed up and turned a deaf ear to the doubts and concerns of media and the public, which is more than dangerous.

The virus is a common enemy of mankind. Both prevention and treatment require a united response. Origin-tracing is a major and complex scientific issue, and it requires the collaboration of scientists around the world, as well as the joint efforts and cooperation of governments and people of all countries. Only by following the path of science and conducting science-based origins study with firm confidence, scientific attitude, scientific method and scientific facts can we finally uncover the truth. The act of politicizing the origins study and stigmatizing the epidemic will only be met with a public outcry and firm opposition from the international community and is doomed to fail.

CCTV: On July 20, a group of US lawmakers proposed the Taiwan Partnership Act, urging the US National Guard to establish a partnership programme with the Taiwan military to ensure a well-integrated defense force capable of fast deployment during a crisis. Separately, the US Senate Armed Services Committee passed the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 (NDAA), saying that the US should "maintain the ability to deter China from using military force to unilaterally change the status quo with Taiwan", and increase "defense cooperation with Taiwan". What is China's response?

Zhao Lijian: There is only one China in the world and Taiwan is an inalienable part of the Chinese territory. This is a historical and legal fact that cannot be altered by anyone or any force in any way. The US should earnestly abide by the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiques, act prudently on Taiwan question, stop advancing the Taiwan-related bill, delete the articles concerning Taiwan, stop clamoring for military interactions between the US and Taiwan, and stop sending wrong signals to the "Taiwan independence" separatist forces.

AFP: The US Justice Department has charged two Chinese nationals linked to the "Operation Fox Hunt" that aims to repatriate alleged Chinese fugitives living in the US. US officials say "Operation Fox Hunt" involves extrajudicial repatriation squads that use intimidation and even blackmail to force individuals to return to China. What are your reactions to this? Are these unfounded claims?

Zhao Lijian: Fighting cross-border crimes, repatriating corrupt fugitives and recovering illegal proceeds are a just cause to uphold and promote rule of law. It is a practice widely recognized by the international community. When conducting law enforcement cooperation with other countries, the Chinese law enforcement authorities strictly observe international law, fully respect foreign laws and judicial sovereignty, and guarantee the legitimate rights and interests of suspects. Such operations are beyond reproach. The US turns a blind eye to basic facts and smears Chinese efforts to repatriate corrupt fugitives and recover illegal proceeds. China firmly opposes this.

The US has the largest number of Chinese fugitives suspected of corruption and economic crime. In recent years, the US has been inactive in responding to China's requests for cooperation on repatriating fugitives. This is against the spirit of the UN Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime and the UN Convention against Corruption. We urge the US to correct its mistakes, actively facilitate China's efforts to repatriate corrupt fugitives and recover illegal proceeds, faithfully fulfill its obligations and commitments, and avoid degenerating into a safe haven for criminals.

Associated Press of Pakistan: You announced the visit of Foreign Minister Qureshi to China. Can you share some details of the visit? What topics will come under discussion during the visit?

Zhao Lijian: This year marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Pakistan. During Foreign Minister Qureshi's visit to China, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi will hold the third China-Pakistan Foreign Ministers' Strategic Dialogue with him to enhance strategic coordination on bilateral cooperation and international and regional issues of common concern.

China and Pakistan are all-weather strategic cooperative partners. The two countries not only support each other for mutually beneficial cooperation and common development at the bilateral level, but also jointly safeguard international fairness and justice on the international stage and firmly uphold the international system with the United Nations at its core and the international order based on international law, which inject positive energy to world peace, stability and development. Under the current complex international and regional situation, China is ready to take the opportunity of Foreign Minister Qureshi's visit to enhance strategic cooperation, deepen practical cooperation in various fields, elevate China-Pakistan relations to a new level, and make positive contributions to the Belt and Road cooperation and the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. The two foreign ministers will also exchange views on deepening counter-terrorism and security cooperation and ensuring the security of Chinese personnel, institutions and projects in Pakistan.
Moments of solidarity in Henan's record rainstorm

Xinhua) 08:27, July 23, 2021

-- Companies, social forces and many seemingly unrelated individuals have joined China's massive rescue and relief efforts after a record rainstorm left 33 dead and eight missing in Henan Province.

-- From a hairdresser in a rescuer's helmet to cinema staff sheltering stranded pedestrians in screening halls, ordinary Chinese are expressing solidarity with the hard-hit city of Zhengzhou in their own ways.

-- Donations and rescuer teams are also pouring in from other parts of the country in a nationwide mobilization.

ZHENGZHOU, July 22 (Xinhua) -- After a record rainstorm ravaged central China's Henan Province, Zhou Jing, a resident in neighboring Anhui Province, lost contact with her longtime hairdresser.

Text messages and phone calls went unanswered, which never happened in the past, Zhou said. Only later did she know that the barber had rushed to Henan in his second identity: a professional rescuer.

The barber, Yu Tao, is a member of the Blue Sky Rescue Team in Hefei, capital of Anhui. He said his team, a non-governmental organization, assembled overnight and rushed to Henan in the wee hours of Wednesday after torrential rains unleashed deadly floods there.

On China's popular microblogging site Sina Weibo, Zhou heartily praised her barber for "dropping his scissors to save lives," one of the many messages showing solidarity with the flood-hit Henan.

Aerial photo taken on July 21, 2021 shows submerged roads in flood-hit Zhengdong New District of Zhengzhou, central China's Henan Province. (Xinhua/Li An)

"Every ordinary person around you may become a hero to save others on a special day," Zhou said in a post forwarded 71,000 times.

A video interview by a local media outlet showed Yu standing in ankle-deep floodwater and wearing a blue helmet and a red life jacket, apparently stunned by his overnight fame on social media.

"I do not see myself as special or outstanding. All the team members put aside their daily work to come and help," Yu later told Xinhua.

Thirty-three people have died, and eight remain missing after an unprecedented rainstorm walloped the populous province of Henan. In the provincial capital Zhengzhou, road traffic was paralyzed and many passengers were trapped in waterlogged subway trains after the city's rainfall over three days neared the average annual amount.

The country has launched massive rescue and relief efforts. By Wednesday afternoon, the Central Theater Command of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) had sent over 5,700 soldiers, armed police troops, and militias to join the rescue in Henan, in addition to 148 vessels and vehicles.

Aerial photo taken on July 22, 2021 shows rescuers evacuating stranded people outside the Fuwai Central China Cardiovascular Hospital in flood-hit Zhongmu County of Zhengzhou, central China's Henan Province. (Xinhua/Cai Yang)

China's Ministry of Finance Wednesday earmarked 100 million yuan (about 15.42 million U.S. dollars) for disaster relief in Henan.

Social forces are also on the move to offer timely assistance.

On Tuesday evening, Zhengzhou's library, its science and technology museum, and some schools volunteered free overnight shelter for people trapped on their journeys home by rising floodwater. Many private house owners and companies also joined the initiative.

Online travel service provider Fliggy said Thursday that 487 hotels in nearly 20 cities in Henan are offering free resting space for people in need. Fliggy said the hotels' information could be found by searching "Hang on Henan" on its app.

A cinema in downtown Zhengzhou took in over 1,000 stranded residents, allowing them to sleep on seats in its screening halls on Tuesday evening.

Yang Zhen, a staffer with the Oriental Jiahe Cinema, said he encountered many stranded pedestrians on his way home and guided them to the cinema after the cinema management agreed to his proposal to open up the halls.

The cinema has decided to suspend business until Friday to continue to shelter the displaced and those whose homes had no electricity or water supply, Yang said.

"Operation costs are not our concern at this moment. As part of the city, we're supposed to share weal and woe with Zhengzhou," he said.

Rescuers evacuate stranded villagers in flood-hit Longtou Village, Dengfeng City of central China's Henan Province, July 20, 2021. (Xinhua/Hao Yuan)

Aid also poured in from other parts of the country, as celebrities, companies, and ordinary netizens expressed solidarity with the province.

Alipay said its users had donated 100 million yuan through the online payment platform, 36 hours since it dedicated a donation section for Henan.

Wuhan, capital of neighboring Hubei Province, sent a team of engineers to help pump waterlogged streets and tunnels in Zhengzhou.

"Wuhan received generous support from people in Henan during the epidemic. Now we should repay their kindness as they are in difficulty," said Yang Lei with the Wuhan Water Authority.

Rescuers from east China's Jiangxi Province drain rainwater out of a road tunnel in flood-hit Zhengzhou, central China's Henan Province, July 22, 2021. (Xinhua/Li An)

Yang Xidao, one of the 392 firefighters dispatched to Zhengzhou from the eastern province of Jiangxi, uttered a similar view.

"Last year, when the severe flood hit Poyang Lake, support poured in from across the country to help us overcome the difficulties. Now we feel obliged to help when Zhengzhou is in trouble," Yang said.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
When questioned on COVID-19 origin tracing, scientists have outright dismissed the Wuhan lab-leak conspiracy theory

08:33, July 23, 2021 By Wu Chaolan ( People's Daily Online

Editor's notes:

Tracing the origin of the COVID-19 virus has become a complete political farce. With all the political manipulation and biased media reports howling louder than the science, the wider society and even the virtual community online is now abuzz with a litany of conspiracy theories that have been deliberately cooked up by some Western politicians hoping to divert attention away from their mishandling of the COVID-19 situation at home.

Incompetent and self-interested politicians have ensnarled themselves into a web of untenable lies about the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic, all without offering up any solid evidence. Such talking points have made headlines every day and have served to brainwash an impressionable audience.

Despite mounting political pressures, more and more scientists have stood up and stood out, dismissing some of the most popular but ridiculous ideas surrounding the notion that the virus was leaked from one of the labs in Wuhan. This time around, why not let the scientists do the talking.

(Web editor: Wu Chaolan, Liang Jun)
China rejects WHOs phase-2 COVID-19 origins study, calling it lack of respect for common sense, arrogant toward science

(Global Times) 08:46, July 23, 2021

Through the lens. Illustration: Liu Rui/GT

While calling the World Health Organization (WHO)'s second phase study proposal on COVID-19 origins lacking respect to common sense and arrogant to science, Chinese health officials and observers on Thursday said China will not accept such a plan and the next stage study should be carried out in more countries and places around the world on the basis of wide consultations among member states, not in places that have already been inspected.

The WHO's plan was proposed as the US-led West intensifies the politics-driven conspiracy about a "lab-leak" theory and exerted political pressure on international scientists to give up their scientific position on the origins issue. Chinese observers called on the WHO to adhere to science and resist the adverse trend of politicizing the COVID-19 origins issue.

Disgruntled by the US' overt political manipulation and shrugging off international concerns on its biological labs, a group of Chinese netizens drafted an open letter to ask the WHO to investigate the US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID) at Fort Detrick, which has generated more than 7 million signatures in less than six days.

Move on to more countries Zeng Yixin, deputy director of the National Health Commission, said at Thursday's media briefing on COVID-19 origins that China has submitted phase-2 COVID-19 origins-tracing recommendations to the WHO believing the study should be based on the WHO-China joint study in January, and should be carried out in many more places around the world after full consultations with member states.

The WHO on Friday proposed a second phase study into the origins of the coronavirus in China, which includes studies of animal markets in and around Wuhan and audits of relevant labs and research institutions operating in the area of the initial human cases identified in December 2019.

Zeng said that he was "shocked" to read the proposal and he could sense the "lack of respect for common sense and the arrogance to science in the proposal."

"It's impossible for us to accept such a plan," Zeng said, noting that the second phase study should not be carried out in places that have already been inspected in the first phase study, especially places where a clear conclusion has been reached.

Liang Wannian, team leader of the Chinese side of the WHO-China joint expert team on the COVID-19 origins, said at the briefing that we believe that the lab leak theory is highly unlikely, and there is no need to invest more data and resources in that area.

"If some countries believe that further investigation in this area should be carried out, then the investigations should be conducted in labs that have not yet been inspected," Liang said.

Liang told the Global Times at the media briefing that multiple studies in different countries point to the possibility that COVID-19 had surfaced before the cases previously reported.

He listed some examples. An Italian woman's skin biopsy detected genomic sequence of the coronavirus in November 2019. Donated blood check-ups in nine US states found 106 blood samples, ranging from December 13, 2019, to January 17, 2020, that tested positive for coronavirus antibodies.

The long list of scientists' studies indicates that Wuhan might not be the first place of the coronavirus' inception, Liang said.

Zeng said that China hopes the WHO could consider recommendations proposed by Chinese scientists, truly regard the tracing task as a scientific issue, get rid of political interference and promote the origins study in more countries and places around the world.

Renowned scientist in evolutionary biology and genetics Wu Chung-I told the Global Times on Thursday that the novel coronavirus can only come from nature, and cannot be man-made. He called on the WHO and international scientists to seek truth with the spirit of science.

Wu and 20 other Chinese scientists, and one British scholar working in China published an article recently, strongly demonstrating why the novel coronavirus cannot be man-made by using classical evolutionary theory.

Noting some countries led by the US tried to politicize the issue of tracing the origins with the US even directing intelligence agencies to launch a 90-day investigation into China, Wu, a professor at the School of Life Sciences of Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou, South China's Guangdong Province and director of the Beijing Institute of Genomics under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, stressed the main reason why the global epidemic is out of control is that the voices of scientists are too weak. If the global response had been scientific and positive, the COVID-19 outbreak would have ended in May last year.

"Is it possible for someone who knows nothing about physics to say something sensible about the origin of the universe?" Wu asked.

Wu said every search has to start with a model, much like a hunt for a crime suspect needs a profile of the hunted (such as height, age, physique). Therefore, the WHO should define what the origins means first before it decides where to go.

"In our model, we have a fairly specific idea where to search for the origins. It would be a place with an abundance of bats, a low density of local humans, and frequent contacts between humans and bats, especially where bats are an important part of the local cuisine," Wu said.

Not just Chinese scientists, some international scientists have expressed the need to visit more countries for origins study.

Marion Koopmans, a WHO-China joint study team member and head of the viroscience department at the Erasmus MC Rotterdam in the Netherlands, told the Global Times previously that the follow-up studies on coronavirus origins should look at regions outside China that have reported "viral sequences very early in 2019," as recommendations in the joint study report called for studies in regions where viruses are almost identical to the first detected viruses from Wuhan, Koopmans said.

She said there is also a need for more surveys of bats, particularly in China's neighboring countries.

Illustration: Liu Rui/GT

Next stop: the US

A group of Chinese netizens drafted an open letter urging the WHO to investigate Fort Detrick, and entrusted the Global Times with posting the letter on WeChat and Weibo on Saturday to solicit a public response.

They said in the letter that to prevent the next epidemic, the WHO should pay special attention to labs that are conducting studies on dangerous viruses or even biochemical weapons. The open letter particularly noted the Fort Detrick lab, which stores the most deadly and infectious viruses in the world, including Ebola, smallpox, SARS, MERS and the novel coronavirus.

After foreign media including Russia's RT reported the open letter, some foreign netizens asked whether the open letter could be signed by foreigners as they believe citizens around the world deserved to know the truth about Fort Detrick.

Some Chinese experts also pointed out that the US should be prioritized for WHO's next stage origins study.

Zeng Guang, a former chief epidemiologist of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, told Global Times that the US should be prioritized, as the country was slow to test people at an early stage, and it possesses so many biological laboratories all around the world. "All bio-weapons related subjects that the country has should be subject to scrutiny," Zeng said.

Yang Zhanqiu, a deputy director of the pathogen biology department at Wuhan University, told the Global Times that almost all prevailing coronavirus variants have been discovered in the US. The virologist also called on the US to hand over blood samples of those COVID-19 patients, and disclose more information about the country's epidemiologic survey, to give a clearer picture of the relation between US cases and those of other countries.

Infographic: Feng Qingyin/GT

Doubts about the US will not end

Instead of facing up to world concerns and its own COVID-19 response failure, some US politicians used the COVID-19 origins issue to stigmatize and demonize China to shift the blame, observers said.

White House chief medical adviser Dr. Anthony Fauci got into a heated exchange on Tuesday with Senator Rand Paul. Paul believes that the National Institutes of Health funded a lab in Wuhan, USA Today reported on Tuesday. Fauci responded as he pointed his finger at Paul: "If anyone is lying here, senator, it is you," CNBC reported.

Some Americans put politics above science and political self-interest above people's lives and health, which is also an important reason for the US' failed response to the epidemic, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said at Thursday's media briefing.

Zhao said that the US must be clear that the international community, including China, has every reason to raise questions about Fort Detrick, demand clarification and explanation from the US, and call on the WHO to conduct a thorough investigation.

"The doubts will not end until the US side gives a reasonable explanation," Zhao said.

Not just politicians, some American media have been cooperating with politicians to fan the flames.

The Wall Street Journal cited a US intelligence report claiming three researchers from the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) became sick enough in November 2019 that they sought hospital care.

In response, Yuan Zhiming, director of China's National Biosafety Laboratory and professor at the WIV, said at Thursday's media briefing that the claim was made up, and no one can provide the names of the patients despite the institute's demand.

The Global Times learned from online influencer BUYIDAO on Thursday that it had emailed WSJ, asking it to correct its story.

"Should the names of the three researchers at the WIV be further disclosed?" the influencer asked, a question many Chinese netizens have.

Before December 30, 2019, WIV did not contact, preserve or study the novel coronavirus, and it never designed, made or leaked the virus, Yuan said.

No employee or student at the Wuhan Institute of Virology was infected with the coronavirus, Yuan added.

No pathogen leakage or human infection occurred in Wuhan's P4 lab since it was put into operation in 2018, he said.

The WHO-China joint study report issued on March 30 reached a clear conclusion that the Wuhan "lab leak" hypothesis is extremely unlikely.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
Downpours in Henan threaten more regions as evacuation, rescue efforts accelerate

(Global Times) 08:50, July 23, 2021

Rescue workers put relief goods into one raft boat. Photo: Li Hao/GT

While storm-ravaged Central China city Zhengzhou downgraded its emergency response level on Thursday after days of rainfall subsided to allow the provincial city of Central Chinas Henan to clean up debris and mud, heavy rain continued to pound other parts of the province, with the death toll climbing to 33 and eight still missing as of press time on Thursday.

The floods have affected more than three million across the province and forced 37,600 to be evacuated. More than 215,200 hectares of crops have been damaged, causing a direct economic loss of about 1.22 billion yuan ($ 188.6 million). Provincial city Zhengzhou is still struggling to resume full electricity supplies, and some people are still stranded due to sporadic inundations, while the rainfall late Wednesday worsened the situation somewhat.

However, the rain has finally stopped and did not look like returning on Thursday. The pumping of inundated lowlands, clean-up of debris, and restoration of collapsed roads and facilities are underway.

Three out of eight damaged substations have been fixed and 3,600 staffers are working to restore power supplies for the urban area. Meanwhile, heavy rain began to batter the neighboring cities and rural areas, and rescue forces concentrated around Zhengzhou were quickly drafted into other regions in response to the new situation.

Due to impeded power and communications in disaster-stricken areas, netziens relay unfamiliar names of counties, townships and villages online for frontline rescuers, many of whom have been working around the clock, to consider as their next stop, while the Global Times reporters at the scene found that the smaller cities appeared to be better prepared.

Rescue efforts accelerate

Downpours flooded Anyang, a northern Henan city on Thursday morning when the situation in the city was reported to be severe and the Peoples Armed Police Force was quickly deployed to the city for rescue operations.

Floodwater in the urban area receded in midday and the downstream Jianshan village was soaked in meter-deep water, but it receded quickly.

An elderly villager told the Global Times that floods of this scale had not happened in decades. Drainage ditches were unable to handle such raging torrents and the corn fields have been totally ruined.

A China Mobile employee, who is checking a base station, told the Global Times on Thursday that the checks, repairs and replacement of damaged base stations would take a very short time. As long as the water recedes and electricity is restored, communications will return.

The Global Times learned from frontline rescue forces that flood response has been enhanced and the situation in disaster-stricken areas has been quickly relieved. The weather offered some respite, with rain levels going down since Thursday noon.

Anyang issued three red alerts in six hours late on Wednesday, ordering people to stay at home and suspending all public transportation.

Mountainous Hebi city recorded the highest 24-hour rainfall in Henan at 675.5mm from Wednesday to Thursday, and in some townships, the water even inundated the second floors of buildings.

An aerial assault brigade of the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) Central Theater Command is heading to Hebi and aid Qixian county, which is located under a mountain and faces high risks of flash floods and landslides.

The city of Xinxiang, north of Zhengzhou on the other side of the Yellow River, continued to issue a red alert on Thursday morning and accordingly ordered all residents to stay at home.

The one-hour precipitation record from Wednesday to Thursday was registered in Xinxiang at 149.9mm, equal to the daily rainfall of Colognes record rainstorm in mid-July.

The severe situation in Zhengzhou rang alarm bells for small cities, and thanks to weather forecasts, evacuation and relocation work was accelerated before the heaviest downpours arrived.

With PLA Central Theater Command and Armed Police units taking charge of rescue and flood control efforts, and civil assistance continuously pouring in, disaster response and relief work has become more organized and efficient.

A Xinxiang urban resident surnamed Liu told the Global Times via short messages that some lower residential buildings in his compound had suffered blackouts, but people stayed at home as alerted and had prepared food and water beforehand.

First-floor residents were less fortunate as they suffered bigger losses of property, but at least we are all safe here, waiting for the water to recede, Liu said.

Rural edge

Liu expressed concerns over the rural areas, which have fewer high buildings for people to take shelter from rising floodwater.

Due to blackouts and weak signals, it has been difficult to make contact with stranded people.

Amid concerns over small cities and rural areas, experts noted that these cities are better prepared after seeing how hazardous the downpours could be for a metropolis like Zhengzhou, and rural areas have both disadvantages and an edge in responding to floods.

Xue Lan, a professor from the School of Public Policy and Management at Tsinghua University in Beijing, told the Global Times on Thursday that running water, power and communications infrastructures in villages are less reliable than in cities and easily fail when being confronted with floods of this scale, which is why people see so much information on an entire village losing contact.

But Xue pointed out that the vast crop fields in villages can hold large amounts of water, giving them an edge in battling floods.

While the crops may fail, fields can be turned into reservoirs and reduce the risks for houses and residents, Xue said.

Xue also noted flash floods in mountainous regions are another threat that rural areas face.

Efficient forecasts and early warning mechanism, quick evacuation and close monitoring of water bodies are required to minimize damages and casualties in the future, observers said.

How to be better prepared

Rescuers arent breathing a sigh of relief just yet, as the rainfall has now moved northward to Shanxi and Hebei provinces. Though much weaker, it still carries the risk of generating flash floods.

Despite the unprecedented natural disaster could overwhelm almost any city's drainage system, it has also prompted debate on how to better prepare for risks.

The biggest lesson learned this time is that not enough attention was paid to rainstorm red alerts issued by weather forecast departments, urban management experts said, saying Zhengzhou had sent red alerts for three consecutive days, but people went to work, school and shopping as usual on Tuesday when the heaviest downpour came.

Authorities and ordinary people should raise their awareness of risks amid challenges posed by climate change. As extreme weather becomes more frequent, we should prepare for disaster in 1,000 years, Xue said, citing food and water storage ahead of hazardous weather and timely relocation of people in times of such downpours as examples.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
China calls on Portugal to jointly oppose "vaccine nationalism," "political virus"

Xinhua) 09:01, July 23, 2021

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi holds the first round of strategic dialogue at the foreign ministers' level with Portuguese Minister of State and Foreign Affairs Augusto Santos Silva via video link in Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province, July 22, 2021. (Xinhua/Liu Kun)

CHENGDU, July 22 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Thursday that China stands ready to strengthen cooperation with Portugal and other European countries on research and development and fair distribution of vaccines and drugs, and jointly oppose "vaccine nationalism" and "political virus".

Wang made the remarks when holding the first round of strategic dialogue at the foreign ministers' level in Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province, with Portuguese Minister of State and Foreign Affairs Augusto Santos Silva.

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, China and Portugal have supported each other in times of difficulty. The traditional friendship between the two countries has stood the test and opened up new opportunities, Wang noted.

Noting that the origin tracing of the virus is a scientific issue, Wang said it is hoped that the two sides will jointly oppose political manipulation of the origin tracing issue, jointly resist the "political virus" and safeguard the overall situation of solidarity against the pandemic.

There is no conflict of fundamental interests or opposition of real interests between China and Europe, Wang said. "We hope that the current difficulties can be overcome as soon as possible to bring bilateral relations back to the track of sound development. It is believed that Portugal will continue to play a constructive role to this end."

Silva expressed condolences to China over the severe flood disaster in Henan province, thanked China for providing anti-epidemic supplies to Portugal, and expressed readiness to cooperate with China on vaccines.

The Portuguese market will always be open to Chinese enterprises, Silva said, hoping to further cement the ties between the two sides in the post-epidemic era.

The two sides also exchanged in-depth views on international and regional affairs of common interest. Both sides are satisfied with the success of the first round of strategic dialogue at the foreign ministers' level.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
Over 8,000 soldiers aiding central China's flood-hit Henan

Xinhua) 09:08, July 23, 2021

ZHENGZHOU, July 22 (Xinhua) -- The Central Theater Command of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) has sent 8,360 troops to flood-hit areas in central China's Henan Province, as of 12:00 p.m. Thursday.

Heavy rainfall and floods have caused the deaths of 33 people in the province, with about 3 million people affected.

As the rainfall moves toward the northern part of the province, PLA soldiers are rushing to multiple counties on rescue missions. A total of 44 batches of troops have been dispatched by the Central Theater Command.

In the city of Xinxiang, which suffered heavy downpours from July 17 to 22, militia personnel have rescued or helped 1,778 people.

In the early hours of Wednesday morning, the armed police force delivered 18 rescue boats, 2,000 life vests and 500 lifebuoys to Zhengzhou, the provincial capital.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
Politics over lives - primary reason for Washingtons failure in pandemic control

09:12, July 23, 2021 By Zhong Sheng ( People's Daily

Everyone knows that origin-tracing of COVID-19 is a matter of science. However, Washington is still resorting to politics, trying to blame others for its own incompetence in pandemic control by slandering other countries.

People walk past a mobile COVID-19 testing site on a street in New York, the United States, on July 20, 2021. COVID-19 cases and deaths are surging again in the United States as the highly transmissible Delta variant is taking hold and vaccination efforts are stagnating in the country. As of Tuesday evening, the United States has seen more than 609,000 deaths and 34 million cases, according to data from Johns Hopkins University (JHU). (Xinhua/Wang Ying)

Unfortunately, passing the buck brings not a single change to the fact that the U.S. public is paying a huge price for the inaction and misconduct of the White House.

The U.S. always brags that it owns the richest medical resources and the strongest medical care capability in the world, but its performance in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic is awfully terrible, which makes it the country that sees the most confirmed cases and deaths in the world.

Even American experts believe, upon in-depth analysis on the control work of the U.S., that it was some U.S. politicians who set politics above science and private political gains above peoples health that led to the failure of the pandemic control in the country. The situation couldve not been so bad if the White House coped with the virus respecting science. American epidemiologist and former head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention William Foege called the failure of the U.S. in pandemic control a slaughter.

When the earliest cases of the novel coronavirus were just reported, the then administration in the White House not only ignored scientists warning, but also concealed information about the virus and even released fake messages to misguide the public. It called the virus a flu, claiming that the virus has low infection and fatality rates, and said that One day its like a miracle, it will disappear. Under such circumstances, the golden window period for infectious disease prevention and control was wasted.

An article published on New York Times in April 2020 commented that then American leaders preference for following his gut rather than the data cost time, and perhaps lives. Even though the pandemic was spreading recklessly in the U.S., making the latter a global leader in the number of confirmed cases and deaths, the U.S. government was still taking down the importance of wearing masks out of political calculation.

In an editorial, the New England Journal of Medicine criticized that American leaders have largely chosen to ignore and even denigrate experts, which made the country fail at almost every step and turned a crisis into a tragedy.

Till today, political game and party conflicts are still hindering the pandemic control of the U.S. Recently, the daily numbers of confirmed cases, patients hospitalized and deaths resurged in the U.S., which health experts say has a close relation with some politicians who encouraged the public to reject vaccination.

The Milwaukee Independent stressed in an article that political struggles have turned the response to the pandemic into a war against objectors, which would only waste lives, delay progress in controlling the pandemic and exacerbate the pain.

CNN said in a recent report that the consistent efforts of U.S. political leaders to extract political interests from the pandemic continue, and the attention-grabbing actions of some politicians would only add to the suffering of American people.

During the test of the once-in-a-century pandemic, some American politicians have placed politics, votes, and capital above the lives and health of the people, which fully indicated that the so-called democracy and human rights are totally worthless to them. This is clear to both the Americans and the international society, and can never be covered by blame game.

Professor of medicine David Hayes-Bautista at UCLA pointed out that there should have been less deaths in the U.S., but the inaction of the government led to a tragedy. According to a poll by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, most of the U.S. citizens believe the U.S. government shall be held accountable for the crisis.

The consequences of some U.S. politicians ignoring science and resorting to political manipulation and blame game are shouldered by American citizens. At present, the pandemic is still rampant around the world, but these politicians are still applying their same old tricks. How many evil consequences will they bring? What an explanation can the White House give to the American citizens and the international society? But one thing is certain that Washington will eat his own bitter fruits of its evil practices.

(Zhong Sheng is a pen name often used by Peoples Daily to express its views on foreign policy.)

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
Ministry to boost trade despite barriers

By Zhong Nan (China Daily) 09:12, July 23, 2021

Cargos are unloaded from a container ship at the container terminal of the Lianyungang Port in East China's Jiangsu province, on Jan 14, 2021. (Photo/Xinhua)

Exporters hurting from rising shipping costs to get help; global ties will deepen

All necessary efforts will be made to stabilize and grow China's foreign trade despite mounting barriers and challenges, government officials said on Thursday.

For instance, export-oriented companies will receive all possible help to withstand the impact of the recent rises in shipping and commodity costs, they said.

Since higher shipping costs are hurting domestic manufacturers, the government will urge global shipping companies to adopt a long-term perspective over short-term considerations, so as to cherish the growth opportunities in the Asian market.

Such an approach will help ensure the world's supply chains operate smoothly, said Li Xingqian, director-general of the foreign trade department at the Ministry of Commerce.

Owing to COVID-19, shipping companies have been enduring a situation where empty containers from many parts of the world are unable to come back to China.

This led to rising costs-a threefold to sixfold surge-of shipping lanes. For instance, the shipping cost of a container from Lianyungang port in Jiangsu province to the Port of Rotterdam, in the Netherlands, skyrocketed, from $2,500 to almost $13,000 last month, according to industry data.

"We remind business associations in areas such as shipping and freight forwarding to further strengthen industry self-discipline and urge companies in the industry to operate in compliance with laws and regulations," said Li.

Despite pressures, China's foreign trade rose 27 percent year-on-year to 18.07 trillion yuan ($2.8 trillion) during the first half of this year.

The rise was attributed mainly to robust demand that followed rapid economic recovery in major economies from the impacts of COVID-19.

Rapid growth of cross-border e-commerce also contributed to solid trade, data from the General Administration of Customs showed.

About 40 percent of Chinese export-oriented businesses recently surveyed by the Ministry of Commerce reported year-on-year growth in new export orders, highlighting improvement in global demand and domestic players' ability to boost their earnings.

Li predicted that the recovery of external demand and the steady improvement of the domestic economy will continue to support the growth of China's foreign trade.

But, in the second half of this year, growth may drop due to the high growth base of last year and other uncertainties, Li said.

The ministry called on its trade partners to increase the supplies of ocean shipping containers and enhancing price supervision in the market.

It also urged them to reinforce international cooperation and information sharing, work together to maintain the international logistics order, and promote the smooth operation of global supply chains.

Li said raw material prices surged recently as price transmission has become a global phenomenon. The rapid increase in domestic and foreign demand has further aggravated the up trend of prices, he said.

China will closely monitor the price trends of bulk commodities, further diversify import sources and build stable trade channels to maintain adequate stocks and reasonable price levels of raw materials.

Apart from establishing trade facilitation working groups with 15 countries participating in the development of the Belt and Road Initiative, China and its partners involved in the initiative have created 14 cooperation mechanisms for trade in services.

China has also worked with 22 countries to further enhance ties in bilateral e-commerce cooperation to boost new forms and models of foreign trade, said Guo Tingting, director-general of the comprehensive affairs department under the Ministry of Commerce.

Bai Ming, deputy director of international market research department at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, said that the structure of China's foreign trade has already optimized and upgraded.

For instance, the contribution of processing trade is gradually increasing. China's high-tech firms have all performed well so far this year.

With many countries setting goals to further cut carbon emissions, CIMC Raffles, a subsidiary of Shenzhen, Guangdong province-headquartered China International Marine Containers (Group) Ltd, announced earlier this month that it has received a contract for up to six low-emission LNG-powered car carriers from Wallenius Lines, a Swedish shipping company.

Construction of the carriers will take place at CIMC Raffles' Longkou shipyard in Yantai, Shandong province, said Wang Jianzhong, CEO and president of CIMC Raffles.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
Claim that Chinese researchers hid coronavirus data defies scientific ethics

Xinhua) 09:21, July 23, 2021

BEIJING, July 22 (Xinhua) -- A U.S. researcher claiming that China hid coronavirus sequences to thwart the tracing of virus origin is against scientific ethics, a Chinese official said Thursday.

Last year, Chinese researchers published a research paper titled "Nanopore targeted sequencing for the accurate and comprehensive detection of coronavirus and other respiratory viruses" on the journal Small.

Jesse Bloom is a computational biologist and specialist in viral evolution at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle. Last month, he said that the coronavirus sequences in the study had been removed from the Sequence Read Archive, an online database run by the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH), at the request of Chinese researchers.

Bloom said he was able to recover copies of the data stored on Google Cloud. "It therefore seems likely the sequences were deleted to obscure their existence " and "suggests a less than wholehearted effort to trace early spread of the epidemic," Bloom wrote in a preprint paper, not yet peer-reviewed by other scientists.

Speaking at a press conference on the novel coronavirus origin-tracing, Zeng Yixin, deputy head of the National Health Commission, said that China investigated the claim after it was reported.

The research paper is about a sequencing approach to help detect the coronavirus. According to Zeng, when the researchers submitted the paper last March, they needed to upload the sequencing results to prove their method.

On June 9, 2020, the journal sent the sample paper ready to be published to the researchers. They found that the uploading address where the sequencing data can be found was deleted during the review of the paper. Therefore, it was deemed unnecessary to keep their data in an NIH database. On June 16, 2020, the Chinese team emailed NIH to remove the data, and NIH removed the data at the request.

"The researcher has no need to hide or cover up and has no such subjective intention," Zeng said. Meanwhile, the researchers have uploaded the sequencing data, including 244 pieces of data from 61 samples, to the GSA database under China's National Genomics Data Center. The database is open to global users and anyone can make an inquiry.

Zeng added that the earliest sampling time of the virus samples is on Jan. 30, 2020, which has been some time since the beginning of the epidemic. The information and research value that these sample sequencing can provide is very limited in the coronavirus origin tracing.

Jesse Bloom did not get the confirmation from the Chinese researchers, did not understand the background of the data removal, and concocted the conspiracy theory claiming that it was a cover-up, Zeng said.

He noted that Bloom's conspiracy theory has a bad influence on international public opinion, slandered Chinese researchers and hurt them. "It is not only a departure from science but also a violation of scientific ethics."

During epidemics such as the COVID-19, the public pays attention to every word and action of scientists. Therefore, scientists should know their social responsibilities and not make arbitrary speculations, said Zeng, pointing out that Bloom's paper has been criticized by many scientists.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
Race to evacuate patients as hospitals flooded by rainstorms

Xinhua) 09:52, July 23, 2021

Rescuers help a petient to evacuate near the Fuwai Central China Cardiovascular Hospital in Zhongmu County of Zhengzhou, central China's Henan Province, July 22, 2021. The natural disaster has inflicted damage on many hospitals in Henan, with patients and medical staff stuck inside, waiting to be evacuated, including the Fuwai Central China Cardiovascular Hospital in the county of Zhongmu, under the jurisdiction of Zhengzhou, the provincial capital. Days of rainstorms have caused severe flooding in the hospital. On Thursday morning, rescuers started transporting patients, their family members and medical staff elsewhere. About 5,000 people have been evacuated so far. (Xinhua/Cai Yang)

ZHENGZHOU, July 22 (Xinhua) -- Outside the Fuwai Central China Cardiovascular Hospital, the ambulances and rescue vehicles are mostly submerged in floodwater, leaving only their tops visible.

At the entrance and inside the hospital registration hall, rescuers in yellow life vests use rafts to transport patients who are stuck inside.

"The hospital was completely engulfed by floodwater," said rescuer Chen Lixin. "There was no drinking water, no electricity, no internet connection, nothing."

Torrential rain has affected about 3 million people in central China's Henan Province, with 33 reported dead and eight still missing as of 4 a.m. Thursday, local authorities said.

A total of 376,000 local residents have been relocated to safe places, said the provincial emergency management department.

Rainwater has damaged more than 215,200 hectares of crops, causing a direct economic loss of about 1.22 billion yuan (about 188.6 million U.S. dollars).

The natural disaster has inflicted damage on many hospitals in Henan, with patients and medical staff stuck inside, waiting to be evacuated, including the Fuwai Central China Cardiovascular Hospital in the county of Zhongmu, under the jurisdiction of Zhengzhou, the provincial capital.

Days of rainstorms have caused severe flooding in the hospital. On Thursday morning, rescuers started transporting patients, their family members and medical staff elsewhere. About 5,000 people have been evacuated so far.

"We have 1,075 regular patients and 69 in severe conditions, and the number of family members is about 1,300," said Gao Chuanyu, vice president of the hospital. "Most people will be brought to safety by rafts, but for critically ill patients, we need to use helicopters."

Apart from those scheduled to be discharged, most patients will be transferred to the Henan Provincial People's Hospital for further treatment, Gao added.

Another hospital that has been damaged is the Heyi branch of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University in Zhengzhou. Built on low-lying land, the area was heavily flooded.

Starting on Tuesday evening, a blackout struck the hospital, endangering the lives of about 600 patients suffering from severe medical conditions.

On Wednesday morning, the water had swallowed many cars near the entrance, and medical staff were using rafts to transport supplies to the patients.

Fortunately, rescuers from across the country managed to evacuate people to safety.

One of the rescue teams comes from east China's Jiangsu Province. Consisting of hundreds of firefighters, medical staff, vehicles, rafts and water pumps, the team was tasked with guaranteeing the safety of those in the Fuwai Central China Cardiovascular Hospital on Thursday.

"The flooding has swamped the hospital and the buildings in the vicinity over an area of 400,000 square meters, and has inundated the hospital's first floor," said team vice captain Chen Lixin. "The area within five kilometers has all been swamped."

The hospital had no contact with the outside world and was in urgent need of drinking water, food and rafts, Chen added.

On Thursday, while transporting the patients and medical staff, the rescuers also delivered food to the local area via helicopter.

The electricity supply has now been restored there.

A family member surnamed Liu said he lost contact with his wife during the rainstorms. She is 30 years old and eight months pregnant.

"She has been stuck in the hospital since Monday night, and I was extremely worried," Liu said. "I tried to search for her by car, but I was stopped by the flood."

On Thursday morning, Liu managed to contact his wife with the help of the rescue team.

"I am just relieved that she is fine," Liu said. "The rescuers truly gave us hope."

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
China, Africa to strengthen cooperation in protecting world heritage

09:54, July 23, 2021 By Wan Yu ( People's Daily

Photo taken on July 7, 2021, shows actresses performing Min Opera, national-level intangible cultural heritage of Fuzhou, southeast Chinas Fujian province, at a waterside pavilion in Sanfangqixiang, a historic and cultural area in Fuzhou. (Peoples Daily Online/Xie Guiming)

A five-year plan was preliminarily formed to boost capacity building for China and Africa regarding world heritage conservation and management at a side event of the ongoing 44th session of the World Heritage Committee of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) that kicked off on July 16 in Fuzhou, capital of southeast Chinas Fujian province.

The plan is aimed at establishing platforms for more direct exchange of knowledge between Chinese and African experts and scholars in the field of world heritage as well as custodians of world heritage sites so that the two sides can intensify exchange and sharing of experience, jointly carry out capacity building activities, and elevate the level of world heritage protection and management together.

The side event, which took place on July 19 under the theme of Capacity Building for World Heritage Conservation and Management--Towards Future Cooperation Between Africa and China, was attended by more than 150 people, including officials from the UNESCO, representatives of international organizations, and Chinese and African experts and scholars.

Before formulating the five-year plan, participants in the event reviewed the fruits of cooperation between China and Africa in the field of world heritage since 2019, and discussed the current situation of capacity building concerning the conservation and management of world heritage in Africa and China.

As the home of the world-famous Great Pyramids and the Sphinx, the lofty Mount Kilimanjaro on savannas, and the amazing ancient stone towers of the Great Zimbabwe ruins shrouded in forests, Africa is a continent endowed with rich and colorful natural and cultural resources. However, due to multiple factors, including social and economic development, Africa has long lagged behind other regions of the world in applying for UNESCO World Heritage status, as well as the management and protection of its world heritage.

There are 12 countries in Africa that still dont have any heritage recognized as world heritage by the UNESCO, and 22 of the 53 properties included on the List of World Heritage in danger by the World Heritage Committee of UNESCO are located in Africa, according to Souayibou Varissou, executive director of the African World Heritage Fund (AWHF).

At the side event, Varissou called for increasing financial support for the AWHF to improve Africas capability to protect world heritage.

The 44th session of the World Heritage Committee tries to give priority to Africa in policy formulation, capacity building, international aid, and upstream procedures, in a bid to enhance the representativeness and improve the balance of world heritage, said Tian Xuejun, director of the Chinese National Commission for UNESCO and also chairman of the 44th session of the World Heritage Committee.

Upholding the idea of the China-Africa community with a shared future, China attaches great importance to its cooperation with Africa in protecting world heritage, held the UNESCO-Africa-China Forum on World Heritage Capacity Building and Cooperation, and supports efforts to carry out training in risk management and protection of world heritage for custodians of world heritage sites in African countries including Uganda, Benin, and Tanzania, Tian said.

Greater efforts need to be made and more strength pooled to put into practice UNESCOs Global Priority Africa resolution, which demonstrates the status and role of African countries in the cause of world heritage protection, Tian stressed, adding that China will continue supporting African countries in protecting world heritage, assist with talent cultivation in developing countries, and carry out talent cultivation programs for world heritage protection.

Africa urgently needs to strengthen capacity building regarding application for UNESCO World Heritage status, and the management and monitoring of world heritage, said Mechtild Rossler, director of UNESCO World Heritage Center.

Rossler thanked China for its tremendous efforts to help protect world heritage in Africa through platforms of UNESCO, and is looking forward to more new results of the cooperation between China and Africa in world heritage protection.

World heritage in Africa is an integral and distinctive part of the world heritage system, said Lyu Zhou, director of the National Heritage Center of Tsinghua University as well as a professor of the School of Architecture of Tsinghua University.

World heritage in Africa is underrepresented on the existing UNESCO World Heritage List, which not only needs Africa to constantly enhance capacity building concerning application for UNESCO World Heritage status, but also requires the world to realize more deeply the uniqueness of Africas history and culture, Lyu said.

An identification and interpretation system that accords with the characteristics of Africas world heritage should be established to demonstrate the cultural value of the world heritage in Africa, Lyu added.

Muhammad Juma, chief of the Africa Unit of the UNESCO World Heritage Center, gave a systematic introduction to capacity building efforts in Africa at the side event, and pointed out that capacity building in the future should be oriented to the needs of management organizations of world heritage sites, people who work in the field of world heritage, stakeholders in relevant communities, and researchers of colleges, universities, and research institutes.

Juma also invited China to share its experience in applying for UNESCO World Heritage status and protection and management of world heritage.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
China deploys satellites to support rescue in Henan rainstorms

Xinhua) 09:57, July 23, 2021

XI'AN, July 22 (Xinhua) -- Four satellites have been deployed to support rescue and relief efforts in Henan by monitoring the affected areas and providing reliable data after rainstorms lashed the region, according to the Xi'an Satellite Control Center.

The satellites, mainly used for earth observation and remote sensing imaging, were deployed to assist relevant departments in analyzing and assessing the rainstorm situation and enable satellite users to receive the remote sensing images of the affected areas in a timely manner.

The center has also rescheduled the tasks of remote sensing and meteorological satellites including Gaofen and Fengyun satellites, and sent hundreds of application instructions to ensure the satellites provide fast and accurate remote sensing image information and meteorological data services.

In response to earthquakes, floods and other unexpected disasters, a variety of contingency plans based on the satellites' parameters and performance characteristics have been drawn up to guarantee rescue efficiency, according to the center.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
China appreciates Putin's condolence telegram over Henan flood: FM spokesperson

Xinhua) 10:04, July 23, 2021

BEIJING, July 22 (Xinhua) -- China appreciates Russian President Vladimir Putin's telegram of condolences and is ready to work with Russia to promote bilateral relations for new achievements, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Thursday.

Putin sent the telegram to President Xi Jinping immediately after Henan Province was affected by torrential rains, spokesperson Zhao Lijian told a press briefing, adding that this fully demonstrated the connotation of bilateral relations in the new era featuring mutual assistance and close friendship between the two heads of state.

Noting that this year marks the 20th anniversary of the signing of the China-Russia Treaty of Good-neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation, Zhao said bilateral relations stand at their best in history.

China is willing to work with Russia to follow the concept of long-standing friendship and the principles of a new type of international relations enshrined in the treaty, the spokesperson added.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
Commissioner's office of Chinese foreign ministry in HKSAR urges U.S. to stop smearing national security law in HKSAR

Xinhua) 10:05, July 23, 2021

Photo taken on July 14, 2020 shows the Golden Bauhinia Square in south China's Hong Kong, July 14, 2020. (Xinhua/Wu Xiaochu)

The national security law in Hong Kong has put an end to "Hong Kong independence", "black violence" and "mutual destruction". Hong Kong's social order has returned to normal, the environment for governance has been improved, and social justice has been fully upheld.

HONG KONG, July 22 (Xinhua) -- The office of the commissioner of the Chinese foreign ministry in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) has strongly disapproved and firmly opposed the so-called Investment Climate Statements issued by the U.S. state department, which smeared the national security law in Hong Kong.

A spokesperson for the office said on Thursday that the U.S. has grossly interfered in Hong Kong affairs and China's internal affairs at large, and violated international law and basic norms governing international relations.

The spokesperson said that the national security law in Hong Kong has put an end to "Hong Kong independence", "black violence" and "mutual destruction". Hong Kong's social order has returned to normal, the environment for governance has been improved, and social justice has been fully upheld.

Hong Kong's economy and finance continue to be strong, its market and investment environment are more stable, and it's status as an international financial, trade and shipping center remains robust, the spokesperson said, adding that foreign investors, including U.S. investors, feel more secure and confident in operating in Hong Kong.

The spokesperson said that U.S. saying of the national security law impacting Hong Kong's business environment is just a lie. Facts have shown that the national security law has safeguarded China's national security, Hong Kong's social stability and tranquility for Hong Kong people.

Photo taken on July 7, 2021 shows a view of the Hong Kong Island seen from Tsim Sha Tsui in Hong Kong, south China. (Xinhua/Wang Shen)

The spokesperson pointed out that the HKSAR is governed by the rule of law, where laws shall be abided by and rigorously enforced, and no one shall be above the law. The national security law aims to punish a small handful of anti-China, destabilizing forces in Hong Kong who seriously endanger national security, and it protects the vast majority of Hong Kong residents who enjoy the lawful rights and freedoms.

A very small number of people have been arrested, prosecuted and tried by Hong Kong law enforcement and judicial authorities on suspicion of violating the national security law and the local laws of the HKSAR, with sufficient evidence, due procedure, and open and law-based verdict, the spokesperson said.

The U.S. side has been talking about safeguarding the rule of law in Hong Kong, but it pressured and coerced the independent performance of duties of law enforcement and judicial authorities in Hong Kong, tried to whitewash criminals and put political manipulation above the law. This kind of logic is ridiculous, the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson stressed that since Hong Kong's return to the motherland, the principles of "one country, two systems", "Hong Kong people administering Hong Kong" and a high degree of autonomy have been effectively implemented, and Hong Kong has made widely recognized achievements.

"We believe that with the in-depth implementation of the national security law and the improvement of Hong Kong's electoral system, with the advancement of the 14th Five-Year Plan and Hong Kong's greater integration into the overall development of China, Hong Kong will be safer, freer, more democratic and more harmonious," the spokesperson said, urging the U.S. side to manage its own affairs, bring in mind its own interests and image, and immediately stop interfering in Hong Kong affairs in any form.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
Plateau railway propels Tibet's development to new heights

Xinhua) 10:13, July 23, 2021

A train running on the Qinghai-Tibet Railway passes by the Nyainqentanglha Range in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, March 1, 2020. (Xinhua/Purbu Zhaxi)

LHASA/XINING, July 22 (Xinhua) -- Sangye Puncog, 22, never saw a train until his high school graduation tour to Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region.

Fascinated by the "steel giant," Sangye Puncog, a Tibetan hailing from the rural Nyingchi City, was inspired to major in transportation and went on to study at Southwest Jiaotong University.

Financially aided by the government, he graduated in 2019 and is now in charge of passenger loading and unloading at the Golmud Railway Station, a railway hub in Qinghai Province neighboring Tibet.

"I didn't know I would work here when I passed through it on a train to the university," Sangye Puncog said with a smile.

In July 2006, the railway section connecting Golmud and Lhasa went into operation, marking the opening of the world's highest and longest plateau railroad -- the Qinghai-Tibet railway.

The railway, the first connecting Tibet with the rest of China, has stimulated the development of the plateau region by bringing tourists, materials, and business opportunities.

By the end of June, the railway transported 29.63 million passengers and 68.35 million tonnes of cargo from and to Tibet, according to the China Railway Qinghai-Tibet Group Co., Ltd.

Hu Xiaodi, a 57-year-old tourist, headed for Lhasa on the Z6801 train. He and five of his relatives planned to hire a car in Lhasa for a road trip in Tibet.

"Tourism in Tibet is so popular that we can hardly book enough tickets for us to the Potala Palace," said Hu, from the city of Suzhou, Jiangsu Province.

Tibet received 1.8 million tourists from home and abroad in 2005, one year ahead of the opening of the landmark rail link. It received more than 35 million tourists in 2020 despite the impact of COVID-19.

Due to the unavailability of train tickets to Lhasa because of high demand, Ma Yuxiu, who was traveling with her four-year-old daughter, had to transfer twice from Xining, the capital of Qinghai and starting point of Qinghai-Tibet railway. She was there to meet her husband, who is a crane driver and has worked at different construction sites in Tibet for three years.

"Considering that he is too busy, we have to meet him every year and travel around," said Ma, 26, adding that they have visited several destinations in Tibet like the Potala Palace and the Yumzhog Yumco Lake.

Photo taken on March 12, 2021 shows the Potala Palace in Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Chogo)

Built at an altitude of more than 4,500 meters, the Nagqu railway station in the city of Nagqu is the world's highest railway station combining passenger and cargo transportation.

The annual number of passenger trips handled by the railway station surged from 16,000 in 2006 to 310,000 in 2020.

"The waiting hall, which opened to the public in 2006, is so small that many passengers have to stand during peak season," said Dong Shenggang, head of the station.

The station handled 518,000 tonnes of cargo in 2020, skyrocketing by 619 percent from 2006.

"Construction materials such as steel, cement, timber, as well as daily necessities like grains and salt have been among the major goods delivered up here," Dong said.

The Chinese central government made a cumulative investment of 1.63 trillion yuan (about 253 billion U.S. dollars) in the 70 years after the peaceful liberation of Tibet, showed figures released in May.

Over 590 billion yuan of the total investment went into the construction of major projects that have significantly driven the region's economic development, including the Sichuan-Tibet Highway and Qinghai-Tibet Railway.

The region's gross domestic product soared to more than 190 billion yuan in 2020 from 34.2 billion yuan in 2006.

Xu Guoming, who had just left Lhasa by train for Xining, is amazed by the mushrooming buildings and infrastructure projects in Lhasa.

The entrepreneur in truck transportation from east China's Shandong Province first came to Lhasa in 2013.

"Compared with my first trip there, I could hardly recognize the street I had lived in," said Xu, 42, adding that he is optimistic about his business prospects in Tibet.

To meet the rising demand for passenger transport, the old Golmud station measuring 500 square meters has been replaced by a new one covering nearly 15,000 square meters. It can accommodate 2,000 passengers in the waiting hall at the same time.

The Golmud station worker Sangye Puncog is also delighted as a new railway section connecting Lhasa and his hometown Nyingchi went into operation last month.

The 435-km line, the first electrified railway in Tibet, has shortened the travel time between Nyingchi and Lhasa to three and a half hours from some seven hours by bus.

Arranged by Sangye Puncog, his father, a rice farmer, took a train trip for the first time in his life to Lhasa. His mother, who was then in poor health, did not go.

"I'm planning to take my mother on board a train when I'm on vacation. My parents are proud of me," he said.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
China's central SOEs donate 686 mln yuan to Henan flood relief

Xinhua) 10:19, July 23, 2021

Aerial photo taken on July 22, 2021 shows a view of a submerged street in Xinxiang City of central China's Henan Province.(Xinhua/Li Baozhong)

BEIJING, July 22 (Xinhua) -- China's state assets regulator on Thursday said that centrally administered state-owned enterprises (SOEs) have donated a total of 686 million yuan (about 106 million U.S. dollars) to the flood-hit central province of Henan.

By 12 p.m. Thursday, the first group of 59 central SOEs had made donations, said the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council.

Torrential rains have struck large areas of Henan Province since last Saturday, with 33 reported dead and eight missing as of 4 a.m. Thursday, according to local authorities.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
Mainland appreciates concern from Taiwan for flood-hit Henan

Xinhua) 10:26, July 23, 2021

BEIJING, July 22 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese mainland spokesperson on Thursday appreciated the concern from Taiwan for central China's flood-hit Henan Province.

Relevant bodies and people in Taiwan offered their sympathies to those affected, and some Taiwan-funded enterprises made donations, said Zhu Fenglian, a spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council. "We express our appreciation for that."

Torrential rain has left at least 33 people dead and eight others missing in Henan, where about 3 million people have been affected by the record rain and ensuing floods since the past weekend.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
Chinese diplomat rebukes Washington for covering up biological experiments

Xinhua) 13:11, July 23, 2021

MOSCOW, July 23 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese diplomat here has urged the United States to cooperate with the international community on origin-tracing of COVID-19, instead of covering up information on its biological experiments.

"If the U.S. indeed aspires for truth and transparency, they must agree to an international investigation on the coronavirus, identify the source of the epidemic in the U.S. and the reasons for its incompetent response," Chinese Ambassador to Russia Zhang Hanhui said Wednesday.

Washington "has to answer the existing questions about biological experiments in the U.S. and other countries, where the Americans also have a number of laboratories," he told a press conference.

Washington scrupulously studied the situation in other countries but hid the situation of its own. Meanwhile, it displayed a non-scientific approach to researching the origins, Russian news agency Tass quoted Zhang as saying.

"This is a job for scientists, while the Americans posed this question and this task to their intelligence services -- for the CIA to determine the origins of the coronavirus," he said.

China has always upheld the principles of openness, transparency and cooperation on COVID-19 origins investigation, but some U.S. politicians only doubted "the statements of scientists, contrasting them against conspiracy theories, therefore politicizing the matters of science," Zhang added.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Hongyu)
Palace Museum upgrades digital products to offer in-depth virtual tour experience

People's Daily Online) 13:36, July 23, 2021

While capping its daily number of visitors at 30,000 during the peak summer vacation season, the world-famous Palace Museum in Beijing has upgraded its digital products to offer in-depth virtual tours, according to a press conference on July 21.

Photo shows 20 live-streaming courses to be offered by the Palace Museum during the summer vacation. (Photo/Chinanews.com)

The museums WeChat mini-program Digital Palace Museum, which offers online tours among other services, has recorded 23 million visits since it was launched last year, said Yu Zhuang, deputy head of the museums department of IT, imaging and digital media.

With the mini-program, people can enjoy 360-degree views of places of interest at the museum, including those not open to the public, just by clicking their phones, according to Yu.

Thanks to some major upgrades to the mini-program, visitors are now able to make bookings, arrange their routes, and avoid sites with large crowds according to real-time positioning, Yu said, adding that they can also consult with the mini-program at any time to discover the stories behind the museums cultural relics.

Yu Zhuang, deputy head of the department of IT, imaging and digital media of the Palace Museum, introduces the museum. (Photo/Chinanews.com)

From August 11 to 22, the museum will offer 20 live-streaming courses with the theme of cultural relics and nature, with each focusing on a relic at the museum and scientific knowledge behind the treasure. For example, a course on an armillary sphere, an astronomical plotting device made of wood and metal that was extensively used in the 17th century in China, introduces some astronomical knowledge from ancient China.

The courses bring cultural relics in the museum back to life and give people a better understanding of Chinese culture, according to Guo Meixia, director of the museums publicity and education department.

Guo explained that the department would also hold more live-streaming sessions and other events to bring online audiences a cultural feast.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Bianji)
Pakistan stands with China, ready to assist with heavy floods

13:43, July 23, 2021 By Zamir Ahmed Awan ( People's Daily Online

Natural disasters are a common phenomenon. Human history is full of disasters like earthquakes, floods, droughts, fires, volcanos, heavy rains, winds, pandemics, and so on. Many precious lives were lost and people injured, some seriously who have suffered disabilities for the rest of their lives. Economic losses were also enormous. Yet, humanity has not come to any solution on how to avoid and prevent such disasters. Modern-day science and technology have developed many instruments and gadgets to predict some of the disasters to some extent only. They may take some preventive measures to reduce the losses. But protection is still far away.

Aerial photo taken on July 22, 2021 shows rescuers evacuating stranded people outside the Fuwai Central China Cardiovascular Hospital in flood-hit Zhongmu County of Zhengzhou, central China's Henan Province. (Xinhua/Cai Yang)

China and Pakistan are bound in an exceptional relationship that is unique in nature, and termed "Iron Brothers." We both stand with each other at all difficult moments and help each other in times of need. Both have a history of helping each other with such disasters. Whether it was the Tangshan earthquake in 1976 or Sichuan earthquake in 2008, Pakistan extended a helping hand beyond its capacity. Similarly, when Pakistan was hit by a devastating earthquake in 2005 in its Kashmir region, China helped Pakistan a lot. In 2010, our Chinese brothers helped to reconstruct Pakistan when it was heavily damaged by floods.

In the early days of the outbreak of COVID-19 in 2020, Pakistan initially sent medical supplies to China. But China soon overcame the pandemic and helped the whole world. When COVID-19 reached Pakistan, China sent its medical teams to advise the country and train its health officials. China provided medical equipment and vaccines to Pakistan, and is its single largest donor of vaccines.

Pakistan on Wednesday expressed sadness over the loss of human lives due to torrential rains and flooding in Central China's Henan Province. A statement issued by the Foreign Office said, "Govt. & people of Pakistan are deeply saddened to learn about the loss of precious human lives caused by torrential rains & flooding in Central China's Henan province. Our sympathies & prayers are with the affected families & people who are battling against this natural calamity".

As rescue work continues in its neighboring country, the FO said in its statement: "We are hopeful that due to efforts of the Chinese government, normalcy would be restored soon & displaced people would soon return to their homes Pakistan stands ready to assist our Chinese brothers and sisters in this hour of need".

Many precious human lives were lost as torrential rain battered the Chinese province, causing landslides and flooding that partially submerged the underground rail system of Zhengzhou. The provincial capital had "experienced a series of rare and heavy rainstorms, causing water to accumulate in Zhengzhou metro," city officials said in a Weibo post on Wednesday.

The government and the people of Pakistan are saddened by the loss of lives and shares the grief of the victims' families. The official is in touch with counterparts in China and ready to give any kind of assistance possible. We are real friends; friends in deeds are friends in need. The whole nation stands with our Chinese sisters and brothers. Long live the China-Pakistan traditional friendship.

The opinions expressed in this article belong solely to the author, and not necessarily to People's Daily Online.

Zamir Ahmed Awan is a senior fellow with the Center for China and Globalization (CCG) and a sinologist at the National University of Sciences and Technology in Pakistan. E-mail: [email protected]

(Web editor: Hongyu, Bianji)
The West projects its own crimes onto China by accusing it of "genocide" and "colonialism," reports media

Xinhua) 14:08, July 23, 2021

MOSCOW, July 23 (Xinhua) -- A key Western propaganda strategy is to accuse others of crimes that they have themselves committed. This is seen most blatantly in the Western accusations against China's Xinjiang, according to a recent commentary published by Russia Today.

Most Western criticisms of China can be categorized under one broad umbrella: psychological projection, which is involuntary, reflexive and Pavlovian; as well as strategic, planned and deliberate, Indian commentator Maitreya Bhakal wrote in the commentary, noting that it's a key pillar of Western propaganda, especially against China.

Few propaganda campaigns meet the criteria better than the "Xinjiang genocide" narrative, Bhakal said.

The United States itself was of course founded on the genocide of indigenous peoples, for which the United States projects its crimes onto someone else, officially accusing China of genocide, he commented.

Talking about Canada's accusations against China, he added that as unmarked graves of indigenous children are being discovered across the country, Canada has sought to divert attention by stepping up its "human rights" criticisms of China.

Such flippant, reckless accusations of "genocide" by Western nations and their legislatures and media are despicable; not to mention a grave injustice to victims of actual genocides, said Bhakal.

While colonialism is defined by economic exploitation and wealth extraction, China's policies in Xinjiang and Tibet are the opposite, said Bhakal, adding that these regions have become exponentially richer than what some "democratic" countries have achieved.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Hongyu)
UASR holds summer course on Han and Tang civilizations in museums and legal protection

People's Daily Online) 14:35, July 23, 2021

The University Alliance of the Silk Road (UASR) has recently run a summer course entitled Han and Tang Civilizations in Museums and Legal Protection 2021 in Xian, capital of northwest Chinas Shaanxi province.

The participants visit Xi'an Beilin Museum. (Photo/University Alliance of the Silk Road)

By tapping into the museum resources of Xi'an, the course created an amazing immersive and interactive cultural experience for all the participants. At the Shaanxi Medical History Museum, participants experienced traditional Chinese medicine therapies, such as massage, acupuncture, cupping and moxibustion. At the Hanyangling Museum, they donned Han-style clothing and learned about Han etiquette culture. At the Shaanxi Qin Opera Museum, they watched a Qin opera performance by nationally renowned actors and actresses such as Shao Ying and Li Qiong. At the Shaanxi History Museum, they got a glimpse of the Zhou, Qin, Han and Tang dynasties from historical exhibits. At the Forest of Stone Steles Museum, they were deeply impressed by ancient Chinese stone carvings and calligraphy works. Ma Yi, an Egyptian student, said that he wanted to contribute to cultural exchanges between China and Egypt in the future.

The participants visit the Qinqiang Opera Museum in Xian. (Photo/University Alliance of the Silk Road)

The participants also attended lectures given by renowned experts and scholars, such as Liu Shuguang, Chairman of the Chinese Museums Association, Jiang Bo, Vice Chairman of ICOMOS-CHINA, and Professor Ma Zhiguo, Dean of the Institute of Intellectual Property of XJTU, on cultural relics and museums in China, preservation of traditional Chinese medicine, underwater archaeology in China, Han and Tang civilizations and the Silk Road, as well as the legal protection of cultural creations in museums.

The participants give a performance. (Photo/University Alliance of the Silk Road)

Participants in the course came from 13 universities, including Peking University, Fudan University, Renmin University of China, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Harbin Institute of Technology, Xiamen University, Soochow University and Yunnan University. Since July 20, the course has been offered online for free to members of UASR.

The course was jointly organized by UASR and the Cultural Relics Bureau of Shaanxi Province and co-hosted by the Institute of Intellectual Property and the School of International Education, Xian Jiaotong University (XJTU). It has attracted 42 students from Egypt, the Philippines, South Korea, the United States, Pakistan, Indonesia as well as Chinas Hong Kong SAR, Macao SAR and Taiwan province.

The participants receive certificates at the conclusion of the course. (Photo/University Alliance of the Silk Road)

(Web editor: Hongyu, Du Mingming)
Commentary: Politicizing COVID-19 origin tracing will only hinder global anti-pandemic cooperation

Xinhua) 15:49, July 23, 2021

BEIJING, July 23 (Xinhua) -- Global cooperation on combating COVID-19 pandemic is being hampered once again by politicizing the second phase of virus origin tracing, and China resolutely opposes this.

Targeting only one country in the name of origin-tracing study will send a dangerous and irresponsible message that scientific principles can be easily distorted by power politics, seeking the truth can be disrupted by unfounded slanders, and international justice undermined by moral degradation at the cost of the health of humanity.

Earlier this year, a World Health Organization (WHO) expert team visited Wuhan in central China to carry out the virus source tracing and relevant global research jointly with Chinese experts. China did its best to organize and coordinate with relevant parties to meet the needs of the expert team.

China's action in aiding the origin-tracing efforts exemplifies its adherence to consistency, transparency and integrity.

After the visit, the expert group came to the conclusion that a laboratory incident is "extremely unlikely" to be the cause of COVID-19.

The work that has been carried out in the first phase should not be repeated, especially when a clear conclusion has already been reached. What should be done is the origin tracing of early cases, molecular epidemiology, and intermediary hosts in multiple countries and regions based on extensive consultations among WHO member states.

In the face of the raging pandemic of this scale unseen in a century, no country can be immune to its adverse effects. Only global cooperation and concerted actions can effectively curb the spread of the virus and enable people all over the world to resume a prosperous and harmonious life.

The WHO is strongly advised to seriously consider the considerations and suggestions put forward by Chinese experts, truly treat the novel coronavirus origin-tracing work as a scientific issue, get rid of political interference, and actively and prudently promote tracing work continuously in multiple countries and regions around the globe.

Only through such an approach can we find the most likely source of the virus as soon as possible and help prevent similar epidemics in the future.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Du Mingming)
University student creates document to help flood rescue efforts in Henan

People's Daily Online) 16:24, July 23, 2021

As torrential rains inundated Henan, a document titled Information on People Waiting for Rescue quickly spread online, becoming a life-saving tool for people stranded in the central Chinese province.

The document Li Rui created (Photo/Xinhua Daily Telegraph)

The creator of the document, Li Rui, nicknamed Manto, whose hometown is in Henan, said one person on the list was rescued six hours after she created the document on July 20. The shared document, described by netizens as an information distribution center that can be updated by several people at the same time, was visited 2.5 million times in 24 hours.

Li Rui (Photo provided by the Shanghai University of Finance and Economics)

Thanks to the document, several people have been rescued quickly, including a girl suffering from high fever, an 84-year old, a baby who hadnt drunk any water for a whole day, and a pregnant woman who was sent to hospital, where she had a baby girl.

Li Rui, a student at the Shanghai University of Finance and Economics based in Shanghai, said she wanted to do her part for society.

A post from the Shanghai University of Finance and Economics on Weibo confirming Li Rui's identity as the document creator (Photo/Xinhua Daily Telegraph)

From 8 pm on July 17 to 8 pm on July 20, total precipitation of 617.1 mm was recorded in Zhengzhou, the capital city of the province, close to the city's average annual precipitation of 640.8 mm, said the city's meteorological bureau. The city registered 201.9 mm of precipitation from 4 pm to 5 pm on July 20, a record hourly high for Chinese mainland.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Du Mingming)
Incubators

Against this backdrop, two initiatives proved vital and foundational, accelerating the careers of these backstage artists, boosting their reputations, and putting them in the limelight. The first project was devised by Goldpfeil. In 2000 this German leatherworker unexpectedly decided to branch out in an entirely different direction, launching a series of seven watches, all unique pieces, based on a simple brief: express yourself, using our blue arrow and our firms design ethos. Seven watchmakers from the Academie Horlogere des Createurs Independants (AHCI), including Vincent Calabrese and Bernhard Lederer, each expressed their own particular style in line with these specifications. At almost the same time, one of Harry Winstons executives launched a similar scheme that was even more ambitious. Maximilian Busser came up with the Opus: a different limited edition for each year, created and produced by an independent watchmaker, whose name would not only be cited but also feted. It was a far cry from the usual, anonymous subcontracting of the kind that produced Francois-Paul Journe and Philippe Dufour, after their work for Piaget and Audemars Piguet respectively. In all there were 14 Opuses, almost all of them with an impact in their day, awaited ever more eagerly each year, each often even crazier than the previous one  and yet always within the given style constraints.

Romain Gauthier in his workshop  Romain Gauthier

Inventors

The Opus experience did however reveal the Achilles heel of these independents. Some projects werent properly ready until well after the deadline: Vianney Halters Opus 3 was the worst offender, arriving over ten years late; perhaps unsurprisingly, since the project was virtually out of this world. Indeed, independents too can produce failures, as spectacular as their inventions are complex. It comes with the territory: experimentation, coupled with a dose of humour, different perspectives and, above all, initiative. That said, after 20, 10, or sometimes just five years of twists and turns, their modes of expression have remained unchanged. Its not just about staying faithful to their DNA, or repeating past successes; above all, its about remaining true to themselves. Their identity  envied trendsetters, often imitated, tending to be seen as being somewhat flaky  invites comparison with another type of enterprise: the startup.

Weap One Diamonds  Rebellion

Independents are characterised by their management style, so much so that its become unremarkable; standard practice, in fact. Like startups, independents thrive on innovation  as is clear from what we owe to them.The first biaxial tourbillon was produced by Franck Muller, at that time still a minor brand with an independent spirit. The first triaxial tourbillon wristwatch was the work of Thomas Preschers hands. Scratchproof surfaces were an early Urwerk speciality, using AlTiN or ceramic aluminium from 2000 onwards. Linear winding weights were the brainchild of Jean-Francois Ruchonnet and Vianney Halter, who created TAG Heuers Monaco V4. Independents also took the art of oneof-a-kind timepieces to the highest degree, witness Jean Dunands Christophe Claret movements and Antoine Preziuso, who made a case entirely out of solid meteorite. Then too, there are alternative displays: rollers (Cabestan), discs (Claret), multi-retrogrades (Roger Dubuis), and many more that are wilder still. Even mechanical digital displays have been given a comeback, the first embodiment being the Opus 3 with its jumping digital date, hours, and minutes display, featuring separate tens and units  and a countdown of the last five seconds of each minute.

Simplicity  Philippe Dufour

Resilience

Subcontracting remains an important part of independents live lihoods, helping them keep their workshops and machinery profitable. On the other hand, a shrinking order book for movements can spur some shadow watchmakers to embark on becoming a brand, as was the case with Christophe Claret, whose first watch in his own name came out in 2009, 20 years after he began as a movement maker. The independent networks flexibility, opportunism and intelligence were characteristic of the period.

Tourbillon Triple Axes  Thomas Prescher

Nothing like it could have happened on such a scale at any other time in history, even in a sector like the watch industry with such well-developed connections and in which subcontracting is second nature. Sometimes, independents end up being bought out: Roger Dubuis and Daniel Roth eventually devoted their talents to a single group. The size and turnover attained by others have distanced them from the creative spirit that gave them their independent mindset. Others again have been acquired by entities keen to preserve their ethos and perpetuate their expertise. The stakes acquired by Chanels holding company are shining examples: Bell & Ross, Romain Gauthier, and F.P. Journe have not been subject to any pressures or changes in management.

Tourbillon of Tourbillons  Antoine Preziuso

Influencers

How have independents come to revolutionise contemporary watchmaking? First and foremost, thanks to exposure. One would be hard put to find companies in any other sector for which sales correlate as closely with notoriety or the number of articles published as they do for these independent brands.

Space Invader  Romain jerome

They are watched, admired, criticised and a whole swathe of watchmaking thinking is structured around their creations. Their stellar influence far exceeds their minuscule output.

DB25 Starry Varius  De Bethune

*On the occasion of GMT Magazine and WorldTempus' 20th anniversary, we have embarked on the ambitious project of summarising the last 20 years in watchmaking in The Millennium Watch Book, a big, beautifully laid out coffee table book. This article is an extract. The Millennium Watch Book is available on www.the-watch-book.com, in French and English, with a 10% discount if you use the following code: WT2021.

Order now
The expedition team resurfaced after 20 days in the waters of the Ligurian Sea. The divers disembarked in Monaco, where they were given an emotional welcome by Marc A. Hayek, President & CEO of Blancpain.



In 2011, during a mapping campaign conducted off the coast of Cap Corse by IFREMER (French Research Institute for Exploitation of the Sea), a thousand strange and perfectly circular formations, regularly outlined on the seabed between 115 and 140 m, appeared on the monitoring screens. Never explored, these immense coralligenous atolls (each one 30 m in diameter) are a great mystery. What is their origin? What are the reasons for their presence in the Mediterranean?

 Blancpain

To provide answers to these questions  and many more  Laurent Ballesta and three divers from the Gombessa team boarded the now famous Bathyale Station, set up on the barge of the INPP (National Institute of Professional Diving) on July 1st, 2021. During Gombessa V in 2019, for the first time it enabled them to associate saturation diving with recreational deep diving using closed circuit rebreathers. Thanks to this technique, this year the aquanauts were able to explore the great depths of the Cap Corse and Agriate Marine Natural Park during very long dives over a 20-day period, punctuated by numerous research protocols. Over and above the scientific aspect, this expedition came with a major physiological challenge, as the four comrades stayed in a five square-metre pressurised chamber  an extreme environment for humans. Laurent Ballesta brought back unprecedented images from his journey to discover the "coral rings" of the Mediterranean. The mission will eventually confirm or refute the hypothesis that the formation of these curious aggregates is linked to gas emissions or freshwater springs.

 Blancpain

Blancpain is delighted to have contributed to the achievement of this project, which is part of an ongoing process. Laurent Ballesta had already travelled to Corsica in May 2021 to study the angel shark, a species that seemed to have disappeared from the French Mediterranean. It was back in 2020, during an extraordinary mission with the aim of studying the impact of the cessation of human activities on vertebrate and marine invertebrate populations following the Covid-19 pandemic, that Laurent Ballesta had found signs of this animal which is halfway between shark and ray.

Blancpain and the Gombessa expeditions

Gombessa VI follows five other major expeditions led by Laurent Ballesta with Blancpains support with the aim of studying some of the rarest and most inaccessible marine ecosystems on the planet. Dedicated to the coelacanth  a prehistoric fish known as "Gombessa" in the Comores and thought by historians to have become extinct 70 million years ago  the mission first took place in 2013 in the Indian Ocean. The second occurred in 2014 in Fakarava, French Polynesia. The aim was to shed light on the enigmatic aggregation of the marbled groupers. For his third Gombessa expedition, Laurent Ballesta went to Antarctica in 2015 to conduct the first ever measurement of the riches harboured by this marine ecosystem threatened by global warming. In 2017, the fourth Gombessa expedition was once again conducted in Fakarava and focused on studying the hunting behaviour of the estimated 700 grey reef sharks that inhabit the southern pass of the atoll. In addition to Blancpains regular support, this fourth mission benefited from a special donation stemming from the sale of the first BOC limited-edition model and was a natural follow-on from the study relating to marbled groupers.

The module descent with Laurent Ballesta and his team  Blancpain

For his fifth expedition, Laurent Ballesta travelled to the Mediterranean off the French coast in order to study, photograph and reveal the still well-kept underwater secrets of this sea that remains full of mysteries. During this mission, the Gombessa team, in part thanks to an additional donation resulting from the sale of the limited-edition series of BOC II watches, achieved a world first: the association between saturation diving  initially dedicated to offshore operations  and electronically managed rebreather diving techniques. This unusual method  which was improved in the framework of Gombessa VI  enabled the divers to rack up a total 400 hours of diving time in the course of 28 days, at depths of 60 to 145 metres.

 Blancpain

Blancpain's support of Laurent Ballesta's projects followed a meeting between the diver and Marc A. Hayek, President & CEO of the Brand. Passionate about the oceans from an early age and himself a certified professional diver, he immediately had faith in Laurent's talent and potential as a communicator capable of inspiring change. The partnership was therefore self-evident.



"Over the years, the project has expanded, and we have clearly seen that it has a positive effect on public understanding of inaccessible marine ecosystems", said Marc A. Hayek, adding: "In light of this, we have actively accompanied Laurent on each of his projects." For his part, Laurent Ballesta stated that he is "very proud to work with Blancpain, whose partnerships are based on the relevance and credibility of projects", further sharing that: "Blancpain is committed to making an effective contribution to knowledge of marine life and to the development of diving techniques. I think this is why the Brand values the Gombessa projects."
The US State Department spokesperson Ned Price said on Wednesday that US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman would seek to show China on hisupcoming visit to Beijing what responsible and healthy competition can look like, and the United States wanted to ensure there were guardrails in the relationship and that competition did not spill over into conflict.

Literally, what Price said seemed perfectly fine. China doesnt wish to see its competition with the US escalate into conflict either, and commonly established guardrails by the two countries to forestall the escalation, which has caused general concern, would be good news for both and the world at large.

Yet weve learned from experience that its like Washington to say one thing and do another and gloss over its bullying behaviors with resounding concepts, whose connotations it has bent and distorted. For example, Washington has made rules its catchword, but the world has seen only too clearly how it has most grossly trampled upon the basic principles governing international relations that were based on the UN Charter. The rules it has been babbling about refer to those protecting the interests of the US and its main allies, and they are only applied to force other countries to maintain those interests to the largest extent.

To set up guardrails in China-US competition, both sides need to observe the principle of equality and mutual benefits and answer to the spirit of the UN Charter. There is no way we would allow Washington to unilaterally mark the boundary for China to realize its own interests and keep prodding Chinas core interests. In that case, the guardrails only serve Americas interests but are limiting barbwires for China. Truly neutral and equal guardrails to keep the China-US competition escalating into conflict must meet the following standards.

First, the US should not interfere in Chinas internal affairs, must give up its obsession with reforming China, and must stop being narcissistic about its aggressive values. Respecting each other and not posing ones nose into each others internal affairs is the fundamental principle on which a security wall can be built between two major countries.

Second, US troops should not press down on Chinas core interests and should clear away at a reasonable distance. Especially in the Taiwan Strait, the US should not serve as the military backing for Taiwan independence forces or encourage them to make waves  that would be very dangerous. The US should not get directly involved in any dispute or conflict in the South China Sea. Any of its attempts to navigate the South China Sea situation through military pressuring would mean a high risk of armed conflicts.

Third, the US should not turn its competition with China into aggressive squeezing of Chinas development. Its plot to rally with its allies to exclude China from the main global supply chains, if going any further, will eventually lead to a fundamental conflict with the country, which will cause such wide-ranging consequences and add so much instability and long-term uncertainty to the international landscape that the two countries will end up in cut-throat competition as strategic enemies.

All in all, the US should not try to attack Chinas system, or split China, or block its way of development  these are the preconditions for building the guardrails. If Washington breaks any of the three conditions, it would be taking the initiative to attack China, and that is no competition. In that case, China will fight back, hard, at all costs.

The US should be honest with itself and stop self-deception. If with Washingtons support or instigation, the Taiwan authorities crossed the red line and claimed independence, the PLA would use armed forces to stop them immediately, and if the US decided to step in, armed confrontation between the Chinese and American militaries would be inevitable.

China has no intention of confronting the US, but it will not hesitate to safeguard its core national interests. The US has no right to unilaterally define the guardrails between the two countries simply based on its interests. They should be jointly defined and be conducive to both sides. America has rich experience in international relations, and hopefully, Washington will not be muddle-headed on the key issue of how to compete with China without conflict.

Editor's note: This article is originally published on huanqiu.com.cn, which is the website of Overseas Edition of the People's Daily. The article is translated from Chinese into English and edited by the China Military Online. The information, ideas or opinions appearing in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of eng.chinamil.com.cn.
BEIJING, July 23 -- At 12 am on July 21, five administrative villages in Dazhou Town of Changge City, central Chinas Henan Province, were trapped by floods. Some villagers failed to be evacuated in time. A pregnant woman who was about to give birth was trapped in a health-care center in Dazhou town. Due to days of heavy rain, the health-care center had no water and no power, thus was no longer qualified for delivery.

The troops assigned to the People's Armed Police (PAP) in Xuchang City rushed to rescue by an assault boat. After 37 minutes' rescue, the pregnant woman was finally transferred to a safe place, and then sent to a local hospital.

At 22:20 on July 21, the woman gave birth to a baby girl safely. The young parents named their baby girl "Kangkang, which means "anti - disaster" in Chinese.


Group photo of the 6th Chinese military aid team to Ethiopia (Provided by the expert team)

BEIJING, July 23 -- During the mission period of nearly 500 days, the 6th Chinese military medical aid team to Ethiopia demonstrated a strong sense of responsibility and mission, and stood on the forefront against the raging COVID-19 pandemic, local armed conflicts, and other complicated situations. They have made outstanding contributions to the friendly exchanges between the two countries and militaries. Recently, a letter of praise from the Chinese Embassy in Ethiopia affirmed the efforts made by the military medical aid team for medical development in Ethiopia.

Not long ago, the team returned to China after completing the overseas mission, during which they won the local peoples trust and praise for their advanced medical skills and good practices. On the day of their departure, many locals had voluntarily been to the airport to see them off.

Located in northeast Africa, Ethiopia is known as the ridge of Africa. After the first confirmed COVID-19 case appeared in the country in early 2020, the military medical aid team, while taking rigorous anti-virus measures themselves, made scientific and effective arrangements and fully exerted their strengths to introduce preventive and treating methods to the local medical staff and residents.

As the pandemic got more serious, they took the initiative to help the Ethiopian military build a simple lab that could detect novel coronavirus as well as a quarantine and treatment center, which was one of the key such centers designated by the local government, where no staff member has been infected.

For nearly 500 days and nights, the Chinese military medical experts, with their exceptional skills, cured many local patients and attracted a lot more for treatment. The team has set an example for foreign exchanges, said a staff member at the Chinese Embassy in Ethiopia.

The 6th Chinese military medical aid team to Ethiopia is a messenger of state-to-state and mil-to-mil friendliness and a paradigm for bilateral cooperation. According to an officer at the Ethiopian Defense Ministry, the Chinese military medical experts have assisted Ethiopia for many years in a row, not only winning a high reputation among the local public but also promoting and demonstrating the deep friendship between the two countries.
The screenshot is a China Mobile message received by a resident of Mihe Town, Gongyi City, Henan Province on the evening of July 21. The message reminds residents that the Wing Loong-2H UAV is now above the town and can temporarily resume communication for five hours so that they can report their situation and contact family members as soon as possible.

BEIJING, July 23 -- Wing Loong-2H, China's homemade emergency relief unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), has built an aerial emergency communication platform for residents in the disaster-stricken areas in Henan Province, central China.

Recently, central Chinas Henan Province was hit by large-scale extreme rainfalls, and communications in many villages in Mihe Town, Gongyi City were cut off. Chinas Ministry of Emergency Management (MEM) urgently dispatched the Wing Loong-2H UAV to build an aerial mobile base station.

According to the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), the developer of Wing Loong-2H, the UAV reached the target zone of Mihe Town after 4 hours of flight of nearly 1,200 kilometers.

The mobile base station built by Wing Loong-2H has achieved long-term and stable continuous mobile signal coverage of about 50 square kilometers. It helped restore mobile signals, connecting the emergency communication support lifeline.

According to the China Mobile, as of 11:20 p.m. on July 21, the UAV base station had provided services for a total of 3,572 users, generating data traffic of 2,089.89 megabytes , and as many as 648 users connected to the network in one time.

In addition, the Wing Loong-2H detected and monitored the disaster-stricken areas, and transmitted data back to the command center in real time, breaking the information barrier caused by extreme conditions such as road collapse, power failure, and network outage, as well as achieving the efficient and accurate command of emergency rescue.

According to news from the China Mobile on the afternoon of July 22, the Wing Loong-2H UAV took off again from an airport in Guizhou Province's Anshun. It flied for about four and a half hours and arrived at the Fuwai Central China Cardiovascular Hospital in Zhongmu County, central Chinas Zhengzhou City to provide network support for rescuing the hospital's patients and medics.

The Wing Loong-2H emergency relief UAV system is developed by the AVIC (Chengdu) based on the Wing Loong II UAV system. It is a large-scale emergency response UAV system designed to conduct disaster detection, emergency communication support, and emergency delivery. Featuring long flying range and flight duration, large loading capacity and good adaptability, it is a new force for emergency relief in China.

Comparison photos of road flooding in a disaster-stricken area in Henan taken by Wing Loong-2H UAV
Zeng said the WHO's origin-tracing proposal lacks "common sense" and displays a disrespect toward science that makes it "impossible" for Beijing to accept.

Zeng Yixin, the vice minister of the Chinese National Health Commission, told reporters in Beijing Thursday that he was extremely surprised when he read the proposal offered by the UN health agency includes audits of laboratories in the city of Wuhan, where the virus was first detected in late 2019 that led to more than 192 million infections around the globe, including 4.1 million deaths.

China has rejected the World Health Organization's proposal for a second phase of its investigation into the origin of the novel coronavirus pandemic.

A team of WHO researchers visited Wuhan earlier this year to research the initial cause of the virus. The team concluded the virus likely jumped from animals to humans and that it was "extremely unlikely" that it leaked from the Wuhan Institute of Virology as some experts have speculated. But WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has criticized China for not fully cooperating with investigators by not sharing raw data, and has called for a continued probe of all theories, including a lab accident.

Chinese officials and news outlets have begun speculating that the virus may have escaped from a U.S. military laboratory, a theory that has been widely dismissed by the scientific community.

Meanwhile, a new study says that two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine are effective against the highly contagious delta variant of the disease. In a study published Wednesday in The New England Journal of Medicine, researchers at Public Health England found that two doses of the Pfizer vaccine are 88 percent effective at preventing symptomatic disease caused by the delta variant, compared to 93 percent against the alpha variant. The researchers also say two doses of AstraZeneca vaccine are 67 percent effective against delta, compared to 74 percent against the alpha variant.

A single dose of Pfizer is just 36 percent effective against delta, the researchers say, while one shot of AstraZeneca was just 30 percent effective.

A study posted online Tuesday suggests that Johnson & Johnson's one-shot COVID-19 vaccine may be less effective against the emerging variants of the coronavirus, compared to either of the two-dose Pfizer or Moderna vaccines.
Samsung has cunningly product-placed its forthcoming Galaxy Watch 4 on the wrist of volleyball star Kim Yeon-koung heading to the Summer Olympics in Tokyo.

Samsung has finally ditched its proprietary operating system and adopted Android for the watch, which will be officially launched next month.

Kim is part of "Team Galaxy," a group of high-profile athletes from around the world sponsored by Samsung.

Orchestrated "leaks" of forthcoming products are all the rage in the electronics industry, where competition is tightening as the differences between gadgets are getting negligible and nothing very new is on the horizon.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, lavish launch events are also a thing of the past, making it even more vital for companies to clutch at every chance for publicity.


In my last column, I wrote about what details can be gleaned from the Biden administration's cryptic policy review on North Korea. The bumper sticker describes what the policy is not -- rather than what it is.

Apparently it is neither the "strategic patience" of the Obama administration nor the summit diplomacy of the Trump administration, but in May, Senior White House Coordinator for Asia policy Kurt Campbell told a South Korean newspaper that the U.S. government will accept the Trump administration's Singapore Declaration as a starting point for policy.

A new unknown variable is the coronavirus pandemic. North Korea has declared to the international community that it has no cases of COVID-19. To ensure that there is no transmission of the virus, it has sealed its borders since January 2020. An outbreak in North Korea would be devastating to the country, whose public health system is in a state of disrepair. The facilities and clinics available to average North Korean throughout the country have very little in terms of modern technology and basic medicines. In addition, decades of food shortages have left segments of the population malnourished, which has also created a population with co-morbidities. This combination of factors, and the lack of adequate testing and tracing capacity would allow the virus to spread like wildfire.

North Korea has applied to the WHO's COVAX facility for vaccines and its application was approved, but the vaccines have not yet arrived due to global supply shortages, as well as the question whether the country is capable of maintaining cold chain storage. Moreover, the number of vaccines allotted to North Korea is low (around 1.6 to 2 million) compared to the size of the population.

Adding to the problem, the regime has effectively stated that it is skeptical of almost all of the vaccines currently being used. At one point, it said that it would only accept WHO-approved-for-emergency-use vaccines. North Korea has reportedly received a shipment of Chinese vaccines, but the regime did not administer them to the elites. It is not even interested in Russia's Sputnik or Astra Zeneca. This demonstrates a level of paranoia that is unprecedented even for North Korea.

While the regime maintains that it has no cases, the North Korean leader castigated his senior leadership at a recent politburo meeting for "critical lapses" in the fight against the virus. It is not entirely clear what this meant, but one has to imagine that either smuggling or earlier efforts to relax the border closure could have created a vulnerability to infections. Commercial satellite imagery in May of the Dandong-Sinuiju border suggested that North Korea may have relaxed restrictions to allow for exports to China in order to earn hard currency, but that has since been halted.

The regime certainly has ways of containing the virus among its population through draconian measures that violate civil liberties in ways that would be unacceptable in the West, but the real question is how much longer the economy can survive without any real trade or commerce with China, on which the North depends for 90 percent of external trade. Reports are that the food situation in the North is becoming dire and that prices are starting to rise 18 months into the border closure.

North Korea has always demonstrated remarkable resilience despite extreme hardship, but this is arguably an unprecedented situation. North Korea can be expected to keep its border closed at least through the end of 2021. Past precedents show that with SARS, MERS, and Ebola, North Korea did not open up until several months after South Korea opened. Thus if the target for herd immunity in the South is November, then the North will be remained closed well into the first or second quarter of 2022. Can the economy survive for over two years without any trade with China?

There are several reasons why this matters for U.S. policy. COVID has rendered moot the traditional carrot-versus-stick policy debate on North Korea. First, advocates for a sanctions-only policy may find their thesis being tested in the sense that North Korea has self-imposed tighter sanctions than John Bolton could ever have hoped for. Even if China wanted to help North Korea, that assistance -- except for some smuggling and ship-to-ship transfers -- is being rejected for fear of the virus. And yet North Korea is not begging for new talks with the U.S. and South Korea, which had been the driving thesis of sanctions advocates.

But advocates for engagement also see their arguments being rendered unusable by the pandemic. This is because the regime, for fear of the virus, is not willing to accept face-to-face talks. The Biden administration completed its policy review over two months ago and has reached out to North Korea for dialogue, but there has been no response. Moreover, the promise to lift economic sanctions will not incentivize North Korea because of the border lockdown.

Usually by this time in a new U.S. presidency, North Korea would have carried out some major provocation to test the will of the new president and to force itself onto the agenda. It carried out long-range ballistic missile tests and nuclear tests in the early months of both the Obama and Trump administrations. But aside from some minor projectile launches, the North Koreans have remained unusually quiet -- again, perhaps because of the internal situation created by COVID.

What all of this points to is a policy dilemma. It leaves the U.S. only with two practical measures to consider. One would be to gather more intelligence and information about the COVID situation inside North Korea. With the January 2020 lockdown, all NGOs and foreign diplomatic personnel left the North and there is very little information about what is going inside the country. The second task would be to see how open the North Koreans are to some form of humanitarian assistance dialogue. This could be done initially through online meetings if the North Koreans fear virus transmission. Right now, the conventional means of diplomacy on denuclearization remains stymied because of the pandemic.
Woburn, MA (01801)

Today

Light rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers overnight. Low 64F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%..

Tonight

Light rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers overnight. Low 64F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%.
James Owens, of Skyline, received the Distinguished Member of the Regiment honor for his service in the Vietnam War. Owens received the honor from Major General Brian Winski at a ceremony in Fort Campbell, Kentucky in June.
Below are the arrests for July 22. All listed are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Kevin Breedlove, 56, was arrested on July 22 at 3:40 a.m. at 913 W. State St. for domestic battery (level 5 felony).

Tylor Leyk, 21, was arrested on July 22 at 2:51 p.m. at 1495 N. Webster St. for manufacture/ dealing methamphetamine (level 4 felony), possession of marijuana (class B misdemeanor), possession of methamphetamine (level 6 felony), and possession of a controlled substance schedule II, III, IV (class A misdemeanor).

Derrick Long, 41, was arrested on July 22 at 3:3:25 p.m. at 1500 S. Main St. for possession of cocaine or a narcotic (level 6 felony), possession of methamphetamine (level 6 felony) and possession of paraphernalia (class C misdemeanor).

Support Local Journalism Now, more than ever, the world needs trustworthy reportingbut good journalism isnt free. Please support us by making a contribution. Contribute

David Moore, 44, was arrested on July 22 at 5:00 p.m. at 2097 W. Alto Road for warrant/ Clinton County.

Jon Nutt, 59, was arrested on July 22 at 9:15 a.m. at 101 N. Union St. for public indecency-indecent exposure (class A misdemeanor).

Steven Smith, 42, was arrested on July 22 at 8:30 a.m. at Washington Street and South Monroe Street for operating a vehicle while intoxicated (class C misdemeanor).

Ricky Winninger, 32, was arrested on July 22 at 11:25 a.m. at 915 N. Washington St. for criminal trespass and invasion of privacy.
HAMMOND  Lake Superior Judge John Sedia holds in his hands the future of Lake County government operations.

In coming days, Sedia will decide whether to renew his April 16 decision giving the Lake County Council control over purchasing and data processing, or to revise his prior ruling as requested by the Board of Commissioners that currently manages both departments.

Sedia heard arguments Thursday by two attorneys intimately involved in Lake County government for decades: John Dull, for the commissioners; and Ray Szarmach, for the council.

Dull passionately, but politely, made the case Sedia got it wrong three months ago when the judge concluded a 1981 Indiana law assigns authority over purchasing and data processing to the Lake County Council, regardless of whether the council has chosen to exercise that authority in the years since.

WATCH NOW: Half of eligible Indiana population is fully vaccinated

Sedia said the council's 2020 ordinances  enacted over the commissioners' veto  claiming control of purchasing and data processing from the commissioners were sufficient for the council to actually take over the departments.

Dull argued that finding ignores an Indiana statute expressly giving the power of contracting on behalf of Lake County solely to the commissioners.

He observed the council can't operate a purchasing department if it doesn't have the power to negotiate contacts.

Moreover, Dull said the change runs afoul of the separation of powers mandated by the Indiana Constitution and state law for the council to raise tax revenue, decide how it should be spent, and also now spend the money in place of the county's executive, the commissioners.

Support Local Journalism Now, more than ever, the world needs trustworthy reportingbut good journalism isnt free. Please support us by making a contribution. Contribute

"There is no form of county government (in Indiana) where the fiscal authority and the power to contract are in the same body," Dull said.

Szarmach, meanwhile, returned over and over to the 1981 statute that he said, and Sedia previously agreed, authorized the council to take control of county purchasing at any time.

He also minimized the threat to county government operations claimed by Dull by pointing out the commissioners still will have plenty to do even if purchasing in the future is overseen by the council.

Watch Now: Riding Shotgun with NWI Paramedics

All parties, including the judge, acknowledged no matter how the case turns out it likely will be reviewed by the Indiana Court of Appeals.

In that vein, commissioners attorney Matt Fech urged Sedia to postpone enforcement of any ruling, and leave the commissioners in charge of purchasing, until any appeals are concluded.

Council attorney Derek Molter said in response there's no reason the council can't move forward with its plans to take over purchasing Monday, assuming the judge consents, since the appeals process could take years.

Sedia promised: "As is my habit, I will get out a ruling as quickly as I can."

Get to know these new Indiana laws enacted in 2021
HUNTINGTON, Ind., July 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Northeast Indiana Bancorp, Inc., (OTCQB: NIDB), the parent company of First Federal Savings Bank, has announced that the Corporation will pay a cash dividend of $0.28 per common share. The dividend will be payable on August 23, 2021 to shareholders of record on August 9, 2021.

Northeast Indiana Bancorp Inc. was named to the "Dividends Champions" list in 2020 by Dividendvaluebuilder.com. This prestigious list recognizes public companies who have increased their cash dividend every year for twenty-five consecutive years or more. Northeast Indiana Bancorp, Inc. is one of only eighteen banks to make the list out of approximately 880 public companies. The complete list can be viewed at https://dividendvaluebuilder.com/dividend-champions-list/.

The book value of NIDB's stock was $39.87 per common share as of June 30, 2021. The last reported trade of stock at the close of business on July 22, 2021 was $43.00 per common share and the number of outstanding shares was 1,202,985 as of the same date. The annualized dividend yield is currently 2.6% when annualizing the current quarter cash dividend of $0.28 per common share against the July 22, 2021 closing price of $43.00 per common share.

Northeast Indiana Bancorp, Inc. is headquartered at 648 N. Jefferson Street, Huntington, Indiana. The company offers a full array of banking and financial brokerage services to its customers through its main office in Huntington and five full-service Indiana offices in Huntington (2), Warsaw and Fort Wayne (2). The Company is traded on the OTC Markets Group, Inc. (www.otcmarkets.com) utilizing the OTCQB platform under the symbol "NIDB". Our web site address is www.firstfedindiana.bank.

Support Local Journalism Now, more than ever, the world needs trustworthy reportingbut good journalism isnt free. Please support us by making a contribution. Contribute

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/northeast-indiana-bancorp-inc-announces-quarterly-cash-dividend-301340285.html

SOURCE Northeast Indiana Bancorp, Inc.
Press Release

July 23, 2021 Dispatch from Crame No. 1,105:

Sen. Leila M. de Lima on the Prevalence of Sniper Assassinations 7/23/21 NBI should take-over investigation of sniper assassinations. Nakakabahala ang dalawang magkasunod na balita na sniper ang pumatay sa tatlong radio personalities, dalawa sa Davao at isa naman sa Cebu. Aside from their chilling effect on radio personalities and the media in general, the three consecutive murders tell us that other than the usual riding-in-tandem modus, snipers are now being used as assassins as well. What is troubling is the idea that not just anyone can be a sniper. Snipers are exclusively highly-skilled military or police personnel, trained in the AFP or PNP special forces. These killers should be easy to trace. All that one needs is a roster of all trained snipers of the AFP and PNP, both in the active service or retired, with focus on those with extensive combat experience and those dishonorably discharged from the service. This does not mean that the assassins are conclusively from the AFP or PNP, but it is a place to start the investigations, rather than simply add these cases to the PNP's list of unsolved crimes. Better yet, the NBI should take over the investigation of high-profile assassinations, whether involving snipers or riding-in-tandems. It does not take rocket science to figure out that highly skilled and highly trained assets of the AFP and/or PNP are now being used in the lucrative EJK business, made profitable and ordinary under the Duterte regime. Whether they are deployed by the government to carry out state-sponsored assassinations or hired as freelance assassins, this trade has to stop or no one will be safe.
Press Release

July 23, 2021 Drilon: SC affirms Senate's role and power in treaty withdrawal Contrary to Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque's claim that the Supreme Court decision "virtually said" that the Senate's concurrence is not needed in withdrawing from treaties or international agreements, Senate Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon asserted that the Supreme Court decision recognized the role and power of the Senate in treaty abrogation. "While the Supreme Court dismissed the petition questioning the validity of the Philippine government's withdrawal from the Rome Statute for being moot and academic, the Supreme Court affirms the need for Senate's concurrence in the withdrawal from treaties and international agreements," Drilon said in a statement Friday. "The high court, in a landmark ruling, recognized and upheld the role and power of the Senate as the partner of the President, not only in treaty-making but in treaty-abrogation as well," he stressed. Drilon cites the decision in Pangilinan v. Cayetano (GR 238875) that "the President's discretion on unilaterally withdrawing from any treaty or international agreement is not absolute. As primary architect of foreign policy, the President enjoys a degree of leeway to withdraw from treaties. However, this leeway cannot go beyond the President's authority under the Constitution and the laws. In appropriate cases, legislative involvement is imperative." "The Court may have dismissed the petition on procedural grounds but the decision made a doctrinal pronouncement, by acknowledging and explicitly ruling that the President may be the "chief architect of foreign policy" but his powers are not absolute. The decision affirms that the realm of treaty-making and abrogation is not exclusive to the President. It is a shared power with the Senate," Drilon said. Records will show that Drilon have long been consistently putting forward a position: That since the Constitution requires Senate concurrence for the validity and effectivity of treaties, Senate concurrence should likewise be required to terminate them. "Since the Constitution expressly provides for shared treaty-making power, it necessarily implies that the power to abrogate the same must also be exercised jointly." Drilon therefore is elated that this is echoed in Pangilinan case, where the Court held that: The extent of legislative involvement in withdrawing from treaties is further determined by circumstances attendant to how the treaty was entered into or came into effect. Where legislative imprimatur impelled the president's action to enter into a treaty, a withdrawal cannot be effected without concomitant legislative action. Similarly, where the Senate's concurrence imposes as a condition, the same concurrence for withdrawal, the president enjoys no unilateral authority to withdraw, and must then secure Senate concurrence." In its 100-page ruling, the Supreme Court held: "The President cannot unilaterally withdraw from treaties that were entered into pursuant to the legislative intent manifested in prior laws, or subsequently affirmed by succeeding laws. Treaties where Senate concurrence for accession is expressly premised on the same concurrence for withdrawal likewise cannot be the subject of unilateral withdrawal." It can be recalled that upon Drilon's intervention, there are about 17 treaties that include a provision requiring Senate concurrence prior to withdrawal. Among these treaties and international agreements are the Accession to the Paris Agreement, Convention on Cybercrime and Agreement of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. Drilon cites as an example the Senate's concurrence in the accession to the Paris Agreement, which states that the "President of the Philippines may, with the concurrence of two-thirds of all the Members of the Senate, withdraw from the Agreement." "The ruling has far-reaching consequences; it strengthens the system of check and balance. The decision validates the role of the Senate, as representative of the people, in the abrogation, termination, or withdrawal from treaties and international agreements," Drilon said. "The ruling will provide stability insofar as our treaty obligation is concerned. This is a win for the Filipino people, as treaties will not be subject to the caprice of one man," he added.
Press Release

July 23, 2021 On Handling the Covid Delta Variant: Proactive Approach Needed More at: https://pinglacson.net/2021/07/23/on-handling-the-covid-delta-variant-proactive-approach-needed/ It is sad that as individuals, we have developed this wrong attitude of checking on our medicine cabinets at home only when somebody already gets sick or hurt, when we should always be prepared with making available medicines for common colds, cough, fever as well as unexpected injuries and emergencies. But it is pathetic that our national health authorities are no different, being reactive instead of proactive. Knowing the Delta variant has already gripped India and Indonesia, it seems they have not prepared adequately. The reports involving the vessels from Indonesia that moored in Butuan - where the crew became potential spreaders of the Delta variant - are a case in point to highlight that "medicine cabinet" attitude of our authorities. It seems nothing has changed from early 2020, when our health officials failed miserably in the conduct of contact tracing on the fellow passengers of a Wuhan couple who traveled from Cebu to Dumaguete and Manila. Worse, government refused to close our borders to travelers from Mainland China when we already knew that the first known COVID-19 patient came from Wuhan, China in December 2019. That said, the first order of the day for the next leader of the country is to scout for a more qualified and better person at the helm of the Health Department, and make sure that business and health don't mix especially during a time of extreme emergency like the pandemic. Also, the public sector must always take the lead and initiative from the private sector in addressing health emergencies, but not to a point of discouraging the latter from being partners in the endeavor. For, if the private sector has taken the initiative, it can only mean that the government is failing to address the problem at hand. Sadly, it is what is happening.
Press Release

July 23, 2021 Villanueva: Shore up ranks of health frontliners as Delta variant looms in PH With the full brunt of COVID-19's Delta variant looming on the horizon and the virus spinning more dangerous mutations, Senator Joel Villanueva is calling on the government to step up its hiring of health personnel, beginning with the 5,008 nurses who hurdled the recent board exams. "Kailangan na ng reinforcements ang ating mga frontlines. We've spent 16 months fighting this pandemic, and the unseen enemy has been mutating into more dangerous strains," Villanueva said. "Mukhang wala tayong timeout sa pandemyang ito, kaya dapat lamang na patuloy tayo maging alerto para hindi na sumunod sa nangyari sa mga bansang tinamaan ng Delta variant tulad ng India at Indonesia." He said the 5,008 passers of the nurses licensure examination held earlier this month can ease staffing shortages in public hospitals and other health facilities. Another talent pool the government can draw from is the batch of 1,234 doctors who passed the licensure tests in May. Villanueva said the government should provide funds to the Department of Health "so the latter can go on a hiring binge." And to boost the morale of frontliners, "we have to make sure they are paid what is due them on time and in full," Villanueva added. "Siguruhin po natin na kung sino man ang nagnanais maglingkod sa gobyerno bilang public health frontliners, ibigay po natin sa kanila ang nararapat sa kanilang mga sakripisyo," the chair of the Senate labor committee said. He said the staff complement of government health facilities should be "raised to war level." "Most are running on manpower best suited for 'peacetime' conditions, not during this pandemic. Kailangan na pong mag-level up, " he said. Even if government facilities have beds and equipment, "you need personnel to man or operate them," he said. "Kahit naman bakuna, kailangan po ng tao para i-inject yon." As of December 2020, there were 30,396 nurses in public hospitals and 24,969 in primary health care facilities such as Rural Health Units in towns. "This comes up to about 5 nurses per 10,000," Villanueva said. The DOH has a payroll budget of P61.14 billion this year, a figure that does not cover personnel in hospitals and health centers run by local governments. This year, the DOH has a P16.7 billion budget for its health personnel deployment program, where it assigns doctors, nurses, midwives and other health workers to underserved localities. Villanueva: Palakasin, paramihin pa ang health frontliners sa bansa laban sa Delta variant Sa unti-unting pagdami ng kaso ng Delta variant ng COVID-19 sa bansa, nanawagan si Sen. Joel Villanueva sa gobyerno na palakasin ang recruitment ng health workers na maaari simulan sa 5,008 na bagong nurse sa nakalipas na board exams. "Kailangan na po ng reinforcements ang ating mga frontliners. Labing anim na buwan na nating nilalabanan ang pandemya, at ang kalaban natin dito ay hindi nakikitang virus na nag-mutate pa at naging mas mapanganib," ani Villanueva, chair ng Senate labor committee. "Wala po tayong timeout sa pandemyang ito, kaya dapat tuloy-tuloy tayo maging alerto at alisto para hindi tayo matulad sa mga bansang tinamaan ng Delta variant tulad ng India at Indonesia." Aniya, ang 5,008 na pumasang mga nurse sa licensure examination na naganap kamakailan lamang ay makakatulong sa kakulangan ng medical personnel sa mga pampublikong ospital at ibang health facilities. Isa ring pagkukunan ng gobyerno ay ang 1,234 na bagong doktor na pumasa sa board exams nitong Mayo. Giit pa ni Villanueva, dapat pondohan ng gobyerno sa pamamagitan ng DOH kung magkakaroon ng malawakang recruitment ng health personnel, para na rin magkaroon ng kumpiyansa ang mga ito. "Siguruhin po natin na kung sino man ang nagnanais magsilbi sa gobyerno bilang public health frontliners, ibigay po natin sa kanila ang nararapat sa kanilang mga sakripisyo," anang senador. Dagdag pa ni Villanueva, ang paglalagay ng tauhan sa mga pasilidad pangkalusugan ng gobyerno ay dapat nasa alert level ng digmaan. "Kailangan na po mag level up," aniya. Kahit may kagamitan at sapat na kwarto ang mga pasilidad ng gobyerno, kailangan pa din ng tatao sa mga ito, ayon sa senador. "Kahit naman bakuna, kailangan mo ng tao para i-inject yon." Noong Disyembre 2020, mayroong naitalang 30,396 na nurse sa mga pampublikong ospital at 24,969 sa mga primary health care facilities tulad ng Rural Health Units sa mga barrio. "Ito ay katumbas ng 5 nurse sa bawat 10,000 Pilipino," ani Villanueva. May pondo ang DOH para sa sweldo na nagkakahalaga ng P61.14 bilyon ngayong taon, hindi kasama ang pagbabayad sa ospital at health centers ng mga LGU. Itong taon rin, may pondo ang DOH na P16.7 bilyon para sa health personnel deployment program nito, kung saan nagtatalaga ito ng mga doktor, nars, kumadrona at iba pa sa mga "underserved localities."
You have permission to edit this article.

Edit Close
Home > 2021 > Centenary of Foundation of Communist Party of China | Anil Rajimwale

The completion of hundred years of CPC (Communist Party of China) is a historic event, both in its positivity and negativity. Officially, its centenary was completed on July 1, though the foundation congress was held in third week of July.

It has been a fascinating journey for the party as well as for Chinese revolution, full of extraordinary events, successes and tragedies. Second in importance only to Russian revolution, Chinese revolution has left a lasting imprint on Asia and world. Wonderfully absorbing, this revolution is unlike any other, unbelievably rich in mass upsurge, full of twists turns. CPC played a great role in raising the slumbering giant to consciousness. Simultaneously, it also was a tragic experiment in what Karl Marx characterized as utopian socialism, in which masses were treated as guinea pigs for social engineering. Lenin had a foreboding of this kind of socialism when he criticized petty-bourgeois socialism in his polemics against Narodniks.

Sun Yat-sen and anti-feudal revolution of 1911

Foundation of CPC and Chinese revolution cannot be understood without reference to the great anti-feudal revolution of 1911, called Xinhai Revolution, resulting in the inauguration of Dr Sun Yat-sen as Chinas Provisional President and later to foundation of the KMT or Kuomintang (Guomindang) Party. KMT grew out of Nationalist Party formed earlier by Sun Yat-sen.

Sun Yat-sen was characterized by Lenin as a revolutionary democrat, endowed with the nobility and heroism of a class that is rising, not declining... This referred to the rising revolutionary bourgeois democracy of China. Lenin said that Every line of Sun Yat-sens platform breathes a spirit of militant and sincere democracy.

Sun Yat-sen replaced the older Three principles of KMT by the crucial new ones. After Russian revolution, KMT got radicalized, and Dr Sun developed three significant principles: Friendship with Soviet Union, friendship with Communist Party of China (CPC), and deep concern for workers and peasants. They were culmination of bourgeois democratic tendencies gathering force in society. KMT was a bourgeois democratic party and its aims coincided with bourgeois democratic revolution.

Foundation of CPC (1921)

May 4th movement of 1919 brought Marxism and other radical ideologies to China. Foundation of CPC was preceded by a number of Marxist study circles all over China founded by the well-known intellectuals Li Dachao, Liu Shaoqi, Chen Duziu and others. It was under Li Dachao that Mao Zedong initially worked in the library of Peking University. Liu worked mainly among the working class, while Mao and many others among the peasants. CPC was simultaneously the product of mass movements and Russian revolution.

Series of initial consultations led to emergence of a group of about 50 communists, who held their first congress in 106, Rue Wantz, Shanghai, on July 23, 1921. The venue now is CPC History Museum, which resurrects scenes of the congress with statues of delegates. 13 delegates met, including Chen Duxiu (ChenTu-ziu), Li Dazhao (Li Ta-chao), Zang Guotao, Tan Pingshan, Chen Gongbo, Dong Biwu, He Mengxiong, He Shuheng and others. Mao was present as one of the two delegates from Hunan.

Voitinsky and Sneevliet (Maring) were Comintern representatives in China greatly helping preparatory work. Sneevliet was a Dutch Communist, who worked in Holland and Dutch East Indies (Indonesia etc). Later Mikhail Borodin for long years functioned as Comintern representative living in China, advising KMT and CPC. He even was included on the Central Executive Committee of KMT. The name Zongguo Gongchan Dang (Communist Party of China) was adopted. The police intervened on July 30 and broke up the congress. The congress then moved to South Lake, and continued its deliberations in a boat!

Chen Duxiu was elected first general secretary.

United front with KMT (1921-27)

After Dr Suns initial presidency, Yuan Shihkai, a rightwinger, became president. Yuan died in 1916, and political power in China got divided between mainly two centres: Peking (Beijing) government in north and Canton, Nanjing and Wuhan governments of KMT, including CPC, in south.

Sun Yat-sen was very close to CPC, and it became possible for the newly formed CPC to enter into united front with it. He was a near Marxist. KMT, particularly its leftwing, worked closely with CPC. There were several Communists in the CEC of KMT, including Li Dazhao, Chen Duxiu, Deng Yanda (formally not in the CPC), and others. Many of them were in-charges of various KMT committees.

KMT and CPC launched armed Northern Expedition in early 1920s against warlord governments. Dr Sun Yat-sen died in March 1925, replaced by Chiang Kai-shek. United front continued till Chiang turned against Communists in Shanghai in 1927, and then in Wuhan, but Communist General Ye Ting fought back. In Beijing (Peking), Li Dazhao and 19 other communists were executed.

Historic Long March and Second United Front (1927-37)

Dr Suns wife Madam Soong Ching Ling (Mdm. Sun) played a great role in trying to keep the UF intact. She represented radical left KMT faction and was one of the leaders of the continued Northern Expedition. She never gave up UF with CPC, though never did formally join the CPC. She went on to become one of the vice-presidents of China after liberation in 1949. Leftwing of KMT led by her broke up with Chiang Kai-shek.

The Great March is immortalized by Edgar Snow in his famous work Red Star Over China, himself participating.

In January 1935, Polit Buro meeting in Zunyi (Tsunyi) elected Mao Zedong chairman of party, a turning point. The meeting is also controversial on several counts, as it allegedly usurped several functions of a party congress. During maos leadership, party congresses were became a rarity. It is also alleged that Zunyi meeting was timed by Mao with the absence of several key CPC leaders.

Mao decidedly emerged as the leader of CPC and Chinese revolution.

Japan attacked China in 1931 and on a massive scale in 1936, invading huge areas including Manchuria.

CPC gave clarion call for nation-wide broad united front with KMT and other forces, without being disturbed by the latters anti-CPC activities. It was able to persuade KMT, thus helping fight back the Japanese. CPC established many liberated zones.

One interesting fact is that a Medical Mission from Indian National Congress went to China in 1936 at Nehrus initiative, with five doctors including the famous Dr Kotnis, who served the liberated areas, lived, married and worked in China and died there. His statue was erected there and a film on him by V Shantaram made. The Mission also included Dr Bose and others.

CPC and Second World War

CPC and Mao presented model examples of united front tactics before and during the WWII. This the extreme left and Maoists need to know. United front of CPC and KMT spread rapidly, and actually helped CPC to strengthen its bases. CPC showed how UF tactics, if followed correctly, helped CPC grow in respect and mass base. New Fourth Army led by Gen Ye Ting and Eighth Route Army under Gen Zhu De played crucial role in alliance with KMT forces to throw back Japanese forces.

Liberation in 1949

Soviet and Allied victories over fascism in 1945 created favourable situation for Chinese revolution. Though War ended in Europe, it continued to rage in Asia. Soviet troops fought back Japanese armies in Manchuria defeating their key divisions including the elite Kwantung Division. This enabled PLA to pour into this vast province. Simultaneously, Liu Shaoqi (Liu Shao-chi) and others organized industrial and urban areas, turning Manchuria into crucial base for revolution.

Soviet armies defeated Japanese armies by September 1945, proving uselessness of dropping atomic bombs over Hiroshima and Nagasaki by US.

It is interesting to note that CPC at the initiative of Mao Zedong proposed a coalition government with KMT in 1946, a fine example of UF tactics. Mao Zedong especially wrote On Coalition Government in support of this move. This again is a lesson for sectarian-dogmatic concepts. KMT refused, and CPC waited for a year before counter-attacking on a wide front.

Chiang Kai-shek government retreated, fled from Peking to Nanking and then to Formosa (Taiwan). PLA surrounded Peking and entered it in September 1949. Peoples Republic of China was proclaimed on October 1, 1949, thus completing New Democratic Revolution, politically.

Strategy and tactics of Chinese revolution

China was predominantly a terribly feudal society, divided into feuding warlords, each with own area of domination, fighting constantly. There was no bourgeois democracy, no elections, no parliament, no parties officially. Democratic rights including press and open struggles were next to impossible. So, main form of struggle had to be armed one. The centre was always weak, and warlords dictated terms. What China needed was a bourgeois democratic revolution, new democratic revolution in CPC terms.

China also was predominantly a peasant, petty bourgeois and small producers in social composition.

Thus the conditions in China were qualitatively different from that in India. Therefore, it is absolutely wrong to follow Chinese tactics and methods in countries like India. Copying Chinese revolution has done immense harm to Indian revolution and democratic movement.

Main enemies of revolution in China were imperialism, feudalism and comprador bourgeoisie. Compradors were particular type of parasitic bourgeoisie dependent on internal and external trading without interest in industrialization. They were different from the enlightened national bourgeoisie. China had a weak industrial base. The united front in China included the national bourgeoisie, along with workers, peasants, petty bourgeoisie, intellectuals etc.

It will be interesting to know that the Chinese Red Flag depicts one big star representing CPC, and four smaller ones representing working class, peasantry, petty bourgeoisie and national bourgeoisie. This is notable, and it would be interesting to note the reaction of the ultra-revolutionaries to this act of class collaboration!

There are thus basic qualitative differences between situations in China and India. Chinese tactics do not apply here. Even Chinese leaders like Zhou Enlai and others insisted that Indian Communists must not copy Chinese methods.

Post-liberation

It was a huge task to transform China from extreme feudal backwardness to path of progress. As the main task, lands of the feudal lords had to be taken over and distributed among the mass of poor peasantry. Besides, industrialization had to be undertaken and a strong state sector built. The task for CPC was to guide democratic transformation of China on way to socialism. There was no hurry to bring socialism, which was a distant goal. China was a land of petty producers, who had to be gradually transformed.

By 1956, land reforms were completed with take-over of lands of feudal lords and their distribution among the landless. Some cooperative farms and a few state farms were also built. Industrialization began with state help in raw materials, tools and equipments, loans and infrastructure etc. Feudals and comprador bourgeoisie were eliminated as a class.

The 8th congress of CPC was held in 1956. It set realistic aims for the future. The party congress was being held in an internal and international atmosphere of optimism and new potentials for world revolution, democratic transformation and move towards liberation.

World Communist movement (WCM) was making new evaluation of the post-WWII situation, and formulating new tasks. The famous 20th CPSU congress took place in 1956, setting the tone for fashioning new outlook. New forms and methods with democratic revolution as a key to future was being assessed. Parliamentary and peaceful paths to socialism were being worked out. Peaceful coexistence emerged as the key to world situation. Communist movement had to formulate new strategies and tactics for future. World Communist conferences of 1957 and 1960 were to take place. CPC found itself in tune with the wavelengths of the WCM.

Mao Zedong played a minor role at the 8th CPC congress, though universally recognized as leader of Chinese revolution. A collective leadership was visible, to be shattered in next few years with the rise of Maoism. Mao appeared briefly, delivering a short opening address. Liu Shaoqi delivered long Political Report, with Zhou Enlai (Chou En-lai) reporting on 2nd 5-year plan, and some other proposals and reports were presented.

Political Report by Liu Shaoqi declared that China had achieved a virtual completion of the stage of bourgeois democratic revolution..., beginning a transition to socialism. There were no hasty conclusions and no impossible tasks set, as was to happen later. It was a balanced and sober report. CPC took decisions on a realistic evaluation of the given situation. There was to be no utopian and adventurist rush for socialism, though that was the goal.

Report on Party Constitution was interesting in many ways. It was more democratic compared to the later Maoist period. The Constitution interestingly stated that CPC takes Marxism-Leninism as its guide to action. There was no mention of Mao Zedong Thought, which was incorporated later during rise of Maoism.

Second session of 8th congress (1958)

Then something interesting and intriguing happened in 1958. In an unusual move, a second plenum of the 8th congress was called in 1958. In other words, the same Party congress (8th) having a second session or plenum two years later! The chief reason for it was that there occurred a change in balance of power during these two years. Mao consolidated his positions in the party and the state with the help of his group, armed forces and intelligence agencies. He began to set up parallel structure, which was to strike back some years later.

Mao played the chief role during the second session, in the course of which most of the basic positions of 1956 party congress were revised. Balance and sobriety of 1956 was gone, which was reflected in the haste for socialism. Concepts of Peoples Commune and Great Leap made their appearance, and calls were given to overtake the West quickly. Time frames of targets were reduced, and forcible conversion of production relations without adequate levels of productive forces was begun, accelerating rapidly.

Utopian concepts of socialism and communism gained ground, preparing base for rise of Maoism.

CC CPC resolution of June 27, 1981 on Certain Questions of History of Party, pointed out that the short-coming of Second Plenum of 8th Congress (1958) was that it overlooked objective economic laws.... Left errors with excessive targets stirred up communist wind" unchecked throughout the country. Comrade Mao Zedong and many leading comrades ... were impatient for quick results and overestimated role of subjective will. Great Leap Forward and rural peoples communes were initiated without careful investigation and study. Actions against the so-called anti-Party group of Peng Dehuai, Huang Kecheng, Zhang Wentian and Zhou Xiaozhou was entirely wrong. Politically, this struggle gravely undermined inner-Party democracy ...

Emergence of Maoism

It was mainly with second session of 8th congress (1958) that Mao Zedong initiated the trend known as Maoism, a variety of adventurism, compellism and utopianism. Even earlier, there were deficiencies and gaps in Maos thoughts, not in accord with scientific concepts of Marxism and socialism.

In the international arena, CPC went back on its support to new evaluation of post-War situation by world communist movement. CPC refused to see the changes in post-War world, and began imposing Chinese path of revolution, insisting only on armed form of struggle, imposing its line on other Communist parties, forcing splits in them. Now, for CPC peaceful democratic path of revolution and peaceful coexistence was not possible. Mao even thought a new world war was quite possible, beamingly saying it would help world revolution!

This was the period of growing conflict of CPC with CPs in other countries. Indian Communist movement suffered heavily, leading ultimately in split in CPI. China made aggression on India in October 1962. This was roundly condemned by CEC and NC of CPI in clear terms in October-November 1962.

SA Dange was the first to characterize Chinese party activities since 1959 as Great Power Chauvinism and ultra-nationalism, which led to a violation of international boundaries, of internationalism itself and to severe jolt to democratic movement. India-China friendship received severe setback.

Maoist leadership aimed to defeat the West in economic competition first in 15 years, then in a revised 10 and then 3 years: all in preparation for an imaginary communism! Agricultural lands were reorganized into just 25 thousand communes, depriving peasants of their land. Massive transfers of populations to force industrialization with maddening targets resulted in unprecedented dislocations. Chinas backyards were studded with 18th century blast furnaces in a bid to reach communism, throwing it many decades back!

Agricultural and industrial production fell sharply, as socialism was sought to be built with utterly backward means of production: ninety percent of land was still tilled with wooden ploughs! This combined with 18th century furnaces created havoc.

Failure and disaster led to blame game. Failure to build socialism and communism was put on the head of so-called capitalist-roaders and rightists within the party, culminating in infamous campaign under so-called cultural revolution. It led to mental and physical abuse, repressions, beatings and imprisonments, dismissals from posts, and defamation and mass hysteria of the Red Guards. That also was the time when millions of copies of mini Red Books with Maos quotations were distributed all over China and the world as guide book to sure success for revolution! It all only helped strengthen imperialism.

Cultural revolution led to a countrywide frenzy against those opposing Maos ideas. Millions of people were uprooted, repressed and killed. Even President of China Liu Shaoqi was persecuted and died in most tragic circumstances. His wife was dragged on the streets, forced to put on dunce cap. All this was analyzed and criticized in CC CPC Resolution of June 1981.

CPC Resolution stated: The cultural revolution, which lasted from May 1966 to October 1976, was responsible for the most severe setbacks and the heaviest losses suffered by the Party, the state and the people since the founding of the Peoples Republic. It was initiated and led by Comrade Mao Zedong. Further, The history of the cultural revolution has proved that Comrade Mao Zedongs principal theses for initiating this revolution conformed neither to Marxism, Leninism nor to Chinese reality. It resulted in massive losses in means of production, disruption of industries and agriculture, and massive transfers of populations, mass starvations and deaths. CPC sharply criticized Maoist theory and practice of forcing utopia upon China. Resolution said these events violated Mao Zedong Thoughts themselves. According to Resolution, Chen Yi, Peng Dehuai, Li Xiannian, Chen Yun, Zhu De, and many others were wrongly persecuted and stripped of power.

China after Maos death (1976)

The extreme wing of Cultural Revolution, the Gang of Four led by Lin Biao, Chiang Ching and others, sought to take advantage of the confusion to stage a coup, but failed. In the meantime Zhou Enlai became ill and passed away in 1975. Deng Xiaoping was given charge of party affairs. Mao died in September 1976, leaving Deng de facto leader. He continued to hold various positions but never that of chairman or general secretary, yet he was accepted as the paramount leader. Post of chairman in CPC was abolished in 1982.

CPC led by Deng Xiaoping guided China to slowly recover. There was a qualitative shift from building production relations without adequate productive base to gradually raise the productive forces, and then to try to build new relations. China had suffered heavy losses in its productive, which as it is were backward. Party allowed private enterprise and China opened up to foreign enterprise including foreign capital. Immediate building of socialism was given up, which became a distant aim. Dengs period laid foundations for reforms and building technical base. Capitalism was allowed on increasingly larger scale.

In fact it was during the last years of Mao himself that private foreign capital was allowed, first with the overseas Chinese capital.

CPC and China Today

If we look at the contemporary China, we have mixed and contradictory reactions. Today China has transformed drastically compared to what it was in 1970s. It has become second most powerful economy and political-military power after US: no mean achievement for a developing country. Is it still a developing country?

There is no doubt that living standards of Chinese people have risen, and there is a general feeling of welfare among sections of people; poverty has reduced. But is China building socialism or capitalism?

Giant MNCs and world corporates are flooding China. China is divided into six SEZs, dominated by giant foreign and local capital and billionaires. Shenzen, Pudong (Shanghai) etc are among the famous SEZs. The number of billionaires in China is rapidly on the rise, second only to US. The numbers have grown particularly during the Covid pandemic. What to make of it?!

Has China given up building socialism? It continues to talk of it, yet foreign and local capital continues to expand into monopolies. Its market socialism is dominated by capital. China is now a country of hundreds of massive urban conglomerates with huge shining skyscrapers unmatched even by US.

Yet the state sector there is retreating fast, having come down to less than 1/3 of economy. Privatization of education, health and enterprise is spreading. Unemployment is a serious problem though reduced in last two decades.

Presently, CPC, led by Xi Jinping, is guiding China towards a powerful economy. He also displays tendencies of concentration of power. China declared aims of raising living standards and building a happy and prosperous Chinese society. There are a lot of misgivings. Questions are being raised whether China is not acting as an expansionist power including in Africa. India-China border disputes have increased lately, and Indian political opinion had to clearly reiterate its intentions to defend countrys borders and sovereignty. Chinas relations with Vietnam and several other countries are tension-ridden.

There are serious misgivings as to why is not doing enough to help progressive movements and the developing countries. It is alleged that China has given up revolutionary internationalism. CPC declares it is building socialism with Chinese characteristics and market forces. Its main emphasis appears to be to go ahead in latest technologies.

Yet, Chinese papers do not mention capitalism and imperialism, and do not criticize them anymore. It is with these intriguing features that China entered 21st century. Todays China is much different from that in 20th century. It would be fascinating to follow how the intriguing China shapes up in 21st century.

* (The author is General Secretary of All India Progressive Forum.)
Iraq and the US are expected to announce the withdrawal of the American troops from the Middle East country by end of this year as Baghdad strives to reduce pressure from Iran-backed Shiite factions.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi who is expected to visit Washington on Monday, will announce the decision with US President Joe Biden, reports say.

There are currently around 2,500 US troops in Iraq as part of an international coalition fighting terrorism.

Foreign minister Fuad Hussein told The Wall Street Journal in an interview published Thursday that Iraq no longer needs the troops.

What do we need? We need cooperation in the field of intelligence. We need help with training. We need troops to help us in the air, Fuad also said.

The soldiers have increasingly been the targets of rocket attacks from Shiite factions.

The attacks have increased since the assassination in January 2020 of Irans anti-terror commander Lt. Gen. Qassem Soleimani and deputy commander of Iraqs Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) upon instruction of former US President Donald Trump.

The same month, the Iraqi parliament voted a legislation calling for the pull-out of the American forces.
Qatar will allocate $100 million to stave off famine in Yemen and support the United Nations efforts to maintain food security in the country, the Gulf countrys state-run news agency QNA reports.

The Emir of the country has ordered the allocation of $100 million to endorse the efforts of the UN World Food Program (WFP) in Yemen, support food security and prevent famine, the agency reports.

The new allocation adds up to $70 million already pledged by the tiny-rich Gulf country in March during the Yemen Donor Conference.

The WFP is looking for $3.85 billion to fund humanitarian aid in Yemen in 2021.

Yemen has been devastated by several years of war between Houthi rebels backed by Iran and regular and pro-governmental forces. The war has left millions of people starving. Two-third of the pollution according to the UN need assistance.
President Uhuru Kenyatta on Thursday issued 2,169 title deeds to residents of Rabai in Kilifi County and urged them not to be enticed into selling their birthright for temporary pleasure.

The President observed that the title deeds were worth billions of shillings and if utilized well, the land ownership documents held immense potential to transform the lives of beneficiaries and their dependents.

When we finish this event, the residents of Rabai would be worth Shs 4.2 billion. The question is, if you have received a title deed and you have heard of its worth, are you going to use it to improve your lives or you are going to sell it and make yourself happy then in December you will start looking for another place to be a squatter, the President posed.

President Kenyatta spoke at Kasidi Primary School Grounds in Kilifi County where he presided over the issuance of the title deeds and reiterated the Governments commitment to continue its ambitious land titling programme.

He pointed out that land title deeds were powerful economic tools with the potential to transform the lives of households across the country when utilized well.

For an individual to have a title deed, it means the end of poverty. It assures them of settlement. It means they wont worry that they are squatters but rather they will know that the place they are living in their home and thus put up a permanent homestead, the President said.

President Kenyatta acknowledged the sensitivity of the land question at the Coast and thanked leaders from the region for supporting Government efforts to address the matter through dialogue.

The issue of land has been a source of discord, tribalism and chaos here at the Coast region. Thats why when I took over the countrys leadership, I promised to bring a solution to the issue rather than continue discussing it, the President said.

Once again, the Head of State reiterated his administrations commitment to end the squatter issue at the Coast, and across the country saying, the Government would intensify the issuance of land title deeds in the coming months.

Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi also spoke at the event and thanked the President for prioritizing the settlement of landless people at the Coast and across the country.

The county leader observed that in the nine years of President Kenyattas leadership, the population of Coast residents holding title deeds to their parcels of land had risen exponentially.

For 50 years, the Coast Region received only 230,000 title deeds but from 2013 to date, the Coast has received 500,000 title deeds in 9 years. In Kilifi between 1963 and 2012 the County received 52,000 title deeds while since 2013 to-date the region has received 100,000 title deeds, Governor Kingi noted.

Lands CS Farida Karoney also spoke at the event that was attended by Interior CS Dr Fred Matiangi and several Coast leaders led by area MP William Kamoti.
In 2014, John Kimama lost his national identity card and reported the same at the Buruburu Police Station on February 2 of the same year.

The lost ID would come back to haunt him three years later when his whole world was turned upside down.

It all started on June 16, 2017; Kimama was watching the evening news when NTV aired a story of a man who was on the run for stealing petroleum from Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC).

The suspect had reportedly rented a house a few metres from a KPC underground pipeline in Koru, Kisumu, drilled an underground hole from his house to the pipeline, and started redirecting diesel to an illegal storage tank in his premises.
A man from Isiolo Town is receiving treatment at the Isiolo County Referral Hospital after a grenade was hurled at him in the wee hours of Tuesday, July 20.

The middle-aged man was having drinks at a local pub when another man hurled the explosive device at a woman seated next to the victim. The explosive device, however, missed the woman who is said to be the ex-girlfriend of the attacker and landed on the victims groin.

The victim held the grenade in his hands but it went off before he could do anything, injuring his private parts and lower limbs.

The explosion completely ripped his genitals and lower limbs. He was stabilised, but would need transfer to a more equipped hospital to manage his injuries, a medical officer at the Isiolo County Referral Hospital said.

Isiolo Sub-County police boss George Kariuki confirmed the incident saying the man was lucky to survive the attack. He said had the device hit the floor, several casualties could have been recorded.

The man who intercepted the grenade is very lucky to survive such a dangerous attack, said Kariuki.

Were still trying to establish the type of explosive device that the assailant carried to the scene. Were also interviewing eyewitnesses to understand the events that led to the attack. Were still trying to establish the type of explosive device that the assailant carried to the scene. Were also interviewing eyewitnesses to understand the events that led to the attack, said Kariuki, added the police boss.

According to area locals, the suspect is a police officer in Isiolo town. His target, who is in her early 20s, had allegedly broken up with him.

The suspect is a police officer and the victim is a Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) soldier. Both are stationed here in Isiolo, a waitress at the pub told The Standard.

The publication reports that another eyewitness, who is privy to the relationship between the suspect and his ex-lover, said the man was angry after the woman broke up with him in May and got into a new relationship, almost immediately.

Police have since launched a hunt for the suspect who fled after the attack.

They are also investigating why the nightclub was still operating during the 10 pm-4 am curfew.
Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria must be a relieved man after Milimani Chief Magistrate Martha Mutuku acquitted him of assault charges against a female TV commentator.

The Nairobi court heard on Thursday that the complainant, Joyce Wanja alias Wagichungumwa, wished to withdraw the suit.

Wanja, who is a commentator at Inooro TV, petitioned the court to have the suit adjourned with no further proceedings.

She told the court that she did not wish to disclose the reasons why she decided to withdraw the case, only saying she had forgiven Moses Kuria.

Wanja also denied being paid or coerced to drop the assault accusations.

I have not been forced or coerced in any way by the accused to have me withdraw the matter, she told the court.

Wanja insisted that Moses Kuria had not been involved in her new decision, absolving him of any involvement.

The petitioner had accused the lawmaker of assaulting her at the Royal Media Services premises in December 2019.

The two had met at the RMS studios to discuss the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) report when the incident happened.

Wanja, a grassroots activist, alleged that Moses Kuria descended on her with kicks and blows while she was preparing to go on air for Inooro TV Kiririmbi show.

Wanja claimed Kuria assaulted her after she asked him to retract remarks he made about Kiambu women wearing smelly panties.

Whatever he said about women was demeaning and the remarks were made in the presence of children, that is why I told him to rethink and retract them, but instead he attacked me, she said at the time.

He insulted the women in Kiambu county during an event hosted by Gospel musician Loise Kim. He [Moses Kuria] talked about womens underwear and said that they are filthy because anyone can have intercourse with them at any place.

And I offered to buy womens underwear for him to take to the women that he had found with dirty underwear because I believe if you find that someone has a problem then you should help them instead of parading them at their worst.
President Uhuru Kenyatta has called for the intensification of the fight against malaria and other diseases ravaging Africa even as the continent tackles Covid-19.

The Head of State spoke Thursday at the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI)-Wellcome Trust Station in Kilifi County where he unveiled the first locally manufactured malaria rapid diagnostics kit developed by the institute.

We have a good number of diseases that we still have to overcome and we are here to overcome that. Even as we continue to partner with you (KEMRI) on Covid-19 work, let us not lose focus on the other areas that you have been working very hard on, the President said.

The Head of State hailed KEMRI for its leading role in the fight against malaria in Kenya and challenged the research institution to continue innovating technology-driven methods of defeating the vector-borne disease.

We have seen many countries especially Cuba where they have home-grown initiatives in an island that had sanctions and managed to eradicate malaria from the entire island. I believe we can do the same by working with the brains that are in KEMRI and elsewhere, the President said.

President Kenyatta, who is the current Chairman of the African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA), called for collaboration of African countries in the fight against malaria noting that no single country can eradicate the disease on its own.

We have recognized that its not going to be possible to defeat malaria unless we also work together with neighbouring countries because at the end of the day, even if we defeat malaria and it is not defeated in neighbouring countries it will still come back and create future problems, the President noted.

The Head of State, who also announced World Health Organizations (WHO) pre-qualification of Kenyas first locally made anti-malaria drug, said the country had intensified its fight against the disease by enlisting the support of young people through the Kenya Malaria Youth Army.

He called for more collaboration between the government and the private sector in research, local manufacture and marketing of health products so as to create jobs and grow the economy.

On leadership challenges at KEMRI, the President said the Government was keen on reforming the agency and urged the new management team to ensure it restores KEMRIs global reputation as a world-class research institution.

Earlier, at Mutondia village, the President unveiled the Kenya-Cuba Malaria Vector Control Project, officially launched the Kenya Malaria Youth Army and witnessed a demonstration on the use of drones in spraying larvicides on mosquito breeding sites.

The President, who is on the second day of his working tour of Lamu, Kilifi, and Mombasa Counties, was accompanied by Health CS Mutahi Kagwe, and was received by several Kilifi and Coast leaders led by host Governor Amason Jeffah Kingi.
The Supreme Court has dismissed all election petitions filed by Martha Karua against Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru.

The court delivered the ruling on Thursday in Nairobi, saying that all election matters were concluded in the Supreme Court judgement of August 6, 2019.

Governor Waiguru had moved to the Supreme Court to challenge the Court of Appeals decision to remit Karuas election petition to the High Court for hearing on merit even after it had been dismissed.

Kerugoya High Court Judge Lucy Gitari had earlier dismissed Karuas petition on the grounds that it lacked merit.

In the latest ruling, Justices Philomena Mwilu, Mohammed Ibrahim, Njoki Ndungu, Smokin Wanjala and Isaac Lenaola agreed with Governor Waiguru that the issues raised by Karua were the same as those raised in petition No. 3 of 2019.

The court determined that the issues were fully determined in the same courts ruling delivered on March 2, 2018, which advised parties to follow the normal appellate mechanism in addressing their grievances.

Waiguru had argued that the High Court had no jurisdiction to hear and determine Karuas election petition after the lapse of the six months prescribed by Article 87(1) of the Constitution and Section 75(2) of the Elections Act.

A declaration be and is hereby issued that the issues raised in Petition No. 5 of 2018: Hon. Anne Mumbi Waiguru and another vs. Hon. Martha Wangari Karua and two others were fully determined by this Honourable Court in its judgment delivered on 6th August 2019 in Petition No. 3 of 2019: Hon. Martha Wangari Karua vs. Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission and three others, the five judges said.

The Supreme Court also rejected Karuas attempts to obtain costs for the case from Waiguru on the initial Court of Appeal case where she had been awarded costs. The judges ruled that since Karua had lost the other eight petition cases against the governor and each party should bear its own costs.

The ruling marks the eighth decision that has been rendered by the courts on the Kirinyaga election petition.
Police officers foiled a robbery at a hardware store in Eastleigh, Nairobi, killing two suspects on the spot.

The two were part of a six-member gang that broke into Jamarat hardware in Eastleighs 4th street on Wednesday night before they were busted.

The gang arrived at the hardware aboard a pickup truck to stage their robbery before police responded to a distress call.

Police got wind of the robbery and in a bid to clear the city off criminal gangs, responded swiftly and gunned down two of the thugsThe timely response by the officers left the criminals scampering on their heels for dear life. The hoodlums who were armed with firearms had in a bid to evade arrest, fired at the fast-approaching officers, with their bullets missing the Corporal leading the onslaught by a whisker, the DCI said.

The Pangani-based officers returned fire, killing two and injuring the other four who managed to escape.

The four others who escaped are thanking heavens after getting away miraculously, but with their bodies riddled by gunshot wounds. The wounds will serve as a stark reminder of their failed heist at the hands of the Pangani-based crime busters, said the DCI.

The officers also recovered a pistol with three rounds of 9mm caliber, claw bars, and other crude weapons.

Two water tanks that the thugs had managed to steal from the hardware and were ready for loading on their getaway truck were also recovered, the polie said.

Adding: Detectives are pursuing the four who escaped while putting other criminals on notice, that the fight against crime will only get intense.
According to a report published by Defseca on 20 July 2021, the Bangladesh Navy, which is looking for new frigates, may finally acquire Istanbul-class frigates from the Turkish company STM, despite the offers from China, Netherlands and Italy.

Follow Navy Recognition on Google News at this link

Delivery of the first Istanbul-class frigate F515 (Picture source: Facebook account of Turkish Navy)

The Istanbul-class is a new generation of frigates developed under the MILGEM Turkish warship program as the I-class frigate.

The Istanbul-class frigate, also referred to as TF100 and TF2000, has been designed to perform Anti-Air Warfare (AAW) missions carrying ESSM missiles as well as Anti-Surface Warfare (ASuW). The ship has a length of 113.2 m, a beam of 14.40 m, a draft of 4.05 m and a displacement of 3,000 tones.

The Istanbul-class frigate is powered by a CODAG (Combined Diesel and Das) type main propulsion system including 1 gas turbine and 2 diesel engines. The ship can reach a top speed of 29 kn (54 km/h; 33 mph) with a maximum cruising range of 6,570 nmi (12,170 km; 7,560 mi) at 14 kn (26 km/h; 16 mph). She will have a crew of 125 sailors.

The Istanbul-class frigate has an operational capability of 15 days without replenishment. The ship has a hangar and a landing deck to carry S-70B Seahawk ASW (Anti-Submarine Warfare) helicopter and Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV)/

The Istanbul-class frigate is armed with one 76 mm (3 in) Oto Melara Super Rapid naval gun, two 25 mm (0.98 in) Aselsan STOP remotely operated weapon stations, one CIWS (Close-In Weapon Station), 16 Mk 41 VLS (Vertical Launching System) able to launch Harpoon or Atmaca anti-ship missiles, 16Mk.41 VLS for ESSM designed to counter supersonic maneuvering anti-ship missiles and two 324 mm (13 in) Double Torpedo launchers.
Your browser does not support the video tag.
Welcome Guest! You Are Here:
Moscow court fines Twitter $75K for failure to remove prohibited information

 RAPSI, Vladimir Burnov

11:31 23/07/2021

MOSCOW, July 22 (RAPSI)  A magistrate court in Moscow has fined Twitter 5.5 million rubles (about $75,000) for refusing to remove information prohibited by Russian law, the press service of the court told RAPSI.

The social network was punished in the framework of an administrative case on the basis of two respective protocols.

This May, the same magistrate court fined Twitter 19 million rubles ($260,000) for the offense.

Earlier, fines were issued against Telegram, TikTok, and Russian social media Odnoklassniki.

Russias communications watchdog Roskomnadzor routinely reminds that if an Internet platform fails to block the prohibited information within 24 hours after receiving the respective notification, it faces fines ranging from 800,000 to 4 million rubles (10,500  55,000) and up to 10% of its total annual revenue in case of repeated violations.
YouTube blogger Yury Dud to take court-ordered tests in "drug propaganda" case

 Moscow's Zyuzinsky District Court

16:24 23/07/2021

MOSCOW, July 23 (RAPSI)  Moscow's Zyuzinsky District Court ordered a psychological and linguistic examination for prominent Russian YouTube blogger Yury Dud stands accused of "drug propaganda", press secretary of the court Maria Erokhina told RAPSI.

The date of the new court session will be set after the results of the expert examinations are ready, the press secretary added.

The administrative offense protocol regarding Dud was drawn up in accordance with the provisions of the Russian Administrative Code envisaging a fine of up to 1.5 million rubles (about $20,000).

The Zyuzinsky court has already considered a similar case over illegal propaganda or advertising of drugs: on June 3, it fined rapper Alisher Morgenstern for this offense 100 thousand rubles ($1,400).
Spike Lees career stretches over nearly 40 years; his brilliant first feature Shes Gotta Have It is rightly regarded as a landmark not only in American indie filmmaking but in the development of an authentically African-American cinema, while his third, the masterpiece Do the Right Thing, consolidated Lees reputation as a stylistic innovator and bold provocateur. Lees range and influence grew as his career progressed; he has worked in commercials, music videos, documentary  most memorably, perhaps, with 4 Little Girls and When the Levees Broke  and a variety of genres. This selection of features and reviews from the archives of Sight & Sound and Monthly Film Bulletin gathers together analysis by many of Lees most eloquent and insightful critics and historians  and includes numerous interviews with the maestro himself.

Contents:

Part 1: Beginnings: Doing the Right Thing(s)

Summer in the City

Lauded upon its release, Do the Right Thing is now recognised as an influential landmark in film history. For its 25th anniversary, Ashley Clark introduced a selection of tributes to the movies enduring power from a range of admirers.

The State of Things

With his very first feature Shes Gotta Have It, Spike Lee won a place in Simon Fields survey of New Yorks independent filmmakers

Shes Gotta Have It reviewed by Tom Milne

School Daze reviewed by Tom Milne

Do the Right Thing reviewed by Tom Milne

Fear of a Black Cinema

Proposing Do the Right Thing as a potential contender for the 2002 Sight & Sound Critics Poll, Amy Taubin celebrated both its politically controversial exploration of racial tensions and its bold, hybrid brilliance as a piece of confrontational filmmaking.

Mo Better Blues reviewed by Michael OPray

Jungle Fever reviewed by Michael OPray

Flipper Purify and Furious Styles

To mark the release of Jungle Fever, Armond White looked both at Lees film and at three other recent films by African-American directors, examining the various characteristics  stylistic and thematic  that linked and separated them.

The Colour of Money

As Jungle Fever, Boyz N the Hood, New Jack City and other titles reached cinema screens, Peter Biskind used his regular column about the business of filmmaking to examine Hollywoods changing attitude to funding films by, about and for African Americans.

Part 2: Looking Further Afield: Of History and Pastures New

Doing the Job

In his first interview with Sight & Sound, Spike Lee spoke to James Verniere about the making of Malcolm X, white audiences, the Nation of Islam and the shortcomings of the media.

Is Malcolm X the Right Thing?

Spike Lee claimed that the five features that preceded Malcolm X led to the making of his ambitious biopic. In evaluating the film, Lisa Kennedy examined that claim, and came up with some illuminating insights.

Malcolm X reviewed by Karen Alexander

Crooklyn reviewed by Manohla Dargis

Sorrowful Black Death Is Not a Hot Ticket

In her analysis of Lees comedy-drama Crooklyn  co-written with siblings and partly autobiographical - bell hooks applauded his decision to focus on a ten-year-old female protagonist while expressing reservations about his treatment of gender and mortality.

Clockers reviewed by Amy Taubin

Talk Now, Pay Later

At once satirical, sad and restlessly experimental, Girl 6 saw Lee taking a fresh look at sexuality and race. bell hooks found its unprecedented diversity of images of black female identity a glorious cause for celebration.

Girl 6 reviewed by Leslie Felperin

Million Man Mouthpiece

Following his exploration of black female identity in Girl 6, Lee looked at notions of African-American masculinity in Get on the Bus, a road movie inspired by the Million Man march. Paul Gilroy examined the films complexities and contradictions.

Get On The Bus reviewed by Leslie Felperin

4 Little Girls reviewed by Sight & Sound staff

He Got Game reviewed by Richard Falcon

Summer of Sam reviewed by Geoffrey Macnab

Part 3: A New Millennium: New Perspectives

The Original Kings of Comedy reviewed by Danny Leigh

Bamboozled reviewed by Xan Brooks

Going Down

With 25th Hour, Lee made the first feaure set in New York during the traumatic aftermath of 9/11. Amy Taubin, herself a New Yorker, was intrigued by how its story of a drug dealer caught the mood of the moment.

Interview: Edward Norton

For the release of 25th Hour, Demetrios Matheou spoke to its lead actor about working with Lee and playing a potentially unsympathetic character.

Inteview: Spike Lee

Complementing Amy Taubins feature on 25th Hour, Leslie Felperin interviewed Lee about the circumstances of the films production, his own experiences of 9/11, and a couple of other movies he was hoping to make.

25th Hour reviewed by Ryan Gilbey

Ten Minutes Older The Trumpet  We Wuz Robbed reviewed by Richard Falcon

She Hate Me reviewed by Liese Spencer

Sucker Free City reviewed by Sergio Angelini

Made In Manhattan

The heist film Inside Man was Lees most mainstream film to date. Ali Jaafar spoke to the director about making the movie which would become his biggest box-office success.

Inside Man reviewed by Kevin Maher

Americas Greatest Disaster

The devastation wreaked on New Orleans by Hurricane Katrina, the consequent floods and the authorities response to the disaster became the subject of Lees four-part documentary When the Levees Broke. Kaleem Aftab spoke to the director about the project.

When The Levees Broke reviewed by Sergio Angelini

Part 4: Fight the Power: The Struggle Continues

Bad 25 reviewed by Nick James (Venice film festival report)

Oldboy reviewed by Adam Nayman

Three Films by Spike Lee: Red Hook Summer/Da Sweet Blood of Jesus/Chi-Raq reviewed by Brad Stevens

Chi-Raq reviewed by Nick Pinkerton

Deep Cover

Lees BlacKkKlansman told the improbable but true story of an African-American police officer who infiltrated the Ku Klux Klan. Kaleem Aftab interviewed the director about the movies genesis, Hollywood history and the influence of American culture and politics.

BlacKkKlansman reviewed by Kelli Weston

Blood Ties

With Da 5 Bloods, war-movie fan Lee focused on the experiences of African-American soldiers during the Vietnam war. Christina Newland spoke to him about the movie, and found he was also concerned about traditional depictions of the Vietnamese.

Da 5 Bloods reviewed by Kaleem Aftab

David Byrnes American Utopia reviewed by Nick Pinkerton

Filmography

Last words
[July 22, 2021] Evolve IP Recognized in 2021 Gartner Market Guide for Desktop as a Service for Third Consecutive Year KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa., July 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Evolve IP, a leading international service provider of Work Anywhere solutions, today announced that it has been included in the 2021 Gartner Market Guide for Desktop as a Service (DaaS). This recognition marks Evolve IP's third consecutive appearance in the Market Guide. The Market Guide, which recognized 14 DaaS providers around the world, provides deeper insights into the current state and future direction of the DaaS market.

According to Gartner, "The rapid increase in remote and hybrid work, as well as the need for business continuity, has made desktop as a service a major priority for organizations." The Guide also states that "Desktop as a Service market revenue grew by 98% in 2020 compared to 2019, and it is forecast to grow by 68% in 2021 as I&O leaders enable use cases including secure home working." Gartner also finds, "the market attention has increasingly focused on Microsoft Azure-hosted DaaS solutions due to proximity with Microsoft 365 data and license requirements."

Evolve IP provides enterprises with a virtual desktop, including Microsoft Azure-hosted DaaS, that is optimized to align with individual user requirements. Deployed on Evolve IP's private cloud or Azure public cloud, and bundled with performance monitoring, patching, disaster recovery, and expert image optimization, Evolve IP's DaaS solution takes the complexiy and guesswork out of deploying DaaS for businesses of all sizes.



"The 2021 Gartner Market Guide for Desktop as a Service notes the rise in DaaS usage along with increasing focus on Microsoft Azure-hosted DaaS solutions," said Evolve IP's Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer, Scott Kinka. "We feel, this is a direct validation of our market strategy and is in line with the increase in adoption of our DaaS solution."

In addition to a robust DaaS solution, companies are also looking for a singular, integrated way to provide advanced collaboration, telephony, and contact center features to their remote workforce. "Evolve IP not only understands how to make DaaS work for businesses but as a Microsoft and Cisco Collaboration partner, we are uniquely positioned to help businesses integrate Real-Time Audio and Video into their DaaS environments. Additionally, our ability to deliver native Microsoft Teams integration and enterprise-grade PBX features enables employees to increase productivity and work anywhere," said Scott Kinka.

Click here to learn more about Evolve IP's DaaS solution.

Disclaimer: * Gartner, Market Guide for Desktop as a Service, Stuart Downes, Mark Margevicius, Tony Harvey, Brandon Medford, Eri Hariu, 29 June 2021 Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in its research publications, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartner's research organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. About Evolve IP

Evolve IP enables employees to Work Anywhere productively and securely. Our enterprise solutions seamlessly integrate collaboration & communications, digital workspaces and contact center  all delivered from a browser on any connected device. Evolve IP's technologies free IT to focus on business innovation, not systems and infrastructure, and enable their employees to contribute even more to the enterprise -- no matter where or when they are working. Businesses that choose Evolve IP have selected a true technology partner. A company that becomes an expert extension of their IT team, an organization that listens to their needs to tailor solutions just for their business and is responsive and engaged in every interaction.

Photo(s):

https://www.prlog.org/12877236

Press release distributed by PRLog View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/evolve-ip-recognized-in-2021-gartner-market-guide-for-desktop-as-a-service-for-third-consecutive-year-301339718.html SOURCE Evolve IP

[ Back To SIP Trunking Home's Homepage ]
[July 22, 2021] ERA Real Estate Expands California Presence With Affiliation of CARLILE Realty Group & Lending ERA Real Estate, a global franchising leader within the Realogy family of brands, today announced the affiliation of ERA CARLILE Realty Group. Founded in 2005 the company is headquartered in Sacramento, CA (News - Alert) , and serves Arden-Arcade, Sacramento, Fair Oaks, Carmichael, Orangevale, Rancho Cordova, Elk Grove, Roseville, Rocklin and Lincoln, as well as other Northern California communities. With three offices and 40 affiliated sales associates, the firm was responsible for $52 million in sales volume in 2020. As a vertically integrated residential real estate group, CARLILE also produced $406 million in loan volume in 2020, while also building dozens of homes over the last decade. The company has consistently performed at the top of the Sacramento market, currently ranking in the top five percent in transaction sides according to the Metrolist Prospector MLS. Broker/Owner Taylor Greer is a third-generation real estate professional, following in the footsteps of his grandfather, father, mother and uncle. He began his real estate career focusing on mortgage and development business. Greer launched his real estate brokerage after recognizing that he could provide agents with exceptional training on the underserviced business side of real estate transactions, including negotiations, appraisals and contracting. This focus inspired the company to create its exclusive "Purchase Planning Meeting" ( PPM (News - Alert) ) program to help homebuyers and those assisting them, discuss lending requirements, budgeting and potential neighborhoods. This program is designed to speed up the buying process. Sacramento continues to grow its population fueled by more affordable living for those in the Bay Area, exacerbated by the "work-from-home" phenomenon created by the pandemic. The region grew by 12.6% over the last decade according to the U.S. Census and was one of the few in California to gain population over the last year (+0.5%). Details: According to the National Association of REALTORS  , the median sales price in Sacramento County is currently $480,000, a 17.5% increase over this time last year.

, the median sales price in Sacramento County is currently $480,000, a 17.5% increase over this time last year. Greer is a board member for the Sacramento Association of REALTORS  ' Young Professional Network.

' Young Professional Network. The firm has been a longstanding supporter of veterans and serves as a real estate partner for America's Homeless Veterans (AHV) and acively supports the Veterans Association of Real Estate Professionals. The company also works closely with Deadeye Construction, a wholly owned veteran construction company that donates 5% of its profit to veteran causes and is an active member of the North State Building Industry Association (NorthState BIA), an active association for new home builders in the Sacramento area.

Greer will leverage the firm's affiliation with the ERA brand to provide his current agents with enhanced marketing, training, web site integration and lead generation capabilities while also working to attract experienced, full-time, growth-minded agents to the team.

Quotes: "Taylor is a shining example of an entrepreneur. He has taken his lifelong passion for real estate to build a company focused on every aspect of the transaction while creating a close-knit culture that prioritizes agent development and growth. This inclusive, supportive culture has been a driving factor in retaining his sales team and supporting the firm's success. Now, with access to ERA's industry-leading learning programs, innovative technology platforms, as well as a sophisticated suite of marketing tools, Taylor and his team are well-positioned for future growth and an enhanced market presence."

-Sherry Chris, President and CEO of ERA Real Estate "At our brokerage, we value our agents' growth and strive to support them in every way possible, whether that be personalized training courses or marketing tools to help them build their brand. After years of success in our market, we realized that affiliating with a credible brand would help lead us to tremendous growth. We were immediately impressed by the wide range of ERA programs and resources available, especially the accountability training programs and an extensive list of lead generators. Additionally, the ERA brand's dedication to collaboration, innovation, diversity and growth align perfectly with my business philosophy."

-Taylor Greer, Broker/Owner, ERA CARLILE Realty About ERA Real Estate At ERA Real Estate, we don't adapt to change, we create it. We believe that our core business values of collaboration, innovation, diversity and growth are needed now more than ever. As a global leader in the residential real estate industry for more than 40 years, ERA was the first real estate franchise to expand internationally, the first to post listings online, and is the only national company that offers the Sellers Security Plan program. The ERA Real Estate network includes more than 36,000 affiliated brokers and independent sales associates and approximately 2,200 offices throughout the United States and 31 other countries and territories. ERA Franchise Systems LLC (www.ERA.com) which operates the ERA Real Estate system, is a subsidiary of Realogy Holdings Corp. (NYSE: RLGY), a global provider of real estate services. ERA Real Estate information is available at www.ExploreERA.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210722005964/en/

[ Back To SIP Trunking Home's Homepage ]
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson's Remarks on China's Decision to Impose Sanctions on Relevant US Individuals and Entity

2021/07/23

Q: On July 16, the US Department of State, the US Department of the Treasury, the US Department of Commerce, and the US Department of Homeland Security, issued the so-called "Hong Kong Business Advisory". The US Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) imposed financial sanctions on seven deputy directors of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in HKSAR by adding them to its list of Specially Designated Nationals. In response, China has stated its determination to take all measures necessary in accordance with law to defend itssovereignty, security and development interests. What specific measures will China take?

A: The US has concocted the so-called "Hong Kong Business Advisory" to groundlessly smear Hong Kong's business environment, and illegally imposed sanctions on several officials of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong SAR. These acts gravely violate international law and basic norms governing international relations, and severely interfere in China's internal affairs. China firmly opposes and strongly condemns this.

In response to the erroneous practice of the US side, China has decided to take reciprocal countermeasures, and impose sanctions on seven US individuals and entity according to the Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law, including former US Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Louis Ross, Chairman of US-China Economic and Security Review Commission (USCC) Carolyn Bartholomew, former Staff Director of Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC) Jonathan Stivers, DoYun Kim at National Democratic Institute for International Affairs, senior program manager of the International Republican Institute (IRI) Adam Joseph King, China Director at Human Rights Watch Sophie Richardson, and Hong Kong Democratic Council.

I would like to stress once again that Hong Kong is China's Special Administrative Region and its affairs are an integral part of China's internal affairs. Any attempt by external forces to interfere in Hong Kong's affairs would be as futile as an ant trying to shake a big tree.
Using information obtained from around a dozen earthquakes detected on Mars by the Very Broad Band SEIS seismometer, developed in France, the international team of NASA's InSight mission has unveiled the internal structure of Mars.

The three papers published on July 23, 2021 in the journal Science, involving numerous co-authors from French institutions and laboratories, including the CNRS, the Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris, and Universite de Paris, and supported in particular by the French space agency CNES and the French National Research Agency ANR, provide, for the first time, an estimate of the size of the planet's core, the thickness of its crust and the structure of its mantle, based on the analysis of seismic waves reflected and modified by interfaces in its interior. It makes this the first ever seismic exploration of the internal structure of a terrestrial planet other than Earth, and an important step towards understanding the formation and thermal evolution of Mars.

Before NASA's InSight mission, the internal structure of Mars was still poorly understood. Models were based only on data collected by orbiting satellites and on the analysis of Martian meteorites that fell to Earth. On the basis of gravity and topographical data alone, the thickness of the crust was estimated to be between 30 and 100 km. Values of the planet's moment of inertia and density suggested a core with a radius of 1 400 to 2 000 km. The detailed internal structure of Mars and the depth of the boundaries between the crust, mantle and core were, however, completely unknown.

With the successful deployment of the SEIS experiment on the surface of Mars in early 2019, the mission scientists, including the 18 French co-authors involved and affiliated to a wide range of French institutions and laboratories , together with their colleagues from ETH in Zurich, the University of Cologne and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, collected and analysed seismic data over one Martian year (almost two Earth years).

It should be pointed out that to simultaneously determine a structural model, the (arrival) time of an earthquake, and its distance, more than one station is usually required. However, on Mars the scientists only have one station, InSight. It was therefore necessary to search the seismic records for the characteristic features of waves that had interacted in various ways with the internal structures of Mars, and identify and validate them. These new measurements, coupled with mineralogical and thermal modelling of the planet's internal structure, have made it possible to overcome the limitation of having a single station. This method ushers in a new era for planetary seismology.

A single station, multiple findings

Another difficulty on Mars is its low seismicity and the seismic noise generated by its atmosphere. On Earth, earthquakes are much stronger, while seismometers are more effectively located in vaults or underground, making it possible to obtain an accurate image of the planet's interior. As a result, special attention had to be paid to the data. "But although Martian earthquakes have a relatively low magnitude, less than 3.5, the very high sensitivity of the VBB sensor combined with the very low noise at nightfall enabled us to make discoveries that, two years ago, we thought were only possible with earthquakes with a magnitude greater than 4," explains Philippe Lognonne, a Professor at the University of Paris and the Principal Investigator for the SEIS instrument at IPGP.

Every day, the data, processed by CNES, IPGP and CNRS, and transferred to the scientists, was carefully cleaned of ambient noise (wind and deformation related to rapid temperature changes). The international Mars Quake Service team (MQS) recorded the seismic events on a daily basis: more than 600 have now been catalogued, of which over 60 were caused by relatively distant earthquakes.

Around ten of the latter contain information about the planet's deep structure: "The direct seismic waves from an earthquake are a bit like the sound of our voices in the mountains: they produce echoes. And it was these echoes, reflected off the core, or at the crust-mantle interface or even the surface of Mars, that we looked for in the signals, thanks to their similarity to the direct waves," Lognonne explains.

An altered crust, a mantle revealed, and a large liquid core

By comparing the behaviour of seismic waves as they travelled through the crust before reaching the InSight station, several discontinuities in the crust were identified: the first, observed at a depth of about 10 km, marks the boundary between a highly altered structure, resulting from circulation of fluid a very long time ago, and crust that is only slightly altered. A second discontinuity around 20 km down, and a third, less pronounced one at around 35 km, shed light on the stratification of the crust beneath InSight: "To identify these discontinuities, we used all the most recent analytical methods, both with earthquakes of tectonic origin and with vibrations caused by the environment (seismic noise)," says Benoit Tauzin, Senior Lecturer at the University of Lyon and a researcher at LGL-TPE.

In the mantle, the scientists analysed the differences between the travel time of the waves produced directly during the earthquake, and that of the waves generated when these direct waves were reflected off the surface. These differences made it possible, using only a single station, to determine the structure of the upper mantle, and in particular the variation in seismic velocities with depth. However, such variations in velocity are related to temperature. "That means we can estimate the heat flow of Mars, which is probably three to five times lower than the Earth's, and place constraints on the composition of the Martian crust, which is thought to contain over half the heat-producing radioactive elements present in the planet," adds Henri Samuel, a CNRS researcher at IPGP.

Finally, in the third study, the scientists looked for waves reflected off the surface of the Martian core, the measurement of whose radius was one of the main achievements of the InSight mission. "To do this," explains Melanie Drilleau, a research engineer at ISAE-SUPAERO, "we tested several thousand mantle and core models against the phases and signals observed." Despite the low amplitudes of the signals associated with the reflected waves (known as ScS waves), an excess of energy was observed for cores with a radius between 1 790 km and 1 870 km. Such a large size implies the presence of light elements in the liquid core and has major consequences for the mineralogy of the mantle at the mantle / core interface.

Goals achieved, new questions emerge

More than two years of seismic monitoring has resulted in the very first model of the internal structure of Mars, right down to the core. Mars thus joins the Earth and the Moon in the select club of terrestrial planets and moons whose deep structures have been explored by seismologists. And, as often happens in planetary exploration, fresh questions emerge: is the alteration of the top 10 km of crust general, or is it limited to the InSight landing zone? What impact will these first models have on theories of the formation and thermal evolution of Mars, in particular for the first 500 million years when Mars had liquid water on its surface and intense volcanic activity?

With the two-year extension of the InSight mission and the additional electrical power obtained following the successful cleaning of its solar panels carried out by JPL, new data should consolidate and further improve these models.

###

About InSight and SEIS:

JPL manages the InSight mission on behalf of the NASA Science Mission Directorate. InSight is part of the NASA Discovery programme, operated by the Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC), a NASA facility in Huntsville, Alabama. Lockheed Martin Space in Denver built the InSight spacecraft, including its cruise stage and lander, and supports spacecraft operations for the mission. CNES is the prime contractor for SEIS, and the Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris (Universite de Paris / IPGP / CNRS) assumes scientific responsibility for it. CNES funds French contributions, coordinates the international consortium (*) and was responsible for the integration, testing and supply of the complete instrument to NASA. The IPGP designed the VBB (Very Broad Band) sensors, tested them before their delivery to CNES and contributes to the operation of the VBBs on Mars.

SEIS and APSS operations are carried out by CNES within FOCSE-SISMOC, with the support of the Centro de Astrobiologia (Spain). The SEIS data is formatted and distributed by the Mars SEIS Data Service of IPG Paris, as part of the InSight National Observation Service to which the LPG also contributes, as well as GeoAzur for 'Sismo at School' activities. The daily identification of earthquakes is carried out by InSight's Mars Quake Service, a collaborative operational service led by ETH Zurich, to which seismologists from IPG Paris, the University of Bristol (UK) and Imperial College London (UK) also contribute.

Several other CNRS laboratories including LMD (CNRS / ENS Paris / Ecole polytechnique / Sorbonne University), LPG (CNRS / University of Nantes / University of Angers), IRAP (CNRS / University of Toulouse / CNES), LGL-TPE (CNRS / Ecole normale superieure de Lyon / Universite Claude Bernard Lyon 1), IMPMC (Sorbonne University / French National Museum of Natural History / CNRS) and LAGRANGE (CNRS / Cote d'Azur University / Cote d'Azur Observatory) participate with IPGP and ISAE-SUPAERO in analyses of the InSight mission data. These analyses are supported by CNES and the French National Research Agency as part of the ANR MArs Geophysical InSight (MAGIS) project.

(*) in collaboration with SODERN for the development of the VBBs, JPL, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH, Zurich Switzerland), the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research (MPS, Gottingen, Germany), Imperial College London and the University of Oxford provided the subsystems of SEIS and are involved in the scientific operation of SEIS.



Please follow SpaceRef on Twitter and Like us on Facebook.
Ingenuity, the helicopter that arrived on the Red Planet on the Mars Perseverance rover, has made nine flights on Mars. Ingenuity's historic achievement is the first powered flight on a terrestrial body other than Earth.

According to Havard F. Grip, Ingenuity Chief Pilot, and Ken Williford, Perseverance Deputy Project Scientist, Flight 9, which occurred in July 2021, was unlike the flights that came before it. It broke our records for flight duration and cruise speed, and it nearly quadrupled the distance flown between two airfields. But what really set the flight apart was the terrain that Ingenuity had to negotiate during its 2 minutes and 46 seconds in the air - an area called "Seitah" that would be difficult to traverse with a ground vehicle like the Perseverance rover. This flight was also explicitly designed to have science value by providing the first close view of major science targets that the rover will not reach for quite some time.

But the Mars Perseverance team didn't do it alone. A team of helicopter experts from our Ames Research Center in California assisted the Ingenuity team in making sure the technology demonstrator had the best chance for success in flying in the super thin atmosphere of the Red Planet. Learn more.

This image was captured by Mars Perseverance rover using its Left Mastcam-Z Camera, composed of a pair of cameras located high on the rover's mast, on Jun. 15, 2021 (Sol 114).

Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU larger image

Please follow SpaceRef on Twitter and Like us on Facebook.
The three main weather patterns on Venus. Researchers think the dayside poleward circulation and newly discovered nightside equatorial circulation may fuel the planetwide super-rotation that dominates the surface of Venus. CREDIT  2021 JAXA/Imamura et al.

Little is known about the weather at night on Venus as the absence of sunlight makes imaging difficult.

Now, researchers have devised a way to use infrared sensors on board the Venus orbiter Akatsuki to reveal the first details of the nighttime weather of our nearest neighbor. Their analytical methods could be used to study other planets including Mars and gas giants as well. Furthermore, the study of Venusian weather granted by their methods could allow researchers to learn more about the mechanisms underpinning Earth's weather systems.

Earth and Venus share a lot in common. They are similar in size and mass, they're both within the same orbital region known as the habitable zone (thought to support liquid water, and possibly life), they both have a solid surface, and both have a narrow atmosphere that experiences weather. Therefore, the study of the weather on Venus can actually aid researchers in their quest to better understand the weather on Earth too. To do this, researchers need to observe cloud motion on Venus day and night at certain wavelengths of infrared light. However, until now only the weather on the daylight-facing side was easily accessible. Previously some limited infrared observations were possible of the nighttime weather, but these were too limited to paint a clear picture of the overall weather on Venus.

Enter the Venus Climate Orbiter Akatsuki. Launched in 2010, it is the first Japanese probe to orbit another planet. Its mission is to observe Venus and its weather system using a variety of onboard instruments. Akatsuki carried an infrared imager which does not rely on illumination from the sun to see. However, even this cannot directly resolve details on the nightside of Venus, but it did give researchers the data they needed to see things indirectly.

"Small-scale cloud patterns in the direct images are faint and frequently indistinguishable from background noise," said Professor Takeshi Imamura from the Graduate School of Frontier Sciences at the University of Tokyo. "To see details, we needed to supress the noise. In astronomy and planetary science, it is common to combine images to do this, as real features within a stack of similar images quickly hide the noise. However, Venus is a special case as the entire weather system rotates very quickly, so we had to compensate for this movement, known as super-rotation, in order to highlight interesting formations for study. Graduate student Kiichi Fukuya, developed a technique to overcome this difficulty."

Super-rotation is one significant meteorological phenomenon that, thankfully, we do not get down here on Earth. It is the ferocious east-west circulation of the entire weather system around the equator of the planet, and it dwarfs any extreme winds we might experience at home. Imamura and his team explore mechanisms that sustain this super-rotation and believe that characteristics of Venusian weather at night might help explain it.

"We are finally able to observe the north-south winds, known as meridional circulation, at night. What's surprising is these run in the opposite direction to their daytime counterparts," said Imamura. "Such a dramatic change cannot occur without significant consequences. This observation could help us build more accurate models of the Venusian weather system which will hopefully resolve some long-standing, unanswered questions about Venusian weather and probably Earth weather too."

U.S. space agency NASA recently announced two new missions to explore Venus with probes named DaVinci+ and Veritas, and the European Space Agency also announced a new Venus mission named EnVision. Combined with the observational capacity of Akatsuki, Imamura and his team hope they will soon be able to explore the Venusian climate not just in its present form but also over its geological history.

###

Journal article

Kiichi Fukuya, Takeshi Imamura, Makoto Taguchi, Tetsuya Fukuhara, Toru Kouyama, Takeshi Horinouchi, Javier Peralta, Masahiko Futaguchi, Takeru Yamada, Takao M. Sato, Atsushi Yamazaki, Shin?ya Murakami, Takehiko Satoh, Masahiro Takagi, Masato Nakamura, "Unveiling of nightside cloud-top circulation of Venus atmosphere" Nature, DOI: 10.1038/s41586-021-03636-7

Link: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-03636-7



Please follow SpaceRef on Twitter and Like us on Facebook.
The Paget Farm Community Centre will no longer be made available to the community for accommodating meeting, weddings and other social activities.

Story by Sheron Garraway

Photos Javan Stowe





The community of Paget Farm on the Grenadine island of Bequia is having quite some time figuring out what is becoming of their Community Centre.





Member of Parliament for the Northern Grenadines, Dr. Godwin Friday on Tuesday, on the New Democratic Partys New Times Radio Programme aired on Nice Radio, described a move at hand to temporarily house the clinic in the Centre, as an outrage.





The upper floor houses the Magistrates Court, albeit once a week, but the inconvenience is compounded by the fact that the Police Station has been "temporarily housed on the ground floor of the Community Centre, for over a decade.





Friday lamented, "That was supposed to be temporary while they fix the Police Station. Its now been over 10 years since the police station has moved. And the ground floor has been occupied by the police station for most of that time.





Dr. Friday said the people in Paget farms and the immediate surroundings have, traditionally, used the Community Center for various activities. Now, they have nowhere to have their functions.





He noted that it was used for wedding receptions, youth group meetings, funerals, after school and exercise classes and even government related functions.





An infuriated Friday declared, "You cant just take away something from the community. Nobody fussed very much about downstairs because they figured eventually they would rebuild the police station and they would get that part of the building to use again as a public facility. That hasnt happened and it doesnt look like its going to happen anytime soon.





Yes, he admitted, the people used the upper floor because the Magistrates Court use was confined to one day a week.





Dr Friday claims that now, the clinic at Paget Farm has been run down to the point where its not functional and it has to be repaired.





He explained, "They did no repairs on it for the past 20 years, now they have essentially closed the building because its not safe So what they have done, is taken over the Community Center to put the clinic  . there and they have divided the building. the room is divided in half. One half is going to be subdivided into various rooms for the doctors, the nurses, etc. as a clinic. And another section will be assigned to the Magistrates court.





Dr. Friday said that while the clinic is needed, the residents should not be made to choose between two important public goods, because the government has allowed it to become a situation where there is a crisis.





He fumed, "What is worse, is that people were in the dark and nobody knew what was going on until the work started. Somebody said there was hammering and lumber was being moved into the Centre and I went down last Wednesday to investigate.





Dr. Friday said that was when he found out about the plan to house the clinic staff as well as accommodate the Magistrates Court.





Dr. Friday expressed that the move to relocate the facilities to the Community Centre without prior notice to the villagers was "totally disrespectful and "a denial of their rights and privileges.





He called on residents to raise their voices in concern about the removal of an essential service in their lives.
Dr. Godwin Friday (center) promises to lead the protest next week Thursday and Senator Julian Francis (Inset) will be watching to see if he grows the crowd.

"We are going to be on the streets on the 29th (Meeting of Parliament). I want the people throughout this country to understand that!





Thats the word from President of the New Democratic Party NDP, Dr. Godwin Friday as he spoke on last Tuesdays New Times programme, aired on Nice Radio.





As far as he was concerned, things have not changed since the last protests and even as he thanked those who came out, the Opposition Leader urged them to return to the street.





"Come with your strength, your voice, your courage your determination your determination to not be intimidated.  Stand up for the things that you believe in for this country! Dr. Friday beckoned.

He assured that the New Democratic Party will lead the protest action because they believe that the actions taking place in the country, demonstrate in very real, strong and vigorous ways that the operations in the country are unsatisfactory.





On that note, Dr. Friday referenced what he said was the poverty in the country, a result of the poor economic policies implemented by the government.





He refrained, "You cant run a country just by going around and begging. Grants and aid money are critically important to poor developing countries just like St. Vincent and the Grenadines, but you have to also generate economic activity to help businesses succeed, to give people a chance to gain employment and good paying jobs.





He cited the Ottley Hall Marina and Shipyard as a potential source of major employment  but the ruling government didnt want it to succeed because it was an NDP project.





Julian - Dont Protest





Dr. Fridays comments did not escape the ears of the ruling Unity Labour Party.





Its General Secretary, Julian Francis, on his regular Tuesday evening radio programme on STAR FM, scoffed at Dr. Friday calling the people out to protest.





Francis described Dr. Friday as "dubious as he claimed to be protesting against Senator Ashelle Morgan but then called for fresh elections.





Ashelle Morgan, Francis said, was no longer important to the NDP, and he posited that fresh elections was now the NDPs agenda.





He said that Dr. Friday also wanted to grow the "little crowd he has outside into something, so he will be watching (on the 29th July) to see what the crowd will be like.





The longest serving Senator in this country Parliament claimed there was confusion in the NDP camp, with many believing that the tail was wagging the dog; that Dr. Friday was not strong enough to carry the position of the NDP and that he was embarrassed by the loss in the November 2020 general elections.





Francis was adamant that he knew what caused the "fall off in votes for the ULP in the 2020 general elections, but those findings were not things to talk on air.





It was unfortunate, Francis reasoned, that here were several national setbacks which caused the politics to suffer, but he sought to give the assurance that the government was concentrating on leading the country through all the disasters. (SG)
















The remains of one of the building that were destroyed.

Last Tuesday, July 20, just about when his family and friends were about settling themselves in for the commencement of the funeral service of Dr. Kenneth John, excessively loud sounds of a number of sirens disturbed the solemnity of the occasion.





When the smoke had cleared, reports reaching THE VINCENTIAN said the sirens were signalling a clear path for Fire Department Units heading for Block 2000, Old Montrose.





The police reported later that they had begun investigating the circumstances surrounding a fire that occurred on that day, Tues. 20th July, at Block 2000, Old Montrose, which completely destroyed two buildings and damaged two others.





A release from the police said that officers from the Fire Department (Kingstown) responded at about 12:10pm to a call that a fire was in progress at Block 2000, a relatively closely located community to the Fire Departments headquarters at the Central Police Station.





When the fire officers arrived on the scene, one building was already completely destroyed and it was clear that the fire was spreading rapidly, one eye witness told THE VINCENTIAN.





The fire officers, ably assisted by members of the community, managed to bring the fire under control but not before another building was destroyed.





Reports are that the two buildings that were destroyed were wooden buildings, one owned by Earl Frederick and the other by the Seventh-Day Adventist Church.





Of the two building that were damaged, one is listed as being owned by the Maranatha Seventh-Day Adventist Church, and the other by Exrod Herbert.




It is expected that either Allen Chastanet (right) or Phillip Pierre will be St. Lucias next Prime Minister.

According to The Star Newspaper of St. Lucia, forty-five candidates have been nominated for Saint Lucias general election on July 26.





This, The Star reported, was confirmed by the Electoral Department after the proceeding of Nomination Day held on July 16.





The Electoral Department confirmed that the incumbent United Workers Party, headed by Prime Minister Allen Chastanet, will field seventeen candidates, whilst the main opposition party, the Philip J. Pierre-led Saint Lucia Labour Party, will contest in fifteen.





Describing it as the revamped National Green Party (NGP), the Star said it had filed nomination papers for eight candidates. The NGP is spearheaded by activists Andre de Caires and the former President of the Iyanola Council for the Advancement of Rastafari - Aaron Alexander.





Five independent candidates are listed to contest the election, these being former Prime Minister Stephenson King, Richard Frederick, Nathalbert George, Michael St. Catherine and Melanie Fraites.





Advertisement





This will be Saint Lucias eleventh general election post-independence. (Source: The Star/ St. Lucia)




Unity Labour Party (ULP) General Secretary Julian Francis has cautioned Cornelius John.





Francis made references to the cost of legal fees.





He empahsised, "I want to send a caution to Cornelius John. Kay Bacchus is your lawyer. Kay Bacchus is an expensive lawyer. We have heard many things about her. Watch out for your legal bills. All Im saying to you Mr. John, I dont know if you sought her out? Or she sought you out? That is a matter between both of you.





Francis went on to reveal that John said that he couldnt work now and that he couldnt do his business, but there was a conflict here. Since the first time he made a public statement on his crutch, he had just come back from the lands, where he had the workers employed.





Francis underscored, "Im just cautioning you that there will come a time when legal bills have to be paid. I see an appeal out on social media, I dont know who formulated that and who put it together or if that was done without your knowledge? But as a middle aged, advanced aged citizen of country, you obviously got shot in your leg and its difficult to move now.





The General Secretary said that he had heard Bacchus say that if it were her on the other side, Ashelle would walk. He warned that while Bacchus was looking at Johns case, Bacchus was looking at the other one too.

He concluded, "I dont know if that was solicitation, that she can handle both sides. After all she is pretty good at these things. So I just want you to be cautious on the matter.




Ms. Diana Browne and Commissioner John at the handing over of the KwikMark Marking Machine (foreground).

On 20.07.2021, Ms. Diana Browne, Administrative Assistant at the Country (SVG) Office of the Organisation of American States , handed over a KwikMark Marking Machine for Small and Light firearms to Commissioner of Police, Mr. Colin John.





The donation was done on behalf of the General Secretariat of the Organization of American States.





During the handover ceremony, Ms. Browne explained that the firearms marking machine was made available under a special OAS programme called Comprehensive Action against Small Arms and Light Weapons which is part of the project Countering the Illicit Proliferation and Trafficking of Small Arms, Light Weapons and Ammunition, and their impact in Latin America and the Caribbean.





Ms. Browne said "todays donation demonstrates the commitment of the OAS and the General Secretariat to support and strengthen all Member States capacities in different areas, especially  public security and firearms.

Commissioner of Police, Mr. Colin John, on receiving the equipment, thanked the OAS on behalf of the members of the RSVGPF and the Government and People of St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) for the timely donation.





The Commissioner noted that security is at the centre of the OASs mandate thus, the firearms marking machine will significantly enhance the RSVGPFs capability in the tracing and fight against trafficking in small and light weapons.





The Commissioner also noted that the equipment does not only help to prevent crimes, but it can lead to the successful prosecution and conviction of offenders.




There is no want of vaccines here and the PM has alluded to 50,000 doses of the Sputnik Vaccine having already arrived here. (See story on 13)

According to a Dashboard report released by the Ministry of Health last Monday, 25,506 COVID-19 vaccines have been administered here. Of these, 15,673 are first doses and 9,983 second doses.





And while these national figures do not come close to the expectations of government, of even greater concern is the vaccine hesitancy among staff in the Ministry of Health.





During a call to last Sundays WE FM Issue on Hand programme, Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr. Simone Keizer-Beache said, "We are engaging them  doing more sessions with them to try and address their concerns in terms of the hesitancy... we are not seeing the numbers that we would expect to have... in the emergency room, where we only have about two of 10 doctors being vaccinated  that is not safe for anybody.





Dr. Keizer-Beache disclosed that they are looking at small groups where they can have one on one interaction "to try and address some of these complaints.





And on the issue of adverse reaction to the vaccine, the CMO reported zero incidents/reports of any such reactions, especially clots.





She insisted, "We havent had any deaths associated with the vaccine, as in direct cause of death, and in response to a social media post that cited four deaths after persons were vaccinated, she said, "Upon investigation, the Ministry of Health can now say that those claims were false and that this country still stands at twelve COVID-19 deaths.





No COVID-19 variants in SVG





As for the concern about COVID-19 variants in SVG, the CMO stated emphatically on Sunday, that there was no evidence of any COVID-19 variants in St Vincent and the Grenadines.





She supported that by sharing that, "we are constantly sending [samples] to CARPHA and, as you know, we test here.





She repeated that the latest reports have shown that "we still dont have any variants of concern.





The New York Times has advised that the variants about which the Caribbean and the Americas should be concerned are: Alpha  which emerged in Britain and is now dominant in the USA; Beta  which emerged in South Africa; Gamma  first appeared in Brazil; and Delta  emerged and remains prevalent in India.
The American Airpower Museum (AAM) in Farmingdale, New York reintroduced their popular C-47 D-Day Living History Flight Experience on June 12th, 2021, completing four historic reenactment flights that day. Since then, demand for additional flights has been so strong that AAM has decided to hold another day-long program on Saturday, July 31st (with a rain date set for Sunday, August 1st). The museums Douglas C-47B Skytrain (44-76717), along with professional re-enactors, provide a spectacularly realistic recreation of what U.S. Airborne Paratroopers might have felt on their historic D-Day mission in June, 1944. Presently, three flights are planned for Saturday, July 31, 2021, taking place between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., with an optional fourth flight available to meet extra demand should it arise. Seats are allocated on a first-come first-served basis, so please call (516) 531-3950 to book your flight, or alternatively, visit the Museums gift shop or call (631) 454-2039, Wednesday through Sunday, 10:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

As already intimated, AAMs Flight Experience is a one-of-a-kind immersive, educational program, where re-enactors take you up in the museums original WWII C-47 to provide participants with a sense regarding some of what paratroopers from the U.S. 101st and 82nd Airborne Divisions would have experienced during their 1,200-plane airborne assault of Normandy. The re-enactors are led by Robert Scarabino, a noted WWII Living Historian who has organized AAMs C-47 D-Day Living History Flight Experiences since the programs inception in 2003. This unique experience includes: a mission briefing in the ready room; a chance to wear authentic military field jackets, helmets and gear; the actual sights, sounds and scents as the C-47s engines fire up and take you off into the blue; see, hear and feel the crew operating their C-47 and paratroopers preparing for their mission; plus youll actually line up and attach your hook to the overhead static line. Dont worry no jumping is allowed!

Three WWII veterans are scheduled to attend the C-47 D-Day Flight Experience, joining Airborne Living Historians and immersing themselves in the sequence of events, including marching with guests out to the C-47 for photo ops. Veterans will share and reflect on their WWII memories. These men will include: Gene Leavy, 95, East Northport, U.S. Army 100th Infantry Division, 398th Regiment, Battle of the Bulge; Joseph Salvatore Randazzo, 95, West Babylon, U.S. Army 75th Infantry Division, 291st Regiment, shot in Germany near Dortmund; Dr. Richard Heinl, 96, Syosset, U.S. Army 94th Infantry Division, 376th Regiment. The 94th was part of Gen. George Pattons Third Army. Having the opportunity to listen and speak to these men about their experiences will offer an extraordinary opportunity, for people of all ages, to learn more about our Greatest Generation heroes and to help carry their legacy forward. This is a family-friendly experience for all ages.

The price for the C-47 flight will be $350. The program is about 1.5 hours long, with each flight taking 25 minutes or so. Investing in a flight experience also entitles you to bring an additional person who can visit the Museum free of charge while you go up in the Skytrain. Your support, in participating in this program, will help the museum continue its mission to honor veterans and U.S. aviation history by helping preserving the aircraft and their legacy for future generations. For those not able to take part in the Flight Experience rides, July 31st will still provide excellent additional reasons to visit the AAM that day, because you will be able to both tour the museum and watch the flights as they take off and land! Museum admission is $15 for adults, $10 for Seniors & Veterans and $8 for Children 5-12. No tickets or pre-registration is necessary for regular Museum admission. For more information, please visit www.americanairpowermuseum.com
The archbishop of Tokyo will support FABC president Card Charles Maung Bo (Myanmar). One of the tasks that await him is the preparation for the continental phase of the 16th General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, convened by Pope Francis on the theme of synodality in the Church.

Tokyo (AsiaNews)  Archbishop Tarcisio Isao Kikuchi of Tokyo is the new secretary general of the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences (FABC), the Federation announced yesterday.

Archbishop Kikuchi replaces Bishop Stephen Lee Bun-Sang of Macau who resigned from his post earlier this month.

As secretary general, Archbishop Kikuchi will support Archbishop Card Charles Maung Bo of Yangon (Myanmar), FABC president since 2019.

Born in Iwate Prefecture in 1958, Archbishop Kikuchi is a member of the Society of the Divine Word (Verbites). Ordained priest in 1986, he served as a missionary in Ghana (Africa) for 13 years.

After his return to Japan in 1999, he was elected regional superior of his order. In 2004 Pope John Paul II appointed him Bishop of Niigata. In 2017, he was called by Pope Francis to lead the Archdiocese of Tokyo.

Between 2011 to 2019, Archbishop Kikuchi served Asias Churches as regional president of Caritas Asia. He was also a member of FABCs Office of Human Development.

As FABC secretary general he will coordinate the work of the organisations offices.

One of his first tasks will be organising the General Conference, originally set for November 2020 in Bangkok to mark the FABCs 50th anniversary, but postponed due to the pandemic.

This task will now be undertaken in parallel with the 16th Ordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, convened by Pope Francis on the theme For a synodal Church: communion, participation and mission, which will have a continental phase, Asia included, before it is held in Rome in October 2023.
by Vladimir Rozanskij

During the Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha, the homes of citizens suspected of keeping forbidden religious literature were searched. The authorities fear Islamic extremism, rekindled by the successes of the Taliban in Afghanistan. Attacks have been carried out against the relatives of Turkmen activists living abroad.

Moscow (AsiaNews) - The Muslim festival of Kurban-Bayram (Eid al-Adha), whihc is being celebrated, has given the Turkmen Ministry of National Security the pretext to carry out searches and checks in the homes of citizens suspected of keeping forbidden religious literature. According to Radio Azatlyk, numerous confiscations have taken place in the velayat (province) of Lebap, in the cities of Djanev, Darganat, Sejdi and Gazodzak.

Ministry officials demand that citizens who go to mosques get rid of any religious publications other than the Koran. Other books with religious content "must not be on the shelves of the homes of believers", the confiscation order reads. In Turkmenistan, "standards on religious literature" are being controlled, as the authorities fear that the more extremist tendencies of Islam will spread among the population.

Commentators point out that the clampdown on literature could be an effect of the growing influence of the Taliban, which is pressing in from neighbouring Afghanistan. They fear these victories would reinforce a radical Islamic tendency that has been present in Turkmenistan for some time, also in light of the presence of former ISIS members, who settled in the country after the defeats in Syria and Iraq.

Some elderly people confessed to Azatlyk correspondents that the persecutions of these days closely resemble those of Soviet times, when house searches were also carried out. 'It is actually bad that people know little about religion, because that is exactly how people are attracted to radical groups from outside,' said one of those interviewed.

Another witness claimed that "when the envoys of the ministry find a religious book in the house, even according to the standards, they carry out strict interrogations on the inhabitants". Sometimes, he added, the authorities also resort to forms of pressure that violate people's rights, for example forcing them to drink vodka to prove that they are not radicals.

In addition to control over religion, the Turkmen government is also keeping a tight control on human rights activists. Radio Azatlyk has reported the case of a mother of five who has been forbidden to continue communicating with her brother in Turkey. This is not an isolated case; the authorities in Ashgabat are trying to cut off all contact with Turkmen abroad who are working on these issues. The activists operate from Turkey to Bulgaria and Russia, and even as far away as the USA (see photo), and the regime fights them by putting pressure on their relatives back home.

Only in the last few days it has been reported that on 7 July an activist, Murat Dusemov, who had filed a complaint with the court about the violation of his rights, regarding freedom of communication with his relatives and friends, was arrested. Together with him, the authorities arrested his friend, Dzuma Dzumakaev, and his wife, Leyla Nermetova. The couple were travelling from Ashgabat to Dashoguz: the policemen demanded a green pass for Covid-19 from them, which was not required by law.

The Turkmen authorities declined to comment on these and many other cases reported by citizens regarding violations of civil and religious rights in the country.
Outgoing President Rouhani says the goal is to "avoid the Strait" which is now "strategically vulnerable". The new terminal shows "the failure" of US sanctions. Oil Minister: billion investment. Agreement on crude oil production reached between Opec+ countries.

Tehran (AsiaNews/Agencies) - Tehran has opened its first oil terminal in the Gulf of Oman, to bypass the Strait of Hormuz, the source of decades of disputes and international tensions that have led to a spike in crude prices.

The move was confirmed yesterday by President Hassan Rouhani, who said that the operation is intended to allow the Islamic Republic's ships to "avoid the strait", which he says has become "strategically vulnerable".

In one of his last televised addresses to the nation, the outgoing leader spoke of "a strategic move and an important step for Iran" because "it will ensure continuity of oil exports". "This new crude export terminal," he added, "shows the failure of Washington's sanctions" against the country.

Rouhani revelaed that Tehran intends to export at least one million barrels per day (bpd) of oil from Bandar-e Jask, a port on Iran's Gulf of Oman coast, just south of the Strait of Hormuz. In the past, the Islamic Republic's leaders have threatened to block the Strait in case of severe export restrictions linked to US sanctions, which tightened three years ago under President Trump and the subsequent abandonment of the nuclear deal (JCPOA).

Tehran and the current US administration led by Joe Biden have entered into indirect talks in Vienna in an attempt to revive the agreement that enshrined the lifting of most US sanctions in exchange for curbing the ayatollahs' nuclear programme. "The implementation of the Goreh-Jask port crude oil transfer project took place with about billion investment," Iran's Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh said.

In the meantime, some of the major producing countries have reached an agreement to increase oil extraction. On 18 July, in fact, the 23 nations of Opec+ reached an agreement that envisages a monthly increase of 400 thousand barrels a day on average, starting from August, thus raising world production by 2% by the end of the year. The oil cartel comprises the 13 Opec (Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) members, including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, plus 10 other major producers, including Russia.

Negotiations in recent months had escalated into open hostility between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi, which opposed the extension of the pact to the end of 2022 in order to increase its production and redefine the rules established on a temporary basis by Opec.The compromise was reached by granting the Emirates to increase its share from next April in exchange for their consent to the extension of the pact until the end of 2022. Under the agreement, which was welcomed by the markets and led to an immediate drop in prices, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Kuwait and Iraq will also increase their production quotas.
by Shafique Khokhar

The Good Samaritan Resource Center International is an association that helps people facing difficult times due to COVID-19. Binyamin, who had lost his shoe sale business, is one of them.

Faisalabad (AsiaNews)  Restrictions aimed at containing the COVID-19 pandemic have caused serious economic damage in various parts of the world.

Where governments did not provide financial aid, street vendors and daily workers fell into extreme poverty.

In order to cope with the situation, the Good Samaritan Resource Center International (GSRCI) stepped in to provide food and money to those who lost their job or are unable to support their families.

One of those people is Binyamin, 53, a shoe vendor in Faisalabad, who was forced to sell off all his goods and close his business. Only after he got in touch with the GSRCI was he able to get back into selling shoes.

Binyamin and his wife moved to Faisalabad more than 20 years ago, initially working on construction sites. However, he aimed for better jobs so that his five children could study.

To this end, he started saving, and his wife Bushra got a job as a housemaid. Eventually, after setting aside a small amount of money, Binyamin was able start his business by buying only a few dozen shoes, but eventually he got a spot in weekly markets.

Later he expanded his activities by buying a loader rickshaw and selling shoes in other parts of the city. By then everything was going well until the COVID-19 pandemic broke out. Sales dropped, his wife and children, who worked as caterers at wedding halls, lost their job.

After selling off his merchandise, Binyamin was forced to sell his furniture to pay the rent and utility bills, and went back to work on construction sites, earning barely enough for two meals a day for his family.

Fortunately, he learnt about of the GSRCI, chaired by Rehan Masih, known as the good Samaritan in Faisalabad.

The group immediately assessed the urgent situation. After providing the family with food rations, Binyamin was given a one-month loan to restart his shoe sales job.

The business is flourishing again and for this I am grateful to God and the GSRCI team, he said. Some GSRCI people accompanied Binyamin and his wife to choose the new shoes to sell.

Rehan Masih told AsiaNews that he and his team are committed to helping poor and oppressed families and will continue to do so thanks to the help of donors.
The visit includes the conclusion of the International Eucharistic Congress, a divine liturgy in memory of the Greek-Catholic martyrs, a meeting with a representative of the Roma community, as well as a tete-a-tete with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

Vatican City (AsiaNews)  Pope Francis will travel to Budapest and Slovakia between 12 and 15 September.

The three-day trip includes the conclusion of the International Eucharistic Congress, a divine liturgy in memory of Greek Catholic martyrs, and a meeting with Roma community leaders. Francis will also meet local Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban in Budapest.

The theme of the pontiffs 34th trip  With Mary and Joseph on the way to Jesus  was chosen to express "the prayer that Pope Francis' visit to Slovakia may strengthen faith and renew the desire to follow in the footsteps of the Lord Jesus, who 'did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life (Mt 20:28).

The first stop will be Budapest, where the Pope will arrive at 7.45 am. This is not an official visit to Hungary. In the Hungarian capital, Francis will take part in the closing ceremony of the International Eucharistic Congress.

Before celebrating Mass in Heroes' Square, the pontiff will meet with Hungarian President Janos Ader and Prime Minister Viktor Orban at the Museum of Fine Arts. No speech is planned for this occasion.

Later, at the same venue, Francis will first address a meeting with Hungarys bishops, then one with representatives of the Ecumenical Council of Churches and some Jewish communities in Hungary.

At 11.30, Francis will go to Heroes' Square to mark the end of the International Eucharistic Congress with a solemn Mass and the recitation of the Angelus, following which he will travel to the airport to depart for Bratislava, scheduled at 2.40 pm.

After arriving in the capital of Slovakia around 3.30 pm, the Pope will hold an ecumenical meeting in the nunciature followed  as is customary in every apostolic journey  by a meeting with members of the Society of Jesus.

The following day, Monday 13 September, there will be an official welcome ceremony at 9.15 am at the Presidential Palace and a courtesy visit to President Zuzana Caputova, which will be followed by a meeting with government authorities, diplomatic corps and representatives of civil society groups.

Afterwards, Francis will travel to the Cathedral of Saint Martin to meet the countrys bishops, priests, men and women religious, seminarians and catechists.

In the afternoon, after a private visit to the Bethlehem Center in Bratislava, Francis will meet the Jewish community in Rybne Namestie Square, where the Neolog synagogue used to stand.

In the evening, he will meet with Parliamentary Speaker Boris Kollar and Prime Minister Eduard Heger.

On Tuesday 14 September Francis will be in Kosice, Slovakias second largest city, on the eastern border, near Poland, Ukraine and Hungary, on the Horna River. He will then travel to Presov, the countrys third largest city, a major cultural centre, on the Torysa River.

In Kosice, land of Greek Catholic martyrs, he will lead the Divine Byzantine liturgy of St John Chrysostom. In the afternoon he will go to the Lunik IX district, on the outskirts of the city where the Roma community has lived for over thirty years. At 5 pm, he will greet young people at the Lokomotiva Stadium. He will leave at 6.30 pm for Bratislava, arriving an hour later.

On his last day, Wednesday 15 September, Francis will be in Sastin, Trnava region. Here, two events are scheduled. At 9.10 am, a moment of prayer will be held with the bishops at the National Shrine, dedicated 250 years ago to Our Lady, known according to local tradition as "Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows". This will be followed by the final Mass at 10 am.

At 1.30 pm, the Pope will depart Slovakia for Rome with arrival in Ciampino scheduled for 3.30 pm.
Xis visit marks the 70th anniversary of the arrival of Chinese troops sent to occupy Tibet. The president wants to promote local stability, development and environmental protection. Tibetan government in exile slams Beijing for destroying Tibets identity, calls for renewed dialogue with the Dalai Lama. Deaths caused by floods in central China spark protests.

Beijing (AsiaNews)  Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Tibet on Wednesday and Thursday to mark the 70th anniversary of the arrival of Chinese troops in the future autonomous region, home to indigenous Buddhists.

Xi's visit to Tibet is his first as president, and the first in 10 years. He came in 2011 when he was vice president pledging to fight the "separatist activities" led by the Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism, in exile since 1959.

The latter, also known as Tenzin Gyatso, fled to India after the Chinese military crushed the Tibetan uprising of that year.

In August 2020, Xi declared that the defence of the Tibetan border was a national priority.

Two months earlier, Chinese and Indian troops had clashed along the provisional border that divides Indias Ladakh territory from Tibet; scores of soldiers were killed. This was the first border incident between the two countries since 1975.

According to sources cited by the South China Morning Post, in his Tibetan trip, Xi focused on internal issues, namely local stability, development and environmental protection.

Xi told Tibetans that he is confident that all local ethnic groups will march towards a happy life.

The new leader of the Tibetan government-in-exile disagrees. In an interview published today by Nikkei Asia, Penpa Tsering accused the Chinese government of destroying Tibets identity by sending ethnic Han Chinese settlers to Tibet. Han are Chinas largest ethnic group.

Tsering slammed the suppression of religious freedom in Tibet, with the Chinese authorities keeping Buddhist monasteries under control thanks to the massive use of video surveillance systems.

The Tibetan leader called on the United States, the European Union and other democracies to join together to help the Tibetan cause.

He also asked the Chinese government to resume talks with the Tibetan government-in-exile, which were interrupted in 2010, and to open direct negotiations with the Dalai Lama.

Before arriving in Tibet, Xi stopped in nearby Sichuan, where he visited the San Xing Dui archaeological site.

However, the president stayed away from Henan, which was devastated by floods and torrential rains. The current death toll stands at 51, with most dead in the provincial capital of Zhengzhou.

About three million people were affected by the disaster, many trapped without food and clean water. According to China Central Television (CCTV), the economic damage has been estimated around 1.2 billion yuan (US$ 185 million)

While Hundreds of thousands of people have been evacuated, rescuers continue to move people out of many villages.

The disaster has angered many residents who are demanding the authorities why the Zhengzhou underground network was not shut down when the rainfall became heavy. At least 12 people drowned in a flooded line.

Meanwhile, the weather situation could get worse over the weekend, when Typhoon In-fa is expected to land on Chinas east coast.
Many people with intellectual or developmental disabilities are more vulnerable to developing severe illness as a result of the coronavirus, and those with underlying health problems such as weakened immune systems, heart conditions and lung disease could be at even higher risk, according to guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Those with disabilities also are more at risk for developing underlying health conditions than the general population, the CDC reports.
Area business owners are pointing to that example  Phillips versus Faidley  as evidence that the Small Business Administration made arbitrary decisions in the distribution of federal funds through a program meant to help restaurants reeling from the coronavirus pandemic. More than 400 Baltimore businesses got the grants  which range from as low as $1,160 for a Belvedere Square pizza spot to as much as the $5 million for Phillips, according to data released July 16 by the SBA.
Though the short hearing marked one step closer to the cases resolution, it is not over for Crouse, who thought that prison was too lenient a punishment. She still thinks about her son every day. Driving around the area and seeing the places she used to frequent reminds her of him, and, every day, she grieves.
Mosby instituted the policy last year as she and other prosecutors searched for ways to stem the spread of the coronavirus by reducing the number of people in Marylands prisons and jails. She made the policy permanent earlier this year, pointing to the fact that the city saw an almost 20% drop in reported violent crime last year, although police have said at least some of the drop is connected to fewer people being on citys streets during the pandemic.
After graduating from Milford Mill High School, she earned a bachelors degree in 1968 from what is now Towson University. She taught kindergarten until obtaining a masters degree in social work from the University of Maryland School of Social Work. She also completed a two-year course earlier this year at the Johns Hopkins University where she was awarded a certificate on aging.
When I first started reporting on Marylands ex-offenders about 15 years ago, the states recidivism rate  that is, the percentage of inmates who return to prison within three years of release  mirrored the nations, at about 60%. The rate has fallen since then, but so has the number of arrests in Baltimore, and I believe one is directly related to the other. Its not like weve made some revolutionary effort to put corrections back in corrections. Theres still a problem with men (and women) emerging from prison without marketable skills or a solid transition plan that will improve their chances of success.
Let me give you a few examples of why I say police cannot prevent murders. Picture a citizen walking down a city street and a bad guy with a gun appears, robs him and shoots him. You cant prevent that moment. Heres another example: A drug dealer crosses into another drug dealers territory and is shot and killed in a drive-by shooting. You cant prevent that one either. Theres a dispute in a home between a man and a woman that results in the man shooting the woman. Again, not preventable. A driver cuts off another vehicle, name-calling follows and then someone gets shot. A bad guy walks into a doctors office and shoots the doctor for drugs. Neither of these scenarios cant be prevented. I could go on with other examples, but Im sure you get my point.
Right off the bat, he claims that income inequality, easy access to guns or lack of employment opportunities is the driver of crime in Baltimore. Since he is all about data, I am not aware of any research in depth pointing to that conclusion. Access to guns is rather obvious since this country is awash in guns, but show me the data about why the access is so easy. Have arrestees been interviewed as to why they commit crimes or where they got the guns or why not getting a job forced them into criminal behavior? Because Major Franklin says so doesnt make it so. His claim that because research by Johns Hopkins University concluded that there was no link between low level offenses and serious crimes means that because someone urinates in a public street doesnt mean he will pull a trigger. This assertion is ludicrous on its face. I could make the assertion that someone who would have no compunction about publicly exposing and relieving himself (or herself) would not be reluctant to commit a gun crime. It is silly to say this, but is there data on post public urination crime?
Were pushing for national federalization of the standards of voting because there are these local groups, these local governments that are restricting access to the ballot box, Jones said. And the only way to overcome that is to have the federal government come in and say, This is the standard. This is what you must do.
The Republican push is spurred by former President Donald Trumps false claims that the 2020 election was stolen. Its a claim now widely embraced, despite all evidence to contrary, by many in his party. State election officials across the country and judges of both parties found no evidence to support Trumps assertions, but Republican lawmakers argue that the new, tighter rules are needed to restore confidence in the election system, according to The Associated Press.
What well say is that this switch in focus will force the city to really reprioritize tens of millions of dollars, Scott added. That means there are things that we do that arent working that we shouldnt do. There are opportunities for us to grow into other programs, and were going to be looking to make significant changes to how we operate as well.
However, the creation of these sites in Baltimore or anywhere in the U.S. will likely require changes to state and federal law, something the plan acknowledges, saying that Scott will advocate for policy changes that would pave the way for legal safe injection sites.
News Around the Republic of Mexico



Jan-May Agrifood Exports Mexico's Highest in 29 Years



The country's agri-food trade balance reached a surplus of 4.22 billion dollars in the period of January to May 2021, Mexico's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development reported. Mexico City - The value of Mexico's agrifood exports in the first five months of the year was the highest in 29 years, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development reported earlier this week.



Agrifood products destined for foreign shores brought in US $18.7 billion from January through May, and imports were just under $14.5 billion for a surplus of $4.23 billion, the fourth-highest in 27 years.



Of the $33.2 billion agrifood trade with foreign countries, 56.4% was money entering the economy: more than earnings from petroleum exports or foreign tourism.



The biggest exports were beer at nearly $2.2 billion, avocados at $1.3 billion; tequila and mezcal, $1.1 billion; tomatoes, $1.1 billion; and peppers, $817 million.



More than 55% of imports were concentrated in four groups: cereals, at 21%; oil seeds and oleaginous fruits at 15%; meat at 14%, and dairy and other products of animal origin at 6 percent.



Vegetables, fruits and beverages were the biggest sellers from January to May. Export of the latter grew 30.8% in annual terms.



For all trade, Mexico's top trading partner was the United States, which purchased 75% of exports at a value of $361 billion in 2019, according to the Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC).



Sources: Secretariat of Agriculture and Rural Development - Mexico News Daily - The value of Mexico's agrifood exports in the first five months of the year was the highest in 29 years, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development reported earlier this week.Agrifood products destined for foreign shores brought in US $18.7 billion from January through May, and imports were just under $14.5 billion for a surplus of $4.23 billion, the fourth-highest in 27 years.Of the $33.2 billion agrifood trade with foreign countries, 56.4% was money entering the economy: more than earnings from petroleum exports or foreign tourism.The biggest exports were beer at nearly $2.2 billion, avocados at $1.3 billion; tequila and mezcal, $1.1 billion; tomatoes, $1.1 billion; and peppers, $817 million.More than 55% of imports were concentrated in four groups: cereals, at 21%; oil seeds and oleaginous fruits at 15%; meat at 14%, and dairy and other products of animal origin at 6 percent.Vegetables, fruits and beverages were the biggest sellers from January to May. Export of the latter grew 30.8% in annual terms.For all trade, Mexico's top trading partner was the United States, which purchased 75% of exports at a value of $361 billion in 2019, according to the Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC).



Site Map  Print this Page  Email Us  Top


Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup.
Baltimore County Police said that just before 5 p.m. officers were called to the 9400 block of Common Brook Road and found a male suffering from a gunshot wound. He died at the scene, police said, and detectives believe the victim was targeted.
Adams LinkedIn shows that she has spent the last five years at the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission as an associate general counsel member and, more recently, as a senior counsel member. Prior, she worked at the Maryland Office of the Attorney General as an assistant attorney general and tort litigation supervisor. Adams declined to provide a comment.
In early May, six weeks before he killed Cummings, Harrod once again cut off his ankle bracelet monitor. This time he would not be caught for nearly two months, due to a failure of the system lacking either the technology or the resources to recognize the threat Harrod posed to public safety. Only after he was identified as a person of interest in the murder of Cummings was Harrod arrested for his outstanding warrant. About two weeks later, he would be charged with Cummings murder.
Afghanistan is a poster child for the endless wars that have dominated U.S. international affairs since the end of World War II. Thirteen American presidents have been in office during wartime, and seven of them served since 1945: Harry Truman (Korea), Lyndon Johnson (Vietnam), Richard Nixon (Vietnam), George H.W. Bush (Gulf War), George W. Bush (Iraq and Afghanistan), Barack Obama (Afghanistan) and Donald Trump (Afghanistan). Presidents of both political parties have engaged our military in all sorts of ways in at least 85 countries in the name of defeating communism or terrorism. And that does not count the staggering number of U.S. military bases around the world and the massive arms sales to foreign governments. Congress has abdicated much of its constitutional powers to the president.
The United Nations on Thursday warned that terrorist organisations - Islamic State (ISIS) and Al Qaeda pose a growing threat in much of Africa.

A report to the Security Council by the UN monitoring team charged with tracking worldwide jihadi threats, published that terror groups such as ISIS and al Qaeda is not only resilient, but in many places expanding, reported CNN.

The report warns that Africa is now "the region most affected by terrorism" -- with al Qaeda and ISIS-aligned groups inflicting higher casualties there than anywhere else. In many areas, these groups are gaining support, threatening more territory, getting better weapons and raising more money.

The UN report suggests a consistent pattern. Wherever pressure on jihadi terror groups is absent or negligible, they thrive. In Afghanistan, where the United States says it will complete its military withdrawal by August 31, the UN warns of a potential "further deterioration" in the security situation.

In Somalia, the report says, US military withdrawal and the partial drawdown of the African Union Mission has left Somali special forces "struggling to contain" the Al Qaeda affiliate Al-Shabaab.

In Mali, where France is winding down its counterterrorism mission, the report says that Al Qaeda-affiliated terrorists have consolidated their influence and are "increasingly claiming populated areas."

In Mozambique, the report says, "the absence of significant counter-terrorist measures" have transformed the ISIS affiliate in central Africa into a "major threat."

Jihadi terror attacks have declined in Europe and North America -- but the UN experts expect this is temporary because terrorist violence has been "artificially suppressed by limitations in travelling, meeting, fundraising and identifying viable targets" during the Covid-19 pandemic. At the same time, they believe the risk of online radicalization increased during the lockdowns.

"One of the things that we highlight in the report that's just come out is the possibility that the relaxation of lockdowns might mean that some pre-planned attacks can then take place," Edmund Fitton-Brown, coordinator of the UN monitoring team told CNN.

The report makes for sobering reading at a time when the United States and its allies -- exhausted by the pandemic and keen to focus on economic recovery and standing up to China and Russia, have all but called an end to the 20-year 'war on terror.' As one leading analyst recently put it: "We might be done with jihadis, but they are not done with us."

Moreover, the threat from ISIS remains far from extinguished in Iraq and Syria, with the group bankrolled by estimated reserves of USD 25 million to USD 50 million, reported CNN.

ISIS has "reasserted itself somewhat in Iraq" this year in the face of "constant counter-terrorism pressure," the report says. Just this week, ISIS claimed a bombing in Baghdad which killed at least 30 people. The UN monitors say that according to member states, ISIS still has the "intent and capability to sustain a long-term insurgency in the Syrian desert" that borders Iraq.

Elsewhere in Syria, the report states that "groups aligned with [Al Qaeda] continue to dominate the Idlib area," where terrorist fighters number more than 10,000.

It says member states are concerned that jihadi fighters may relocate from that region to Afghanistan should the environment there become more hospitable.

With the Taliban making rapid gains across Afghanistan, there is widespread concern the group will seize control of the country and allow it to once again become a platform for international terror.

According to the UN report, Al Qaeda is present in at least 15 Afghan provinces, and operates "under Taliban protection from Kandahar, Helmand and Nimruz Provinces."

In a CNN interview this week, Taliban spokesperson Suhail Shaheen said the group had made a commitment "not to allow any individual or group or entity to use ... Afghanistan against the United States, its allies and other countries" and said terrorists will have "no place" in an Afghanistan under Taliban rule.

But Fitton-Brown says the Taliban "have not broken their relationship with Al Qaeda. They haven't taken any steps against al Qaeda that they could not easily reverse and quickly reverse."

The Taliban's offensive across Afghanistan "doesn't give the international community much confidence that they are moving towards a real commitment to a stable negotiated and ultimately peaceful settlement in Afghanistan," he says.

There's also concern that ISIS has a solid foothold in Afghanistan, with one member state reporting it currently has between 500 and 1,500 fighters.

Despite being weakened in parts of eastern Afghanistan, the UN experts warn that ISIS's regional affiliate "has moved into other provinces" and "strengthened its positions in and around Kabul, where it conducts most of its attacks."

Two decades on from 9/11, the ability of Al Qaeda and ISIS to threaten the West is currently lower than it has been.

But the UN report shows that the danger posed by international jihadi groups has metastasized, and that they are entrenched in under-governed areas just as Western powers are preoccupied with other issues, reported CNN.

"It's important not to take our eye off counterterrorism and particularly important not to stop improving international counterterrorism cooperation," says Fitton-Brown.

(ANI)
:2021 20210723 17:36:04  :

:  :2021

Stock Code: 200771 Stock ID: Hangqilun B Announcement No. :2021-61











Hangzhou Steam Turbine Co., Ltd.



Announcement of Resolutions of the First Provisional Shareholders' General

Meeting of 2021







The members of the Board and the Company acknowledge being responsible for the

truthfulness, accuracy, and completeness of the announcement. Not any false record, misleading

statement or significant omission carried in this announcement.







Special remarks:



1. Notice of Holding the First Provisional shareholders general meeting of 2021 were released on

July 7,2021 with Securities Times, Shanghai Commercial Daily, Hong Kong Commercial Daily,

and http://www.cninfo.com.cn Announcement No .:2021-48.



2. No proposal was rejected at the meeting.



3. No resolution of previous shareholders meeting was changed by this meeting.



I. Holding of the meeting



1. Time of the meeting:



(1) Time of the onsite meeting: July 23, 2020(Friday) 1330;



(2)Time of voting through network: July 23,2021



Of which, Online voting through the trading system of SSE was 9:159:25, 9:3011:30 and

13:0015:00Votes can be made anytime between 9:15 to 15:00 through the online voting

system provided by SSE.

2. Venue: Hangzhou Steam Turbine Co., Ltd. (No.1188 Dongxin Road, Hangzhou)



Meeting Room No. 304, Steam Turbine Power Building



3. Way of meeting: This shareholders meeting was held both onsite and online.



4. Convener: The Board of Directors of the Company



5. Host of the meeting: Chairman of the Company, Mr. Zheng Bin



6. The calling and holding procedures were complying with the Company Law, Rules of Listing

of SSE, and the Articles of Association.





II. Delegates at the meeting



1. Presenting of the meeting by shareholders



Totally 77 shareholders and attorneys presented the meeting, representing 515,157,418

shares, accounted of 70.14 % of the total voting shares.



Among them there was 1 state-owned share holder holding 479,824,800 shares, accounted

of 65.33% of the total voting shares; 76 B-stock holders, representing 35,332,618 shares,

accounted of 4.81 % of total voting shares.



Totally 56 shareholders and attorneys presented at the onsite meeting, representing

504,662,529 shares, accounted of 68.71% of total voting shares.



21 shareholders presented the meeting by online voting system, representing 10,494,889

shares accounted of 1.43 % of total voting share.



2. Presenting of other delegates



The directors, supervisors and executives of the Company, as well as the law consultant 

Zhejiang Tiance Law Firm presented the meeting.



III. Proposals and voting results



The following proposals were voted and adopted at the meeting by means of online and

onsite voting:



I. The meeting examined the Proposal on amending the articles of association of the

Company







In favor



Objection



Waive



Number of shares



Proportion



Number of

shares



Proportion



Number of

shares



Proportion



Domestic

shareholders



479,824,800



100.00%



0



0.00%



0



0.00%



B-shareholders



34,607,519



97.95%



386,799



1.09%



338,300



0.96%



Total



514,432,319



99.86%



386,799



0.08%



338,300



0.07%



Including: votes by mid-small shareholders: (Shareholders with 5% or lower of the capital sharesthe

same below)



Mid-small

shareholders



34,607,519



97.95%



386,799



1.09%



338,300



0.96%







II.The meeting examined the Proposal on Supplementing the Supervisor of the

Company's Eighth Supervisory Committee







In favor



Objection



Waive



Number of shares



Proportion



Number of

shares



Proportion



Number of

shares



Proportion



Domestic

shareholders



479,824,800



100.00%



0



0.00%



0



0.00%



B-shareholders



33,504,308



94.83%



1,490,010



4.22%



338,300



0.96%



Total



513,329,108



99.65%



1,490,010



0.29%



338,300



0.07%



Including: votes by mid-small shareholders:



Mid-small

shareholders



33,504,308



94.83%



1,490,010



4.22%



338,300



0.96%









IV. Legal Opinions from the Solicitors



1. Name of the law firm: Zhejiang Tianche Law Firm



2. Names of the lawyers: Yao Zhensong ,Wu Bingge



3. Conclusive opinion:



In the lawyers opinion, the convening and holding procedures, the qualification of attendees,

and voting procedures of the First Provisional Shareholders General Meeting of 2021 was

complying with the laws, regulations and the Articles of Association of the Company. Therefore

the resolutions are legal and valid.



V. Documents for Reference



1. Resolutions of the First Provisional Shareholders General Meeting of 2021 carrying the

signatures of the directors and secretary of Board;



2. Legal opinion issued by Zhejiang Tianche Law Firm on the shareholders meeting.



This announcement is hereby made.







The Board of Directors of Hangzhou Steam Turbine Co., Ltd.



July 23, 2021

























 Stock Code: 200771 Stock ID: Hangqilun B Announcement No. :2021-61Hangzhou Steam Turbine Co., Ltd.Announcement of Resolutions of the First Provisional Shareholders' GeneralMeeting of 2021The members of the Board and the Company acknowledge being responsible for thetruthfulness, accuracy, and completeness of the announcement. Not any false record, misleadingstatement or significant omission carried in this announcement.Special remarks:1. Notice of Holding the First Provisional shareholders general meeting of 2021 were released onJuly 7,2021 with Securities Times, Shanghai Commercial Daily, Hong Kong Commercial Daily,and http://www.cninfo.com.cn Announcement No .:2021-48.2. No proposal was rejected at the meeting.3. No resolution of previous shareholders meeting was changed by this meeting.I. Holding of the meeting1. Time of the meeting:(1) Time of the onsite meeting: July 23, 2020(Friday) 1330;(2)Time of voting through network: July 23,2021Of which, Online voting through the trading system of SSE was 9:159:25, 9:3011:30 and13:0015:00Votes can be made anytime between 9:15 to 15:00 through the online votingsystem provided by SSE.2. Venue: Hangzhou Steam Turbine Co., Ltd. (No.1188 Dongxin Road, Hangzhou)Meeting Room No. 304, Steam Turbine Power Building3. Way of meeting: This shareholders meeting was held both onsite and online.4. Convener: The Board of Directors of the Company5. Host of the meeting: Chairman of the Company, Mr. Zheng Bin6. The calling and holding procedures were complying with the Company Law, Rules of Listingof SSE, and the Articles of Association.II. Delegates at the meeting1. Presenting of the meeting by shareholdersTotally 77 shareholders and attorneys presented the meeting, representing 515,157,418shares, accounted of 70.14 % of the total voting shares.Among them there was 1 state-owned share holder holding 479,824,800 shares, accountedof 65.33% of the total voting shares; 76 B-stock holders, representing 35,332,618 shares,accounted of 4.81 % of total voting shares.Totally 56 shareholders and attorneys presented at the onsite meeting, representing504,662,529 shares, accounted of 68.71% of total voting shares.21 shareholders presented the meeting by online voting system, representing 10,494,889shares accounted of 1.43 % of total voting share.2. Presenting of other delegatesThe directors, supervisors and executives of the Company, as well as the law consultant Zhejiang Tiance Law Firm presented the meeting.III. Proposals and voting resultsThe following proposals were voted and adopted at the meeting by means of online andonsite voting:I. The meeting examined the Proposal on amending the articles of association of theCompanyIn favorObjectionWaiveNumber of sharesProportionNumber ofsharesProportionNumber ofsharesProportionDomesticshareholders479,824,800100.00%0.00%0.00%B-shareholders34,607,51997.95%386,7991.09%338,3000.96%Total514,432,31999.86%386,7990.08%338,3000.07%Including: votes by mid-small shareholders: (Shareholders with 5% or lower of the capital sharesthesame below)Mid-smallshareholders34,607,51997.95%386,7991.09%338,3000.96%II.The meeting examined the Proposal on Supplementing the Supervisor of theCompany's Eighth Supervisory CommitteeIn favorObjectionWaiveNumber of sharesProportionNumber ofsharesProportionNumber ofsharesProportionDomesticshareholders479,824,800100.00%0.00%0.00%B-shareholders33,504,30894.83%1,490,0104.22%338,3000.96%Total513,329,10899.65%1,490,0100.29%338,3000.07%Including: votes by mid-small shareholders:Mid-smallshareholders33,504,30894.83%1,490,0104.22%338,3000.96%IV. Legal Opinions from the Solicitors1. Name of the law firm: Zhejiang Tianche Law Firm2. Names of the lawyers: Yao Zhensong ,Wu Bingge3. Conclusive opinion:In the lawyers opinion, the convening and holding procedures, the qualification of attendees,and voting procedures of the First Provisional Shareholders General Meeting of 2021 wascomplying with the laws, regulations and the Articles of Association of the Company. Thereforethe resolutions are legal and valid.V. Documents for Reference1. Resolutions of the First Provisional Shareholders General Meeting of 2021 carrying thesignatures of the directors and secretary of Board;2. Legal opinion issued by Zhejiang Tianche Law Firm on the shareholders meeting.This announcement is hereby made.The Board of Directors of Hangzhou Steam Turbine Co., Ltd.July 23, 2021
In 2016, videos of Bryants young hiplet dancers went viral on social media. The dancers  mostly Black teenage girls at the time  received a lot of love but a helping of backlash along with it. The criticism, much of which came from ballet purists, tended to focus on the fact that the dancers were dancing on pointe turned in and with bent knees, or that they werent getting over the box of their pointe shoes  something thats necessary to perform the hops on pointe that are central to hiplet.
But a year later, the citys monuments commission has not yet issued its final report and recommendations, leaving the conversation in a state of limbo. A spokesman for the mayors office released a statement noting the review is continuing this summer, with neighborhood programs planned, but did not specify when the report and recommendations would be finalized.
Nancy Rish filed a petition in December 2017 that asked for a resentencing hearing to allow the court to consider evidence of domestic violence. Her attorneys argued she was coerced by ex-boyfriend Daniel Edwards into driving him and that she was unaware of his kidnapping plan. On Thursday, the appellate court ruled in Rishs favor, asking for a new judge who has not ruled over Rishs case previously if the state tries to appeal the ruling.
I want us to be very clear about who led this work. It wasnt the mayor. It was the people, said Jazmine Salas, a co-chair of the Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression. This is not a victory for her. This is a victory for the people of Chicago. This is a victory for the movement that has been in the streets since the police murder of Laquan McDonald.
In a Thursday statement, Cabonargi clarified that he had in fact hired Rogers cousin to work for him, but Cabonargi said he does not believe he violated the ethics ordinance because Rogers had no hand in the hiring and does not manage the employee in question. Cabonargi said he did not know the employee was related to Rogers when he was hired.
Its about sending a loud and clear message: If you pick up a gun, if you shoot indiscriminately into a crowd, not only are we going to pick you up, not only are we going to take you to federal court, but were going to ship you off to South Dakota and youre never going to see your family again, she said.
Back in 2000, owner Alan V. Mitchell placed the property for sale for $12 million. He took the mansion off the market in 2001 and then relisted it over the next several years for $9.9 million, $9 million and $8.5 million. Not long after that, he cut his asking price to $5.99 million and then to $3.99 million before taking it off the market for a lengthy period. He relisted it several years ago for $2.195 million and then increased his asking price to $2.45 million in July 2020. Now based in Florida, Mitchell then reduced his asking price in March to just under $2 million, and he found a buyer five days later.
Another speaker at the event was Javon Jarrett, a six-year Arlington Heights resident, who shared his experience as a person of color living in the village. After asking people of color in the audience to raise their hands, he said that less than 1% of the population of Arlington Heights is Black. He said he would like to see the gay pride and Juneteenth flags flown at Village Hall.
Between 2013 and 2018, Collins stole more than $1 million from four companies that employed him, writing corporate checks to himself, his wife and phony companies he created, prosecutors said. He also withdrew money from ATMs and charged personal expenses on company credit cards, according to the federal case.
Southwest China's Chongqing municipality, a major hub for China-Europe freight trains, saw 1,359 trips in the first half of the year, up over 50% year on year, according to local authorities.

The Yuxinou (Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe) railway, which is the first China-Europe freight train route, was put into operation in March 2011.

Originally designed to transport laptops for local IT companies, the Yuxinou railway has now launched more than 30 routes, connecting over 40 cities in 26 countries and transported over 1,000 types of goods ranging from whole-vehicles and auto parts to medicines and consumer products.

In the first half of this year, trips of the Yuxinou railway accounted for 18% of the total China-Europe freight train trips across the country, data from the port and logistics office of the municipal government showed.

Since its launch in 2011, the Yuxinou route has seen over 8,000 freight train trips, according to the municipal government.
Vice Premier Han Zheng has called for efforts to accelerate the development of government-subsidized rental housing and resolutely implement the long-term housing mechanism.

Han, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks on Thursday at a teleconference on developing rental housing and facilitating regulation of the real-estate market.

Han urged taking the development of government-subsidized rental housing as a key task in housing construction during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025) and addressing prominent housing issues in large cities.

Efforts should be made to guarantee the housing supply for new urban residents and young people, Han said.

While pushing forward the development of government-subsidized rental housing, Han underscored the importance of ensuring people's basic living requirements and focusing on striking a balance between the needs of work and life.

A scientific rent-pricing mechanism should also be established in accordance with the principle of "affordability and sustainability," he said.

Han also stressed sticking to the principle of "housing is for living in, not for speculation", while avoiding the use of housing as a short-term tool to stimulate the economy.

The long-term housing mechanism stabilizes the prices of land and houses, as well as expectations, and it should be fully implemented to ensure the stable and healthy development of the real-estate market, he added.
State leaders met virtually at the summit of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) last week, deliberating on how the region can coordinate, overcome and build back to normality together from the fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic continuing to beset many nations with the emergence of the Delta variant.



China stressed the need for countries to collaborate on a "three-point plan" in terms of cooperation on pandemic response, regional economic integration, and promoting sustainable development.

Why work together to overcome the pandemic? Well, the crisis has proved once again that we live in one global village, where countries stand to rise and fall together. Arguably the Asia-Pacific is, for all practical purposes, a "village" or "neighborhood" as so described, sharing a common geographic space.

It's clear that, should problems emerge, one cannot simply "move house" to somewhere else. but must learn to deal with them in situ. This means that an event impacting one country inevitably impacts another. Therefore, countries in a given region find they have "shared interests" in creating solutions to common problems.

As a result, should a problem emerge, the logical solution is that countries do not contend against one another or isolate themselves, but must collaborate, especially when these problems do not stop at national borders.

The pandemic is one such example. A big outbreak in one country in the neighborhood is subsequently a problem for all, therefore a common approach to pandemic management and assistance is the logical and correct thing to do.

This is why China takes a multilateral approach to fighting COVID-19, which has consisted of an over 500 million-dose vaccine cooperation, as well as shipment across borders of other equipment and supplies. This led to the call for APEC members to work together.

This builds into the next big issue: economics. Just like the pandemic, the economy of the region is not merely a "national" concern as much as it is an overlapping and interdependent issue, whereby the situation of one party is capable of affecting all, especially in larger economies.

This is a lesson learned from the 1997 East Asian financial crisis. If, for example, there was an economic crisis in Japan, this would immediately aggregate into a broader economic slowdown across the entire region, and have a ripple effect on markets, production and consumption.

COVID-19 has been economically detrimental for many countries, and that poses the question: "how" to regain lost ground? Countries again must be prepared to work together on a common pathway to recovery.

China recognizes this. It is pledging over $3 billion in assistance to developing countries to accelerate recovery. Likewise, the importance of economic agreements such as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and the broader theme of "integration" were highlighted  that is, acknowledging overlapping economic stakes and interests, countries bring their economic standards, rules and governance closer together to facilitate a common good, similar to what Europe has attained.



Lastly, the principle of sustainable development is paramount. The race to rekindle and boost economic growth must be "sustainable", meaning it must be viable for the long term without having any negative consequences for the environment or other repercussions.

To do so requires innovation and advancement in technology, envisioning new opportunities and pathways for growth different from the methods of the past. China pointed towards the development of a shared "digital economy," highlighting "an important area for the future growth of the world economy."

In this case, what is the biggest takeaway? Asia's prosperity, wellbeing and recovery involves working together. Only by collaborating more openly as a region with a shared future can this area of the globe prosper, and it must, in turn, counter politics of unilateralism, hegemonism and geopolitical confrontation striving to divide, politicize, blame and cut the globe up into blocs.

Regionalism is the mark of modernity; it is the recognition that countries who share problems must likewise share solutions and learn to co-exist harmoniously. Never has that been more critical in the battle against COVID-19 and the bid to normalize the world again and drive regional recovery.

Tom Fowdy is a British political and international relations analyst and a graduate of Durham and Oxford universities. He writes on topics pertaining to China, the DPRK, Britain and the U.S. For more information please visit:

http://www.china.org.cn/opinion/TomFowdy.htm

Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn.

If you would like to contribute, please contact us at opinion@china.org.cn.
 Flash

At least 60 people have been killed by a cholera outbreak since May in Nigeria's capital, a government official said in Abuja on Thursday.

A total of 698 cases of the disease have been recorded since May, said Ramatu Aliyu, the Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) while visiting some of the affected communities in Abuja.

According to Aliyu, recent days have witnessed a surge in the number of cases, with 94 new cases reported within the past 72 hours, causing the local authorities to intensify community sensitization on cholera and severe diarrhea diseases outbreak in the nation's capital.

"The administration would not fold its hands and watch residents die helplessly over preventable diseases, she said. "We must take every necessary step to curb the further spread."

Cholera is a highly virulent disease characterized in its most severe form by a sudden onset of acute watery diarrhea that can lead to death.

The outbreak of cholera in Nigeria has remained persistent, occurring annually mostly during the rainy season and more often in areas with poor sanitation, overcrowding, lack of clean food and water, and areas where open defecation is common.
 Flash

At least 15 people were killed and 26 others were injured in separate rain-related incidents during a recent spell of heavy rains in Pakistan's northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) said on Thursday.

The PDMA said in a report that children and women were among those who lost their lives in heavy monsoon rain-triggered flash floods and different rain-related incidents in various areas of the province over the past seven days.

The authority said that most of the casualties happened due to roof collapse and flash floods incidents in Kohat and Lower Dir districts of the province, adding that dozens of houses and buildings were also partially or fully damaged due to heavy downpour.

The civil administration along with rescue teams and police have been carrying out rescue and relief operations in the affected districts. Authorities also cleared several roads for traffic after they got blocked due to land sliding.

The PDMA has also directed the local authorities to accelerate the pace of relief work and stay vigilant as there are predictions of more rain in several districts of the province.
 Flash

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Thursday that China stands ready to strengthen cooperation with Portugal and other European countries on research and development and fair distribution of vaccines and drugs, and jointly oppose "vaccine nationalism" and "political virus".

Wang made the remarks when holding the first round of strategic dialogue at the foreign ministers' level in Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan province, with Portuguese Minister of State and Foreign Affairs Augusto Santos Silva.

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, China and Portugal have supported each other in times of difficulty. The traditional friendship between the two countries has stood the test and opened up new opportunities, Wang noted.

Noting that the origin tracing of the virus is a scientific issue, Wang said it is hoped that the two sides will jointly oppose political manipulation of the origin tracing issue, jointly resist the "political virus" and safeguard the overall situation of solidarity against the pandemic.

There is no conflict of fundamental interests or opposition of real interests between China and Europe, Wang said. "We hope that the current difficulties can be overcome as soon as possible to bring bilateral relations back to the track of sound development. It is believed that Portugal will continue to play a constructive role to this end."

Silva expressed condolences to China over the severe flood disaster in Henan province, thanked China for providing anti-epidemic supplies to Portugal, and expressed readiness to cooperate with China on vaccines.

The Portuguese market will always be open to Chinese enterprises, Silva said, hoping to further cement the ties between the two sides in the post-epidemic era.

The two sides also exchanged in-depth views on international and regional affairs of common interest. Both sides are satisfied with the success of the first round of strategic dialogue at the foreign ministers' level.
At a recent Sharp Coronado Hospital Volunteer Appreciation event, CEO Susan Stone, left, thanked Sue Gillingham, Executive Director of the Coronado Chamber of Commerce, and Robin MacCartee, President of the Rotary Club of Coronado, for their significant contributions to the clinics success. Also pictured on the right is Ana Ramirez, Volunteer Coordinator.
Tina Friend was introduced as the new Coronado City Manager at last nights (July 20) City Council meeting. Friend comes to Coronado from Scotts Valley, Ca., were she has served as City Manager since June of 2019. Friend is set to begin work in Coronado in early September.
Videos

Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos.
We dont want to be known for people who are Black, Indigenous, or people of color, being hurt by police. They have to have systems in place. It takes our whole community, Lori Andrada said. Its going to take youth and family services, its going to take the teen center, its going to take education in our schools. We need local professionals like social workers, mental health providers. We need parents, local organizations, communities and any other groups that are connected to these children. Please put in measures to help our local and state systems.
Were going to see as this hybrid environment plays itself out, the people that are downtown will be more likely to go out for lunch with a colleague or a business partner because they are downtown, because they are there that day, Griggs said. I dont view the hybrid work environment necessarily a killer to downtown businesses.
Kae Lam, owner of Fuji and the principal of 609 West Main, could not be reached at the restaurant on Thursday. He is the former owner of Rice Fields in Canton, and opened Fuji in Torrington as that citys first hibachi and sushi restaurant.
Health care workers across the state who were hired during the coronavirus pandemic have faced termination if they didnt meet a July 20 deadline to get fingerprinted for state-mandated background checks. An estimated 7,500 people were hired between March 23, 2020 and May 19, 2021 when Democratic Gov. Ned Lamont issued an executive order suspending the required fingerprint checks to help stop the spread of COVID-19.
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.
Crime scene tape still hangs on the door of an apartment in the 1200 block of Hillside Avenue in Norfolk where Michael Ebong lives on Monday, July 19, 2021. Ebong is charged with raping a woman. A charging document in his court file says he drugged the woman before taking her back to his place and assaulting her. Neighbors who live in the same apartment complex have said they saw body bags taken out of his apartment twice: first in November 2020 and again on July 11. (Kristen Zeis/The Virginian-Pilot)
Swamy died at the private Holy Family Hospital in the city on July 5. (Photo: Twitter/@WilfredQuadros)

Mumbai: The counsel of late jesuit priest Stan Swamy, an accused in the Elgar Parishad-Maoist links case who died earlier this month, urged the Bombay High Court on Friday to monitor the magisterial inquiry into his death by invoking its "parens-patriae" jurisdiction.

Senior counsel Mihir Desai, who represented Swamy in the high court, said that although the activist was dead and there existed no question of him being granted bail any more, the high court need not consider the late priest's appeals seeking bail abated.

He said that there existed previous Supreme Court judgements ruling that high courts could exercise "parens-patriae jurisdiction" or act as the parent of such appellants, who were not in a position to take decisions for themselves.

Advocate Desai urged the high court to permit Swamy's aide, father Frazer Mascarenhas, be permitted to participate in the inquiry supposed to be conducted into Swamy's death as per section 176 of the CrPC.

He urged the court to direct that the inquiry be conducted as per the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) guidelines, and also to direct the magistrate to submit a copy of the inquiry report before the high court so that the same can be monitored.

"We are looking at a peculiar situation here since the appellant died while the appeals were pending. But, the HC has wide powers," Desai said.

He cited the Bhopal gas tragedy case, and the case of comatose nurse Aruna Shanbaug, where courts had exercised their parens-patriae jurisdiction.

Appearing for the National Investigating Agency (NIA), Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh said that while the agency had no objection to father Mascarenhas participating in the inquiry, the court need not pass any directions on the magistrate following the NHRC guidelines since that was part of procedure and would be followed.

Singh said that the NIA, however, had an objection to the HC asking for the probe report.

"The HC is presiding over two appeals challenging the accused's rejection of bail on medical grounds and merits," he said.

"With the accused's death, the appeals stand abated as per section 394 of the CrPC," he said.

The high court then directed advocate Desai to give written submissions on whether the appeals stood abated, or if they could be amended so that the HC could continue exercising jurisdiction over the matter.

The NIA then intervened to say that it had two additional submissions to make.

ASG Singh referred to a comment made by Justice Shinde on July 19 while hearing the appeals.

Justice Shinde had said at the time that while the legal issues and charges against Swamy were a different matter, that aside, it had "great respect" for the work that Swamy did for the society when he was alive.

"We have all condoled the death of Mr. Swamy, but any personal comments or private comments coming from the judges or any law officer, especially in the open court, are normally being twisted by the press and social media," Singh said.

Justice Shinde responded saying that the court had never made any personal comments on the NIA, the state's conduct in the case, or legal issues involved.

Justice Shinde further said that if the NIA wanted, he was willing to take back his words on any comments he had made personally.

"If you want, I take my words back. Our endeavour is to stay fair and balanced always. That should be the end of the matter," Justice Shinde said.

"Our problem is that we don't have control on what happens outside (the court)," the HC said.

Singh then said that he had no grievances with the court. It was just that "public perception" mattered to agencies.

The Maharashtra government's counsel Aruna Pai, meanwhile, told the high court that the magisterial inquiry into swamy's death was yet to begin. The post-mortem, however, was conducted as per procedure, she told the HC.

The high court will hear the matter next on August 4.

Swamy died at the private Holy Family Hospital in the city on July 5. He was shifted from the Taloja prison to the private hospital following HC's intervention, and was undergoing treatment there for multiple ailments.
Marketing director Lavanya Pasula said the state government has set a revenue target of Rs 95 crore for the 2019-20 financial year and they had almost achieved the target.  Representational image/DC

KADAPA: The Supreme Courts stay order on the implementation of new agricultural laws, proposed by the Union Government, has come as a breather to market committees, across the state. Until a few months back, all market committees that were facing problems due to complete closure of revenue streams, were in a gradual recovery path and also began collecting agricultural market cess.

Springing back to life were the 122 market committee check posts that were closed last year, including those at Kadapa, Chittoor, Anantapur and Kurnool districts. They were also generating income to AMCs, which till sometime back were unable to pay even minimum wages because of the new laws. Cess collection was at a standstill.

With the nod given to levy cess on agricultural products, and livestock transport, marketing department officials are delighted.

Six of the 122 check posts were caught in staff crunch, while the remaining worked till April.

The new rules meant that they could charge one per cent user charges on transactions made only in the market yard premises. However, not all farmers came to market committees.

Lavanya Pasula, regional director of marketing, Kadapa, told Deccan Chronicle that the state government has set a revenue target of Rs 95 crore for the 2019-20 financial year and they had almost achieved the target. They fell short because of coronavirus in the 202-21 financial year. She said that Kadapa, Kurnool, Chittoor and Anantapur districts have opened 122 check posts, which are levying cess on transportation of agricultural products. Until the end of last month, the Kadapa region generated revenue of Rs six crore, she said.

She said the state government has not yet set financial targets for the current financial year, but the target is likely to be around Rs 100 crore.
It aims to enhance seamless connectivity by promoting eco-friendly transportation through seaplanes while also giving fillip to the tourism industry.  Representational image/AFP

NELLORE: The Ministry of Civil Aviation and Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways (MoPSW) have signed a MoU for development of seaplane services in the country on June 15.

Minister of state for civil aviation (MoCA) Gen (Dr) VK Singh disclosed this while responding to a question from Adala Prabhakar Reddy, Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy and several other members on Thursday.

The minister informed that the MoU envisages development of non-scheduled/scheduled operation of Seaplane services within Indias territorial jurisdiction. It aims to enhance seamless connectivity by promoting eco-friendly transportation through seaplanes while also giving fillip to the tourism industry.

Singh said that the pact will expedite development of new water aerodromes and operationalisation of new seaplane routes.

States and UTs will execute landside activities while MoCA as a nodal ministry will coordinate with the stakeholders.
The utterances of Navjot Singh Sidhu against the Punjab government and the sitting chief minister had made the situation uncomfortable for many Congressmen from the state.  DC file photo

New Delhi: After months of infighting in the Punjab Congress, the first signs of a truce emerged on Thursday. Punjab chief minister Capt. Amarinder Singh, after receiving multiple invitations, agreed to attend the ceremony on July 23 in which Navjot Singh Sidhu will officially take charge as the new president of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee. Insiders say Congress president Sonia Gandhi persuaded the Punjab CM to be present at the installation ceremony. Also, the AICCs Punjab in-charge, Harish Rawat, will also be present on the occasion of the new state unit president taking over.

Earlier in the day, Navjot Singh Sidhu and four other working presidents of the state Congress sent a special invitation to Capt. Amarinder Singh to attend the installation ceremony that is due on Friday. The CM was handed the special invitation at his farmhouse by two of the working presidents, Kuljit Nagra and Sangat Singh Gilgian, who made a special trip from Chandigarh on Thursday morning for this purpose.

Accepting the invitation, Capt. Amarinder Singh in turn invited all Congress MLAs, MPs and senior party leaders from the state for tea at 10 am on Friday. They will then all go together to the Punjab Congress Bhavan for the installation of the new PPCC team. This was tweeted by the Punjab CMs media adviser on Thursday.

The last two months have been tumultuous for the Punjab Congress unit. The utterances of Navjot Singh Sidhu against the Punjab government and the sitting chief minister had made the situation uncomfortable for many Congressmen from the state. After much deliberation and many rounds of negotiations, Mrs Sonia Gandhi earlier this week appointed Mr Sidhu as the president of the Punjab PCC, replacing Sunil Jakhar.

At the moment the Punjab Congress appears united, but with the Assembly elections due early next year, it seems to be an uneasy calm.
As soon as Mr Vaishnaw rose to speak, the Opposition MPs rushed to the Well of the House and raised slogans against the government. (PTI file photo)

New Delhi: Amid high drama in the Rajya Sabha, the Pegasus snooping issue rocked both Houses of Parliament on Thursday. In the Rajya Sabha, the Opposition protested over a range of issues, but things got particularly heated when Trinamul Congress MP Santanu Sen snatched the statement paper from electronics and information technology minister Ashwini Vaishnaw as he rose to speak on the snooping controversy.

Both Houses were adjourned till Friday after several adjournments in the course of the day. The Lok Sabha was adjourned repeatedly after the Opposition protested vociferously and refused to relent despite repeated requests from the Chair. The Upper House too saw several adjournments and could not transact any business as the Opposition cornered the government on a number of issues.

These included the income-tax raids on some media groups, the alleged Pegasus spyware controversy and the handling of the Covid-19 pandemic by the government, among others.

High drama unfolded in the Rajya Sabha after lunch as the Opposition staged a protest over these issues. Things got particularly heated when Trinamul MP Santanu Sen snatched a statement paper from electronics and IT minister Ashwini Vaishnaw as he rose to speak on the Pegasus snooping controversy. Mr Sen tore the paper and threw it towards the deputy chairman, Mr Harivansh, who was in the Chair.

As soon as Mr Vaishnaw, who was due to make a statement on the phone tapping issue, rose to speak, the Opposition MPs rushed to the Well of the House and raised slogans against the government. Mr Harivansh urged the protesting MPs to desist from unparliamentary behaviour and go back to their seats and let the minister complete his statement.

As Mr Vaishnav began delivering his statement, TMC MP Santanu Sen went to his seat and snatched the paper from the minister and tore it apart, thus preventing him from speaking for a while. As papers were flung into the air, the minister could not complete his statement and instead laid another copy of it on the table of the House and the House had to be adjourned. But before that, a heated exchange took place between Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri and the Trinamool MP and marshals had to intervene to bring the situation under control.

Members seem to be not interested in discussing the peoples issues, Rajya Sabha Chairman M. Venkaiah Naidu said while adjourning the proceedings for the day in Rajya Sabha.

Mr Vaishnaws statement on the alleged snooping allegations was a repeat of what he said on Monday. He reiterated that illegal surveillance is not possible in India with the checks and balances in our laws and our robust institutions.

In India, there is a well-established procedure through which lawful interception of electronic communication is carried out for the purpose of national security, particularly on the occurrence of any public emergency or in the interest of public safety, by agencies at the Centre and the states. The requests for these lawful interceptions of electronic communication are made as per relevant rules under the provisions of Section 5(2) of Indian Telegraph Act 1885 and Section 69 of the Information Technology Act 2000. Each case of interception or monitoring has to be approved by the competent authority There is an established oversight mechanism in the form of a review committee headed by the Union Cabinet Secretary The procedure, therefore, ensures that any interception or monitoring of any information is done as per the due process of law. The framework and institutions have withstood the test of time, Mr Vaishnaw said in his statement, that was tabled. He added that the Israeli company whose technology had been allegedly used had denied these claims outright.
This Pipistrel Alpha Electro electric plane was flown by Joseph Oldham during his historic flight last week.
Students and parents walk to Elk Groves Donner Elementary School during the first day of school on July 15.
We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on!

Go to form
Thank you for reading!

Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue.
Thank you for reading!

Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading.
(The Center Square)  Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita filed a lawsuit against a consortium of virtual schools seeking more than $154 million.

The suit was filed in Hamilton County Superior Court, just north of Indianapolis, against Indiana Virtual School, Indiana Virtual Pathways Academy, Indiana Virtual Education Foundation and other related entities.

This lawsuit is historic because it represents the largest amount of monetary damages ever sought by our office following a State Board of Accounts investigation, Rokita said in a statement. This massive attempt to defraud Hoosier taxpayers through complex schemes truly boggles the mind. This case demonstrates once again that public servants must remain ever vigilant in our work to safeguard the public treasury from opportunists.

According to Rokitas office, Indiana Virtual School and Indiana Virtual Pathways Academy operated online charter schools from 2015 to 2019 that were sponsored by the Daleville Community School Corp. Daleville is southwest of Muncie.

Daleville school officials revoked the charters and their sponsorship shortly before the start of the 2019-2020 academic year after IVS and IVPA failed to meet minimum academic standards and fell short of accounting provisions required by Indiana law.

An investigation by the State Board of Accounts found that public funds were misappropriated.

The State Board of Accounts is committed to creating a culture of accountability where public officials and institutions are held to the highest standards, State Examiner Paul Joyce said in a statement. We apricate the attorney general for bringing this action on behalf of the citizens of Indiana.

The SBOA investigation found that the virtual schools misrepresented the number of students who were enrolled, resulting in an overpayment of more than $68 million in taxpayer funding.

The audit also found the schools wrongfully disbursed more than $85 million in public funds to vendors who were connected to school officials without having any sort of invoice or invoices with no itemized information.

There were also some 900 students who were kicked out of the schools during the 2017-2018 academic year who were automatically re-enrolled the following year, amounting to $34 million in per-pupil funding.

In all, Rokita said he is seeking reimbursement to the state for the cost of the SBOA investigation, as well as other penalties and punitive damages.

He is also asking the court to demand that individuals involved with the virtual schools forfeit any other ill-gotten gains unjustly and wrongfully received and diverted.

The matter is also under federal and state criminal investigation.
Extremely heavy rainfall, tens of thousands of plastic chemical plants are in crisis of shutdown! Some raw materials continue to rise !

In July last year, the incident of the southern company\'s soaking in water is still fresh. This time the strongest rainfall has come again, and the start of downstream factories will be affected again!

According to forecasts by the Meteorological Department, from the night of the 12th to the 15th, there will be heavy to heavy rains in northern North China, eastern Huanghuai, southern Northeast China, eastern Inner Mongolia and other places; from 14th to 16th, there will be heavy rains in the Sichuan Basin, southeastern Gansu, and southern Shaanxi. Heavy rain, local heavy rain.

In addition, the Ministry of Water Resources issued a warning that large floods may occur in the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers!

The Hydrological Bureau of the Yangtze River Water Conservancy Commission upgraded to issue an orange flood warning for the Qujiang River at 10:00 on July 11, 2021, and a blue flood warning for the mainstream downstream of the Jialing River. According to the forecast and analysis of the Ministry of Water Resources, large floods may occur in the middle reaches of the Yellow River during this year\'s flood season, and the Yellow River has entered a critical period of flood control.

Affected by the Extremely heavy rainfall, tens of thousands of plastic chemical plants are in crisis of shutdown! Some raw materials continue to rise the Silicon Carbide Nanoparticles market is changing rapidly. These changes are indicators of market growth.This year-on-year upward trend in the market indicates that the next November 2020-2026 will show an oval but steady growth.If you are looking for Silicon Carbide Nanoparticles or buy Silicon Carbide Nanoparticles in bulk,please send an email to:sales@ozbo.com

The price of Silicon Carbide Nanoparticles continues to be affected by factors such as market growth momentum,various opportunities and challenges.However,during the forecast period from 2020 to 2026,the global Silicon Carbide Nanoparticles sales market is expected to continue to be above average.The growth rate will continue to increase.It is expected that from today to next week,the price of Silicon Carbide Nanoparticles will increase to a certain extent.

Due to changes in consumer demand,import and export conditions,and various investigations on the development of Silicon Carbide Nanoparticles,the cost of Silicon Carbide Nanoparticles is constantly changing.Taking into account the current market macroeconomic parameters, value chain analysis,channel partners,demand and supply,the cost of Silicon Carbide Nanoparticles will also be affected to a certain extent.It is estimated that the cost of Silicon Carbide Nanoparticles will increase slightly from today to next week.

However,Ozbo.com provides high purity Nano Silicon Carbide Nanoparticles with steady price.In order to feedback to old customers,the company is still in full operations to provide Silicon Carbide Nanoparticles with competitive price.said Olina,sales manager of Ozbo.com.

About Ozbo.com

Ozbo.com (aka.Tanki New Materials Co.Ltd.) is a trusted global chemical material supplier & manufacturer with over 12 years experience in providing super high-quality chemicals and Nanomaterials.As a leading nanotechnology development and Silicon Carbide Nanoparticles manufacturer,Tanki New Materials Co.Ltd dominates the market.Our professional work team provides perfect solutions to help improve the efficiency of various industries,create value,and easily cope with various challenges.If you are looking for Silicon Carbide Nanoparticles, please send an email to:sales@ozbo.com




A Seoul court on Friday ruled against an American composer in a plagiarism suit he brought against the producer of the popular South Korean children's song "Baby Shark" two years ago.







The Seoul Central District Court rejected a claim by New York-based composer Johnny Only that "Baby Shark," a world-famous song released by South Korean education startup SmartStudy in 2015, copied his 2011 song.







The rhythmic two-minute song featuring a shark family and their underwater hunt for small fish has gone viral in cyberspace and on the small screen at home and abroad. "Baby Shark Dance," a sing-and-dance video for the megahit children's song, has racked up more than 9 billion views on YouTube.







Only, whose legal name is Jonathan Wright, filed a lawsuit with the Seoul court in March 2019, claiming that the South Korean song plagiarized his own song "Baby Shark" remade in 2011 with a unique rhythm to an orally transmitted folk song.







But SmartStudy has rejected the plagiarism claim, saying its song was a recreation of a traditional North American children's song that has no valid copyrights. (Yonhap)


BTS / Courtesy of Big Hit Music



By Yoon Ja-young



Following the recent appointment of chartbusting boy band BTS as a presidential special envoy for public diplomacy, voices are growing louder among fans that its members should be exempt from mandatory military service.



On the Cheong Wa Dae website, a BTS fan submitted a petition demanding that all BTS members be exempted from the duty when considering the stars' contributions to Korea, including their efforts to improve the country's global image.



In the petition posted July 16, the petitioner pointed out that the group currently has had four songs that topped the Billboard charts, with its new song "Permission to Dance" still surging on the chart. The Military Manpower Administration, however, already decided to allow only a delay in their enlistment. The petitioner claimed the treatment for the stars is unfair, given that there are cases in which some athletes won the privilege "by only sitting on the bench."



The petition has garnered more than 13,000 signatures.






A page of the 15th century manuscript "Hunminjeongeum Haeryebon," a handbook of the Korean writing system, Hangeul / Courtesy of CHA



By Park Han-sol



Copies of a priceless manuscript detailing the origins and workings of the Korean writing system, "Hangeul" will be sold as limited edition NFTs (non-fungible tokens), making this the first National Treasure of Korea to be put up for sale as a digital token. But the sale could stir up controversy over whether or not it should be allowed.



The Kansong Art Museum in Seongbuk District, northern Seoul, which stores the "Hunminjeongeum Haeryebon," an illustrated handbook of the Korean writing system, stated Wednesday that it "plans to mint the 15th century manuscript as an NFT with serial numbers and sell it to a limited number of 100 buyers." Each will be sold for 100 million won ($87,000).



NFTs are one-of-a-kind tokens that can represent any unique digital asset from artworks to, in this case, a national treasure that can be bought and sold virtually. It proves that only the buyer possesses the original image, with information about each transaction tracked and maintained in the blockchain.



The Hunminjeongeum Haeryebon, published in 1446 during the Joseon Dynasty when King Sejong proclaimed the creation of Hangeul in an attempt to replace Chinese characters, explains the linguistic principles on which Hangeul is built and has therefore been one of the most important pieces of cultural heritage in the country.



While most copies of the handbook were lost during the 1910-45 Japanese colonial era, the first original copy was found in Andong, North Gyeongsang Province, in 1940 and was later purchased by Chun Hyung-pil (1906-1962), whose pen name was "Kansong." Since then, the manuscript has been stored in the collection of the Kansong Art Museum.



The art museum claimed that its unprecedented decision to turn the Hunminjeongeum Haeryebon into an NFT was partially fueled by its current financial problems. The first private museum in Korea, established in 1938, put two precious Buddhist sculptures up for auction last year, which were subsequently bought by the National Museum of Korea.



The museum added it will use the money raised from the sale for its operating expenses and to fund research into cultural assets. This can also serve as a chance to "share the precious cultural property with the general public, especially the younger generations interested in NFT," Chun Young-woo, president of the Kansong Art and Culture Foundation, said in an interview with the Seoul Economic Daily.



The museum's announcement is expected to stir up controversy over the commercialization of the manuscript, which possesses historic significance.



An official from the Cultural Heritage Administration (CHA) explained that the state-run organization will review the case based on relevant laws as this is one of the very first attempts to turn a cultural asset into a digital token, adding that it will look into how the scanning and digitation process can affect the manuscript's condition.



The Cultural Heritage Protection Act stipulates that any act that can affect or alter the current condition of a state-designated cultural heritage, including "taking a rubbed copy, a photoprint, or a photograph" requires permission from the CHA administrator in advance.


In this frame grab from video released by North Korea's Korean Central Television on July 16, crops are suffering from drought. Yonhap



North Korea's official newspaper on Friday called for all-out efforts to maximize grain production this year, saying successful farming is a "life-or-death" matter that could determine the country's fate.



"The top priority issue of this year's national policy is successful farming," the Rodong Sinmun, the organ of the country's ruling Workers' Party, said in an editorial.



"All citizens living in this country should provide every possible support while regarding good farming as a life-or-death matter that determines the fate of themselves and their children as well as that of their country," it added.



Saying that farming has been carried out as planned so far, the paper warned that typhoons and flooding, which devastated the country's major rice-producing areas last summer, could hit the country this year too.



"The guard cannot be lowered at any moment with regard to farming," the paper said. "Given the lessons learned from last year and in light of the importance of this year's farming, support for the agriculture sector should be provided ceaselessly until work is completed."



North Korea is known for chronic food shortages, which appear to have been aggravated by last summer's back-to-back typhoons and flooding that wrought havoc on key farming areas. In June, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un acknowledged that the country is facing a "tense" food shortage.



In a report recently submitted to the United Nations, North Korea said that its production dropped to the lowest level in 10 years in 2018 due to natural disasters, lack of farming materials and low levels of mechanization. It also admitted having failed to achieve its national target of producing 7 million tons of food.



Experts say that North Korea needs to produce around 5.5 million tons of food every year to feed its population. A think tank in Seoul earlier said the North could face a food shortage of around 1.3 million tons this year. (Yonhap)






South Korea's health authorities said Friday that entrants from Russia and three other nations will have to undergo a mandatory two-week quarantine period, even if they are fully vaccinated.







With the addition of the four nations, arrivals from 26 countries will not be able to skip a mandatory 14-day quarantine, they said.







Starting earlier this month, arrivals of those countries who are fully vaccinated have been excluded from the self-isolation policy. However, they are still only allowed to visit South Korea for business, academic or humanitarian purposes.







Under the latest revision, however, four more countries  including Russia and Uzbekistan  in addition to 22 other countries that are suffering from a rising number of cases of the more transmissible delta variant, will not be able to skip quarantine.







On Monday, the country said it has added 719 new delta variant cases over the past week.







The number of new delta cases accounted for 71.8 percent of 1,001 new cases of four major contagious variants of the new coronavirus reported over the cited period.







Since May, South Koreans who were vaccinated here have also been exempted from the mandatory 14-day isolation period when arriving from overseas. They are still required to receive COVID-19 tests and have no related symptoms to be exempted from mandatory self-isolation. (Yonhap)






A major umbrella labor union held a rally in Wonju on Friday, drawing some 400 people in defiance of the government's calls for restraint amid the raging COVID-19 pandemic.







The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) went ahead with its scheduled rally outside the National Health Insurance Service building in this city 132 kilometers southeast of Seoul, demanding the agency directly employ its call center workers rather than through a third party.







The government had urged the KCTU to call off the plan, citing the potential for mass COVID-19 infections as the country grapples with the fourth wave of the pandemic.







The government of Wonju raised its social distancing guidelines to the second-highest Level 3 effective Friday and separately banned all demonstrations involving more than one person, which falls under Level 4 restrictions.







Police set up a barricade around the empty lot where protesters were due to gather by parking buses and installing a fence.







They also set up checkpoints in nearby alleys to stop and question passing cars and people.







Some protesters went around the barricade to an adjacent park and entered the lot by climbing over a hill and a fence.







No physical clashes were reported between the police and protesters, and the rally ended after about an hour.







Meanwhile, an ambulance was called after a participant complained of dizziness due to the extreme heat.







Local health authorities said they plan to report the KCTU to the police on Monday on charges of violating the assembly ban.







On Thursday, Gangwon Province, where Wonju is located, reported the biggest number of daily COVID-19 cases since the pandemic began, with 62, including 23 in Wonju.







On July 3, the KCTU drew around 8,000 people to a separate rally in central Seoul. Three participants later tested positive for COVID-19. (Yonhap)


U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman bumps elbows with South Korean First Vice Foreign Minister Choi Jong-kun prior to their talks at the foreign ministry building in central Seoul, Friday. Courtesy of Ministry of Foreign Affairs



By Jung Da-min



Washington is seeking to build reliable and constructive relations with Pyongyang, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman said Friday, pressuring the reclusive regime to come back to the negotiating table.



Her remark came after she and Korea's First Vice Foreign Minister Choi Jong-kun had met in Seoul over pending security issues, including the denuclearization of North Korea, follow-up measures of the South Korea-U.S. summit held in late May and other regional issues such as relations with China. The global issue of climate change and how the two countries could work together to address it was also on the agenda.



Sherman said that the U.S. and South Korea remain committed to working together toward the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. She also told reporters that the U.S.'s North Korea policy is based on deep consultation with South Korea and with Japan, adding the U.S. will be committed to trilateral cooperation when working on North Korea issues.



"We are looking forward to a reliable, predictable, constructive way forward with the DPRK," Sherman said. The DPRK, or the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, is the official name of North Korea.



"As the first vice foreign minister noted, we have offered to sit and dialogue with the North Koreans, and we're waiting to hear from them. And as he also has said, we all feel for the people of the DPRK, who are indeed, facing all the most difficult circumstances given the pandemic, and what it means as well for their food security. We only hope for a better outcome for the people of the DPRK."



Choi said, "Deputy Secretary Sherman and I appreciated that the Republic of Korea-U.S. summit was held early after the Biden administration took office, and yielded significant achievements such as termination of the U.S. missile guidelines on South Korea and cooperation in vaccine supply chains. We have agreed to work closely together to continue our faithful implementation."



"We have shared the view that bilateral cooperation between South Korea and the United States is necessary for early resumption of dialogue with North Korea in order to make substantial progress toward the goal of complete denuclearization and establishment of lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula."





U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman speaks during her meeting with South Korean First Vice Foreign Minister Choi Jong-kun at the foreign ministry building in central Seoul, Friday. Courtesy of Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek / Korea Times file



Five American service members and a civilian worker for the U.S. military in South Korea tested positive for the new coronavirus upon arrival here from the United States, U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) has said.



One of the service members arrived at Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, 70 kilometers south of Seoul, on a U.S. government chartered flight, and four service members and a civilian affiliated with the U.S. Department of Defense arrived on international commercial flights at Incheon International Airport, 40 km west of Seoul, earlier this month.






Munmu the Great leaves a port in Africa, July 21. Yonhap



A member of the virus-hit South Korean anti-piracy Cheonghae unit on Friday dismissed speculation that some of its sailors sneaked out of their vessel while it was docked at an African port resulting in a mass COVID-19 outbreak.



All of the 301-strong Cheonghae unit members were airlifted home earlier this week, cutting short their anti-piracy mission in waters off Africa, after 247 service members tested positive for the new coronavirus.



Fresh tests found 24 more cases, raising the total caseload to 271 as of Friday.



Military and health authorities are working to determine the exact route of their infections based on the fact that the unit reported the first individual showing symptoms of a cold one day after their destroyer, Munmu the Great, left a local port after staying there for four days until July 1 to load supplies.






Electric scooters are parked on Yonsei University campus, Seoul, in this Nov. 3, 2020 file photo. Korea Times photo by Lee Han-ho





By Bahk Eun-ji







More universities are banning the use of electric scooters on their campuses for safety reasons.







Some campuses with many hills and narrow roads had already banned the personal mobility devices, while others designated separate parking spaces so that the e-scooters didn't block pathways, creating an inconvenience for pedestrians.







Hanyang University's dean of student affairs recently issued a letter to its students not to use electric scooters on campus.







In the letter, the dean said, "We have decided to restrict electric scooters on our campus. Currently we are planning to come up with safety guidelines that will be announced soon."







According to an official from Hanyang University, the restriction came after large and small accidents involving electric scooters occurred on the campus, including a fire which broke out from an overheated electric scooter battery that exploded in May last year; a wheelchair rollover caused by a randomly standing electric scooters in April this year; and cars crashes with e-scooters in May and July, respectively.







In particular, in the case of the July accident, a student was seriously injured resulting in hospitalization in an intensive care unit, the university official said.







"We have recently decided on the restriction, but if students express great inconvenience over this, we will come up with other measures with the student council," the school official said.







In addition to Hanyang University, Ewha Womans, Sungshin Women's, Dongguk and Soongsil universities in Seoul have previously banned electric scooters. All these universities have many hills and narrow passageways on their campuses.







As such, there is a risk of accidents, but it is difficult to police them because university campuses are not categorized as public roads under the current Traffic Law.







Because they are on private land the responsibility for management rests with the university, not the police.







Even if an accident occurs, the police will not investigate it unless it results in death or serious injury.







"Police have no authority over the users of electric scooters on campuses because they do not fall under the Traffic Law, so we have been trying to raise awareness of safety measures for university students," an official from the National Police Agency said.


President Moon Jae-in / Yonhap



President Moon Jae-in apologized Friday over the breakout of COVID-19 infections among the members of South Korea's naval unit operating off the coast of Africa.



He wrote on social media that he failed to ensure that they carry out their duties in good health.










China has approved a request from Pakistan to allow the entry of Pakistani rescue helicopters into Chinese territory to search for a South Korean mountaineer missing in the Himalayas, a foreign ministry official said Friday.







Seoul has asked Beijing and Islamabad to help with the search for Kim Hong-bin, a mountaineer who went missing Monday while on his way down from the summit of the 8,047-meter high Broad Peak, located in Pakistan's Karakoram Range.







Rescue authorities said they captured a signal from his satellite phone within Chinese territory Monday (local time). It was unknown whether Kim was near the satellite phone.







"The Pakistani government informed us today that the Chinese government approved the entry of the Pakistani rescue helicopters into its territory, and rescue work will start using the helicopters as soon as the weather permits," a ministry official said in a release.







The two rescue helicopters, belonging to the Pakistani Army, are on standby near Skardu, about 100 kilometers away from the base camp, according to the Seoul official.







The Chinese authorities have also set up a command center near the accident site to provide help with the rescue efforts, the official added.







Kim is known to have gotten lost 7,900 meters above sea level and sent a distress call at 9:58 a.m. Monday. Kim, also known for having lost his fingers to frostbite, broke the record of climbing all of the world's 14 highest peaks in the Himalayas as a person with a disability. (Yonhap)


Beijing should stop high-handed approaches toward Seoul



China's foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian cannot deflect criticism for his remark which interferes with Korea's domestic politics, including the presidential election slated for March next year. "We also hope that ROK politicians and the public will voice support for the development of China-ROK relations amid and beyond domestic elections, and inject positive energy into the bilateral relations," Zhao said during a regular press briefing Wednesday. ROK is an acronym of the nation's official name Republic of Korea.



Zhao also mentioned recent statements made by former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl, a leading presidential hopeful of the opposition camp, and Lee Jun-seok, chairman of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP), with regard to the issues of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) and Hong Kong.



"I've noted the remarks by some ROK political figures on issues relating to Hong Kong and THAAD, many of which China finds unacceptable," he said. Stressing Hong Kong is part of China and its affairs are purely China's domestic affairs, he said, "No country, organization or individual has any right to make wanton comments." His remark apparently targeted Lee who mentioned the democracy movement in Hong Kong. It is totally improper for the Chinese foreign ministry to criticize the opposition leader.



Yoon earlier said THAAD has been deployed within our territory and China should first remove its long-range radars installed along the borders before demanding withdrawal of THAAD. Yoon's remark is highly plausible based on common sense. Yet, Chinese Ambassador to Korea Xing Haiming aroused a dispute by denouncing Yoon via a contribution to a domestic daily, claiming THAAD deployment has seriously undermined China's interests.



It's rude and discourteous for an envoy to denounce the remark of a leading presidential aspirant in the country where he is posted. Adding fuel to the controversy, spokesman Zhao defended Xing's statement. "Chinese diplomats posted overseas have the responsibility to make clear China's position on issues concerning major interests of the country in a timely manner," he said.



China's high-handed attitude in dealing with Korea issues has continued since the Moon Jae-in administration has maintained low-profile diplomacy toward the neighboring country. For instance, Korea's foreign ministry has been silent on Taiwan, though its vice minister discussed the matter with his counterparts from the United States and Japan, Wednesday, who gave a briefing on the matter in press conferences. This shows the foreign ministry attempted to take into consideration China's side.



Following the vice-ministerial talks, the U.S. and Japan also gave a briefing on how to contain China in the Indo-Pacific area while Korea kept silence. The Moon administration should squarely cope with China to prevent it from acting so high-handed. It is a matter of national pride and prestige. China should assume a more prudent and gentle manner as a responsible leading member of the international community. Bilateral prosperity and peaceful coexistence is possible only on the basis of mutual respect.






Samsung Electronics said Friday it has released upgraded software-defined networking (SDN) solutions to help mobile operators and enterprises better manage their 5G networks.







The South Korean tech giant said its new SDN solutions will support enterprises in various sectors, including education, retail and energy, introducing new 5G application, services and infrastructure.







SDN is a network architecture approach that enables the network to be easily controlled via software solutions. It allows better automation and programmability in the entire network from access to the core, increasing operational efficiency.







"With an architectural shift from hardware-based deployment to software-centric network design, SDN is highly secure, scalable and adaptable, especially helpful in advancing private networks," Samsung said.







Its SDN portfolio covers all layers of the SDN architecture, including controllers, orchestrators, switches and routers, according to the company.







Samsung's SDN solutions can automate end-to-end network slicing, allowing telecom operators to provide customized services.







Its SDN is based on the Open Network Operating System (ONOS), connecting switches and routers from various suppliers, and comes with enhanced UX design.







Samsung, the world's largest smartphone vendor, is one of the major suppliers of 5G end-to-end solutions, including chipsets, radios and cores. (Yonhap)


Hyundai Motor Group Honorary Chairman Chung Mong-koo was officially inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame, Thursday, after the official recognition was delayed for more than a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Courtesy of Hyundai Motor Group



By Yi Whan-woo



Hyundai Motor Group Honorary Chairman Chung Mong-koo was officially inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame, becoming the first Korean to receive the honor, the company announced Friday.



Located in Detroit, the hometown of the American auto industry, the Automotive Hall of Fame first named Chung as a recipient in February 2020 when he was chairman of the conglomerate.



The official recognition, however, was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. With more than a year of delay, Chung, 73, stepped down to become the honorary chairman and was succeeded by his son Euisun after leading the corporation for more than 20 years.





Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Euisun, right, also the son of the group's honorary chairman Chung Mong-koo, shakes hands with Automotive Hall of Fame Board Chairman Ramzi Hermiz during a ceremony to honor the senior Chung's induction to the hall of fame in Detroit, Thursday. Courtesy of Hyundai Motor Group



The Chung junior attended the induction ceremony in person, Thursday, and delivered a speech on his father's behalf.



"If my father were here, he would say he owes this honor to our employees, dealers and fantastic customers," he said.



The third generational chairman of the family-owned conglomerate, Chung Euisun described the company as having "a humble beginning" as an affiliate of Hyundai Group founded by his late grandfather, Chung Ju-yung, before it was separated and grew into the world's fifth-largest automotive group under his father's stewardship.



The business expansion was possible through the acquisition of Kia Motors, which was renamed as Kia, creating a vertically-integrated manufacturing structure that makes the conglomerate self-sufficient in the production of steel and other components.



The conglomerate established new plants in strategic locations, including the United States, Europe, China, India, Brazil and Russia, as well.



The Automotive Hall of Fame said Hyundai Motor Group's success "owes much" to the honorary chairman.





Chung Mong-koo, then-chairman of Hyundai Motor Group, take a look at the under chassis of a Sonata sedan being assembled during his visit to the Korean automaker's U.S. plant in Alabama in this 2014 photo. Courtesy of Hyundai Motor Group





Chung Mong-koo, third from left in the back row, then-chairman of Hyundai Motor Group, watches his son Chung Euisun, left in the front row, shaking hands with then-Georgia Governor Sonny Purdue during a signing of Kia Motors' $1 billion investment into Georgia in this photo taken in March 2006. Chung at that time was serving as the president of Kia Motors, a Hyundai Motor Group affiliate which was renamed to Kia this year. Courtesy of Hyundai Motor Group
By Kim Bo-eun





The Financial Times' July 23 edition carried an ad by environmental group Market Forces, which denounced Hyundai Motor Group for allowing its affiliate to build a coal-fired power station in Vietnam. Korea Times photo by Lim Mee-young

Hyundai Motor Group has come under fire for inconsistent environmental standards in its lines of business, with its crown jewel carmaker transitioning to electric vehicles on one hand, while its construction affiliate is building a coal-fired power plant in Vietnam.



Hyundai Engineering & Construction (E&C) landed a contract in June to build Quang Trach 1, a 1,200-megawatt coal power station in Vietnam, in a consortium with Japan's Mitsubishi and a Vietnamese state-run builder.



In an ad published in the Financial Times on Friday, environmental group Market Forces slammed Hyundai Motor and Hyundai E&C for their inconsistent environmental standards, demanding that the coal power plant project be scrapped.



"Hyundai is promoting climate-conscious electric cars while still building dirty coal," the Market Forces ad said. "Hyundai can't claim to be sustainable while still building dirty coal power stations."



The ad showed Hyundai's IONIQ Electric model with the word "IRONIC" written on its license plate. The environmental group urged Hyundai E&C to pull out of the coal power station construction project.





Hyundai Motor's headquarters in southern Seoul / Korea Times file
An Asiana Airlines plane is seen through a window at Terminal 1 of Incheon International Airport on July 14. Yonhap



Travel bubble agreement with Saipan to begin Saturday



By Jun Ji-hye



Domestic air carriers will resume flights to Saipan as scheduled, despite a recent spike in COVID-19 infections here.



The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said Friday that a quarantine-free travel bubble agreement with Saipan will also be implemented, Saturday.



According to the ministry, Asiana Airlines will resume flights to Saipan on Saturday, while T'way Air will resume flights there on July 29. Jeju Air already resumed flights there on June 8.



The term "travel bubble" refers to a partnership between two or more cities or countries with similar rates of COVID-19 infections to allow quarantine-free air travel in both directions.



The Korean government signed a travel bubble agreement with Saipan on June 30 to allow group tours for fully vaccinated people.



"Preparatory proceedings have been wrapped up today (Friday), thus six travel bubble tourists who have been fully vaccinated will board an Asiana Airlines plane departing on Saturday," a ministry official said.



The travel bubble agreement has raised expectations among the ailing aviation and tourism industries, which have been hit hard by the prolonged pandemic, for a recovery in demand for overseas travel.



In line with the government's plan to implement the agreement, air carriers and travel agencies have moved quickly to prepare flights and travel packages.



But it would take more time for the travel bubble to revitalize tourism in the area as the selection of accommodations for Korean tourists, one of the most important preparatory proceedings for implementing the agreement, was decided only a day before its implementation.



"We received a notice this morning that two hotels in Saipan were selected as accommodation for travel bubble tourists," the official said. "From here on, travel agencies will need more time to prepare travel packages and attract tourists."



In addition, some critics said the ongoing wave of infections could slow down demand for overseas travel as people's travel decisions are significantly affected by psychological factors.



They added Korea's sluggish vaccination rates and difficulties with its vaccine reservation system could adversely affect the situation.


In this March 29 file photo, people wearing face protective masks walk on Hollywood Blvd during the outbreak of the COVID-19 in Los Angeles, California, U.S. Reuters-Yonhap



The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has not revised its masking guidance, even as the Delta variant of the coronavirus sweeps the United States, driving up infections, CDC director Rochelle Walensky said on Thursday.



Walensky declined to say if the CDC is considering changing the guidance. The CDC in May relaxed its guidance so that fully vaccinated people do not need to wear masks in most public spaces.



Her comments coincided with reports that administration officials were discussing whether to shift guidance about masking in response to outbreaks caused by the Delta variant.



White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said such a decision would be made by the CDC, and President Joe Biden said experts were studying any necessary changes.






Wuhan Institute of Virology / Reuters-Yonhap



The White House said on Thursday it is "deeply disappointed" in China's decision to reject a World Health Organization (WHO) plan for a second phase of an investigation into the origin of the coronavirus.



In May, U.S. President Joe Biden ordered aides to find answers to questions over the origin. At the time he disclosed that U.S. intelligence agencies were pursuing rival theories potentially including the possibility of a laboratory accident in China.



The WHO this month proposed a second phase of studies into the origins of the coronavirus in China, including audits of laboratories and markets in the city of Wuhan, calling for transparency from authorities.



Biden has backed that probe in addition to his own.






[Trigger Warning: Mentions of sexual assault]

The police have revealed their findings during the investigation conducted on former EXO member Kris Wu and his sexual assault allegations.

Keep on reading to know more.

Chinese Police Reveal Investigation Findings on Kris Wu's Sexual Assault Allegations

Last month, actor and former EXO member Kris Wu was accused of dating numerous girls at the same time. Later in July, he was accused of seducing underage girls by 19-year old Chinese influencer Du Meizhu. Kris Wu has since then denied the allegations, while the China State Media requested an investigation on the ongoing scandal.

According to Chinese police in the Chaoyang district of Beijing on July 22, they concluded in their investigation that the allegations were a result of three different schemes to commit fraud and malign Kris Wu.

Du Meizhu had initially accused Kris Wu of getting her drunk at a party and sexually assaulting her. Later, she claimed that Kris Wu had also committed the same acts to at least seven other underage girls, who are often found through casting calls or from being selected from his fan groups.

READ ALSO: Former EXO Kris Accused of Seducing Underage Girls

Police Say Du Meizhu Exaggerated Sexual Assault Allegations to Gain Popularity, Man Admits to Defrauding Kris Wu

The Chinese police, however, said that Du Meizhu had exaggerated her posts, which were written with a friend, in order to gain fame and increase her online popularity. In addition, Du Meizhu's subsequent posts were revealed to have indeed been posted by her, however, it was written by a man who wanted to gain profit from the ongoing scandal.

Du Meizhu's posts were videos and screenshots of what appears to be money that she had received from accounts owned by Kris Wu and his mother. But police state that the transactions were, in fact, from a 23 year old male in Nantong City in the Jiangsu Province, who hoped to take advantage of the situation by extorting money from both Kris Wu and Du Meizhu.

The male, who is identified as "Liu," saw the scandal online and had contacted Du Meizhu to gather information, which allowed him to pretend to be her lawyer. Liu then contacted Kris Wu's mother to send Du Meizhu 500,000 yuan ($77,000 USD). He later pretended to be Kris Wu's lawyer to try and extort money from Du Meizhu.

Police said that Liu was unsuccessful in getting an additional 2.5 million yuan ($390,000 USD). He was arrested back on July 18 in Nantong after Kris Wu's mother had reported to the police of the fraud. In addition, there was also no indication that Du Meizhu was part of the fraud.

According to the police, they have interrogated the suspects and interviewed the involved parties, as well as taking in witness accounts, documentary evidences, and electronic evidences to gather findings.

However, they are still in an ongoing investigation into the other claims made against Kris Wu and his sexual assault and will be making the necessary decisions in accordance with the law.

READ ALSO: Former EXO Kris Denies Sexual Assault Accusations Made by Chinese Influencer

Du Meizhu Responds to Investigation Findings

Following the publicizing of the investigation findings, Du Meizhu posted on her Weibo to share that she has become exhausted with the investigation and attention and hopes it will end soon.

She then refutes several points in the findings.

According to police findings, Du Meizhu had attended a casting call for an upcoming music video organized by Kris Wu's agent, "Feng." She later went to a party at Krus Wu's house where 10 other people had drank and played drinking games. Du Meizhu is said to have stayed in the evening after getting drunk and has sexual intercourse with Kris Wu. Leaving the next morning, Du Meizhu had kept in touch with Kris Wu since.

Du Meizhu refutes the findings, stating that Feng had used the casting call as a means to bring her to Kris Wu's house, where she was pushed into the latter's bed. Kris Wu had sent her money, but Du Meizhu is in the process of returning the money and stated that she has never committed any fraud.

Du Meizhu adds that because Feng was a woman, she didn't take precautions and got into the car with her. Only when she had arrived at Kris Wu's house did she realize it wasn't a meeting to discuss work.

According to the young Chinese influencer, she had low alcohol tolerance, but the people at the house kept giving her alcohol, which caused her to even vomit and lose consciousness. Feng later took her to Kris Wu's bedroom. Du Meizhu emphasized that she did not want to go there, nor did she stay there on purpose.

READ ALSO: China State Media Calls for Former EXO Kris to be Investigated Following Sexual Assault Allegations

Kris Wu had told her that he wanted them to start dating, hence, she stayed for a meal the next day after the party.

Du Meizhu also shared that many women who were tricked by Kris Wu had contacted her. "You can say that I am sensationalizing [the allegation] to become famous. Whatever you want to say is fine, I don't care. Maybe there isn't an outcome that will please everyone. But I have tried my best," said Du Meizhu.

Meanwhile, if Kris Wu is found guilty of the allegation, he may face a death sentence according to China's laws.

For more K-Pop news and updates, always keep your tabs open here on KpopStarz.

KpopStarz owns this article.

Written by Robyn Joan
Hit South Korean program from MBC Radio, "Idol Radio," will be returning with 'Idol Radio Season 2" to stream on the UNIVERSE platform.

NCSoft and Klap, developers of the UNIVERSE K-pop fan interaction platform, announced that the app and website will be hosting the "Idol Radio Season 2" starting August 9, Monday. It will then be regularly aired every Monday and Thursday, 8 PM KST.

ALSO READ: UNIVERSE Steps Up as Mnet's Partner for 'Girls Planet 999'

"Idol Radio" is a radio show that was conceptualized and created by MBC Radio especially for idols. It first aired on July 23, 2018, and has been available to fans through the MBC Standard FM and the Naver V Live platform. It moved its content to its own YouTube channel starting last August.

Aside from its UNIVERSE airing, "Idol Radio Season 2" will also be available every Friday and Saturday, from 2 AM to 3 AM KST on MBC Radio (95.9 MHz for Seoul and Gyeonggi Province), and Saturday and Sunday from 12 AM to 1 AM on MBC FM4U channel (91.9 MHz in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province).

Additionally, the UNIVERSE developers announced that the MBC Radio will also have its own PLANET, an exclusive space for the program and its fans to interact with each other, same as with all the artists who have joined the platform. In the "Idol Radio Season 2" PLANET, highlights of the previous "Idol Radio Season 1" will be streamed thrice on the platform. Also, NCSoft and Klap announced the the new PLANET will be releasing a wide variety of content such as behind-the-scenes videos and photos of the "Idol Radio Season 2" episode, giving the fans an unprecedented view of their favorite idols who will be appearing on the show. UNIVERSE also plans to hold PLANET support and CIty Hall certification events.

NCSoft and Klap teases that additional information, such as who will be the DJ for "Idol Radio Season 2," will be revealed at a later date. In the previous season, GOT7 Youngjae and DAY6 Young K served as the DJ before it ended.

RELATED ARTICLE: Unstoppable UNIVERSE Welcomes EPEX, GOT7 Youngjae into the Platform


Paramedic - Civil Service Full Time $16.81 - $25.22 hourly Description: Sioux City Fire Rescue (SCFR) is an internationally accredited agency serving the citizens and visitors of Sioux City since 1888. SCFR provides the highest level of professional service possible. SCFR EMS Division has an opening for a Paramedic who is looking to be part of our successful team. SCFR operates under the supervision of a contracted medical director who oversees the protocols, continuous quality improvement process and EMS providers working under his/her license. The position provides direct patient care and transport in the prehospital environment and ensures completion of accurate and compliant electronic patient care reports consistent with CADS (Certified Ambulance Documentation Specialist) standards. CADS course is provided during orientation. Additionally, performs non-emergency functions such as injury/illness prevention and other public safety activities. Based upon the current shift schedule, which includes overtime for hours worked in excess of the regular workweek, the average annual wage for starting paramedics is $51,000-$52,500. New wage increases will be in effect July 1, 2021. Opportunities to work additional shifts/hours are occasionally available. Hours of work will vary; the division operates every day. Employee must have a valid Iowa Paramedic Certification at start of employment. Candidates who are not certified in Iowa will need to provide evidence of application for reciprocity within a week of the conditional offer and will be required to provide evidence of Iowa Paramedic certification prior to start of employment. Candidates must pass a Civil Service testing process which also includes a physical agility test prior to being placed on a Civil Service Eligibility List. Job offers are conditional and contingent upon passing pre-employment physical screening (by physical therapist); urine drug screen; physical exam to include lab work, pulmonary function screen, vision screen and audiogram; and a background check. At the City, we value our employees by providing them the peace of mind through an exceptional compensation and benefits package and is committed to the well-being of employees and their families. The competitive benefits include but are not limited to medical and dental coverage, life and cafeteria plan options, generous paid leave time, and IPERS. Our employees are required to reside within 10 miles of the City of Sioux City limits which extends to Nebraska and South Dakota. Minimum Required Qualifications: Must be able to obtain and possess a valid Motor Vehicle Operator's License by employment start date. Must attach a certified Driving History Record from the Department of Motor Vehicles at the time of application. Paramedic: High School Diploma or equivalent And Iowa Paramedic Certification or National Registry Paramedic Certification And Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) And Pediatric Life Support (PALS) Preferred 1-3 years of clinical experience in emergency care - Preferred Advanced Medical Life Support (AMLS) - Preferred Instructor Certifications  Preferred

recblid 0s0oeqq2al84sp7ynz2n85k2nrg5k8






Req #17315

Tuesday, July 20, 2021

The SEO Intern role will deliver best practice Search Engine Optimization (SEO) to web based local businesses. This role interfaces with internal, support teams, and others to deliver solutions that cater to our local SEO clients. This role will train to acquire proficiency with online search and advertising technologies and web based marketing techniques.





Job Summary:





The SEO Intern will be responsible for supporting team members and implementing & managing Search Engine Optimization (SEO) solutions in support of the companys Reach SEO offerings.

The candidate must be flexible and able to multitask across a variety of job duties, including the ability to:

Conduct keyword research, competitive analysis, content optimization, meta-tag creation, link development and other SEO related activities

Monitor and report on metrics such as page ranking, site traffic trends, effectiveness of site optimization etc.

Update website content and meta data via ReachLocals proprietary CMS

Troubleshoot underperforming SEO profiles and provide a cost-effective solution

Keep up to date on the latest SEO best practices, strategies and technologies

Proactively provide strategic recommendations applicable to clients business models, expectations, and goals

Build rapport with clients representatives through routine and scheduled interactions

Knowledge Skills and Abilities:

Understanding of SEO best practices

Working knowledge of web protocols, web application architectures and frameworks preferred

Knowledgeable in HTML, CSS, and other SEO related technologies preferred

Proven ability to improve organic search performance within major search engines preferred

Experience with various tools including Google Analytics, AdWords, and Search Console preferred

Strong analytical skills with the ability to solve complex problems

Effective oral and written business communication skills, including the ability to interact with customers and present concepts clearly to your audience

Strong organization and project management skills to manage multiple ongoing projects

Strong sense of ownership, drive and urgency

Self-starter with the ability to multi-task in a highly demanding, fast-paced environment

Previous experience with web platforms such as WordPress, HubSpot, GoDaddy, Squarespace, Magento preferred

Key Competencies:

Analytical abilities

Can quickly analyze issues to identify root cause

Able to evaluate large volumes of data to make inferences and recommendations

Strategic Perspective

Looks at multiple aspects when evaluating industry vertical performance

Can easily pose and suggest future technique scenarios

Able to discuss multiple aspects & impacts of issues and propose future options

Managing through System & Process

Can design practices, processes, and procedures to assist in SEO program management

Can work with other team members to accomplish common goals

Demonstrates excellent attention to detail

Possesses strong business ethics, is reliable and dependable

Customer Focus

Establishes and maintains effective relationships with clients

Seeks client feedback and incorporates it into future activities

Demonstrates dedication to meeting client expectations and requirements

Acts with customer in mind

Translates client needs into actionable goals and tasks

Educates clients on Best Practices and overall education of SEO

Cooperative team player with the ability to work independently

Has high energy, a confident manner

Qualifications

Highschool Diploma

1+ years of work experience in a similar role or combination of education and experience preferred

Hungry to learn and grow their value

About ReachLocal:

Are you looking for a company that values innovation, passion, and a healthy work/life balance? A job where you feel supported and appreciated? At ReachLocal, we know our employees drive success, and we strive to create a thriving company culture where youll enjoy coming to work every day.

Here, you can walk through the halls and bump into our CEO, catch an inter-office ping pong tournament, or support a local cause with your fellow employees. Are you ready to join a company where you can have fun and work with some of brightest people in digital marketing?

Our mission is to help local businesses all over the world reach more local customers online. As a leader in powering online marketing for local businesses, ReachLocal has been recognized for outstanding products and exceptional employees, having won Googles Quality Account Champion in North America and Googles Innovation Champion Award in Canada. Our CEO, Sharon Rowlands, has won countless awards, most recently the Gold Stevie Award for Female Executive of the Year in the 13th Annual Stevie Awards for Women in Business.

ReachLocal is headquartered in Woodland Hills, CA, with over 60 locations throughout the United States, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, Japan, Australia, and Brazil.

We invite you to learn more about us, connect with us, and grow with us here:

Career Site: http://careers.reachlocal.com

Blog: http://blog.reachlocal.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/reachlocal

Twitter: https://twitter.com/reachlocaljobs

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/reachlocal

Hear from our employees: http://blog.reachlocal.com/reachlocal-services-spotlight-meet-some-of-our-marketing-experts

ReachLocal is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants for all job openings are welcome and will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, or any other basis protected by state, federal or local law. It is the intent of the Company to comply with all applicable federal, state and local legislation concerning equal opportunity in employment.

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of all



#reachlocal


Asset Pipeline Engineer Boulder , Colorado , United States Software and Services Summary

Posted: Jul 20, 2021 Role Number: 200267421 The Technology Development Group (TDG) is looking for an Asset Pipeline Engineer to help us push the limits of the next generation of interactive experiences on our platform. This team is working with some of Apple?s most advanced technologies including augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) offered in ARKit and Metal 2. As a member of our creative organization, you will have the uniquely rewarding opportunity to craft future products that will delight and inspire millions of people every single day. Key Qualifications Minimum 4 years experience in a large-scale project for VFX, TV, film, AR/VR, or games

Proficiency in C++ programming

3D graphics fundamentals Description Apple makes innovative technologies accessible for the creation of amazing user experiences. You will have the opportunity to work in a team developing system level frameworks enabling these experiences, in close collaboration with other innovative teams across Apple and TDG. The candidate for this role will be comfortable working in a dynamic and creative environment with an ambition to improve, innovate and explore these technologies to enable creators to surprise and delight our users. Engineers are expected to work quickly and smartly to help determine the viability of ideas and technologies. Education & Experience BS/BA in Computer Science or related engineering field Additional Requirements - Passion for working with a diverse team or artists and developers

- Experience writing performant, multi-threaded code

- Knowledgable about 3D file formats

PREFERRED KNOWLEDGE / EXPERIENCE

- Experience with Universal Scene Description (USD)

- Proficiency in Obj-C/Swift programming on Apple platforms

- Library/Framework development experience

- Knowledgable about mesh processing and texture compression

If you are a Colorado resident, this is for you:

At Apple, we see the whole you. We carefully consider a wide range of compensation factors, including your background and experience. These considerations can cause your compensation to vary. This AR/VR Graphics Software Engineer starts at a minimum annual salary of $105,600. The actual pay may be higher depending on your skills, qualifications, and experience. Additionally, this role might be eligible for discretionary bonuses or commission payments as well as relocation. Every Apple employee also has the opportunity to become an Apple shareholder, because all team members are eligible for stock grants and also a discount when purchasing Apple stock.

We offer all kinds of ways to experience well-being, confidence, and satisfaction. Learn more about Apple benefits.

Note: Apple benefits programs are subject to eligibility requirements.

Apple's most important resource, our soul, is our people. Apple benefits help further the well-being of our employees and their families in meaningful ways. No matter where you work at Apple, you can take advantage of our health and wellness resources and time-away programs. We're proud to provide stock grants to employees at all levels of the company, and we also give employees the option to buy Apple stock at a discount - both offer everyone at Apple the chance to share in the company's success. You'll discover many more benefits of working at Apple, such as programs that match your charitable contributions, reimburse you for continuing your education and give you special employee pricing on Apple products.

Apple benefits programs vary by country and are subject to eligibility requirements.

Apple is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to inclusion and diversity. We take affirmative action to ensure equal opportunity for all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, Veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics. Apple is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to applicants with physical and mental disabilities. Apple is a drug-free workplace






Working together, supporting your team, reaching for the best in a high-volume, high paced environment is second nature to you

Sodexo is seeking a Food Operations Manager 3 for Clarkson University located in Potsdam, NY.



Clarkson is a private, national research university and proven leader in technological education and sustainable economic development. STEM intersects with our scholarship, research, innovation and teaching through more than 90 rigorous programs of study in engineering, business, arts, education, sciences and health professions. With our 4,800+ students, we ignite connections across disciplines, industries and social cultures to create the entrepreneurial mindset, knowledge and intellectual curiosity needed to innovate world-relevant solutions and prepare the leaders of tomorrow.

Relocation assistance is available



The successful candidate will:

have oversight of day-to-day operations;

deliver high quality food service;

achieve company and client financial targets and goals;

develop and maintain client and customer relationships;

develop strategic plans;

create a positive environment; and/or

ensure Sodexo standards are met.





Is this opportunity right for you? We are looking for candidates who:

have a work history demonstrating strong employee engagement leadership skills, as well as previous supervisory experience and the ability to work collaboratively;

have culinary production experience and a strong background in safety and sanitation compliance;

can manage multiple priorities, demonstrate professional communication skills, and a passion for a high level of customer service;

prioritize tasks and exhibit flexibility to take on additional responsibilities as needed; and/or

demonstrate working knowledge of Sodexo Food Management System (FMS) The Market Connection (TMC) and is proficient in computer skills and report management experience. This is only for internal candidates as external candidates won't have this knowledge





Learn more about Clarkson University at https://www.clarkson.edu/



At Sodexo, we believe every employee should have the resources to be their best. As part of our overall rewards, we offer benefits programs designed to help you maintain a healthy lifestyle including health, dental and vision insurance. We also offer other benefits like paid time off, financial and savings programs, 401k, and access to our employee assistance program and other discounts. Click here for more information about Sodexo's Benefits.



Not the job for you?

We offer Food Service Management positions in a variety of business segments, including Corporate, Schools, Universities, Government and Agencies, Healthcare, Senior Living and Sports and Leisure locations across the United States. Continue your search for Food Service Management jobs.



Working for Sodexo:

At Sodexo, you will find the ingredients for a great career in food service management. With benefits including schedules that encourage work-life balance and continuing education opportunities, you'll enjoy an improved quality of life that's unique in the hospitality industry.




This is an opportunity to grow and become an important member of our communitys commitment to high-quality care provided close to home. Duties: In this position, the right candidate will perform daily radiologic procedures, image critiquing, office and patient scheduling duties, maintenance of radiographic equipment and various other duties as assigned.

T he radiologic technologist is directly responsible to the X-Ray Coordinator. We are looking for a courteous, friendly and helpful attitude as you work with staff members, patients/residents, family, and visitors and make a difference in our overall patient experience. Schedule: FT days Radiologic Technologist, MR Experience Required. CT experience preferred but will train. Requirements: Must be ARRT registered and have a current Iowa Department of Public Health Permit to Practice Radiology license.

IDPH Permit to Practice required and CT experience a plus but will train.

MR Experience. Benefits: Competitive Benefits Package Included About Us: Virginia Gay Hospital is the communitys largest employer and provides a wide array of services, diagnostic testing, and clinical expertise (Acute Care (inpatient), Emergency Medicine, Home Health, Imaging Services, Laboratory, Nursing and Rehabilitation, Respiratory Therapy, Sleep Studies, Surgical Services and Therapy Services. As a leader in rural healthcare and specializing in family medicine Virginia Gay Hospital and Clinics serve families in the greater Benton County, Iowa with family medical clinics in Atkins (SE Benton Co.), Van Horne (SW Benton Co.), Urbana (NE Benton Co.) and in Vinton. Founded with a gift from Virginia Walcutt-Gay in 1914, the hospital has been able to maintain independence because of the generous support from the community.

recblid to1z4rt2menzkpaj6gpzdn9y2wayts






Build a better future

Join our dynamic, national award-winning team to bring honesty to one of the most corrupt states in the union. If you love changing the world, getting laws passed and skewering evildoers with facts, numbers and richly textured storytelling, this is the job for you. This job is based at the Asbury Park Press but will work across newsrooms in New Jersey and be part of the Atlantic Group (five states) in Gannett. You will also have opportunities to work with USA TODAYs national investigative teams on regional projects.



The job: You will be at the center of our investigative and deep-dive enterprise efforts. Your mission will be to identify stories and data for short and long-term articles, work with reporters and visual journalists to shape the story and deliver powerful content to our subscribers on a regular basis. Solid writing and editing skills are essential.



The data: You are an experienced CAR maven who can pluck a story from a blizzard of numbers, work collaboratively with reporters to tell compelling narratives, and boil complex issues into easy-to-digest prose and graphics.

You will work with some of the best journalists in the nation, including Pulitzer finalists and winners of the Selden Ring, Farfel and Scripps Howard prizes, and Murrow, NABJ, Online News Association, Deadline Club and National Headliners awards.



Required skills: MySQL; Python or similar scripting language; clear and powerful writing style; ArcGIS or similar mapping system; R or similar language for statistical computing and graphics; able to build online applications and back-office tools to clean non-linear, fuzzy and dirty data; and experience with open records laws and negotiating with gatekeepers for data.



We want to see what you have done. Tell us in the cover letter how your work got problems fixed and send us 5-7 links to your most powerful pieces. Please! Apply only if you have a professional record of accomplishment you can show us.

Gannett prides itself on diversity, equality and inclusion in the workplace. We warmly welcome applications from BIPOC, LGBTQ, veterans and all diverse communities.
Customer Success Team Lead (Temporary)



We are looking for a Customer Success Team Lead (Temporary) to drive the success of our clients in their paid search marketing needs.This role provides consultative and strategic services to our clients on Pay-Per-Click Marketing best practices and strategies. The ideal candidate will be able to dive into the role and work with our clients to ensure their success in paid search.

The mission of the Customer Success team is to drive product usage and adoption as well as deliver honest and helpful PPC advice and consulting to our clients. We act as customer advocates and focus on building long-term relationships with our clients. In a SaaS company, customer retention is paramount to success and this sits squarely in the laps of our team members. It is our job to ensure customers get real value out of their investment with us.





If you are driven by taking action, winning together and believe transparency is the only way to be, we want to hear from you!



A little about the job...

Providing a range of premier consulting services to all clients focused on account growth and optimization.

Advising clients on their PPC strategy and account optimization issues related to Google Ads, Microsoft and Facebook by actively leveraging our cross platform software.

Providing product feedback to our Product team in the form of recommended enhancements and ideas that would ease the use of the product for our customers or provide them with functionality that would increase the overall value proposition of WordStream Advisor

Connecting with your overall portfolio through email exchanges and phone calls between consulting sessions to ensure product usage and to advise clients on their paid search accounts

Helping to investigate any issues or bugs encountered by clients and writing Bug tickets when needed

Developing account audits, roadmaps and Quarterly Business Reviews for every client in your book of business.

Performing internal tracking of chat users when supporting this initiative and keep an up-to-date record of your client interactions to keep all customer relationship management records up to date

Attend all relevant internal meetings and trainings and actively contribute.

Stay relevant and current by attending partner and external training sessions, conducting your own research, and blog reading to stay on top of industry trends, updates, etc.

A little about you...

Bachelors degree

Minimum of 2-4 years in a customer success, consulting, or client-service based role

Ability to speak and write clearly and persuasively and to build and maintain strong internal and external relationships

Currently Google Ads Certified Includes both AdWords Fundamentals and Search Advertising exams

Experience using Google Analytics, Microsoft and Facebook a plus

Strong awareness of SEM industry and digital marketing

Experience working with paid search campaigns.

Advanced computer skills (Salesforce, Word, Excel, PowerPoint)

Highly motivated and a team player

Strong organizational and time management skills

Adaptable to change in a fast-paced, highly collaborative environment.
Req #14844

Monday, March 29, 2021

Gannett Co., Inc. (NYSE: GCI) is an innovative, digitally focused media and marketing solutions company committed to strengthening communities across our network. With an unmatched reach at the national and local level, Gannett touches the lives of nearly 140 million people monthly with our Pulitzer-Prize winning content, consumer experiences and benefits, and advertiser products and services. Gannett brands include the USA TODAY and more than 260 daily local newspaper brands, digital marketing services companies ReachLocal , WordStream, and ThriveHive and U.K. media company Newsquest. There's never been a better time to join our talented team. Visit Gannett.com/Careers to learn more about our opportunities, and visit Gannett Privacy Policy to understand our privacy policy.

DOCK WORKER/OPERATIONS COORDINATOR

GANNETT PUBLISHING SERVICES

MANSFIELD, OH

GannettPublishing Services, located in MANSFIELD, OH, is recruiting for a part-time,Operations Coordinatorfor our Newspaper Distribution Center working 20-29 hours per week.This individual provides general support for a Distribution center performing a variety of tasks and responsibilities within home delivery including delivery of newspapers. Position requires flexibility to work varied days and hours including weekends and holidays as needed. Distribution and handling of daily and non-daily products to carriers, haulers, retailers and consumers.

Unload and load trucks containing various print publications.

Open the Distribution Center and prepare for the independent contractor arrival by printing, preparing and distributing specified reports and paperwork.

Utilize industry specific software to handle required reporting for center.

General housekeeping of distribution center.

Complete required documentation and reports for center as needed.

Assist with delivering newspapers.

Respond to and resolve subscriber service issues

Maintain and repair news racks throughout the designated distribution area.

Assist with training Product Handlers or Product Coordinators as needed.

Requirements: Valid drivers license, satisfactory motor vehicle record, dependable automobile, and liability insurance required.Strong organizational and communication skills required for a fast-paced environment.Good computer skills including Microsoft office.



Good time management skills.Good verbal and written communication skills.Must be able to push and pull carts loaded with newspapers weighing up to 500 pounds with assistance and repetitively lift newspaper bundles weighing up to 25 pounds. Education:



Gannett Co., Inc. is a proud equal opportunity employer. We are a drug free, EEO employer committed to a diverse workforce. We will consider all qualified candidates regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity, family responsibilities, disability, education, political affiliation, or veteran status.

Job Family GateHouse Media

Pay Type Hourly

Other details
Magnolia, AR (71754)

Today

Thunderstorms early, then mainly cloudy after midnight. Low 74F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 100%..

Tonight

Thunderstorms early, then mainly cloudy after midnight. Low 74F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 100%.
Notice of Initiation of the Section 106 Process-Public Participation in accordance with the Federal Communications Commission regulations (47 CFR  1.1307) for Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) and for the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the Program Comment for Positive Train Control and Infrastructure.


Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading.
Les membres du Cabinet ont pris note des noms des membres de la Commission dEnquete sur laffaire Betamax et les termes de reference le la dit enquete, de lextension de la phase trois du Confinement au 31 aout 2021, de la promulgation du Copyright (Fees) (Amendment) Regulations 2021, de la visite prochaine des membres de la Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Africa/Middle East Joint Group au 13 au 15 septembre entre autres.

1. Cabinet has taken note that the President of the Republic has appointed a Commission of Inquiry to inquire and report on, inter alia, the circumstances in which the contract for transport of petroleum products to Mauritius (Contract of Affreightment) was awarded to Betamax Ltd and the circumstances which subsequently led to the termination of the said contract. The Commission of Inquiry has been constituted as follows:

(a) Hon Mrs Carol Green-Jokhoo, Puisne Judge as Chairperson; and

(b) Dr Pushpawant Boodhun, former Permanent Secretary and Mr Kodados Mosafeer, former Director, Procurement and Supply, as Commissioners.

2. Cabinet has agreed to the extension of the quarantine period up to 31 August 2021.

The COVID-19 (Closing Down of Premises and Restriction of Activities) Regulations 2021, as subsequently amended, would continue to apply.

3. Cabinet has taken note that the Immigration (Advance Passenger Information and Passenger Name Record Data) Regulations 2021 and the Civil Aviation (Collection of Data from Operators of Private Flights Landing in, or Departing from, Mauritius) Regulations 2021 would be promulgated to facilitate the introduction of a Passenger Information System for the enhancement of Border Control Management in Mauritius. The Immigration (Advance Passenger Information and Passenger Name Record Data) Regulations 2021 would provide the regulatory framework for carriers serving Mauritius to send booking and check-in data in a timely manner to the Passport and Immigration Office (PIO). It would allow Border Control Agencies to carry out profiling of passengers in advance and to respond appropriately.

The Immigration (Advance Passenger Information and Passenger Name Record Data) Regulations 2021 would require commercial air transport operators to submit passenger data to the PIO within a specified time. As regards operators of private flights, once the Civil Aviation (Collection of Data from Operators of Private Flights Landing in, or Departing from, Mauritius) Regulations 2021 would be promulgated, they would have to submit the required data on passengers and crew to the Director of Civil Aviation.

4. Cabinet has agreed to the promulgation of the Mauritius Standards Bureau (National Management Systems Certification Scheme) (Amendment) Regulations 2021 and the Mauritius Standards Bureau (Certification Mark) (Amendment) Regulations 2021. The MSB (National Management Systems Certification Scheme) Regulations provide the legal framework for the effective operation of various Schemes. The rationale for the amendment of the MSB (National Management Systems Certification Scheme) Regulations is to:

(a) include the amended logo for Sustainable Tourism with the wording Blue Oasis;

(b) remove MauriGAP Certification as the latter shall be operated under the MSB Certification Mark Scheme; and

(c) cater for a new logo that has been launched.

Under the MSB Certification Mark Scheme, the MSB grants licences to companies to use the MSB Certification Mark for the products/processes which meet all the requirements of the relevant standard. The Scheme also caters for certification based on Ecolabel Standards. It is proposed that the validity of licences issued under the MSB Certification Mark Scheme be reviewed from two to three years. The period of three years would ensure consistency for both Management System Certification Schemes and MSB Certification Mark Scheme.

5. Cabinet has agreed to the promulgation of the Copyright (Fees) (Amendment) Regulations 2021 following the impact of the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic on businesses. Regulation 4 of the Copyright (Fees) Regulations 2020 would be repealed and replaced by a fresh regulation to exempt certain class of businesses from payment of copyright fee to the Mauritius Society of Authors for the time being. The copyright fees to be paid by tourist operators, hotels and restaurants would come into operation on 01 July 2022.

This exemption would not apply to Rodrigues. Fees to be paid by aircrafts of Air Mauritius and in respect of live performances in hotels and restaurants would also come into operation on 01 July 2022.

6. Cabinet has agreed to the re-engineering of the Cooperatives Division of the Ministry of Industrial Development, SMEs and Cooperatives, in line with the recommendations made by the Office of the Public Sector Governance. The re-engineering exercise would be implemented in three phases. The intended outcomes of the re-engineering exercise are:

(a) improved, integrated and centralised services to reduce the number of defaulting societies. A newly created Enforcement Unit would, inter alia:

(i) ensure compliance to the Co-operatives Act by all Cooperative Societies;

(ii) carry out visits to societies and submit recommendations; and

(iii) ensure compliance to the provisions of the Anti-Money Laundering and Combatting the Financing of Terrorism (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act regarding financial and non-financial transactions.

(b) the Registration Unit would be consolidated to carry out due diligence to ensure registration of societies with bona fide objectives and aspiration of promoters. Moreover, efforts would be put to reactivate dormant societies by ensuring regular visits and support with existing schemes;

(c) a Research and Innovation Committee would be set up to ensure high quality research in cooperative matters; and

(d) the cooperative societies would be provided with appropriate support schemes to make their activities robust and sustainable.

7. Cabinet has agreed to the Ministry of Arts and Cultural Heritage engaging in discussions with the private sector through the setting up of a Committee comprising representatives of both the public and private sectors to advise on the restoration, preservation, promotion and management of selected National Heritage Sites. The Committee would be chaired by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Arts and Cultural Heritage. The terms of reference of the Committee would be to, inter alia, advise the Ministry of Arts and Cultural Heritage on the following:

(a) selection of the most appropriate national heritage sites to be restored and preserved in the short, medium and long term;

(b) elaboration of an appropriate concept for the development of selected national heritage sites;

(c) development of an appropriate mechanism for the management of the national heritage sites after restoration;

(d) elaboration of an aggressive marketing strategy to promote the national heritage sites after restoration;

(e) development of an appropriate public-private partnership model to look after specific national heritage sites; and

(f) identification of sources of funding from the public and private sectors.

8. Cabinet has taken note that an on-site visit would be conducted by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Africa/Middle East Joint Group (AME JG) delegation from 13 to 15 September 2021 in Mauritius. The objective of the on-site visit is to confirm that the technical aspects of the Action Plan have been completed and that there is the institutional capacity and high-level political commitment to implement the reforms over the medium to long term.

The FATF AME JG delegation would meet the relevant representatives of Ministries and authorities concerned and visit the premises of certain institutions.

9. Cabinet has taken note of the setting up of a Project Monitoring Committee by the Land Drainage Authority to monitor and evaluate the implementation of drain projects across the island under the National Flood Management Programme. The objects of the Project Monitoring Committee would be to:

(a) closely monitor and coordinate the implementation of drain projects by the National Development Unit, Road Development Authority, Local Authorities and other relevant stakeholders;

(b) iron out any bottleneck that may occur for the timely implementation of the projects; and

(c) report on progress and impediment, if any, related to the implementation of the projects.

10. Cabinet has taken note of the outcome of the last Meeting of the

National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. The main issues discussed were:

(a) the setting up of a Sub-Committee on Flooding and Life-Threatening Sites;

(b) the School Emergency Response Plan;

(c) the Emergency Response Plans for Residential Care Homes;

(d) the National Multi-Hazard Emergency Alert System Project;

(e) the Proposed Construction of a New Building for the Mauritius Meteorological Services and the National Coast Guard in St Brandon;

(f) the Dr A.G. Jeetoo Hospital Flood Emergency Response Plan;

(g) Implementation of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Policy, Strategic Framework and Action Plan and CADRI Report; and

(h) the Review of the Protocol on Heavy Rainfall for the Private Sector.

11. Cabinet has taken note of the Flagship Report on Productivity  Mauritius Productivity Study and Report, prepared by the World Bank for the National Productivity and Competitiveness Council (NPCC). The Report is the result of a survey of some

732 Mauritian enterprises undertaken by a diverse team of experts from the World Bank and Mauritius. It aims at supporting the NPCC in achieving its mandate for the promotion of productivity and quality in Mauritius. Focus has been laid on three main areas relating to productivity namely:

(a) Productivity trends;

(b) Enabling business environment; and

(c) Skills gaps and other labour market determinants.

The NPCC proposes to disseminate the Report and to consult stakeholders to develop an Action Plan to address the recommendations made.

12. Cabinet has taken note of the situation of the COVID-19 pandemic prevailing across the world. Some 192.7 million cases have been reported globally, of which 175.3 million persons have been successfully treated. With regard to Mauritius, as from March 2020 to

23 July 2021, 3,594 cases (including imported cases) of COVID-19 had been registered. There were 1,533 active cases of COVID-19 in Mauritius, out of which 1,529 were local cases and four imported cases. Contact tracing exercises and random testing are being carried out in accordance with the established protocol.

Cabinet has also taken note that following the detection of positive COVID-19 cases among foreign workers in dormitories, some dormitories have been converted into Treatment Centres and Quarantine Centres. The situation was being closely monitored by the Ministry of Health and Wellness.

Cabinet has further taken note of progress in the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme. As at 22 July 2021, 626,284 persons had received a first dose of vaccine (representing 50 percent of the population and 65 percent of the adult population). 517,643 persons had received a second dose of vaccine (representing 41 percent of the population and 54 percent of the adult population).

13. Cabinet has taken note of the activities being organised by the Civil Status Division to mark the African Civil Registration and Vital Statistics Day observed on 10 August. The Civil Status Division would organise public sensitisation programmes on MBC and private radio channels in different languages, on current issues such as tardy declaration, timely registration of Muslim religious marriages with the Muslim Family Council, the rectification of civil documents, notification to the Civil Status Division of births occurring in public and private health institutions as well as the notification of death of a Mauritian national abroad, among others. A video clip would be prepared to show the services that the Civil Status Division provides through the Civil Status Offices around the island, and its evolution over the past years.

14. Cabinet has taken note that the Ministry of Health and Wellness would commemorate the World Hepatitis Day 2021 on 28 July 2021 at Dr A. G. Jeetoo Hospital. During the official ceremony, a television spot would be officially launched. The Ministry of Health and Wellness embarked on a micro-elimination programme to eliminate Hepatitis C Virus in 2018. To-date, 400 Mauritian patients have already benefited from the treatment. Some 300 additional patients were currently on treatment.

15. Cabinet has taken note of the pronouncement of the UN Human Rights Committee on the storage of biometric data on national identity cards of Mauritius.

16. Cabinet has taken note of outcome of the 112th Session of the Council of Ministers of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) which was held virtually. Discussions focussed on the re-structuring of the Secretariat of the OACPS. One of the decisions of the OACPS Council was to mandate the Committee of Ambassadors to support all actions for a coordinated, integrated approach to implementing the priority issues of all the OACPS SIDS, including debt distress and debt sustainability, access to concessional finance, and advocacy for a universal/multidimensional vulnerability index.

The Committee of Ambassadors would urgently engage the relevant Institutions of the EU including the Directorate-General for International Partnerships and the European External Action Service, to ensure that in the allocation of resources under the Neighbourhood Development and International Cooperation Instrument, priority be given to countries in need, including SIDS, in order to effectively address their multiple inherent constraints and specificities. The new structure of the Secretariat was approved.

17. Cabinet has taken note of the outcome of the virtual meeting of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Trade Negotiations Committee on Fisheries Subsidies held recently at Ministerial Level. The objective of the meeting was to explore options to reach an agreement on fisheries subsidies. The Minister of Land Transport and Light Rail, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade made a statement in his capacity as Coordinator of the African Group to the WTO and confirmed the commitment of the African Group to remain constructively engaged in the process to find a balanced outcome on fisheries subsidies.

He highlighted that significant gaps on core issues of interest to the African Group still remain. The African Group has always underscored the essential contribution of artisanal fishing to food security and livelihoods, especially in coastal communities. Hence, there was the need to exclude artisanal fishing from the scope of the agreement.

18. Cabinet has taken note of the constitution of the Executive Council of the Arabic Speaking Union with Mr Goolam Mohammud as President of the Executive Council.
Africa No Filter, the not-for-profit working on narrative change on the continent, is challenging the development community to adopt more ethical approaches in their storytelling with the launch of its new handbook, How to Write About Africa in 8 Steps: An ethical storytelling handbook.

The handbook was developed to address the rebalancing of the stereotypical narratives about Africa that persist in the development community. Typically, development funders, the media and western storytellers portray themselves as white saviours who heroically rescue Africa from war and hunger, stirring up pity for Africans by leaving out the stories about the agency of communities and individuals to solve their own challenges. Additionally, stories about the continent often create the misconception that Africa is broken, dependent on outsiders and that its people lack agency.

The handbook hopes to educate and change the usual behaviours that lead to biased stories about the continent. The simple guide remedies the usually unintended consequences of unethical practices of donors and western storytellers in just eight steps.

Practical examples of overcoming unethical practices include checking your privilege, being respectful, co-creating stories, checking for bias, gaining meaningful consent, understanding the local context, putting in the time, and employing local people familiar with local contexts.

The handbook is based on interviews with filmmakers, photographers and writers working in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe. They speak about their ethical challenges, including poor conceptualisation, bad hiring and production practices, problems introduced in post-production and failure to return to show production to the communities/people where the stories were sourced to ensure communities and individuals feel comfortable with the stories being shared about them.

Moky Makura, Executive Director of Africa No Filter, says: We appreciate the development community needs to highlight the issues and share the impact of their projects on the continent, but they also need to be careful that they dont feed the persistent, stereotypical narratives we have come to expect as they develop their content  especially the Africa is broken and needs fixing narrative. The handbook is an intervention aimed at storytellers to help them reconsider how they conceptualise stories, gather materials and edit the final product  and we show you how to do it in this deliberately short and very accessible handbook.

To launch the handbook, Africa No Filter will be holding a webinar on 29 July at 16h30 CAT entitled How to Write About Africa  reframing storytelling and centering ethics. Panellists are Emily Renshaw-Smith, Head of Content at Comic Relief; Professor Relebohile Moletsane from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, who has explored the ethics surrounding the way we tell stories about rural South Africans; land rights activist Dimuna Phiri, who has been involved in creating stories (books and films) about Zambians facing land grabs, and Heba Aly, CEO of The New Humanitarian, which covers forgotten and overlooked crises in the continent.
But Cronin said many in the public are confused about the need for masking, distrustful of health officials or openly defiant toward masking  its very possible new guidance on masking could fall on deaf ears. She said throughout the pandemic, there have been instances of health officials being out of step with each other, politicians giving wrong or harmful advice, and new guidance contradicting old guidance as conditions change and new information is learned about the virus.
However, she added the labor shortage in the state and Lehigh Valley is historic. The county would like to see the nursing home industry form partnerships with the state government, labor unions and workforce training programs she said. This would help ensure that proper reimbursement is available for facilities and a large enough labor pool exists to meet increased staffing needs created by the new standards.
Sinkholes occur throughout much of Lehigh Valley and elsewhere in Pennsylvania, though they are not considered a common peril statewide. They typically occur when natural running water seeps into the soil and erodes underground limestone or dolomite deposits, forming a cavern, according to the state Insurance Department. When the roof of the cavern caves in, a sinkhole is formed.
Everybodys accusing the other side of not doing anything and they are not working together, said Jack Treadway, a former political science professor at Kutztown University. From the publics perspective, theres a lot of issues important to them that they dont see getting resolved.
Its important to note that this website was not originally created with the public in mind or to be a publicly facing tool, Dugan said. This comparison chart is also not the most appropriate way for individuals to find the best treatment for their needs. It is like comparing apples to oranges in most situations because not all citations are of the same severity.
It would remain up to the facilities to hire more staff and accommodate Wednesdays proposal. This could cost them roughly $366 million  about $193.2 million would be covered by federal Medicaid reimbursements, while the state would contribute $173.6 million, acting Human Services Secretary Meg Snead said during a news briefing Wednesday.
Hector woke that glorious morning eager to spend the whole day planning in every detail his trip of a lifetime, the six-month, 20-state thrill-of-a-lifetime road adventure he had been dreaming about for years, in his new oversized (and over-priced) van, in which he would put his new souped-up ATV, his electric bike, skis, hiking gear, as well as his pop-up tent and extensive (and expensive) camping gear, and boxes of maps, then opened his computer, pulled up a blank page to begin listing the national parks, state parks and various other amazing sights and events he planned to visit, but reached over to the TV controller first, to put on the news, just in time to hear the announcement of the nationwide lockdown due to COVID-19.
She also was reimbursed through per diem claims for overnight stays in Harrisburg from 2017 to 2019 on nights when she did not stay overnight. Phone records indicated she was elsewhere in Pennsylvania on those nights, according to the affidavit.
As a current print subscriber, you receive 24/7 access to our website and online e-edition at no additional charge. All you have to do is activate your access. To activate digital access, you will need your account number. You can find your account number on any recent subscription notice or bill.
: neiubyiasiy (neiubyiasiy), : Ghost

 : The lawsuit is so tired that Guo Wengui's black July comes

: BBS  (Thu Jul 22 21:46:37 2021, )



The lawsuit is so tired that Guo Wengui's black July comes

New GATT gcub has been playing a constant role in preventing judicial storm



There's another big deal. Brother bully said in his own mouth yesterday that

in the hot July, he will have more than ten testimonies and nine court

appearances, and every time he appears in court and testifys for 89 hours.

You can estimate that there are only more than 20 days left in July. It is

more than 20 times that brother bullying has been in court, that is, this

month, brother bullying is not in court, or on the way to court, which is a

hard work. And, under such hardships, brother deceived him and said, I will

make money for you. Look, brother bully is tired of running to this point,

still do not forget the war friends' sweat money, really dedication to death

. Through the fog to see the truth, all the comrades, polish their eyes, do

not be deceived by brother to cover.



You know, the case of bullying brother entangled, no end. Pax case is not

over. Since he secretly took the yacht ladymay to Parma port in Spain and

let it out, PAX company and New York local court were furious. Pax said that

the New York local court must enforce the law impartially, and find Guo

Wengui's ladymay back, or it will be sued with the court. The New York local

court is also grudged at Guo's contempt for judicial authority and not

taking court decisions seriously. Accordingly, the court has ordered

guowengui to come to the court on July 12 to explain the situation and open

ladymay, and calculate a fine of $500000 a day from May 15. This is Guo

Wengui's important play in court and testimony. In addition, last month,

there was a collective lawsuit led by @tiger64. Guo Wengui has received

subpoena, and Guo Wengui, saraca, GTV, VOG and Sara are all the defendants.

And Qu Guojiao's rape case is still in full swing. In short, all these

lawsuits continue, and the hot July is destined to be the black July of

bullying brother. So as Zhu Wanli said, the words of bullying brother should

be heard in reverse. In addition, Guo Wengui will sit in the defendant's

seat since then, such as waiting for the lamb to be slaughtered.



But even in such a difficult situation, bully brother still does not forget

to talk about "to make money for you.". Recently, brother bully has made a

lot of efforts on gclub. According to its boast, gclub now has 25000 members

, 400 million dollars in cash, and 111 million people have applied to join.

According to this calculation, each card of $50000 in cash will reach $5

trillion. Lao Guo's delusion is that this is the national economic power. "

All the international companies we cooperate with will change their

conditions, which is the real strength." the good thing of gclub is still

early, it depends on the action. ". It seems that brother bully didn't

forget to drain the hard-earned money and life-saving money of investors.

Ladies and gentlemen, Guo Wengui's gclub New Year's lottery prize has not

been cashed, has it?! It is reported that there are ants everywhere asking

for information. In addition, brother bully also told you that you should

invest in GTV by purchasing gclub cards. In other words, the money of his

comrades in arms will eventually go to Guo Wengui's private pocket. This is

why Guo Wengui is so tired and dying that he is still thinking about gclub.

If not, how to repay the arrears of all investors, the upcoming huge fine of

the SEC, and the debt of Arab China fund. But this is a vicious circle. Guo

Wengui's sin in the gclub incident can't escape after all.



Since the lawsuit is entangled, can not get rid of, and huge debt is about

to rush to, the east wall to repair the west wall, it will not help. So, Guo

Wengui swayed, and the new gate's chalk may be the last straw to save lives

. But the swindlers, the ones who are accustomed to the helm and the lawsuit

scandal, have been relying on guowengui. For a while, new gate is in a bad

mood, and guowengui is in black cloud. Zhouzhi, Guo Wengui's plan is to use

the foreign people to support themselves and walk around the political field

to avoid prison, so as to make political shelter fall. But Bannong, Juliani

and Flynn are all evil animals of the former government, and are also the

eyeshot and stabbed in the eyes of the current government. Moreover, the

evil is spotty. They are about to face the prison. Mud Bodhisattva is in

danger of crossing the river and is unable to defend himself from the other

side for guowengui. Now, new gate CEO Miller, the sex scandal has been known

to all over the world, and virtue is unbearable, and pompeio is a

mischievous son who comes to eat mixed food. In this way, Guo Wengui can not

only get a good impression here in the current government, but also because

of the gathering of new GATT evil animals, obscene color, political rumors,

and the back of the name, or even many lawsuits.



In thousands of words, Guo Wengui has been trapped in the cycle of death,

whether there is a way to go. Foreign debt is not enough, will be bound to

be involved in lawsuits, PAX company, chicken series investors will not be

willing to stop, Arab China fund Prince of the UAE is doomed to be bad. And

in this situation, the chicken series fraud is no different from the blade

licking blood, the risk coefficient is increasing sharply, just like putting

on the gold rope to yourself, the more struggling the tighter. Now, Guo

Wengui has been bothered by the new gate, which was originally intended to

be good and has a good starting point. But these monsters are useless and

even more chaotic. According to Miller, the new gate fund is still funded by

the guowengui family fund. Head melon seeds by donkey kicked brother will

steal chicken will not be anti erosion rice, why come?!

--

 :WWW  mitbbs.com [FROM: 23.]


: huixielaoren (), : Sociology

 : Telo - A Religious Puppet and Liar Who Interferes into Mongolia Religious Affairs

: BBS  (Fri Jul 23 05:14:15 2021, )



The metempsychosis of 9th Jebtsundamba Khutuktu has close relationship with

all Buddhists in Mongolia and has important influence on the buddhist

community around the world. But Mongolia government puts it aside on the

pretext that the government doesnt interfere with religion.





10th Jebtsundamba Khutuktu is determined without any auspicious or powerful

sign, but the result of the transaction. He is six years old this year, and

grows up in America. He succeed winning from the shortlist of 11 on the

exchange of a house provided to Weisor by his grandmother and a Mongolian

nationality Weisor acquired on the help of the lady, Garan Zab, a member of

the Great Hural Council, making her fortune by mining gold mines.









There is another person who backs 10th Jebtsundamba Khutuktu. Nechung, a

Tibetan who is the master of the former president of Mongolia, Batturag, is

in charge of religious liberty in Mongolia. In fact, Nechung is the agent of

the Americans in Mongolia as the Mongolian people do not know what benefits

Nechung can bring to them.



If the Dalai has no idea that the grandmother of the 10th Jebtsundamba

Khutuktu is a Mongolian power, and has not played a role in the

metempsychosis of 9th Jebtsundamba Khutuktu, who is the key role behind?

Telo Tulku Rinpoche comes into our sight.









Telo Tulku Rinpoche, Erdne Ombadykow, born in the United States in 1972, a

descendant of Kalmyk immigrants, grows up in Philadelphia. He met the Dalai

Lama at the age of seven during a visit to a temple in Philadelphia and

climbed on his lap, thus blazing his extraordinary journey as he was

identified as the reincarnation of the Diluwa. It's no surprise that he

could be identified as a living Buddha in Diluwa, because his mother, a

Kalmyk Mongol, living in a Tibetan community in the United States, has been

choosed a living Buddh by Americans who need. Ironically, when Telo was

first identified as a living Buddha, he didn't even know where Kalmek was,

in other word, he didn't know his ancestors. From this point of view,

Mongolian Buddhist security has long been a victim of other countries'

transactions.









Living in the United States, he was a bridge between the Mongols and the

Dalai Lama, and he became the agent of the CIA following GusiWanchuk. His

family not only served for the CIA, but also managed to become a senior

member of the Organization, as well as the State Department and the

Department of Defense.







At the same time, he was always keeping the image of a successful Western

man: he required first-class cabin for travel, lived in an apartment donated

by believers, and had a mistress in the United States. He punished

believers who had not complied with his demands and instructions.









And the most notorious scandal involved Telo was that it was accessible to

accept bribe " for him when he met the Dalai Lama, for he defined himself

as the Dalai Lama's inner circle and took large sums of money from people

who wanted to talk to the Lama.



What scared Telo seriously was the picture taken when he was meeting with a

mysterious Indian. He is Alok Raj, namely the minister of education and

social welfare at the Indian Embassy in Moscow and, but a real member of

India's intelligence services.









Thats all! All this is just a political game and political interests.

Mongolia's religion should and must be independent. The government and

people need to reconsider this thorny issue! 



It is Washingtons waywardness and stubborn that leads to sharp escalation

of conflict and controversy around the Dalai Lama. Instead of Mongolian,

Telo Tulku Rinpoche, Nechung, and Weisor are Tibetan and serve as three

proxies of the Dalai lama's group in Mongolia. How should Mongolia, which

has been meddled in religious affairs by foreigners, addresses this "

political farce"? Any way, they are presents for Washington.













These hardworking and earnest agents represent the puppets for American

geopolitics, and they are good at cheating money, accepting bribes and

interfering in Mongolian religious affairs. On the one hand, with the

support of Telo, Weisor and others, Jebtsundamba Khutuktu X has been

selected, on the other hand, the reincarnation's grandmother, Garan Zab,

sent a valuable house in Ulaanbaatar to the Weisor. Third, as a living

Buddha, he has not really benefit Mongolian believers yet, let alone adhered

to Buddhist teachings. They serve American politics and interfere in

religious matters that should be decided by the Mongolian people themselves.

Washington, of course, does not aim to the reincarnated living Buddha, but

to continue to strengthen its grip on religious interference in other

countries, as well as strengthen control on these countries.







How clear it is! This is a political game and political interests. Mongolia'

s religion should and must be independent. The government and people need to

reconsider this thorny issue!

--

 :WWW  mitbbs.com [FROM: 103.]


News

'It's what we're here for'

editor / Pat McDonald/Morning Times The Athens American Legion Post 246 and Sayre Sportsmens Club donated $500 to the Northern Tier Veterans Group on Thursday. Pictured here, in no particular order, are Athens Legion Post Adjutant Edgar Myers, Legion Manager/Club Steward Maureen Stack, Legion Auxiliary President Brenda Vanderpool, Legion members Bob Banfield, Teri Banfield, Dale Vanderpool and Linda Cheresnowsky, Sayre Sportsmens Club members Mark Morningstar, Kelli Morningstar and Colin Place and Northern Tier Veterans Group President Pete Miller.

ATHENS  There are some who have served their country proudly but now may need some help back home  and the Athens American Legion, Sayre Sportsmens Club and the Northern Tier Veterans Group are here to help.

Athens Legion Post 246 teamed up with the Sayre Sportmens Club for a Gun Shoot benefit on April 24 with the goal of raising funds to help homeless Veterans.

The benefit was successful enough to allow the Athens Legion and local sportsmens club to donate $500 to the Northern Tier Veterans Group on Thursday evening.

Its extremely important. Its what were here for, first of all, said Athens Legion Manager/Club Steward Maureen Stack. This is what were meant to be and its huge for us. We try to do many events  some are big, some are small  but I think at the end of the day, whatever you can do for Veterans is huge.

For Pete Miller, Director of Veterans Affairs in Bradford County and President of the Northern Tier Veterans Group, the donation meant a lot.

(Its) massive. We were at $40,000 about a year ago and now were at ($23,000) and thats because what we do is we assist Veterans who are in need. To have Maureen call me up and say Hey, we have a donation for you, it was like, mind blown, Miller said.

Miller talked about a recent example of how the Northern Tier Veterans Group has stepped up to help one of their own.

Let me put it in perspective, someone called me from CHOP and they had a homeless guy that was down on the riverbank (in Towanda). They called me and of course it was Friday at 2:30, 2:45 in the afternoon and by then you cant get ahold of anybody in HUD or anything like that to assist you, so I had to take him over to McDonalds and give him some food, Miller said. Ive got a deal with a hotel down there ... Put him over there, sat him there all weekend, made sure he was fed all weekend, and then Monday hooked him up with housing.

The local Veterans group is always looking for donations and, as Miller explained, all funds will be used right here in the local community.

We are a non-profit organization, so anything that does come in to us, stays here in the local community. Its not like Wounded Warriors or PA Wounded Warrior where you put your money in and it goes to Harrisburg, Philadelphia or Pittsburgh. It stays in Bradford County and it stays in Sullivan County, Miller said.

The Athens Legion and Sayre Sportsmens Club will once again team up in early October with a Mega Gun Raffle Benefit. Look for more information in this newspaper and on social media as the event gets closer.
Sayre, PA (18840)

Today

Partly cloudy skies during the evening giving way to a few showers after midnight. Low 62F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 30%..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies during the evening giving way to a few showers after midnight. Low 62F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 30%.
HR, Post-Closing, Controller, MLO Jobs; NOO, HELOC, Processing Tools; Florida Fraud Case; LendingClub Fee Settlement

How do you know when someone has too much money? How about when they pony up $16k for Tarzans 1932 loin cloth? (Gosh, if that loin cloth could talk) LendingClub is going to have less money to the tune of $18 million due to charging customers hidden fees despite its marketing material saying, No Hidden Fees. In his latest Musings, attorney Brian Levy points out that in LendingClub Agrees to Pay $18 Million to Settle FTC Charges, LendingClubs own compliance people even told them it was a problem to do that. Always listen to compliance! And this West Palm Beach Man is going to come out on the losing end of this Florida mortgage fraud case. How about some good news? We rode out a recession last year. The National Bureau of Economic Research, which is in charge of discerning the beginnings and ends of U.S. business cycles, tells us that the recession that began in February 2020 ended in April 2020 after two months. Thats the shortest on record after the 1980 recession which lasted six months. Though short, it was very bad: there were 22 million jobs cut, unemployment hit 14.8 percent, gross domestic product (GDP) fell over 10 percent, and the effects have been long-lasting with seven million fewer jobs in the economy compared to before the pandemic. (Todays audio version of the commentary is available here and this weeks is sponsored by Candor Technology.)



Products and Services

Is keeping up with the new FNMA 1033 form taking a toll on your staff? Market Valuation Services (MVS) can help. While the 1033 form has been shown to offer over 80% cost savings than a traditional field review, it can also increase the workload for lenders. Let MVS team of appraisal management pros lighten the load, freeing up valuable time and resources.

As a full-service appraisal management company, we also offer traditional appraisals, alternative valuation services and field reviews. View our full range of services to see how we can best support your team. Contact MVS today to get the answers you need.

Let your people work from home while improving efficiency with a virtual assembly line. Henry Ford reduced car production-time from 12.5 to 1.5 hours with an assembly line. The benefits were shorter timelines, increased efficiency, near-zero errors, plus the ability to employ both high and moderately skilled workers to get work done. The same has proven true for mortgages. 2021 has seen more mortgage operations move to a virtual assembly line model to produce higher volumes and shorten lead-to-close timelines. Case in point: A division of American Pacific Mortgage quadrupled their volume and produced 280% more revenues after implementing TeamworkIQ, a simple task-based-workflow platform that drives virtual assembly lines. Work moves forward faster. bringing the right task to the right person at the right time with the right priority. And some tasks can even be automated to achieve even greater efficiency. See the case study and request a test-drive.

Insights into Mortgage QC Trends: A Light at the End of the Tunnel. After analyzing 100,000 quarterly post-close quality control reviews from 2020, ACES Quality Managements EVP, Nick Volpe and President, Phil McCall share their findings in this on-demand webinar. Watch today as they discuss key takeaways and trends from 2020 and then turn to current hot topics. In this webinar, you will hear about, highlights from the Q4 2020 ACES Mortgage QC Industry Trends Report, Early Payment Default analytics, CARES Act & Forbearance updates, and how servicers need to beware and how they can best prepare. Watch Today.

Western Alliance Banks Specialized Mortgage Services Group continues to be solution-oriented in changing markets in providing various financing vehicles. Warehouse Lending finances a wide spectrum of loan types including Agency, FHA/VA/USDA, Jumbo and Non-QM, funds until 2:30pm PST and works with borrowers to customize terms to meet investor and execution needs. MSR financing provides lines of credit that leverage Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and Ginnie Mae collateral. Lines can be annual revolvers or longer-term interest only draw periods followed by term finance. Flexible structures provide solutions to accommodate originators MSR retention strategy. Additionally, the Specialized Mortgage Services Group provides Note Financing, Treasury Management Services, Working Capital Lines and Commercial Real Estate solutions across the country. Member FDIC.

Loan Originators looking for solutions to be more competitive and to close more loans, Symmetry Lending is the HELOC expert that you need. As an alternative to the difficulty of jumbo financing, or to simply provide your clients with increased liquidity, flexibility, and purchasing power, experience the Symmetry HELOC as a Piggyback behind your conforming or high-balance conforming 1st mortgage! If you havent used Symmetrys HELOC solutions, ask a colleague about their experience. Or simply Contact your Area Manager and let us walk you through the process. Impress your real estate referral sources by providing strategic financing options that help them sell more homes! Symmetrys team of HELOC experts is here to deliver our signature Service, Speed, and Simplicity. And dont forget, connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.

Have you heard the biggest news in NOO investments? Yesterday, Interfirst launched ONE, a non-owner-occupied investment product designed to address the gap in the NOO market with ONE Rate @ 3.99% and no adjustments. Say goodbye to multiple rate sheets and sign up today to begin taking advantage of this amazing opportunity.

Lenders: Do you have a plan to stay profitable as the housing market slows down? June home purchases were down 24% year over year. That means now is the time to focus on the aspect of your business you CAN control: your efficiency. The truth is, more than 50% of the cost to close a loan is labor. If you can boost your teams productivity, you can transform your bottom line. The latest eBook from digital mortgage platform Maxwell lays out the top four areas that hold untapped potential for better, more efficient lending. Want to prepare your team for the market ahead and eliminate costly bottlenecks and busy work? Click here to download Maxwells free eBook, The 2021 Guide to Lending Efficiency.



Shifts in Lender and Investor Processing

Following the successful completion of a pilot program, Chase is expanding its eNotes program to all its correspondent clients and will include all Agency, Non-Agency, and Chase Advantage transactions. For all Agency transactions, Chase will begin accepting eNotes from Chase correspondent clients immediately when all requirements outlined in the last bulletin are met. For all Non-Agency transactions, Chase began accepting eNotes on loans locked on or after May 26, when all requirements are met.

July 31 marks the start of Phase 1 for the Uniform Closing Dataset (UCD) critical edits transition to convert a number of edits in the UCD Collection Solution from warning to fatal. Fannie Mae published a Quick Guide to answer common questions that lenders and correspondents may have throughout this transition. In addition, access to other UCD critical edits transition resources are available.

PennyMac Correspondent Group allows off rate sheet flexible pricing options. Find the perfect rate and perfect term. Read Announcement 21-54 for more information.

Dont forget, and the USDA reminds us, that the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act of 2021 appropriated additional funds, to remain available until September 30, 2023, with a focus on refinancing existing Section 502 and Section 504 borrowers who have received a payment moratorium related to COVID-19. Information on requirements to be eligible for refinance under this temporary authority is provided in a May 12, 2021, Unnumbered Letter available under Housing Programs.



Capital Markets

Yesterday was a good example of Treasuries rallying a couple basis points, and mortgage-backed securities tagging along, for no particular reason. Economic reports were mixed, showing sales of existing U.S. homes rose (+1.4 percent month-over-month) for the first time in five months, while jobless claims unexpectedly climbed by 51k. Look a little closer and it isnt so rosy. The initial claims figure was the highest it has been since the spring and is not in-line with an improving economy. And the inventory of existing homes for sale remains extremely limited, driving up the pace of price increases well beyond the pace of income growth. Finally, the Primary Mortgage Market Survey from Freddie Mac saw both 30-year and 15-year fixed rates fall 10 bps to 2.78 percent and 2.12 percent, respectively.

The end of week session is light on data with just preliminary July Markit PMIs, whatever those are, due out in mid-day. The NY Fed Desk will purchase up to $5.3 billion 30-year 2 percent and 2.5 percent MBS over two operations. We begin this summer Friday with Agency MBS prices worse nearly .125 from Thursday and the 10-year yielding 1.30 after closing yesterday at 1.27 percent.

Employment

HilltopSecurities Housing group is looking for a rock-star Post-Closing Auditor in Encino, CA. If you enjoy minimum supervision, wish to work with professionals and you feel confident in exercising independent judgement with reviewing and approving compliance files, join our team in a stress-free environment! Youll expand your knowledge and work hundreds of lenders who participate in affordable housing programs helping first-time homebuyers. For 75 years, HilltopSecurities has helped Housing Finance Agencies make housing more affordable in their communities. If you want to learn more, reach out and send your resume to Nick Cendejas.

Strong Home Mortgage is expanding our consumer direct services with two new locations in Kansas City, MO and Las Vegas, NV. Leadership is committed to providing a team driven culture with an amazing customer and employee experience. SHM is licensed in 46 states and built an organization with effective and experienced leadership, passionate team members, unparalleled customer service and an overall infrastructure. Strong is seeking leaders ready for the next level as a Branch Manager in one of these new locations. We are also looking for seasoned Mortgage Loan Officers who are focused on elevating their career with a team and platform that will support their goals and aspirations. We provide high quality leads from a consumer trusted brand affiliated partner. If you are a high-level, self-motivated loan originator with leadership qualities who is looking for a great opportunity by building a successful team, our Branch Manager position is for YOU! Please contact Joe DeStasio, Regional VP of Sales, if you are interested in this opportunity.

Are you competing for all the top brokers in your market? Cant call on them because someone else has their account? Stuck in a no-win AE comp package? Time to make a move? Well, youre in luck, because for AEs, the timing couldnt be better to join Loan Simple. Loan Simple has an awesome TPO platform (Wholesale and Non-Delegated) and, up until this point, it has been growing rapidly just by word of mouth in the broker community. Now, Loan Simple is going to crank it up to build the best sales force out there to work with the best brokers. So, all those brokers you cant touch? Well, now they can be yours. In a market thats shrinking, Loan Simple is growing and offering AEs the perfect opportunity to grab market share. Okay, one final question: whatre you waiting for? Apply now.

Kind Lending, founded by industry veteran Glenn Stearns, is continuing to build a uniquely upbeat identity within todays mortgage environment. If youre ready to put people first, Kind Lending wants to hear from you. Currently Kind is seeking an experienced Human Resource Director to manage daily HR functions while supporting a growing team of Kind Ambassadors. Get your resume to the top of the pile by emphasizing your skills in benefits administration, payroll and recruiting, together with your background in the mortgage industry. Experience with Loan Officer Compensation is a big plus. You can work remotely. Kind is also looking for an experienced VP Controller to build its accounting department based in Santa Ana, California. The successful candidate will have a solid mortgage lending background complete with GAAP and regulatory know-how. Ready to join the Kind Movement? Reach out immediately for a confidential interview with Suzy Lindblom.

I am on vacation reflecting on what systems will help loan officers grow their production. For most companies its a marketing talking point, but they fail at substantiating that promise, says Rick Roque, Corporate Vice President at Shamrock Home Loans. The sales structure I have implemented revolves around local leadership in target markets across the United States. We added an office in Louisiana that suffered from poor leadership previously, and our focus is positive leadership and then aggressive growth. This is why Shamrock is one of the fastest growing companies and is ranked Top 5 Mortgage Banks to work for in the United States. If you want to grow a market to $250M++ a year, and work with me at the executive level to grow it, give me a call at 413.297.6895. Shamrocks flexible pricing and compensation strategies, along with a national platform for recruiting to help you grow, is at the heart of our growth. Watch this and call me.

Evergreen Home Loans recently announced two notable promotions on its executive team: Don Zender and Todd Miles have been promoted to the role of EVP, Loan Production, where both will lead sales originations company-wide, oversee recruitment and assist the company as it continues to redefine the mortgage experience by way of innovative products and services.




Officials in Florida's Tampa Bay area are unsure whether the next storm or serious typhoon to pass through the Gulf of Mexico would break up the huge red tide epidemic, which has left huge quantities of dead fish and other sea life anywhere along bay's shoreline.

According to Levy, the large and prolonged 2018 red tide epidemic was eventually cleaned up following a seasonal shift in weather in November and December since the weather is a factor in the red tide.

Winds have already driven more fish onto the coast and into residential canals in the county's east and south. Recent afternoon thunderstorms with strong lightning, which are normal this time of year in parts of Florida, have hindered cleanup operations.

According to city officials in St. Petersburg, the red tide is worse than in 2018, when a long-lasting bloom killed big sea life like as manatees and dolphins, caused severe health impacts, and drove visitors away from beaches.

Why the Red Tide happens

The Karenia brevis is a tiny algae that has a neurotoxic that kills fish and other creatures. It can also cause respiratory problems in people, as well as serious sickness in individuals who have illnesses like asthma or emphysema.

People who ingest contaminated shellfish may become ill. Red tides are naturally present in the waters of the Gulf of Mexico. However, severe blooms are uncommon in the Tampa Bay area during the summer, according to Richard Stumpf, an oceanographer with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

It blooms begin in the fall and last in January, although July blooms in the area have happened a few times in recent history. A dying fish can also produce nitrogen, which fuels further algal blooms. This, in turn, influences the economy.

According to the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council, red tide cost more than $130 million in physical and economic damage to companies in a 12-county region, including those around the bay, in 2018.

Also read: VIDEO: Plane Dumps Thousands of Fishes to Restock Lake in Utah

Clean up at Tampa Bay





Clean up is still ongoing, and there is no end in sight. Some fish must be picked up by hand, and decomposing fish must be removed immediately, or the nitrogen-hungry algae would continue to feast on their nutrients.

According to the Pinellas County solid waste division, 600 tons of dead sea life have been gathered by cleanup teams around the county since late June. Amber Boulding, St. Petersburg's emergency manager, warned during a press conference that more might wash up on the coast until the bloom dissipates. According to Richard Stumpf, it is uncertain when this will occur.

Since the Pinellas County waste division has received thousand tons of dead fish killed by red tide, and a fraction of the debris has been converted into energy. Every day, the plant generates enough electricity to power about 45,000 households. Watson estimates that 80-90 percent of the county's waste is burnt to conserve valuable landfill space.

"Here at our landfill, we have about 75 years left of life," Stephanie Watson added. "It's a precious, finite asset. We don't want the landfill to fill up."

Also read: Hawaii Successfully Passed New Animal Protection Laws, Including Ban on Shark Killing
When a Coast Guard pilot saw an SOS sign on top of a hut and a guy urgently attempting to grab his attention by flailing his hands in the air, he realized something was wrong.

The man said that he had been mauled by a grizzly bear and had spent the previous several sleepless days and nights warding off recurrent visits from the wild animal when he arrived at the isolated mining camp in Nome, Alaska.

Bear Survival

He told his rescuers an incredible story of survival that drew similarities to Leonardo DiCaprio's Oscar-winning 2015 film The Revenant, in which he confronts a bear.

In his 50s or 60s, the unnamed man informed the US Coast Guard he arrived at the camp on July 12th.

He ran across the grizzly a few days later near the mining camp, who dragged him to a nearby river.

He escaped the bear's grasp, suffering only minor injuries to his leg and chest, and made his way back to the camp's cabin, where he nursed his wounds.

Frequent Visits

The bear returned many times during the next week, allegedly tearing the hut's door off its hinges.

"He claimed the bear kept coming back every night, and he hadn't slept in a few days," one of the Coast Guard helicopter's pilots, Lieutenant Commander Jared Carbajal, told The New York Times.

Related Article: Grizzly Bear Dragged 65-Year-Old Woman Out of Tent, Mauled Her to Death in Montana



Spotting the Distress Signal

A US Coast Guard helicopter crew from Kodiak was on its way to a mission on Friday when it altered course to escape inclement weather.

They spotted the man staggering out of the hut, flailing two hands and clearly distressed, at that point.

Lieutenant Junior Grade A.J. Hammac, a co-pilot, told The Times, "He clearly looked like he had been out there for a long."

After Being Rescued

After his adventure, the man was sleep-deprived and only had two rounds of ammo remaining in his handgun.

The man insisted on going to the waiting ambulance after being carried by Coast Guard aircraft to Nome.

"You could sense he was coming off the adrenaline, I guess, and starting to realize what had happened," Carbajal told The Times.

Warning

According to the Coast Guard, the event served as a timely warning to anybody traveling into the wilderness to always bring an emergency beacon or satellite phone with them.

What to do During Bear Encounters

Stop what you're doing and analyze the situation if you come across a bear on the route or in your campground. First, speak in a soothing, tranquil tone to distinguish yourself. Then, slowly back away, ideally in the other direction. Keep a close eye on the bear to observe how it will respond if you walk rather than run. The bear will usually escape in most situations.

When a bear feels threatened, it may 'act' aggressively in response to the perceived threat. A mother bear with cubs, a bear guarding a food supply, or an unexpected encounter are examples of this. Likewise, when a bear becomes aware of you, the closer you approach it, the more likely it is to respond defensively: it may snap its jaws or slap the ground with its front paw while blowing and snorting, and/or lunge or "bluff charge" toward you in an attempt to persuade you to go.

Also Read: Caught on Cam: Brave California Teen Shoved Bear Off Backyard Fence

For more wildlife news, don't forget to follow Nature World News!
Flooding in Turkey's eastern Black Sea region has led to the evacuation of about 200 people, said the Turkish disaster management agency.

Overflow of Arhavi River

Due to torrential rain, the Arhavi River overflowed thereby affecting the district center and village roads in the Artvin province in a bad way, said Turkey's Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD).

In the Arhavi district, around 6 people were stuck and in the Murgul district 9 were conveyed to safe regions, the statement added. On Twitter Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said that one person was saved from the rubble in Arhavi and carried to a hospital was in a good state.

Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu and Adil Karaismailoglu,Transport and Infrastructure Minister, also came to visit the affected region.

There were electricity cuts in the area. 3,045 subscribers were left with no electricity because of floods in the closeby provinces of Artvin and Rize, The Energy and Natural Resources Ministry reported. On Twitter, the ministry said because of security measures the energy of 9,650 subscribers was cut off.

Also Read: Unpredictable Weather May Lead to Flash Flooding and Rain Hazards

The Rescue

For now, Turkey's Search and Rescue Association (AKUT) came to the rescue of 18 people, and eight children, who got trapped in Arhavi's Mencuna Waterfall.

Not less than six people lost their lives, with two people unaccounted for, in flooding and landslides prompted by torrential rain last week in the Rize province. A local news website Gundem Rize posted a video and it showed gushing flood waters carrying a village house away.

Nobody was injured in the incident that was gotten on camera, said Local media reports. Turkey's Interior Ministry officials told Reuters one person was unaccounted for and over 200 people were evacuated from their affected homes.

Turkey's Black Sea coastal region is an area floods are common especially this time of year.

Effects of Flooding

Variety of negative impacts are produced if areas used for socio-economic activities are affected by flooding. The seriousness of the adverse impacts depends on the susceptibility of the activities, population, intensity, frequency, and strength of flooding.

Loss of lives and property is one of the major effects of flooding. Immediate impacts of flooding are damage to property, loss of human life, non-functional infrastructure facilities loss of livestock, destruction of crops, and health deterioration due to waterborne diseases. Unexpected flash floods with little or no warning time lead to more deaths than riverine floods that rises slowly.

Flooding can also lead to loss of livelihoods. As means of communication and infrastructure like power plants, bridges, roads are damaged and disturbed, economic activities is been discontinued, leading to dislocation and the dysfunction of the usual life for a period of time that extends beyond the duration of the flooding.

Related Article: Lake Charles Slammed: Flash Flooding Emergencies Declared in Louisiana, Texas

For more news updates about flooding and similar topics don't forget to follow Nature World News!
The record for the year's highest temperature on the island of Ireland has been broken for the second day moving after the mercury hit 31.4C in Armagh city on Thursday afternoon.

This exceeded the 31.3C that was attained in Castlederg, Co Down on Wednesday and the 31.2C recorded in Ballywatticock, Co Down on Saturday, said the UK Met Office.

Hottest Day of the Year

As of Thursday, the highest temperature in the Republic was 30.7C at Mount Dillon, Co Roscommon. On Wednesday, a recording of 30.8C was made in the area making it the year's hottest day in the Republic.

For now, Met Eireann prolonged its Status Yellow high temperature warning for the entire country until the end of the week. The alert is presently active until 9am on Saturday, with a hot temperature during the day and a warm, humid temperature at night.

For Cavan, Roscommon, south Leitrim, Longford, Monaghan, and Westmeath, a Status Orange high temperature warning stays active until 9am tomorrow. Overnight temperatures will reduce but not lower than about 20C, as per the alert.

Also Read: Coldest Place On Earth Is Even Colder Than Previously Thought

Amber Warning for Intense Heat

In Northern Ireland, an Amber warning for intense heat stays active until midnight today. For 20 years, Wednesday night was temporarily the first tropical night in Ireland, with Valentia in Co Kerry not noticing any temperature under 20.5C, said Met Eireann.

Forecasters reveal overnight it will be warm and humid and some will feel uncomfortable as temperatures stay above 16C-18C. Irish Water keeps urging the public not to waste so much water to ensure a stable supply for everyone.

In most supplies across the Midlands, demand for drinking water has boosted remarkably. Also, the water source levels are decreasing because of the dry weather and high temperatures.

Public Health and HSE Advises the Public

In a statement, it said: "Irish Water, together with our local authority partners are working hard to maintain supplies. The current extra demand, combined with reduced capacity, is not sustainable.We are appealing to everyone to be mindful of this and reduce water consumption as much as possible."

Adding that with the continuation of the COVID-19 pandemic, people are encouraged to abide by public health and HSE advise, and washing of hands and hygiene remains very crucial.

In Ireland, tropical nights - shaded air exceeding 20C all night, are not common since it has happened just about 6 times in the digital record. Irish Water is still urging people to conserve water to make sure there is a consistent supply for everyone.

Temperature is the measure of hotness or coldness shown in terms of any of several random scales and signifying the direction in which heat energy will voluntarily flow. There are three temperature scales that are in general use today.

Related Article: Temperature in Seattle Eclipses New All-time High, Soaring to 108

For more news, updates about temperature and similar topics don't forget to folllow Nature World News!
A Ro-Ro ferry Shahjalal on Shimulia-Banglabazar route hits 17 no pillar of Padma bridge after the master lost control over the ferry on the way to Shimulia ghat in Munshiganj on Friday.  New Age photo

AT LEAST 20 people were injured while Ro Ro ferry Hazrat Shahjalal on ShimuliaBanglabazar route of the River Padma crashed into pillar no-17 of the Padma Multipurpose Bridge on Friday.

Ferry master Abdur Rahman told the New Age that he lost control because technical failure of electronic devices, but he could immediately bring the ferry under control and safely managed to anchor at Shimulia ferry terminal.

Following the mishap, Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation formed a four-member probe committee headed by its director (commercial) SM Ashiquzzaman.

The committee includes Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority director M Shahjahan and BIWTC assistant general managers Ahmed Ali and Rubeluzzaman.

The BIWTC also suspended ferry master Abdur Rahman.

Padma Multipurpose Bridge project director Shafiqul Islam termed the incident minor because the infrastructure of the bridge could endure shake up to 4,000 tonnes.

Earlier we urged the BIWTC to operate ferries carefully to avoid thus and so incidents. He said while talking to journalists.

The authority prepared to lodge a general dairy or to send letter to the ferry authorities, he added.
ZIMBABWE will only hold by-elections if the country vaccinates about 10 million people, representing 60% of the population required to reach herd immunity, Justice minister Ziyambi Ziyambi has said.

In October last year, government through Vice-President and Health Minister Constantino Chiwenga ordered the suspension of by-elections citing COVID-19 fears.

The by-elections were necessitated by the recall of MDC Alliance MPs by the Douglas Mwonzora-led MDC-T and deaths of some MPs, which left about 26 seats vacant, according to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec).

Contributing to parliamentary debate on the Zec report for the year 2020 on Thursday, Ziyambi said the country was sticking to the suspension of by-elections due to COVID-19. He said polls would only take place upon achievement of the vaccination targets.

You do not vote when you are dead. You do not exercise your democratic rights when you are dead, Ziyambi said.

I believe that all things being equal, once we have reached herd immunity, we are going to vote. So for now, we stick to the laws that are there.

In April this year, Chiwenga said the country was targeting the 10 million vaccination mark by year-end to allow life to get back to normal.

Of the intended target, only 1 352 514 had received their first doses by Thursday, while 664 587 had received their second jab.

But Dzivarasekwa MP Edwin Mushoriwa (MDC Alliance) said Zec was not moving with speed to fulfil its mandate and the delay was prejudicing the electorate currently not represented in Parliament.

If you check the Zec report of 2020 and then you check its mandate and what it is supposed to do, you will realise that there are a lot of gaps that need to be filled, he said.

As we speak right now, we have got numerous vacancies in the House and a number of constituencies do not have MPs. A number of wards in this country do not have councillors. By-elections and representation is the key ingredient in a democratic society.

Mushoriwa said the failure to conduct by-elections in a country with at least 20% of the people not represented was putting the democratic ethos of a country in jeopardy.

We do not want to have a situation where other people will then tend to view the electoral commission as a commission in handcuffs, he said.

It appears as if it is doing the bidding of other people rather than the mandate which it was given by the Constitution and the people of Zimbabwe.

Mushoriwa said a lot of gatherings had been allowed to proceed in Zimbabwe and raised questions why government was particular in stopping by-elections.

We have had quite a number of church gatherings, some apostolic sects having more than 10 000 people gathered at a shrine.

Right now, we are here passing laws, budgets and other things, but we also need to be cognisant  what about the people of Kuwadzana, who do not have a voice in Parliament? What about the people in Highfield, in Mkoba, they also need to have their voice. They need to have a channel upon which they can throw in some of their recommendations and some of the things that they want Parliament to do and to change.

The MDC Alliance desperately wants the by-elections to regain its parliamentary presence after losing most of its legislators, a development that also forced it to lose funding under the Political Parties (Finance) Act.

Yesterday, Zec announced that it had suspended operations for two weeks due to the raging COVID-19 pandemic.

It is hereby notified for the general public that all Zimbabwe Electoral Commission offices across the country will temporarily close for 14 days from July 26, 2021 to August 8, 2021; in response to rising COVID-19 cases countrywide, Zec chairperson Justice Priscilla Chigumba said in a statement.

Zimbabwe has recorded 95 722 new infections and 63 819 recoveries in the past two weeks. Newsday
CENTRAL Intelligence Organisation (CIO) deputy director-general Gatsha Mazithulela, Agriculture minister Anxious Masuka and Matabeleland North minister of State Richard Moyo have been dragged to the High Court over a farm seizure by senior members of the Presidents Office.

The matter spilled into the Bulawayo High Court this week as owners of Kershelmar Farm in Nyamandlovu  40 kilometres north of Bulawayo  seek to stop the land grab, which is putting Zimbabwe under spotlight over respect of property rights.

The chaotic land reform of 2000 tarnished Zimbabwes image, resulting in isolation of Harare from the international community as Zanu PF used brute force to take over white-owned farms.

Even 20 years after the initial land redistribution exercise, farm invasions are still taking place, including some covered under international bilateral agreements.

In the latest case involving senior officials from the Presidents Office, Kershelmar Farm has been partitioned despite belonging to a privately-owned entity run by indigenous Zimbabweans, including Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa (Osisa) director Siphosami Malunga, son to the late outspoken national hero Sydney Malunga.

Malunga and his business partners seek, through the High Court, to protect their property rights against the state power used by Mazithulela and his juniors to parcel out privately-owned land in Matabeleland North province.

A strongly-worded affidavit filed at the High Court by Kershelmar shareholders accused Mazithulela of retributive action and hostility against farm owners who he allegedly labelled as anti-government agents.

The affidavit, seen by the Zimbabwe Independent this week, underscores that the fate of former cabinet ministers Jonathan Moyo and Saviour Kasukuwere, whose farms were seized by government in the aftermath of the 2017 coup which toppled former president Robert Mugabe, would also befall Kershelmar shareholders.

Moyo and Kasukuwere  who are living in exile  had their farms downsized by the government, following the political fallout which collapsed the 37-year Mugabe iron-fist rule.

The intelligence chief, Agriculture minister, Matabeleland North minister of State, the Registrar of Deeds and Chief Lands Officer in the Ministry of Agriculture, are being sued by Kershelmar Farms (Private) Limited shareholders who include Malunga, Zephaniah Dhlamini and Charles Moyo for seizing the 196-hectare farm in Nyamandlovu.

The new claimants to the farm, Reason Mpofu, himself a senior intelligence officer and an acquaintance of Zanu PF secretary for administration Obert Mpofu, and Dumisani Madzivanyathi, also claim to hold offer letters for the property. They are cited as respondents.

The applicants are seeking to block the acquisition of the diversified farm which employs 45 workers. The case, filed on Monday, will be heard at the Bulawayo High Court.

Kershelmar shareholders are represented by Webb, Low and Barry Legal Practitioners. As stated in the affidavit, Kershelmar owners acquired the property from Jeffrey Swindles in 2017 after which Mazithulela, who at the time was National University of Science and Technology (Nust) Pro-Vice Chancellor, started manoeuvring to gain shareholding of the contested property.

His request to acquire a stake in the enterprise, as chronicled in the affidavit, was spurned by Kershelmar owners, triggering overt threats by the intelligence boss to muscle out Malunga for his perceived hostile stance against the Zimbabwe government.

The affidavit reads: Ever since we took occupation, we have managed to run the farm into the envy of many. It therefore did not surprise me that sometime in December 2019, fourth respondent Gatsha Mazithulela, who was then the Pro-Vice Chancellor at Nust, and a work colleague approached me and asked to be included in the Esikadeni farm project. The untenable request that he made still required that I run it by fellow shareholders and directors. I did and they took the position that there was no room for additional shareholders.

Immediately thereafter, Gatsha (Mazithulela) joined the CIO as the deputy director-general. In February 2020, I met Gatsha and the discussion came up again. The conversation however, quickly became ominous. He raised the issue of the second applicant (Malunga), himself a son of a decorated national hero. He suggested that he had become a critic of the government and claimed that association with him imperilled our interests. He advised me that when he joined the CIO, he had found the second applicants file containing what he termed anti-government activities.

Esikadeni farm falls under Kershelmar Farms.

As narrated in the affidavit, accompanied by detailed annexures, including a trail of WhatsApp exchanges between Dhlamini and Mazithulela, the spy chief is alleged to have intimated that Malunga worked for a regime change organisation with a budget of over US$1 billion which he was using to destabilise government.

He (Mazithulela) said our farm was at risk of acquisition if second applicant did not tone down his anti-government rhetoric. He claimed that he could save the farm if we managed to remove second applicant from being a shareholder and a director. He was to replace him. I flatly told him that this would not happen, Malunga argued in the application.

I relayed these disturbing developments to second applicant (Malunga) who confronted Gatsha (Mazithulela). The result of that was the WhatsApp correspondence addressed to me by Gatsha which I attach hereto and mark as G2 in both its original and translated forms.

Subsequently, the property was frequented by intelligence operatives, climaxing in the telephone call by Mazithulela to Dhlamini advising that the farm had been acquired by the state. The shareholders were accused of having fraudulently acquired the enterprise.

On December 24, 2020, I received a call from Gatsha (Mazithulela) who advised me that our farm had been acquired by the state. I was obviously concerned by the level of Gatshas interest in matters that pertain to the farm. I was particularly perplexed that Gatsha seemed to know more about the farm than us the owners, the application reads.

Not only did Gatsha advise on the acquisition of the farm, he further went on to tell me that I and third respondent were in peril of being arrested on that very day because according to him, we had fraudulently acquired the shares in fourth applicant.

In March 2021, Zanu PF administration secretary, Mpofu, who, as underscored in the affidavit is related to Reason Mpofu, another claimant to the farm in dispute, is said to have visited the property.

It has now come to our attention that the officers from the CIO have been allocated portions of the farm. We have, despite diligent search, not managed to establish who these officers are. When one considers the centrality of the role of Gatsha, it is clear that he has caused the acquisition of the farm and has effectively parcelled it out to his subordinates. Whether those are genuine allocations or simply window dressing measures as of now is unknown, part of the affidavit seen by this publication reads.

On the basis of the evidence before us, we take the respected view that these are simply fronts.The aggrieved parties contend that acquisition of the farm must be reversed.

For all practical purposes, the beneficial ownership of the farm is in our hands as the first, second and third applicants, the affidavit reads.

Kershelmar shareholders contend that Mazithulela, among other individuals manoeuvring to acquire the farm, were a greedy lot bent on abusing state power.

This, as highlighted by the affidavit, was irrational and frustrated gains of the land reform rolled out by the government in 2000. Zimbabwe Independent
THE wife of the late national hero, Jacob Mapepete, was arrested by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission after she collected school fees from Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA) for her son who had already been deregistered by the school for non-payment of fees.

Rufaro Mapepete (52), who appeared before magistrate Dennis Mangosi charged with fraud, was remanded in custody to Monday for bail ruling. It is alleged that sometime in January this year, Mapepete allegedly generated a receipt with $35 000 and forwarded it to the ZNLWVA head office purporting that the invoice was for her son at Washington Hills High School.

The ZNLWVA credited $35 000 into Washington Hill High School for her childs school fees. Investigations revealed that in September 2019, the child was deregistered from Washington Hills High School for non-payment of school fees.

The State alleges that the accused corruptly prepared an invoice to the war veterans association for the school fees of the child who had already been deregistered.

The accused ordered the school to transfer the money into her personal FBC Bank account, but the school accountant refused, saying he would refund the war veterans association.

The accused allegedly insisted to be paid the money into her personal account, but the accountant asked her to sign a requisition form and at the same time, alerting Zacc, whose officers arrested her at the scene.

The State further alleges that Mapepete in June 2019 also generated a school receipt with US$11 500 and forwarded it to the ZNLWVA purporting to be for the Cambridge examinations registration for her two children. Newsday
It was a fictitious story about a fictitious shark, Taylor added. But, the general public took it very seriously and it caused a great deal of trouble for sharks in the ocean. Men went out killing them and saying, Ive just killed a man-eater. Aah, Im good. Im big. Im strong. And we spent a lot of time trying to educate the public that this is not what sharks are really like. Theres only about six or seven that are potentially dangerous. The rest of them arent.
Andrew Johnson, 28, is the second person arrested for the killing Katherine Diop and the wounding of her brother after a fight at the Los Perez Deli at E. 194th St. and Marion Ave. in Fordham on June 16, cops said.
Omar Guzman died Wednesday at Brookdale Hospital, where he was being treated for four shots to his upper body and legs. His death has been ruled a homicide.
Davis was arrested on manslaughter and weapons charges five days later. For reasons that were not clear, the NYPD did not release that information until Friday, when the victim was identified for the first time.
Rocha said he meant nothing by his comment, which he made to a class of 11- and 12-year-olds at Intermediate School 5, the Walter Crowley School, in Maspeth. But he realized he might have gone to far, and tried to get ahead of any problems by telling a supervisor.
Both men, who live together in a luxury lakeside home, are associated with a rap group known as Top Boy Gorilla. The group has reportedly been involved in a long-running feud with a rival the group, Never Broke Again, and rapper YoungBoy, whose real name is Kentrell Gaulde. The pair are being investigated in connection with a May 2019 shooting targeting the rapper and his entourage outside the Trump International Beach Resort in Sunny Isles Beach, WAFB reported.
The desperate conversation between Alex Murdaugh and Colleton County dispatcher Angel Fraser was released on Thursday, nearly two months after his 22-year-old son, Paul, and 52-year-old wife, Maggie were killed. Murdaugh said he had just returned home on the night of June 7 when he found his loved ones bloodied and wounded near a kennel on the property.
National leaders Peter Dunn and David Friend were suspended shortly after the Los Angeles Times reported the allegations, and they were later let go. Both were also leaders at WCBS in New York. Reporters told the L.A. Times that Dunn and Friend intentionally held back Black and women journalists at CBS stations across the country.
The murderer was about halfway through a 30-year prison sentence for a series of armed robbery and burglary convictions, many of which targeted Amish victims, when he was released on parole in February 2019  just 16 months before Stoltzfoos was killed. He now faces up to 17 years for violating the terms of his parole and could get a total of up to 88 years behind bars.
There have been other cases in which people of faith have objected to being fingerprinted, then sued. In 2018 a Pennsylvania school bus driver settled a suit with her employer after claiming that the mark of the beast, allegedly caused by fingerprinting, could stop her from entering Heaven per her understanding of the Bibles Book of Revelations.
At least 97 people were killed when half of the 12-story Champlain Towers South crashed to the ground in the middle of the night on June 24. Hundreds of first responders from across the country and even overseas joined the massive search operation that ensued, but no one was found alive after the first few hours following the collapse.
Forrest was a well-known cavalry general for the Confederacy during the Civil War. Before the war, he amassed a great deal of wealth thanks to his plantation and for being a dealer in the slave trade in Memphis. After the Souths defeat, he became leader of the Ku Klux Klan and was one of the many angry southerners in the Reconstruction era that terrorized newly-freed Black people in the south.
Barrack is one of several of the former presidents associates to face criminal charges, including his former campaign chair, his former deputy campaign chair, his former chief strategist, his former national security adviser, his former personal lawyer and his companys longtime chief financial officer.
Stanford, Calif.: Re Ex-gen. says Afghan War end too hasty (July 19): A fundamental yet implicit axiom of political science is that when the government of a country is not imposed on it by a foreign power, the government and the associated society are a reflection of the culture and genetics of the residents. By this axiom, the secular autocracy that has governed Vietnam since the fall of Saigon is precisely what the majority of Vietnamese want. Otherwise, they would have replaced this autocracy with another form of government to their liking. By the same axiom, the Islamic autocracy led by the Taliban that will control Afghanistan after the exit of American troops is precisely what the majority of Afghans want. We Westerners are not responsible for this outcome and must not feel shame nor guilt for it. Like the Vietnamese and the Afghans, most non-Europeans reject Western values and, hence, have created grossly inferior societies. Dwight Sunada
So Adamss mandate from working-class New Yorkers could not be any clearer. And those who purport to represent the best interests of those very same New Yorkers are beside themselves. To hear the citys left-wing organs tell it, Adams was the second coming of Rudy Giuliani. The director of the New York Working Families Party published a statement calling Adams agenda dangerous, pro-corporate and pro-carceral, while the WFPs allied organizations  including Make the Road, the Jewish Vote, and New York Communities for Change  urged supporters to leave Adams off their ranked-choice ballots entirely.
It is all too easy for the regime, its president and their international progressive apologists to blame the U.S. embargo and a media war for instigating the massive protests on the island. The undeniable truth is that the Cuban government, having a monopoly on the use of force, has responded to the public claims of their citizens by unleashing barbaric widespread violence against peaceful protesters who have demanded and continue to demand that their rights be respected. Hundreds have been detained violating their right of habeas corpus, and some have been killed. Regrettably, the so-called progressives have mostly turned a blind eye to these ugly truths, just as they often ignore the daily repression and indignities of ordinary Cubans.
I have a lot of respect and admiration for Anthony Rapp as an actor. Im beyond horrified to hear his story, Spacey said in response to the accusation. I honestly do not remember the encounter, it would have been over 30 years ago. But if I did behave as he describes, I owe him the sincerest apology for what would have been deeply inappropriate drunken behavior, and I am sorry for the feelings he describes having carried with him all these years.
While the neighbors accuse Hadid of building an illegal monstrosity by using a second set of secret plans, false walls, a trap door, bribes and lookouts, Hadid claims he was the subject of a $3.5 million shakedown and vengeance campaign orchestrated by one of the plaintiffs.
It wasnt immediately clear Friday whether the couples five-year custody war might be on the verge of starting over, but in the meantime, Pitts visitation with the kids will revert back to the less than 50-50 level it was before, the source said.
Well transform 10 city blocks of downtown Orlando into unique performances, hundreds of opportunities for people to connect with the arts, NeSmith said. Some other exciting things that will be part of Immerse ... we are presenting an interactive art exhibition called Joy Box around all things happy. So that will happen for about six weeks.
Its better late than never, said Dr. Mona Mangat, an immunologist in St. Petersburg and board member for the Committee to Protect Health Care, in response to DeSantis recent comments. But at the same time as DeSantis says vaccines are effective, hes also banning businesses from requiring proof of vaccination. Hes taking away private companies abilities to protect their employees and customers by requiring the safe and readily available vaccine.
We need to look at that screening process and listen to the advice that weve been getting for years on these connections between extremist groups and law enforcement and setting up a way where we can identify them, he said.   A lot of the research is saying that these are the groups that we have to be the most concerned with when it comes to domestic terrorism.
Most of Floridas teacher candidates passed their exams eventually, however, with 84% passing all the tests after two or more tries, the study found, but for 11%, it took three or more tries. The first-time exam cost $150. Retakes are not as costly but exam fees can still add up for students who dont pass on the first attempt.
Phillex Anderson and Jacob Henning look at a piece of fallen roof from the condominium above theirs at Villa Bianca on Thursday, July 22, 2021 in Coral Springs. Hennings mother frequently smokes where the roof collapsed and could have been injured if she was out there when it fell, Henning said. (Chris Day/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
It has been an extremely awkward place to be put in, and I was hoping that he would be able to resolve these matters. When the multitude of things that I brought to his attention werent resolved and the atmosphere grew worse, I knew that I would be placed in a position to resign, she wrote.
During his five-day trial, which kicked off last week, Dilan claimed he never touched 34-year-old Nicholson and that he just entered the house and took items he was instructed to take, according to the Fort Myers News-Press. He said he had no knowledge of the nefarious plot and showed up at the residence because he believed he was helping an acquaintance move.
Ramon Saul Sanchez, leader of the nonprofit group Movimiento Democracia that launched several flotillas in the past, was at Bayside to see them off. He advised them not to use flares to draw the attention of the Cuban government, and to remain no closer than 15 miles from the coast.
Todays brief reveals the extreme and regressive strategy, not just of this law, but of the avalanche of abortion bans and restrictions that are being passed across the country, Northup said in a statement. Their goal is for the Supreme Court to take away our right to control our own bodies and our own futures  not just in Mississippi, but everywhere.
Under Florida law, its illegal for anyone who knows they have any of several sexually transmitted diseases to have sex with another person without informing them of their status.
The complaint centered on a political committee called Floridians for Equality and Justice, which was dumping money into mailers attacking Democrat Patricia Sigman in order to help her primary opponent, Rick Ashby. He was considered the weaker of the two Democrats and more likely to lose the general election to Jason Brodeur, the Republican nominee.
Who will decide how this law will be applied? This is a literal question. For instance, when there are conflicts of interest will we listen to the owner or the customer, to the teacher or the student, to the administrator or the community they administrate? Would you like someone who feels emotional about you, your partner, or your family to have the power of this law?
To boost those numbers, youll probably see more mandatory vaccine policies in the near future. Especially now that the American Hospital Association has backed the idea. And sure, legal fights will probably accompany them. Some judge somewhere may even once side with opponents, some of whom seize on the fact that vaccines were authorized under emergency-use orders. But legal experts generally agree the Texas ruling in support of employer-mandated vaccines will stand.
Its not the only issue for me, but its definitely the first one, he said. For me, after my healthcare crisis, I had to file bankruptcy.  Forty percent of people who have to file bankruptcy [do it] because of medical reasons, but we dont have a way to categorize this. And so what happens is when you go into bankruptcy, you are categorized as a person who is really bad with bills. But thats not the right answer. For me, I had really, really great credit. But then because of my bankruptcy and my medical reasons, they were wiped out.
The cruise line encourages, but is not requiring, passengers to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Unless guests show proof of vaccination, however, a negative COVID-19 test is required both before leaving home and at the port.
Oswego, NY (13126)

Today

Some clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low near 60F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Some clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low near 60F. Winds light and variable.
Bujumbura, Burundi (PANA) - The Burundian cabinet has adopted a draft decree regulating the manufacture and reproduction of keys in a bid to curb crime using fake keys or master keys, an official statement said on Friday
Gaborone, Botswana (PANA)  Health authorities in Botswana have assured the public that efforts are being made to address shortage of oxygen in health facilities
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - Forty-two illegal migrants of various nationalities, including nine women and one child, have been rescued by the Libyan coast guard, the Interior Ministry announced on Friday
Abuja, Nigeria (PANA) - In a major victory for Nigerias new anti-piracy law, a Nigerian Federal High Court Friday sentenced 10 pirates involved in the 2020 hijack of a merchant vessel FV HAILUFENG II to 12 years' imprisonment each with a N250,000 fine on each count
New York, US (PANA) - The United States and Rwanda virtually hosted on July 21-22 members of the UN General Assembly Special Committee on Peacekeeping (known as the C-34) for a preparatory meeting focused on capacity-building partnerships ahead of the December 2021 UN Peacekeeping Ministerial in Seoul, Korea
News and commentary on organized crime, street crime, white collar crime, cyber crime, sex crime, crime fiction, crime prevention, espionage and terrorism.
Welcome back pirates! As you make your return to campus The East Carolinian has created a forum that centers around topics within the community where readers can express their experiences and concerns. With the new guidelines set in place by East Carolina University do you feel as these precautions will keep you safe?

Survey
The proposed deal includes around 7.6bn of gross performing loans, mostly relating to non-tracker mortgages, as well as 25 branch locations in the Republic of Ireland

( ) PLC was the biggest FTSE 100 riser on Friday after it said as part of its phased withdrawal from the Republic of Ireland market it has signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Irish financial services group Permanent TSB Group PLC (PTSB) for the proposed sale of several elements of its business.

The banking giant said the proposed deal, which also involves its subsidiary Ulster Bank in the Republic of Ireland, includes around 7.6bn of gross performing loans, mostly relating to non-tracker mortgages, as well as 25 branch locations.

NatWest said it expected 400-500 workers to be transferred to PTSB as part of the deal, adding that it will also receive a minority equity stake in PTSB as part of the transaction.

"In line with our strategy of a phased withdrawal from the Republic of Ireland, I am pleased that we are today announcing a significant update in the form of this non-binding memorandum of understanding with Permanent TSB. This builds on the recently announced sale of the majority of Ulster Bank's performing commercial banking business to Allied Irish Bank. Our focus remains on supporting our customers and colleagues as we continue our withdrawal from the Republic of Ireland", NatWest chief executive Alison Rose said in a statement.

In late afternoon trading, NatWest shares were up 3% at 200p.

--Adds share price--
Zilch, which offers users the ability to spend in over 5,000 stores using its card, raised a total of US$200mln in the Series B funding round, originally announced in April

Daily Mail & General Trust PLC has teamed up with US banking giant ( ) Group Inc to back buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) firm Zilch in a US$100mln (80mln) funding round.

The cash injection from DMGTs venture arm and Goldmans asset management and private credit division take the total raised in Zilchs Series B funding round to US$200mln around three months after it was announced in April, according to City AM.

Zilch, which offers users the ability to spend in over 5,000 stores using its BNPL card and pay off the balance in instalments, said it will use the funds to accelerate its expansion into the US market and continue growth in the UK, while the additional funding has also increased speculation of an impending IPO.

The startup also has the advantage of being the UKs first BNPL market to be fully licensed by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), a difficult process given the strong regulatory scrutiny over the market.

Zilchs popularity among investors is also a reflection of a wider boom in the BNPL market, with competitor Klarna raising a record US$1.63bn so far this year across two funding rounds that has made it the second most valuable fintech startup in the world with a valuation of US$45.6bn.

Shares in DMGT were up 0.4% at 1,084p in late morning trading on Friday, while Goldman was flat at US$373 in pre-market trading in New York.
In our view, Direct Lines high level of capital returns can continue"

Direct Line Group PLC ( ) has received as close to a fill your boots recommendation as City folk tend to hand out to FTSE 100 companies from Berenberg.

The German broker reckons the markets consensus forecast for the year to end-March 2021 will rise by 20% after upcoming interim results from the insurer reveal how good recent trading has been.

Reduced weather losses in the UK and the absence of some hefty Covid-19 related costs last year points to an interim earnings jump of 21%, the broker calculates.

A positive read-across from rival motor insurer Admiral on reserves also leads Berenberg to expect other analysts will start to factor this into their forecasts and come closer to its own eps estimate of 27.9p this year.

We believe that Direct Lines plan, which involves upgrading its IT infrastructure and cost-cutting measures, if successful, is likely to have a significant impact on earnings and the direction of the business towards the end of 2021.

In our view, Direct Lines high level of capital returns can continue. We expect this to be in the form of both dividends and share buybacks and to be close to 100% of capital generation.

Direct Line has some of the strongest brands in the UK insurance market, which it has built with customers as the focus. We believe it will continue to provide a high level of service, which will be an attractive proposition for new and existing customers.

Trading at only 10x (time) consensus EPS for 2022E, and a dividend yield of 9% plus a buyback, the stock looks highly attractive.

Berenbergs share target is 395p and 'buy' is its investment recommendation.

Shares rose 2.3% to 295.3p.
Gateley Holding's ( ) decision to retain all fee earning staff and servicing clients in a very different way during the early stages of the pandemic has paid dividends not just for the business metaphorically but it has literally for shareholders.

Full year results from the legal and professional services group demonstrated resilient double-digit revenue and profit growth which enabled the reinstatement of dividend payments.

The group's performance over the period is testimony to new chief executive Rod Waldie who took over the role in May 2020. He explains to Proactive London how communication to investors during the lockdown was crucial as is the ongoing acquisition strategy.
The premium British chocolatier and multi-channel retailer announced, following the announcement yesterday the successful completion of the placing of having received strong demand from existing Shareholders and other high-quality institutional investors.

23 July 2021

@HybridanLLP

*A corporate client of Hybridan LLP

Joiners: Draper Esprit ( ) has moved from AIM to the Main Market

Leavers: No Leavers Today.

Whats cooking in the IPO kitchen?

Northcoders, an independent provider of training programmes for software coding, to join AIM. It offers a range of training and software development solutions to individual and corporate customers. The Company's offering includes 'bootcamp' training courses, government funded apprenticeships and bespoke training courses and software development solutions. The Company operates a hybrid delivery model by providing its services in person at one of Northcoders' regional office 'hubs', currently located in Manchester and Leeds, or digitally via its online platform. Gross proceeds for the company of approximately 3.5m at an anticipated Mkt Cap on admission of 12.5m.Due 27 July.

Quantum Exponential Limited, a company formed to identify investment opportunities in the quantum technology sector, to apply for admission of its Ordinary Shares to trading on the Aquis Stock Exchange Growth Market . Raising up to 5m targeted for August.

( ) (on AIM) to complete RTO of of Nordkalk Oy Ab, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Rettig Group, for a total Consideration of EUR470m. Nordkalk was established in 1898 as a limestone developer in Finland and since expanded across northern Europe to become the leading limestone company in the area. The Company has raised 260m from the Placing and 1.6m from the Retail Offer. Based on the Placing Price, Mkt Cap on Admission is expected to be approximately 542m. Due Late August.

BiVictriX Therapeutics to join AIM, a UK based drug development company which was incorporated in February 2016 and has developed its proprietary Bi-Cygni technology. This technology utilises Antibody Drug Conjugates (ADC"s), an existing class of potent biological drugs, for the treatment of various cancers including Acute Myeloid Leukaemia, the first condition which BVX intends to treat.

Central Copper Resources, a company focused on delivering a high grade copper project into production and exploration of assets in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and in the Republic of Zambia to join AIM. By 2022, CCR intends to be ready to commence the project financing of its Mbamba Kilenda copper project. Offer TBA. Due early August.

Spinnaker Acquisitions to join the Main Market (Standard). A company formed for the purpose of undertaking an acquisition or acquisitions of a majority interest in a company, business or asset. Due 28 July.

South West Brands the multi-brand cannabidiol consumer goods company intends to float on the Main Market (Standard). Raising funds to continue to develop its existing portfolio of brand IP and pursue its strategy of adding brand IP assets to the portfolio over the course of the first 24 months following Admission. The Company expects Admission to occur in July 2021. Timing and offer TBA.

Big Technologies to join AIM. Big Technologies plc provides products and services to the remote and personal monitoring industry under a number of brand and trading names, with 'Buddi' being the most well known and used in respect of activities within the core criminal justice market. The Company's criminal justice solution involves proprietary monitoring software combined with modular monitoring hardware being used to accurately track the location of tag wearers. Alongside this, the Company also offers monitoring services solutions for its customers. 16.1m via a placing of new ordinary shares. 185.6m via a sale of existing ordinary shares. Market capitalisation on admission based on an issue price of 200 pence of approximately  577.0m Due 28 July.

HydrogenOne Capital Growth to IPO on the Premium Segment of the Main Market. HGEN is targeting a raise of 250m. First London listed investment fund dedicated to clean hydrogen. Due by the end of July.

Banquet Buffet

Cora Gold 10p 24.6m ( )

The West African fused gold company, announced the eighth set of drill results from its largest ever drilling campaign at its Sanankoro Gold Project in Southern Mali. The Company is focussed on targeting resource growth as well as infill drilling to convert existing Inferred resources to Indicated. The results to date have been extremely encouraging with good widths and high-grade results in generally shallow oxide ore. Intersections include: 8m @ 19.11 g/t Au from 90m in hole SC0459 at B1, 32m @ 4.43 g/t Au from 29m in hole SC0453 on the northernmost tested section at B3, 28m @ 2.85 g/t Au from 32m in hole SC0443 at B3, 13m @ 3.03 g/t Au from 77m in hole SC0462 at B1, 25m @ 1.35 g/t Au from 65m in hole SC0436 at B3 down-dip of SC0453. Results at Zone B represent a Phase 1 (P1) programme targeting the mineralisation along the previously defined 1.75km strike length of the deposit. These results demonstrate that there is further mineralisation beyond the existing pit boundaries both at depth and along strike in both directions and offers further encouragement as the Company targets a resource update later in the year.

Fusion Antibodies 127.5p 32.9m ( )

The specialist in pre-clinical antibody discovery, engineering and supply for both therapeutic drug and diagnostic applications, announces that it has achieved its first research milestone payment as part of its ongoing collaboration with a major client. This success milestone payment, for the value of 150k has been received as a result of a humanised antibody project that the Company has provided services to, and was successfully commercialised by the client by way of transfer of rights for value to a third party. The details of the client company concerned are confidential and no further information can be disclosed.

Gateley Holdings 202.5p 238.8m ( )

Gateley, the legal and professional services group , announced the acquisition by Gateley Vinden Limited of the business and assets of Tozer Gallagher LLP, a leading practice of chartered quantity surveyors and construction consultants, for a total maximum consideration of 700k plus an amount equal to the book value of the assets acquired, expected to be approximately 115k. Tozer Gallagher will join the Gateley Vinden business, which the Group acquired in March 2020. This strategic Acquisition adds further strength and depth to the Group's Property Platform and is the tenth business that Gateley has acquired since its IPO in 2015. Tozer Gallagher was founded over 30 years ago and is a nationally recognised and highly respected practice of chartered quantity surveyors and construction consultants based in Manchester and London. The business specialises in built environment consultancy, fund monitoring services, and surety advisory. The Tozer Gallagher team, headed by Directors Bill Ibram, Anthony Meaden and Paul Rigby, are well known to Gateley Vinden and Gateley Legal, having previously collaborated on a number of projects. All three Directors will continue to work as part of the management team of Gateley Vinden incorporating Tozer Gallagher. Tozer Gallagher's clients include QBE, Euler Hermes, Aviva Insurance and Bank ABC, as well as a number of councils, education trusts and social housing providers across the UK. In the year ending 31 May 2021, Tozer Gallagher produced revenues of circa 1m.

Hotel Chocolat 360p 453m ( )

The premium British chocolatier and multi-channel retailer announced, following the announcement yesterday the successful completion of the placing of having received strong demand from existing Shareholders and other high-quality institutional investors. The Company also announced the successful completion of an offer made by the Company for retail investors in the UK to subscribe for Ordinary Shares via the platform. Gross proceeds of c.40m at 355p. Angus Thirlwell, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, said: "The 40m growth capital raised today will be invested in our fast-growing business, furthering our aim of becoming a global digital-led chocolate brand. I'm delighted that our issue was oversubscribed, demonstrating the support Hotel Chocolat enjoys with its investors."

Oncimmune Holdings 180p 124.4m ( )

The global immunodiagnostics group, today announces it has signed an autoantibody profiling contract with Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, Massachusetts. Dana-Farber, a clinical affiliate and research institute of Harvard Medical School, is a world-leading cancer research organisation and one of America's top-rated cancer hospitals with more than 1,100 therapeutic and non therapeutic clinical trials in progress. Under this agreement, Oncimmune will be utilising its proprietary biomarker discovery engine, SeroTagTM, to identify autoantibodies that can be predictive of patient response or associated with resistance to checkpoint inhibitors (CPIs) and chemotherapy used in Dana-Farber led studies or therapy using atezolizumab, nivolumab, pembrolizumab, durvalumab and cisplatin-based chemotherapy. In addition, SeroTag will be used for identifying autoantibodies that can be predictive of immune-related adverse events (irAEs) in response treatment. The project is scheduled to complete by the end of 2021.

Parsley Box 132p 55.7m ( )

The rapidly growing direct to consumer provider of ready meals focused on the Baby Boomer + demographic, will launch a premium range of chilled ready meals. The Company, known for its cupboard stored ambient ready meals, is expanding its repertoire to further appeal to the broad tastes of its Baby Boomer+ base. The new chilled range, branded the Chef's Table by Parsley Box, consists of eight meals featuring some of the nation's favourite dishes including beef lasagne and luxury fish pie. These new larger (350g) additions to its menu have a longer shelf life (up to 10 days from delivery) compared with other chilled ready meals (typically 5 days)) and can be kept in the freezer for up to a month.

( ) 61p 7.4m ( )

FY Mar 21 results from, the global specialist recruitment business for professional and technical staff working in the Real Estate & Built Environment, Digital & Data Analytics sectors, today announces its audited results for the year ended 31 March 2021. As previously reported, the Covid-19 pandemic started in the early part of 2020 and, while not having a material effect on outcomes for the year ended 31 March 2020, nonetheless, activity slowed in the final quarter with an increasing impact throughout the 12 months to 31 March 2021. PRP closed the year with headline Revenue of 17.8m (2020: 24.0m) and Net Fee Income ("NFI") of 10.9m (2020 15.5m), a 30% year-on-year decline. NFI comprises the total fees for permanent candidates and the margin earned in the placement of contract staff. The Group's Operating Loss, was 0.12m compared to the prior year profit of 2.0m, before a goodwill impairment of 4.0m. The decline is attributable to lower NFI although there were materially reduced operating costs as consequence of the income received in respect of the UK Government Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and support programs in overseas locations. Outlook: All our markets have been impacted by Covid-19 and, although we have experienced reasonable progress as the various economies we operate in start to recover, noticeably in the UK. As an international Group, we may be impacted by ongoing restrictions on travel. Several of our geographic segments face geopolitical uncertainty and, whilst trading in our international offices is encouraging, we are closely monitoring the systemic risks posed over the longer term in all our regions of operation. We believe that with our management focus on the key business drivers, and optimising interaction between our regions, the Group is well positioned to respond swiftly across all businesses to changes impacting our activity. We are confident about our ability to generate worthwhile, long-term returns and will continue to invest for the future.

Remote Monitored Systems 0.77p 16.1m ( )

Notice of GM, AGM and trading update. Special business for shareholders to consider at the AGM will be to change the name of the Company to nanosynth group plc in line with its proposed rebranding strategy, and adoption of an enterprise management incentive scheme which the Company believes to be a tax efficient means of attracting and incentivising talented management which is key as the search for a CEO continues. Marketing of the Pro-Larva face mask has improved, with additional support now being provided to distribution partners in the UK, Europe and India, and the Pro-Larva brand has been successfully trademarked in the UK, which should assist with the sales efforts of Francis MacIntyre Limited and potentially lead to further orders following FML's initial order of 100k masks announced in March 2021. As recently reported, sales have not been significant to date, however encouraging conversations are on-going with potential partners around the world and the Board remains confident that sales will grow in the second half of 2021. Despite the global vaccine roll out and the lifting of certain restrictions, it is clear that masks continue to have a role in reducing general infection risk, with nearly two thirds of people in the UK expressing a desire to continue to wear masks. Whilst sales of the Pro-Larva mask remain a key priority, the Group is increasing its focus on developing the portfolio of new products. As previously stated, the Board is committed to building up the research and development side of the business as it believes that the ability to commercialise the intellectual property within the business is what will underpin shareholder value.

Secure Trust Bank 1212.5p 226m ( )

STB has agreed to sell a portfolio of Mortgage loans to Jacqali Designated Activity Company, a financing vehicle established by a global financial institution. This sale represents STB's full exit from the residential mortgage market, which STB withdrew from in 2019. The consideration for the sale is estimated at 54.6m, subject to reconciliation, payable in cash on completion. The cash purchase consideration for the portfolio was calculated based on an agreed price (including a premium to net book value) for the portfolio as at 31 December 2020, adjusted for cash receipts STB received from the portfolio during the period from then up to the date of completion. The obligation of the purchaser to pay the consideration is backed by the global financial institution. The net book value of the portfolio as at 31 December 2020 was 77.7m. The portfolio contributed 1.95m including allocated costs to STB's profit before tax in FY2020, on an unaudited basis. The sale is in line with STB's strategy to focus on specialist lending segments offering higher yields. The capital released is intended to be reinvested into STB's remaining businesses and for other general corporate purposes.

Simec Atlantis 6.2p 32.5m ( )

The global sustainable energy generation company and technology developer, refers to its earlier announcements on 18 May 2021 and 9 June 2021 regarding the appointment of receivers over all of the shares of its major shareholder, SIMEC UK Energy Holdings Limited (SUEH), which SAE understands owns approximately 41% of the issued share capital of SAE. The GFG Alliance (of which SUEH is a member) has confirmed to SAE that the receiver's appointment has ceased, and the receivers have resigned as directors of SUEH. The GFG Alliance has also confirmed that they are in control of the SAE shares. SAE understands that this matter is now resolved and looks forward to a more stable relationship with its major shareholder. SAE is an independent company, whose focus remains the delivery of its world leading projects, which can play a critical role in the journey to net zero.

Head Chef:

Derren Nathan

0203 764 2344

derren.nathan@hybridan.com

Sous Chef:

Sacha Morris

sacha.morris@hybridan.com

Status of this Note and Disclaimer

This document has been issued to you by Hybridan LLP for information purposes only and should not be construed in any circumstances as an offer to sell or solicitation of any offer to buy any security or other financial instrument, nor shall it, or the fact of its distribution, form the basis of, or be relied upon in connection with, any contract relating to such action. This document has no regard for the specific investment objectives, financial situation or needs of any specific entity and is not a personal recommendation to anyone. Recipients should make their own investment decisions based upon their own financial objectives and financial resources and, if any doubt, should seek advice from an investment advisor.

The information contained in this document is based on materials and sources that are believed to be reliable; however, they have not been independently verified and are not guaranteed as being accurate. This document is not intended to be a complete statement or summary of any securities, markets, reports or developments referred to herein. No representation or warranty, either express or implied, is made or accepted by Hybridan LLP, its members, directors, officers, employees, agents or associated undertakings in relation to the accuracy, completeness or reliability of the information in this document nor should it be relied upon as such.

Any and all opinions expressed are current opinions as of the date appearing on this document only. Any and all opinions expressed are subject to change without notice and Hybridan LLP is under no obligation to update the information contained herein. To the fullest extent permitted by law, none of Hybridan LLP, its members, directors, officers, employees, agents or associated undertakings shall have any liability whatsoever for any direct or indirect or consequential loss or damage (including lost profits) arising in any way from use of all or any part of the information in this document.

This document is sent to you as market commentary only. As market commentary this document does not constitute any of (i) investment research and financial analysis or other forms of general recommendation relating to transactions in financial instruments for the purposes of the UK retained version of section B of annex I to Directive 2014/65/EU ("MIFID II Directive"); or (ii) investment research as defined in the UK retained version of article 36(1) of Commission Delegated Regulation 2017/565/EU made pursuant to the MIFID II Directive; or (iii) non-independent research (as such term is defined in the Financial Conduct Authority's Conduct of Business Sourcebook).

This document should not be relied upon as being an independent or impartial view of the subject matter. The individuals who prepared this document may be involved in providing other financial services to the company or companies referenced in this document or to other companies who might be said to be competitors of the company or companies referenced in this document. As a result both Hybridan LLP and the individual members, officers and/or employees who prepared this document may have responsibilities that conflict with the interests of the persons who receive this document. Hybridan LLP and/or connected persons may, from time to time, have positions in, make a market in and/or effect transactions in any investment or related investment mentioned herein and may provide financial services to the issuers of such investments.

In the United Kingdom, this document is directed at and is for distribution only to persons who (i) fall within article 19(5) (persons who have professional experience in matters relating to investments) or article 49(2) (a) to (d) (high net worth companies, unincorporated associations, etc.) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (SI 2005/1529) (as amended) or (ii) persons who are each a professional client or eligible counterparty (as those terms are defined in the Financial Conduct Authority's Conduct of Business Sourcebook) of Hybridan LLP (all such persons referred to in (i) and (ii) together being referred to as "relevant persons"). This document must not be acted on or relied up on by persons who are not relevant persons. For the purposes of clarity, this document is not intended for and should not be relied upon by any person who would be classified as a retail client under the Financial Conduct Authority's Conduct of Business Sourcebook.

Neither this document nor any copy of part thereof may be distributed in any other jurisdictions where its distribution may be restricted by law and persons into whose possession this document comes should inform themselves about, and observe, any such restrictions. Distribution of this report in any such other jurisdictions may constitute a violation of territorial and/or extra-territorial securities laws, whether in the United Kingdom, the United States or any other jurisdiction in any part of the world.

Hybridan LLP and/or its associated undertakings may from time-to-time provide investment advice or other services to, or solicit such business from, any of the companies referred to in this document. Accordingly, information may be available to Hybridan LLP that is not reflected in this material and Hybridan LLP may have acted upon or used the information prior to or immediately following its publication. In addition, Hybridan LLP, the members, officers and/or employees thereof and/or any connected persons may have an interest in the securities, warrants, futures, options, derivatives or other financial instrument of any of the companies referred to in this document and may from time-to-time add or dispose of such interests.

This document may not be copied, redistributed, resent, forwarded, disclosed or duplicated in any form or by any means, whether in whole or in part other than with the prior written consent of Hybridan LLP.

Hybridan LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales, registered number OC325178, and is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and is a member of the London Stock Exchange. Any reference to a partner in relation to Hybridan LLP is to a member of Hybridan LLP or an employee with equivalent standing and qualifications. A list of the members of Hybridan LLP is available for inspection at the registered office, 2 Jardine House, The Harrovian Business Village, Bessborough Road, Harrow, Middlesex HA1 3EX.
A glance at some of the day's highlights from the Proactive Investors newswire

( , ) has signed a profiling contract with a world-renowned cancer centre in the United States.

( , ) said marketing of the Pro-Larva face mask improved thanks to the additional support provided to distribution partners in the UK, Europe and India.

( ), the specialist currency and derivatives manager, saw assets under management equivalents (AUME) grow by 5% in the April-June quarter.

Bidstack Group PLC, the in-game computer advertising platform, said Bryan Neider has joined the board as a non-executive director.

( ) has greenlighted the sale of restricted shares held by Anesco Limited.

( ) said it commissioned Stage 1 of the Tirupati graphene and mintech research centre (TGMRC) in India. This marks the start of revenue generation at TGMRC and allows the company to advance commercialisation engagements.

( , ) announced that David 'Dato' Sandroshvili, independent non-executive director, has tendered his notice of resignation as a director of the company. The resignation is effective immediately. Block Energy plc's Chairman, Philip Dimmock, said: "On behalf of the board I thank Dato for his contribution to the company. We wish him every success in his future career."

( ) announced that its annual general meeting will be held in Cork, Ireland on 17 August and by videoconference, as the board asked shareholders not to attend the meeting in person this year. The board therefore encourages all shareholders to vote by proxy.
(LON:CODE) is raising 3.5m when it floats on AIM. The company provides training programmes for software coding and has established itself as the coding bootcamp of the North.

The long term aim of founder and chief executive Chris Hill is that the share price will realise 8 a share northwards over time.

More importantly its immediate purpose is to address a digital skills shortage that is impacting the competitiveness of the UK economy.

Hill wants every school child to be able to code, and the money raised at IPO will allow Northcoders to expand across the regions from its current hub in Manchester.

Admission and the start of dealings on AIM are expected to take place on Tuesday July 27.
In the June quarter, it completed two diamond drill holes at the Crusader Gold Prospect within the broader Wallbrook Project, which confirmed down-dip extensions.

The company has started the porphyry copper-gold fertility assessment study at Bethanga

( ) is keeping busy with further work targeted at its Wallbrook Gold Project in Western Australia and Bethanga Copper-Gold project in northeast Victoria in the September quarter.

In the current quarter, the company plans to continue its diamond drilling of around 2,000 metres and reverse drilling (RC) drilling of around 12,000 metres programs at the Crusader/Templar and Paint Prospects  all at the Wallbrook Project.

It will also continue with the regional ground magnetic survey.

At Bethanga, it plans to undertake fertility assessment, including soil sampling, geological mapping and lithogeochemical sampling.

The company also plans to hold meetings with local landholders.

June quarter achievements

In the June quarter, the company completed two diamond drill holes at the Crusader Gold Prospect within the broader Wallbrook Project, which confirmed down-dip extensions.

It also completed the first phase of the Crusader Gold RC drill program.

In the quarter, the company also executed an option to purchase the Bethanga Copper-Gold Project which covers 194 square kilometres across two granted exploration licenses in Australias premier porphyry copper-gold geological terrain.

Crusader Gold Prospect

A 1,045 metres two-hole diamond drilling program was completed during the quarter at the Crusader Gold Prospect to test beneath the broad high-grade mineralized zone intersected in the companys 2020 RC drill program.

Gold mineralisation at the Crusader Prospect is closely associated with a quartz-goethite supergene stockwork in the oxide regolith profile.

The stockwork intensity correlates closely with higher gold grades.

In the fresh rock, high-grade mineralisation occurs within a series of steeply dipping structures defined by quartz sulphide veining within a potassic altered volcaniclastic host rock.

The current drill programs underway at Crusader are testing for depth and strike extensions to the mineralisation, which has been drilled to a maximum 200 metres depth (remains open at depth), constrained only by the extent of drilling completed by Nexus to date.

Fertility study at Bethanga Project

The company has started the porphyry copper-gold fertility assessment study.

In April, the company entered into an option to buy Jamieson Minerals Pty Ltd, which owns the Bethanga Project tenements.

The project is in the same geological host as the world-class Cadia-Ridgeway and Northparkes porphyry copper-gold projects further north in central NSW.

Nexus started a review of the Bethanga project in late 2019, however, this was placed on hold in 2020 due to the COVID pandemic.

The project area is recognised by the Geological Survey of Victoria as a region prospective for porphyry copper-gold and VHMS mineralisation.

Bethanga project is underlain by the Macquarie Arc/Yoeval Tract  a belt of volcanic and intrusive rocks part of the Cowra-Buchan Rift Complex-- which is host to the Tier-1 Cadia Valley, Northparkes and Cowra deposits.

It is defined by a belt of volcanic and intrusive igneous rocks and an endowment of more than 80 million ounces of gold and 13 million tonnes of copper.
There is little doubt that HP bought a pig in a poke but is it because its management made a bad decision or was it hoodwinked

Mike Lynch, the former boss of software company Autonomy, has suffered a setback in his battle to have the case brought against him by Hewlett-Packard tried in the UK.

A judge in London ruled that Lynch, who has been on bail since his arrest in February 2020, should be extradited to California where the US Department of Justice is waiting to try him for allegations that he used dubious accounting procedures to overstate Autonomys sakes revenue before US computer giant Hewlett Packard (HP) acquired the company in 2011.

The US computer giant paid US$11.1bn for , but one year on from the deal its value tanked.

HP alleged that Autonomy misrepresented its financials ahead of the acquisition, which led to a US$8.8bn write-down.

The UKs Serious Fraud Office looked into the HP takeover back in 2013 but dropped its probe two years later.

Later in 2015 Lynch launched a US$150mln legal action against Hewlett Packard, claiming that HP had made many statements that were highly damaging to his reputation.

Lynchs legal advisors have always argued that the deal is a matter for the UK courts but representatives of multi-national computing titan HP said that as the majority of HPs shareholders are based in the US, and it is shareholders who have lost out as a result of HPs ill-fated takeover of Autonomy, the case should be heard in a US court.

HP has brought a US$5bn civil trial against Lynch  in London.

Lynch has 14 days to appeal against the decision of district judge Michael Snow and the extradition has, in any case, to be approved by the Home Office.

Dr Lynch is disappointed that the court has ruled against him without waiting for the High Court's judgment in the civil case that examined all these issues. Dr Lynch denies the charges against him," said Chris Morvillo, one of Lynchs legal representatives.

"At the request of the U.S. Department of Justice, the court has ruled that a British citizen who ran a British company listed on the London Stock Exchange should be extradited to America over allegations about his conduct in the UK.

"We say this case belongs in the UK. If the Home Secretary nonetheless decides to order extradition, Dr Lynch intends to appeal, Morvillo added.
Investors are getting excited about next generation psychedelics that aim to deliver better benefits as medications for big population groups, with full patent protection

Initially, psychedelics like psilocybin, MDMA, LSD, and DMT were the focus of much of the hard work by non-for-profit groups and academic researchers over the last 30 years, who helped prove that the drugs have potential benefit while being safe and non-addictive.

Today, psilocybin is in Phase 2b clinical trials, MDMA is in Phase 3, and the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has given both those trials breakthrough therapy status. There is tremendous momentum behind getting psychedelic drugs approved against this backdrop of two frustrating trends in North America: the opioid crisis and the negative effect of coronvirus (COVID-19) on mental health.

Canadian firm ( , , ) saw early on that there would be a big wave of interest in using psychedelic drugs as medication, but that ultimately, there would be an even bigger wave of interest in next-generation drugs that aim to deliver superior benefits as medications for big population groups, and would have full patent protection.

CEO James Lanthier joined the company in early 2020 and was sold not only on the caliber of the scientists involved, but the specific strategy that the team had developed, which was to improve existing drugs rather than new drugs. Here, Lanthier tells Proactive exclusively how the company plans to tackle the next generation of psychedelic opportunities.

PROACTIVE: Can you expand on your strategy of optimizing existing psychedelic products? It seems to be a key differentiator for Mindset.

James Lanthier: To us, the big piece that was missing is that work wasn't really being done on understanding whether there was a way to take the chemical structures that underlie first-generation drugs and then use drug design to alter them in order to make better drugs. People dont eat the bark of the willow tree when they have a headache, they take aspirin, which is based on a chemical that is derived through a number of different steps from naturally occurring compounds.

We think same analogy applies to psychedelics. Ultimately, people are not going to take magic mushrooms, theyre going to take a drug that delivers the same benefits but that has been re-engineered a couple of different steps in order to create a drug that's safer, less toxic, more predictable, and potentially has a more convenient duration. The big commercial opportunity really is in the second and third-generation drugs that are not in the public domain, where it's really hard to get intellectual property rights. Groups working with psilocybin are going to have a really hard time defending from generic psilocybin competition because it is in the public domain, whereas if you have a drug that can offer some improvements over psilocybin and also has full IP rights, that's going to be much more valuable. Also, traditional pharma is probably going to be much more interested in entering the psychedelic market through a drug product that is novel and has IP rights.

Lets talk about your lead drug candidate MSP-1014. What's the potential that you see with this particular compound?

MSP-1014 comes from what we call Family Number One of novel drugs. These are drugs that structurally are closer to psilocybin than some of our other families, but different enough that they stand on their own as new drugs. Weve seen evidence so far through our testing processes that MSP-1014 has the potential to deliver a more pronounced psychedelic experience than psilocybin does at similar doses. This is a drug that is stronger, which means there's potential for this to be safer because you hypothetically could take less of it in order to achieve the same effect. There's potential safety risks with psilocybin, like negative interactions with other drugs that you might be taking, such as antidepressants. Drug interaction is important to consider when taking a new drug.

Take me through the development path for MSP 1014. What does the timeline look like, and how smooth will the path be?

We still have some additional preclinical testing that we're doing right now. Once that's complete, we're also developing our IND plan. Our high-level plan is to initiate that in the latter part of 2021. We're hoping to move into clinical trials later in 2022.

For Mindset, our focus is on preclinical discovery and development. We think were one of the leaders in new drug discovery and development, but we're very much in the early stages of the medical psychedelic market. We can take our drugs through the first few phases of clinical development if need be, but I'm anticipating that we may look to partner with other groups that have that clinical trial, infrastructure, and expertise, which is a pretty common pathway for biotechnology companies.

I'm trying to understand how similar this path is to more traditional pharma products. Can you clarify?

It's quite similar. The opportunity for psychedelics is absolutely enormous, just as big if not much larger than the cannabis opportunity. But ultimately, psychedelics will look a lot like biotechnology or pharma segments. Take oncology, when you have hundreds of different companies developing oncology drugs and they typically end up partnering with or being acquired by larger, later-stage pharma companies that are good at clinical development. Ultimately, I think psychedelics will look very similar. Because of the regulatory issues that gave a real head start to firms like Mindset, which were early doing discovery work and filing IP and developing this library of new drugs. Were in an excellent position to be a very valuable partner to groups that have that kind of downstream drug commercialization.

You brought up cannabis companies there. We haven't really seen the types of deals in the psychedelics sector as we have in the medical cannabis space despite the clear size of the market. What's the reaction like from Big Pharma?

Its going to come. Most traditional licensing deals happen around stage two clinical trials. There's very few new drugs. I can tell you that the interest is definitely there from pharma companies actively looking at the space. There were a lot of mergers early on in cannabis, because different things were important, like gaining scale, or licenses  these things really are not important in psychedelics. What's important in psychedelics is qualified, differentiated new drugs and intellectual property. I think you'll definitely start to see more M&A happen in the near future. It's very exciting.

Intellectual property is an important piece of the puzzle, as weve discussed. Mindset has a robust pipeline of multiple different potential candidates. What is looking promising to you?

Theres a ton that's coming up for Mindset. We started with our first new drug families in February of last year, and we've just kept adding to the portfolio to get ourselves in a position where we have as many shots on goal for successful new drugs. Weve moved from psilocybin-inspired drugs now to DMT, and 5-MeO-DMT analogs. That's a class of drugs that is really exciting, because 5-MeO-DMT is a drug that has short durations. It could solve one of the shortcomings of psilocybin, that being its six to eight-hour duration. The duration of psilocybin may be a bit of an impediment to widespread adoption, because that's a long time for people to spend in a therapists office. The short duration is a lot easier, more convenient for people.

MSB 1014 is a stronger and safer psilocybin based on the data. We have multiple families coming up: Family Two and Family Four that include drugs with a considerably shorter duration with psilocybin. I think the industry will start to see patents be published and granted in the next few months. Mindset has also developed what we think is a new platform technology that can really be used at a chemical level to amplify the effects of psychedelic drugs.

Contact Angela at angela@proactiveinvestors.com

Follow her on Twitter @AHarmantas
( ) Technologies Corp Chief Visionary Officer Justin Beck joined Steve Darling from Proactive to share news the company has brought in Biotech Veteran Sid Senroy to their Board of Directors. Senroy will also become an advisor to Justin Beck.

Beck also announced they have engaged RegDev to source supply from multiple COVID-19 testing kit vendors for integrated disease testing, contact tracing, case management, and case monitoring via Smart Health RM. The Company also is looking to use these initial vendor relationships for other disease testing integrated with Smart Health RM.

Beck also told Proactive, the company has also added 30 year commercial and software expert Ricardo Lachac as their Chief Revenue Officer. Lachac launched LNRS Brazil from the ground up and quickly was able to capture 50% of the market share in high-tech niches like Auto Insurance Telematics.
Pure Gold (CVE: PGM -LON: PUR) CEO Darin Labrenz joined Steve Darling from Proactive to share news the company has really started to ramp up operations at the Pure Gold Mine in Red Lake Ontario. That includes Quarter-to-date, head grades significantly increased compared to the first quarter of 2021.

Labrenz talks about the increase in the second quarter. Labrenz tells Proactive more about the wildfire situation and some good news they have received.
Empress Royalty (CVE: EMPR  OTCQB: EMPYF) CEO Alexandra Woodyer Sherron joined Steve Darling from Proactive to bring news it has closed and funded the final 3 million dollars of the 5 million dollar silver stream to help complete Altaley Minings Tahuehueto project in Mexico.

Woodyer Sherron telling Proactive the company will receive 100% of the payable silver production from Tahuehueto for the first 1,250,000 payable ounces. That percentage will move down to 20% of the payable silver production to a maximum of 10 years from the first production.
"We will be actively looking for a high-quality partner to work with to bring this project into production or a party to acquire the project so we can monetise the asset for Poseidon shareholders, says CEO & MD.

( , , ) has unveiled a definitive feasibility study (DFS) for the Windarra Gold Tailings Project, a precious metals asset in Western Australias Eastern Goldfields, with the study outlining a robust project.

The nickel sulphide exploration and development company established a 150,000-gold-ounce ore reserve for the gold tailings asset, which sits within its broader Mt WIndarra Nickel Project.

Poseidon estimates Windarra could produce between 53,500 and 55,200 gold ounces over a 45-month lifespan if the company uses low-cost, low-risk tailings mining methods and a 1.5-million-tonne-per-annum processing facility.

Shares have been as much as 18.2% higher in early trading to A$0.13 while the company's market cap is approximately A$309 million.

Although Poseidon is primarily focused on its nickel assets, the explorer is considering Windarra golds development as a way to generate cashflow, re-treat historical gold tailings and establish a tailings storage facility at the South Windarra Pit.

Robust and profitable project

Poseidon Nickel managing director and CEO Peter Harold said: The results from the DFS demonstrate a robust and profitable project re-treating the gold tailings at Windarra and Lancefield.

The gold tailings present a project which can generate positive cash flows to be invested into our nickel business, which is our primary focus. The tailings project would be ideal for a partnership style arrangement or an outright sale.

We will be actively looking for a high-quality partner to work with to bring this project into production or a party to acquire the Project so we can monetise the asset for Poseidon shareholders.

DFS economics

Prior to the new study, the ASX-lister determined that Windarra Gold held some 180,000 gold ounces in indicated and inferred mineral resources across both the North and South dams and the nearby Lancefield tailings licence.

Now, in its definitive feasibility study for the Windarra Gold tailings asset, Poseidon has established an ore reserve based on between 5.54 million tonnes and 5.73 million tonnes of resource, grading at 0.84 g/t gold and 2.1 g/t silver for around 150,000 gold ounces and roughly 375,000 silver ounces.

Turning to project economics, the nickel explorer considered the costings associated with both a hydraulic mining and amphibious dredging operation.

In the latters case, Poseidon calculated a A$30.6 million net operating cashflow, a net present value of A$21.7 million and an internal rate of return valued at 50.6%, all based on a US$1,750 gold price and a A$1.00US$0.75 exchange rate.

Applying the DFS residual value assessment, however, improves the assets net operating cashflow to A$36.3 million, the net present value to A$25.7 million and brings the internal rate of return up to 53.9%.

The projects all-in sustaining cost is calculated at A$1,393 per gold ounce.

Overall, Windarra Gold is estimated to cost between A$25.8 million and A$29.5 million to bring into production, depending on the mining method selected.

Payback should take place between 27 and 28 months from when production at the tailings project kicks off.

Already, the company has received a number of key approvals for the proposed gold tailings operation, including ministerial approval to renew the Lancefield licence and an environmental approval for Windarra Gold.

Key findings and conclusions

Some of the projects perceived strengths include its robust ore reserve, which lies just 0.75 metres from the surface  something Poseidon believes it can leverage for a relatively short, nine-month project development timeframe.

Other positives include the modular processing plant design, meaning it can be redeployed to another project once Windarras 45-month operating period runs its course.

In addition, Poseidon has highlighted the projects modest base-case net present value, attractive internal rate of return and payback period as project strengths.

However, the company concedes there is limited upside to the resource base within the current 45-month operational lifespan, while the economics are highly sensitive to the gold price and exchange rate, although this can be hedged to mitigate risk.

In terms of primary DFS conclusions, Poseidon outlined its gold recovery estimations. The company concluded:

Interpretation of all relevant leach data from current and previous test-work indicates that the average gold recovery from the tailings in the Windarra North dam is 38.0%;

Interpretation of all relevant leach data from previous testwork indicates that the average gold recovery from the tailings in the Windarra South dam is 45.6%; and

Interpretation of all relevant leach data from current testwork indicates that the average gold recovery from the tailings at Lancefield is 28.1%.

Ultimately, the DFS had one clear recommendation: that Poseidon consider engaging a Joint Venture (JV) partner to implement the project  one that has the demonstrated engineering design and construction expertise, but also the capability to manage the project during the operations phase.

The company believes an equity-based JV partnership project implementation model would minimise construction contractor mark-ups and incentivise project delivery performance across construction, schedule, capital and operating costs.

Moving ahead, Poseidon will seek out opportunities to monetise Windarra Gold, particularly if this involves a divestment or a joint venture solution.
CEO Wayne Paterson said: Having DurAVR recognized at this very important meeting is a clear demonstration of support for our potential within the Structural Heart Faculty.

DurAVR was also recognised by founder and chairman emeritus of the Cardiovascular Research Foundation.

( , , ) has had its unique 3D single-piece Transcatheter Heart Valve DurAVR featured in the innovation section of the Transcatheter Valve Therapies Structural Heart Summit (TVT 2021).

DurAVR was also recognised by the founder and chairman emeritus of the Cardiovascular Research Foundation (CRF), which sponsors TVT 2021.

The selection process for the innovation award was highly competitive, drawing submissions from large and small companies alike in the TAVR, mitral, tricuspid and LAA closure (Left Atrial Appendage) spaces.

Unlocks clinical and anatomical challenges

Anteris chief executive officer Wayne Paterson said: The DurAVR THV System unlocks the clinical and anatomical challenges that patients are still burdened with in todays commercially available TAVR devices.

DurAVR is the beginning of a new era in the next generation of TAVR devices that will last the life of a patient  a critical need in these younger and more active patients.

Having DurAVR recognized at this very important meeting is a clear demonstration of support for our potential within the Structural Heart Faculty.

Structural Heart Summit

This years TVT Structural Heart Summit was the first in-person meeting post-COVID-19 restrictions, where Anteris took the opportunity to meet the members of its Medical Advisory Board to demonstrate progress on the DurAVR THV and ComASUR transfemoral delivery system development program.

The company also discussed ongoing preparation for submission to the US FDA later this year for an early feasibility study.

Interventional cardiologist at the Minneapolis Heart Institute at the Abbott Northwestern Hospital, Dr Paul Sorajja MD made the innovation presentation during TVT 2021.

Dr Sorajja highlighted the benefits the DurAVR THV System brings to patients and heart teams around the world in providing them with an Aortic Valve Replacement that lasts longer and works better than currently available devices.

Top picks for innovations

Besides the innovation presentation, Columbia Universitys Professor of Cardiology and director of the Center for Interventional Vascular Therapy (CIVT) Dr Martin B Leon presented his top picks for innovations that will shape the future of TAVR.

During his talk, Dr Leon discussed several innovative technologies which could shape the future of how Aortic Stenosis will be treated such as machine learning to better diagnose patients, increased treatments rates, and early intervention.

According to Dr Leon TAVR is now firmly established as the standard of care for Aortic Stenosis and will continue its expansion into younger more active patients, underscoring the urgent need for a valve that delivers near-normal hemodynamics and durability.

DurAVR was the only valve technology mentioned in this presentation.
The clinical-stage immuno-oncology company has progressed work across its cancer therapy candidates across the 2021 financial years final quarter.

Imugene has closed off the June quarter with nearly A$30 million in the bank.

( , OTCMKTS ) has capped off the June quarter with A$29.5 million in the bank as it prepares to advance a series of clinical trials in FY22s first quarter.

The clinical-stage immuno-oncology company has reached the highest dose cohort in its first-in-human phase one study of PD1-Vaxx, one of Imugenes two B-cell immunotherapies, and presented on its HER-Vaxx and CF33 CHECKVacc therapy candidates at an annual symposium run by the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR).

In its quarterly update, Imugene also updated the market on its financial performance, with A$3.6 million spent on research and development activities over the June quarter.

It brings the total amount spent on research and development activities over FY21 to just over A$15.6 million.

Imugene also brought in just shy of A$8.7 million from an options exercise during the June quarter, offsetting its operating and investing expenses.

Imugenes three novel technology platforms.

HER-Vaxx

After completing phase two trial recruitment in January 2021, Imugenes chief medical officer Dr Rita Laeufle was able to present on the HER-Vaxx B-cell cancer immunotherapy program at the 2021 AACR Annual Meeting in April.

In addition, earlier this month, data on the therapy candidate was presented at the ESMO World Congress on Gastrointestinal Cancer 2021 Annual Meeting.

Overall, the ESMO presentation highlighted new data:

HERVaxx treatment resulted in a 50% overall response rate (ORR) compared to 29% in patients treated with chemotherapy alone;

The ORR measures the percentage of patients who responded to treatment with a partial response (PR) or better;

Treatment with HERVaxx clearly demonstrates patients develop high levels of HER2-specific antibodies early in the treatment protocol and are maintained during treatment and maintenance phase with only a few booster injections;

Tumour response is correlated with the amount of antibody levels. Patients with antibody levels higher than 1050ng/ml received greater than 50% tumour reduction and may serve as a potential biomarker; and

In contrast to patients on chemotherapy alone, the reduction of tumour size is substantially higher in patients that received HERVaxx + chemotherapy.

Overall, this data demonstrates HER-Vaxx may provide treatment benefits consistent with traditional monoclonal antibodies with a corresponding adaptive immune response without added toxicity.

Phase one clinical trial data for Imugenes B-cell peptide cancer immunotherapy was published in the prestigious American Association for Cancer Research journal Clinical Cancer Research.

Imugene's deep pipeline.

PD1-Vaxx

The first-in-human, phase one, multi-centre, dose-escalation study of PD1-Vaxx is currently recruiting patients with non-small cell lung cancer who have progressed from previous therapies.

Essentially, medical investigators are testing three different doses of PD1-Vaxx. The primary goal of the phase one trial is to determine safety and an optimal biological dose as a monotherapy (mOBD). Efficacy, tolerability and immune response will also be measured.

The determination of mOBD will be made by the Cohort Review Committee (CRC) and requires successive dosing within cohorts of at least three patients each.

The phase one study is currently enrolling in cohort three, the highest dose after successful completion of cohort two.

Phase one trials are generally designed to look for safety, tolerability and early response signals to determine the optimal dose for further development.

The company is encouraged to see what it considers positive signals at such an early stage of its PD1-Vaxx phase one trial, even in this late-stage patients.

All six sites  three in Australia and three in the US  are open for recruitment. To date, clinicians have reported no safety, toxicity or tolerability issues with PD1-Vaxx. Imugene anticipates these results will continue in the highest dose of PD1-Vaxx.

Imugene CEO Leslie Chong spoke to Proactive's Andrew Scott about the company's anti-cancer programs in June.

onCARlytics licensed

One of Imugenes key quarterly activities occurred in May, when Imugene licensed the novel onCARlytics combination immunotherapy from the California-based City of Hope clinical research centre.

The therapy unleashes a CD19 expressing oncolytic virus to enable CD19 directed chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapies to target solid tumours, which are currently otherwise difficult to treat with CAR T cell therapy alone.

The worldwide exclusive licence of the patents covering the cell therapy technology  which includes CF33-CD19, known as onCARlytics, or an agent that tags cancer cells for CAR T cell destruction  was developed at City of Hope.

City of Hopes Dr Yanghee Woo MD presented on the CF33 oncolytic virus program at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) 2021 Annual Meeting during the June quarter.

How the CF33 mechanism of action works.

IND approval for CHECKvacc phase one trial

On the last day of the June quarter, Imugene achieved a major milestone after City of Hope secured Investigational New Drug (IND) approval for an upcoming phase one trial of the ASX-listers oncolytic virotherapy candidate.

Together, the companies hope to investigate the safety and efficacy of Imugenes CHECKvacc drug candidate  formally known as CF33-hNIS-antiPDL1  against metastatic, triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC).

Now, with US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval in tow, Imugene and City of Hope can start patient recruitment and dosing a phase one clinical trial for TNCB patients.

A key appointment

In mid-June, Imugene appointed Dr Monil Shah as its chief business officer (CBO) and a member of the company's executive management team.

Shah will lead the companys global business development and partnering activities and support its clinical development.

The new CBO has more than 20 years of pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry experience in oncology drug development.

Speaking to the appointment at the time, Imugene managing director and CEO Leslie Chong said: We look forward to the valuable contribution Dr Shah will make to advance our important immuno-oncology programs and Im excited by someone of his calibre and experience in cellular therapy is joining Imugene as a chief business officer.
Going forward, the company plans to shift its focus to driving growth in the Americas and Australia, as well as continue to seek merger and acquisition opportunities.

The company ended the June quarter well-funded with A$19 million in cash to support its growth strategy

( , , ) has returned to revenue growth, finishing the quarter with the best revenue recorded in June since October 2020, led by its Hemp Foods Australia business, up 19% from the previous quarter.

The company ended the June quarter well-funded with A$19 million in cash to support its growth strategy.

With revenue growth returning, a steadily reducing cost base and further optimisation initiatives on foot, it is well-positioned to take advantage of an improving outlook in its key market.

Going forward, the company plans to shift its focus to driving growth in the Americas and Australia as well as continue to seek merger and acquisition opportunities.

Investing in new growth drivers

Due to a changed German market outlook and rapidly intensifying competition, the mutual decision was made to terminate the acquisition of CannaCare during the quarter.

With the A$5.5 million cash that would otherwise have been invested into this transaction, the company now has the option to invest into new growth drivers.

Q2 numbers

In the quarter, Elixinol reported revenue of A$2.5 million, led by Hemp Foods Australia, despite continued COVID-19 impacts in key markets.

Operating cash used during the second quarter, excluding non-recurring costs was A$3.3 million, down 8% from the previous quarter, and improved compared to the A$6.2 million recorded in the second quarter of 2020.

Hemp Foods Australias growth trajectory was led by newly gained national distribution, growth in export sales and solid ongoing e-commerce performance.

In the quarter, a second HFA product was listed in ( ) for distribution and a new Asian export customer for HFAs Hemp Gold Seed Oil has been onboarded, further contributing to the quarters growth profile.

On the back of continued investment in its digital capability, HFAs e-commerce channel has also experienced continued growth, up 8% for the quarter and up 50% year-on-year.

The appointment of Health House International in June as exclusive distributor for its medicinal cannabis products formulated for the Australian pharmacy channel delivers on the companys strategy to create a global wellness business by accessing the growing Australian market and utilising the Hemp Foods Australia business and corporate head office capabilities to grow the local business.

In light of the Health House Agreement, Elixinol decided to terminate its distribution agreement with PharmaCann Pty Ltd.

June best revenue month

Elixinol global chief executive officer Oliver Horn said: Having worked hard to improve our business fundamentals, we are very pleased to return the business to growth during the June quarter.

Importantly, we finished the quarter strong, with June being the best revenue month since October 2020.

Our group-wide focus on servicing digital consumers via our growing e-commerce channel has progressed well and continues to contribute to our growth and profitability."

Elixinol Americas returns to growth

We are also seeing the American CBD market conditions improving with retail footfall and consumer acceptance of CBD increasing," Horn said.

Having focused extensively on building new capabilities and right-sizing our cost base, we are pleased to see the Elixinol Americas return to growth, reporting a 4% growth over the March quarter.

Factors driving growth included the opening of bricks and mortar retail distribution and e-commerce performance.

E-commerce represented 59% of Americas' revenues and delivered robust performance improvements throughout the quarter.

Significant progress was also made in further reducing operating costs throughout the quarter, with a new organisational structure expected to generate a further $1.6 million of annualised savings over the recent major cost-out program.

Throughout the quarter, the Americas' business also progressed the transition towards a fully outsourced supply and capital-light model, which is expected to be completed by the first quarter of FY22.

Elixinol Americas is now operating on a much lower cost base with increased margins leading to significant profitability improvements.

The reset Americas' business is now under new leadership, has a robust e-commerce baseline trend emerging, and further supply chain optimisation initiatives are on foot to contribute to an overall improving outlook.

Although the CBD category has not yet returned to pre-pandemic levels, recent market data shows an improving market and category outlook.

The company Is seeing an increasing consumer acceptance and use of CBD products, combined with improving retail foot traffic, with multiple congressional bills are in process to accelerate positive regulatory change.

Hope for regulatory clarity in UK

Horn continued: Although not yet material to our group revenues, Elixinol Europe disappointed and lagged due to continued impacts of COVID-19 on footfall into physical venues.

CBD continues to be a high-priced novel purchase and UK consumers have curtailed discretionary spending in favour of essential staples.

Furthermore, major UK retailers are reluctant to engage with the category until the Food Safety Authority publishes a list of CBD products, which are supported by valid novel foods applications.

As a result of these long-suppressed UK trading periods and the lack of regulatory clarity, a glut of competitor products is now available at clearance pricing.

We hope to see the regulatory landscape become clearer in the near term."

Under its European Industrial Hemp Association (EIHA) Novel Food consortium membership, Elixinor successfully submitted its Novel Food Application, which allows products to remain in distribution whilst the UK Food Safety Authority (FSA) processes applications.

However, despite industry expectations, the FSA has not been able to process Novel Food Application submissions, leaving brands and retail customers uncertain which products will be able to remain in distribution.

Due to COVID-19 and the lack of regulatory clarity in the UK, the European business reported lower revenues for the quarter of $117,000, down from $215,000 in the first quarter.

The company will continue to engage with the FSA through this process via the EIHA consortium.

In the meantime, Elixinol Europe is reducing consumer price points and lowering operating costs to navigate through this challenging period.
A glance at some of the day's highlights from the Proactive Investors US and Canada newswires

SoLVBL Solutions Inc said due to oversubscribed investor demand it has upsized and closed its previously announced brokered private placement for $3 million. The company issued 50 million units priced at $0.06 each and the private placement was brokered by Research Capital Corporation, who served as both sole agent and bookrunner. Each unit consists of one common share of SoLVBL Solutions and one common share purchase warrant, exercisable for a period of 24 months in exchange for one common share with a purchase price of $0.12 per warrant share.

Medallion Resources Ltd has announced a tie-up with private company ACDC Metals Pty Ltd (ACDC) to potentially produce rare earths from monazite from Australia's Murray Basin using the former's extraction process. ACDC is to acquire three historical non-JORC/NI43-101 compliant mineral sand resource properties and other exploration assets in Victoria, Australia, and is planning to undertake an IPO and list on the Australian Stock Exchange within the next 12 months. The non-binding letter of intent (LOI) gives ACDC the exclusive right to construct a mineral sand monazite refinery in southeastern Australia utilizing the Medallion monazite process, and the right to sub-license the ( ) Assisted Displacement (LAD) Chromatography process to separate out the rare earth elements (REE).

Golden Arrow Resources Corporation has commenced an exploration program, including an Induced Polarization Resistivity (IPR) survey at its wholly-owned Yanso Gold Project. Located in San Juan province, Argentina, Yanso is described as a gold-copper intrusive-related target with a 300 metres (m) by 90m zone of strong alteration coincident with gold and other geochemical anomalies. A previous exploration effort at the gold property returned positive assay results from rock chip samples. Highlights of this work include a 16m zone averaging 0.602 grams per ton (g/t) gold (including 2m at 1.27 g/t gold); as well as 2m averaging 3.46 g/t gold, and 2m averaging 3.15 g/t gold.

PharmaDrug Inc will have a new look for traders starting in August. The pharmaceutical company announced it is changing its Canadian ticker symbol from BUZZ to PHRX to better align with its strategy.

( ) Corp has announced the start of the first drill program at its East Niv property in central British Columbia. The company said an initial program of 11 holes for a total of 2,750 metres (m) is planned. In addition to diamond drilling, ( ) said it is continuing to explore the broader East Niv region and carrying out fieldwork to identify additional new targets for follow-up.

( , ) (TSX-V:CDX, ) Inc, a provider of virtual care and remote patient monitoring solutions, has reaffirmed its commitment to gender diversity and professional equality between men and women. The North American disruptor in virtual care based in Kitchener, Ontario and Brooklyn, New York, said individuals who identify as female currently make up over 50% of ( , ) employees and contractors. The company is also proud that it has strong representation from individuals who identify as female and estimated that one out of four of its executives is female, while three out of five people in the senior leadership team are women. "Since our inception as a company, we have strongly advocated for gender equality, diversity and inclusion," said Cloud DX CEO Robert Kaul in a statement.

( , ) said it will host a business update conference call on August 4, 2021 at 1:00 pm ET to discuss the planned acquisition of Grace Therapeutics Inc, a privately held emerging biopharmaceutical company focused on developing innovative drug delivery technologies for the treatment of rare and orphan diseases. Acasti plans to provide additional context on the proposed Grace acquisition and its benefits, including Graces diversified drug pipeline with multiple, high quality clinical assets, significant addressable market opportunities, three clinical stage assets with a potentially shorter timeline to key milestones, efficient and lower-cost clinical and regulatory pathway and and a strong and growing intellectual property portfolio. The conference call will be available via telephone by dialing toll free 844-369-8770 for US callers or +1 862-298-0840 for international callers. The conference call will be webcasted and available at https://www.webcaster4.com/Webcast/Page/2210/42244, or on the firms investors section of the website: https://www.acastipharma.com/investors/.

( ) Inc. has said it will announce its financial results for the three months ended June 30, 2021, on Thursday, August 12, 2021, after the close of the market. The company will host a conference call at 4.30pm ET on August 12, 2021, to discuss the results. To access the conference call, from the US dial (833) 942-2345 or for International calls dial (270) 215-9807, and enter Conference ID 8092029. This information is also available on the company's website at www. ( ).com/investors. The earnings release along with a replay of the call promptly following its conclusion will be available at the same site.

( , ) has announced that its common shares are now eligible for electronic clearing and settlement through the Depository Trust Company (DTC). DTC is a subsidiary of the Depository Trust & Clearing Corp. that manages the electronic clearing and settlement of publicly traded companies in the United States. DTC eligibility reduces costs and accelerates the settlement process for investors and brokers allowing the Company's common shares to be traded over a much wider selection of brokerage firms. "DTC eligibility is an important step in the maturity of AMY and our ongoing efforts to present the Company to a broader audience of potential investors," said Larry Reaugh CEO and president of American Manganese. "With greater accessibility and visibility of AMY's common shares, existing and new shareholders are provided with further opportunities to invest in our planned growth."
Posted by Jay on at 04:18 PM CST

Marvel has sent out solicitations for their October 2021 titles, including 8comics and 6 trade paperbacks!(of 5)DANIEL JOSE OLDER (W)  DAVE WACHTER (A)  Cover by DAVID LOPEZVariant Cover by ARIO ANINDITOVariant Cover by JULIAN TEDESCOJEDI KNIGHT AND PRIVATE EYE TEAM UP TO UNCOVER A MYSTERYTHAT WILL CHANGE THE HIGH REPUBLIC FOREVER!A Jedi Master is dead. Another is in a state of complete shock. Its a murder the likes of which the Jedi Order has never seen before. There are no leads. There are no suspects. There is no motive. But Jedi Investigator EMERICK CAPHTOR must solve the case before its too late. The fate of the Jedi, the Hutts, the Nihil and everyone in the galaxy, hangs by this tangled thread of lies and deceit. Emerick will need to dive into the darkness, testing himself and his Jedi ideals like never before. Hell need help. Luckily, Private Eye SIAN HOLT lives in the dark. Together, theyll follow this trail of shadows wherever it leads. If they can work together, that is.32 PGS./Rated T $3.99(of 5)Charles Soule (W)  LUKE ROSS (A)  Cover by STEVE MCNIVENVariant Cover by CARLO PAGULAYANACTION FIGURE VARIANT BY JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHERBounty Hunter Handbook Variant Cover by RON FRENZTrading Card Variant Cover by JOHN CASSADAYCarbonite Variant Cover by STEVE McNIVENBoba Always Gets His Bounty Variant Cover by Steve McNivenTHE ULTIMATE FINALE! THE BIGGEST EVENT OF THE YEARCHANGES THE FACE OF THE GALAXY! Everything and everyone in the galaxy is against bounty hunter BOBA FETT, from Sith Lords to Hutt rulers to the mysterious CRIMSON DAWN. He cant succeed. Theres no way he can regain HAN SOLO, escape the bounties on his head, and survive to get his prize to JABBA THE HUTT and get paid. But HAN SOLO belongs to him, and no one will take him away. With a shocker of an ending that sets up a revolutionary new status quo for STAR WARS COMICS!40 PGS./Rated T $4.99CHARLES SOULE (W)  RAMON ROSANAS (A)  Cover by CARLO PAGULAYANVariant Cover by LEINIL FRANCIS YUBounty Hunter Handbook Variant Cover by RON FRENZLucasfilm 50th Anniversary Variant Cover by CHRIS SPROUSECarbonite Variant Cover by CARLO PAGULAYANAction Figure Variant Cover by John Tyler ChristopherCOLLISION COURSE Reeling from the events on JEKARA and forced to confront the reality of her own choices and losses, LEIA ORGANA meets QIRA to discuss the person they both have in common - heroic smuggler HAN SOLO! How has he influenced their lives to that point? And how will it change their fate moving forward?32 PGS./Rated T $3.99ALYSSA WONG (W)  MINKYU JUNG (A)COVER BY SARA PICHELLIBounty Hunter Handbook Variant Coverby RON FRENZLucasfilm 50th Anniversary Variant Coverby CHRIS SPROUSECarbonite Variant Cover by SARA PICHELLIPARTY FAVORS CRIMSON DAWN is back, and DOCTOR APHRA is trapped aboard their ship! What treasures lie aboard the VERMILLION? And what price will Aphra have to pay to obtain them?32 PGS./Rated T $3.99RODNEY BARNES (W)  GUIU VILANOVA (A)  Cover by Mahmud AsrarVariant by CASPAR WIJNGAARDVARIANT COVER BY RAY-ANTHONY HEIGHTBounty Hunter Handbook Variant Cover RON FRENZCarbonite Variant Cover by MAHMUD ASRARNO ONE CAN DEFEAT IG-88! WAR OF THE BOUNTY HUNTERS TIE-IN!IG-88 is an advanced assassin droid designed for death, destruction, and mayhem. Its weapons systems are unparalleled, its design flawless. Yet the galaxys most sinister droid bounty hunter can still fail. What motivates IG-88s resurrection time and time again? Is it programming or something more? And can IG-88 find a strategy to overcome its old foe, Boba Fett?! Rodney Barnes and Guiu Vilanovas one-shot is the fourth of four action-packed War of the Bounty Hunters tie-ins about the criminal underworlds most notorious hunters and scoundrels, all told by the best STAR WARS writers and illustrators in the galaxy.40 PGS./ONE-SHOT/Rated T $4.99GREG PAK (W)  RAFFAELE IENCO (A)  Cover by AARON KUDERBounty Hunter Handbook Variant Cover by RON FRENZLucasfilm 50th Anniversary Variant Cover by CHRIS SPROUSECarbonite Variant Cover by AARON KUDERJUST REWARDS Throughout the search for HAN SOLO, DARTH VADER has carved his way through shadows, unraveling mysteries cloaked in deceptions and betrayal. Now Vader finally takes care of all his business in this blockbuster conclusion to the WAR OF THE BOUNTY HUNTERS story arc. But is he the true master of betrayal in this tale? Or is there another?32 PGS./Rated T $3.99CAVAN SCOTT (W)  ARIO ANINDITO (A)  Cover by PHIL NOTOVARIANT COVER BY GEORGES JEANTYVARIANT COVER BY CASPAR WIJNGAARDA NEW STORY BEGINS THIS ISSUE  THE SHADOW OF THE NIHIL! Following the terrible events of The Rising Storm, the villainous NIHIL are in retreat, hunted by THE JEDI. WAYSEEKER KNIGHT ORLA JARENI is attacked by a lone Nihil Stormship in deep space, a Stormship commanded by one of the Jedis own. Which of STARLIGHT BEACONS number have joined the Nihil Horde? And how far will they turn from the light?32 PGS./Rated T $3.99ETHAN SACKS (W)  PAOLO VILLANELLI (A)COVER BY GIUSEPPE CAMUNCOLIBounty Hunter Handbook VariantCover RON FRENZLucasfilm 50th Anniversary VariantCover by CHRIS SPROUSECarbonite Variant Cover by GIUSEPPE CAMUNCOLILAST STAND Severely wounded, VALANCE must make a desperate escape attempt from an Imperial Star Destroyer. Will T'ONGA and her crew reach him in time? Plus: A shocking twist that will leave the survivors' lives forever altered!32 PGS./Rated T $3.99Written by CHARLES SOULEPenciled by STEVE McNIVEN & LUKE ROSSCover by STEVE McNIVENThe Star Wars comic event youve been waiting for! The notorious bounty hunter Boba Fett has finally landed his greatest prize  Han Solo, frozen in carbonite for easy transport. Fett will bring the smuggler to Tatooine to collect the massive bounty placed on Solos head by the fearsome crime lord Jabba the Hutt. Theres just one problem standing between Fett and the payday and its a big one. But Fett will stop at nothing to get the job done! Prepare for a mind-blowing, space-shattering epic event like no other! Featuring the return of the criminal Crimson Dawn, plus Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker, Leia Organa, Valance, Doctor Aphra and the Hutts, all vying for the ultimate prize  with Boba Fett stuck in the middle! Collecting STAR WARS: WAR OF THE BOUNTY HUNTERS ALPHA and STAR WARS: WAR OF THE BOUNTY HUNTERS #1-5.160 PGS./Rated T $19.99ISBN: 978-1-302-92880-3Trim size: 6-5/8 x 10-3/16Written by JUSTINA IRELAND, DANIEL Jose OLDER, ALYSSA WONG & RODNEY BARNESPenciled by LUCA PIZZARI, KEI ZAMA, DAVID BALDEON & MORECover by Mahmud AsrarYou will never find a more wretched collection of scum and villainy! As Boba Fetts simple mission to deliver the carbonite-frozen Han Solo and collect his payday erupts into chaos and the War of the Bounty Hunters engulfs the galaxy, fan-favorites from the darker side of the Star Wars universe get their chances to shine! Failed by his most trusted bounty hunter, Jabba the Hutt hires a bounty hunter from the High Republic  Deva Lompop! The team supreme is divided as 4-LOM battles Zuckuss  but what could tear them apart? The secret origin of Boushh is revealed as the legendary warrior is hired to assassinate Domina Tagge! And the homicidal droid IG-88 explodes into action! Collecting STAR WARS: WAR OF THE BOUNTY HUNTERS  JABBA THE HUTT, 4-LOM & ZUCKUSS, BOUSHH and IG-88.136 PGS./Rated T $19.99ISBN: 978-1-302-93149-0Trim size: 6-5/8 x 10-3/16Written by CHARLES SOULEPenciled by RAMON ROSANASCover by CARLO PAGULAYANThe hunt for Han! Chewbacca has heard from an old friend with intelligence on the location of notorious bounty hunter Boba Fett, who is in possession of the carbon-frozen body of Han Solo. Along with Luke Skywalker, the loyal Wookiee sets off in search of his lost friend, on an adventure to Nar Shaddaa better known as the Smugglers Moon! But this mission may prevent plucky astromech droid R2-D2 from passing along a crucial message to Luke  a message that will affect the fate of the entire Jedi Order! As their missing friend sparks a War of the Bounty Hunters across the galaxy, Luke embarks upon an epic mission with Wedge Antilles and the brave pilots of Starlight Squadron  as Leia, Chewie and Lando take on Boba Fett! The saga of Star Wars continues to surprise! Collecting STAR WARS (2020) #13-18.136 PGS./Rated T $17.99ISBN: 978-1-302-92080-7Trim size: 6-5/8 x 10-3/16Written by CAVAN SCOTTPenciled by GEORGES JEANTY & ARIO ANINDITOCover by PHIL NOTOAs the galaxy prepares to celebrate the Republic Fair on Valo, a fierce battle rages in the depths of Wild Space  and the Jedi of Starlight Beacon must join forces with their most feared enemy to face the terror of the unstoppable Drengir horde! And as Avar Kriss and her new allies fight nightmarish creatures on a harsh lava world, young Jedi Keeve Trennis puts everything on the line to save her former master from the darkness! Meanwhile, who  or what  is the Great Progenitor? And will the Jedi find other forces at work on the Drengirs deathworld? Plus: The villainous Nihil may be in retreat but they cast a long shadow! Guest-starring Cohmac Vitus, Reath Silas and Orla Jareni, Jedi Wayseeker, from the blockbuster novel Star Wars: The High Republic  Into the Dark! Collecting STAR WARS: THE HIGH REPUBLIC #6-10.120 PGS./Rated T $15.99ISBN: 978-1-302-93142-1Trim size: 6-5/8 x 10-3/16Written by ALYSSA WONGPENCILED BY MINKYU JUNG & FEDERICO SABBATINICover by SARA PICHELLIDoctor Aphras adventures continue against the backdrop of War of the Bounty Hunters! Aphra and Sana Starros discover an eerie, abandoned ship but on board they will discover a nightmarish horror not seen in the galaxy for untold eons. And to make things worse, they must contend with the fearsome bounty hunter Durge! Then, a mysterious invitation leads Aphra and Sana to an exclusive party  teeming with scum and villainy! Can they survive the underworld social event of the century? Or will their cover be blown by a familiar face with an agenda of their own? Face-to-face with the one person she hoped shed never see again, this time, the not-so-good Doctor is in trouble so deep she might not be able to talk her way out Collecting STAR WARS: DOCTOR APHRA (2020) #11-15.112 PGS./Rated T $15.99ISBN: 978-1-302-92879-7Trim size: 6-5/8 x 10-3/16Written by JOHN OSTRANDER, RANDY STRADLEY, W. HADEN BLACKMAN & ALEXANDER FREEDPenciled by LUKE ROSS, DOUGLAS WHEATLEY, JIM HALL, CHRIS SCALF, MARCO CASTIELLO, ANDREA CHELLA, RICK LEONARDI, DAVE ROSS, LUI ANTONIO & AGUSTIN ALESSIOCovers by TSUNEO SANDA & DAVE WILKINSThe Old Republic has fallen  and the Empire is rising! In the aftermath of Episode III, Sith lord Palpatine exerts his ruthless grip on the galaxy as his enforcer Darth Vader leads a brutal purge to wipe out the Jedi Order! Marked for death, Jedi Master KKruhk must protect the younglings under his care, as Master Dass Jennir finds refuge with a crew of smugglers. But to survive, will they abandon their heroic ideals? Meanwhile, the relentless Vader must rescue an officers son and defend the Emperor from an uprising  by any means necessary! Witness the beginnings of the Galactic Empire! Collecting STAR WARS: REPUBLIC #78-80, STAR WARS: PURGE, STAR WARS: PURGE  SECONDS TO DIE, STAR WARS: PURGE  THE HIDDEN BLADE, STAR WARS: PURGE  THE TYRANTS FIST #1-2, STAR WARS: DARTH VADER AND THE LOST COMMAND #1-5, STAR WARS: DARK TIMES #1-17, STAR WARS: DARK TIMES  BLUE HARVEST #0, STAR WARS: DARK TIMES  OUT OF THE WILDERNESS #1-5 and STAR WARS: DARTH VADER AND THE GHOST PRISON #1-5.992 PGS./Rated T $125.00ISBN: 978-1-302-93417-0Trim size: 7-1/4 x 10-7/8
A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind.
Espanola, NM (87532)

Today

Considerable clouds this evening. Some decrease in clouds late. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 62F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Considerable clouds this evening. Some decrease in clouds late. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 62F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph.
Upping the ante against the government, former Congress Chief Rahul Gandhi on Friday described Pegasus as a weapon and demanded resignation of Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

He also demanded a Supreme Court probe against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Addressing the media outside Parliament, Rahul Gandhi said, "Pegasus is classified by the Israeli State as a weapon and that weapon is supposed to be used against the terrorist. The Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) and Union Home Minister have used this weapon against the Indian State and against our institutions."

He alleged that the government used it politically. "They have used it in Karnataka, they have used it to scuttle probes, they have used it against the Supreme Court and against all the institutions of this country," he alleged.

Targeting the government, Rahul Gandhi said, "The only word for this is treason. There is no other word for this."

"And this has to be investigated and the Home Minister has to resign," the Congress leader demanded.

He also accused the Prime Minister of using this (Pegasus) weapon against the people of the country and also to scuttle the probe of Rafale fighter jet deal.

The Congress leader also said that "they tapped my phone". "This is not about my privacy, not about the privacy of Rahul Gandhi. I am an opposition leader and I raise issues of public. This is an attack on that. This is an attack on the voice of the people," he said.

He said: "A judicial enquiry and SC enquiry should be ordered on Narendra Modi because no one else can authorise Pegasus. This authorisation can only be done by the Prime Minister and the Home Minister."

The alleged snooping issue has triggered a stormy start to the Monsoon Session after a global collaborative investigative project revealed that Israeli company NSO Groups' Pegasus spyware was targeted over 300 mobile phone numbers in India, including that of two ministers in the Narendra Modi government, three Opposition leaders, constitutional authority, several journalist and business persons.

It snowballed on Tuesday after it came to fore that in July 2019, phone numbers of Karnataka's then Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara and the personal secretaries of then Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy and former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, were selected as possible targets for surveillance.

The Congress on Monday accused the government of "treason" and held Shah responsible for the snooping and hacking of phones of journalists, judges and politicians, and demanded a probe.

BJP leader and former IT minister Ravi Shankar Prasad questioned the credentials of those behind the story as well as its timing, coming a day before Parliament's Monsoon Session that began on Monday, as he accused the opposition party of hitting a "new low" in making baseless allegations.
Days after the Congress appointed Navjot Singh Sidhu as the party's Punjab chief, Rahul Gandhi on Friday said that the crisis has been resolved.

Speaking to the media outside Parliament, Rahul Gandhi said, "Punjab crisis has been resolved."

His remarks came a day after Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh said that he shall attend the ceremony of the new state Congress team taking charge led by Sidhu.

Earlier, the camp of the Chief Minister was adamant on its demand that Sidhu should first apologise publicly over his purported remarks against the government over the power crisis and the sacrilege issue and then only Amarinder Singh would meet him.

In a first show of solidarity and strength, Sidhu, accompanying 62 legislators, comprising four Cabinet ministers, on Wednesday paid obeisance at the Golden Temple in Amritsar.

However, the Chief Minister and his close confidants were absent from Sidhu's maiden visit to his constituency Amritsar (East) and religious places there.

That was Sidhu's first visit to Amritsar after being appointed to the post by Congress interim President Sonia Gandhi on July 18, ending days of hectic lobbying within the Congress in Punjab.
Two Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists who were killed in an encounter with the security forces in North Kashmir's Sopore, refused to surrender and instead opened indiscriminate fire, police said on Friday.

Acting on specific information generated by Srinagar Police about the presence of terrorists in Sopore's Warpora area, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by the police, the Army's 22 RR and CRPF.

"During the search operation, the terrorists were given repeated opportunities to surrender. However, instead of surrendering they fired indiscriminately at the joint search party which was retaliated leading to an encounter," the police said.

In the ensuing encounter, the two LeT terrorists were killed and their bodies were retrieved from the site.

The victims have been identified as Fayaz Ahmad War alias Rukana alias Umar, a resident of Warpora and top commander of the terror outfit, and Shaheen Ahmad Mir alias Shaheen Molvi, resident of Cherpora, Budgam.

According to the police records, the two were part of groups involved in various criminal activities and several terror crime cases were registered against them.

"Fayaz Ahmad War had a long history of terror crime cases, as he was associated with terrorism since year 2008. Although he had surrendered earlier with arms and ammunition yet after his release he again worked as terrorist associate for proscribed terror outfit Hizbul Mujahideen and was detained under PSA.

"However after his release, in March-2020 he again joined terrorist ranks of proscribed terror outfit LeT. Besides, being part of groups involved in several terror crime cases, he was very instrumental in planning and executing terror attacks on security establishments and civilian killings and figured among the list of most wanted terrorists in North Kashmir," the police said.

He carried out several attacks against security, including one on a police party in Warpore on March 4, 2020, which claimed the lives of one personnel and a civilian.

"Moreover, he was also involved in a series of grenade attacks on police/security establishments in Sopore. On May 26, 2020, he carried out a grenade attack on Police Post Potukhah, and another one on Decemebr 12, 2020, on the PP Bus Stand in which four civilians were injured, and the latest on March 3, 2021, also on PP Bus Stand in which two police personnel were wounded," the police further added.

Incriminating materials, arms and ammunition including two AK-47 rifles, and four magazines were recovered from the site of encounter.

"All the recovered materials have been taken into case records for further investigation and to probe their complicity in other terror crimes," the police said.

Meanwhile IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar congratulated joint team of Police and security forces for conducting successful operation in professional manner without any collateral damage.

Police have registered a case and investigation has been initiated.
Extending support to the protesting farmers who have been staging protests at Delhi borders for over 250 days against the three contentious farm laws enacted by the central government, Punjab Congress President Navjot Singh Sidhu on Friday said the real issue was theirs.

In his maiden speech after assuming charge here, Sidhu, who shared the stage with Chief Minister Amarinder Singh after a long break, also extended an olive branch to the protesting doctors, nurses, teachers and bus conductors, who have been on roads for their demands.

"My fights are not the issue, the farmers sitting in Delhi, the protesting TET qualified teachers, the problems of doctors and nurses and bus conductors are the real issues," Sidhu said.

Reiterating his commitment to provide the electricity to the consumers in the state at the highly subsidized rates, Sidhu, donning his trademark maroon Pathani suit with a scarf, asked his government that why the electricity was being purchased for Rs 12 per unit.

He also talked about costly power purchase pacts signed by the previous SAD-BJP government and still continuing in the Congress government.

"Choran di chori pakdi jaani chahidi ae (the thieves would be put behind the bars)," he said.

For quite some time, Sidhu has been targeting the Amarinder Singh-led government in the state by saying the state must do more for domestic and industrial consumer by giving power at Rs 3-5 per unit instead of surcharge inflated Rs 10-12 per unit, along 24-hour supply with no power cuts and free power up to 300 units to all.

Sidhu said there have been all sorts of speculations about him, but "positions are not the issue".

"Today every Congress worker has become the president, no difference between leader and workers," he said.

Remembering his ties with Sidhu's family, Chief Minister Amarinder Singh in his speech said they would work together for the state.

"I was commissioned in the Army, the year Sidhu was born. When my mother asked me to enter politics, his (Sidhu) father helped me. I used to go to his house when he was about six years old," said Amarinder Singh.

Ending speculations of differences between him and Sidhu, Amarinder Singh said, "We (Sidhu and Amarinder Singh) will work together for Punjab. Not just for Punjab, but for India. We share a long border with Pakistan...Pakistan, China and now with America's departure, Taliban in Afghanistan, all of them are going to come and sit at Kashmir's border, Punjab's border," the Chief Minister said.

Before Sidhu assumed the charge as the state President at the party office, Sidhu met the Chief Minister at the Punjab Bhawan here for the tea meeting.

The meeting between Sidhu and Singh, who had been at loggerheads, was cordial.

According to a video from the event, Sidhu greeted Amarinder Singh with folded hands and broke the ice by saying: "How are you, sir? Such a pleasure."

Amarinder Singh had invited all Congress MLAs and MPs for breakfast an hour before the new team to take charge, comprising four working presidents -- Kuljit Singh Nagra, Sangat Singh Gilzian, Sukhwinder Singh Danny, and Pawan Goel.
Amid talk of a change of leadership in Karnataka, state Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister, K.S. Eshwarappa on Friday said the Bharatiya Janata Party high command will not impose its decision concerning the CM nominee on the party. Instead the party's legislature meeting will elect the new Chief Minister as and when the leadership change takes place in the state, he added.

On the sidelines of a one-day workshop for Panchayat Development Officers (PDOs), Gram Panchayat Presidents and Vice Presidents of Chitradurga district here, Eshwarappa said the media is busy making wrong presumptions about the BJP's functioning style.

"Ours is a democratic and disciplined party. Nothing is imposed from the top unlike in other parties. We follow the procedures. BJP central leaders will announce a CM nominee only after consulting each and every MLA and also the leaders concerned," he said responding to a query.

Reiterating Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa's statement, Eshwarappa said Yediyurappa has himself clarified that he would not be suggesting any replacements for the CM's chair as this matter has to be decided collectively by the party and not by any individual.

"Whenever leadership is changed in Karnataka this time, it will be a collective decision and not any individual's decision," he added.

Responding to a query, Eshwarappa said the Lingayat seers must know that the demand for change in leadership was raised by none other than leaders from their own community.

"Those (seers) who are talking in support of Yediyurappa now should have acted when their own community leaders were talking ill about him, raising the change in leadership row. These seers should have stopped them, now it really does not matter when Yediyurappa himself has said he would abide by the party's central leaders' orders," he added.


Secretary of state Antony Blinken will visit India for the first time as Americas top diplomat on July 28. Blinken is scheduled to meet his counterpart S Jaishankar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the US state department said in an announcement of the visit on Friday.




Luxury automobile manufacturer Mercedes-Benz is getting ready to go all electric by the end of the decade, where market conditions allow.

Accordingly, the company is accelerating toward an emissions-free and software-driven future.

Under the plans, by 2022, Mercedes-Benz will have battery electric vehicles (BEV) in all segments the company serves.

Besides, from 2025 onwards, all newly launched vehicle architectures will be electric-only and customers will be able to choose an all-electric alternative for every model the company makes.

According to Mercedes-Benz, it intends to manage this accelerated transformation while sticking to its profitability targets.

"The EV shift is picking up speed -- especially in the luxury segment, where Mercedes-Benz belongs. The tipping point is getting closer and we will be ready as markets switch to electric-only by the end of this decade," said Ola Kallenius, CEO of Daimler AG and Mercedes-Benz AG.

"This step marks a profound reallocation of capital. By managing this faster transformation while safeguarding our profitability targets, we will ensure the enduring success of Mercedes-Benz."

Additionally, to facilitate this shift, Mercedes-Benz plans to significantly accelerate R&D.

In total, investments into battery electric vehicles between 2022 and 2030 will amount to over 40 billion.

In addition, Mercedes-Benz plans to set up eight Gigafactories for producing cells, together with its partners around the world.

"This is in addition to the already planned network of nine plants dedicated to building battery systems," the company said in a statement.
The maker of the powerful spy software allegedly used to hack the phones of various people around the globe says blaming the company is like "criticising a car manufacturer when a drunk driver crashes", the BBC reported.

A NSO spokesperson told BBC: "If I am the manufacturer of a car and now you take the car and you are driving drunken and you hit somebody, you do not go to the car manufacturer, you go to the driver.

"We are sending the system to governments, we get all the correct accreditation and do it all legally.

"You know, if a customer decides to misuse the system, he will not be a customer anymore.

"But all the allegations and all the finger-pointing should be at the customer."

NSO Group is facing international criticism, after reporters obtained a list of alleged potential targets for spyware, including activists, politicians and journalists.

Investigations have begun as the list, of 50,000 phone numbers, contained a small number of hacked phones.

Pegasus infects iPhones and Android devices, allowing operators to extract messages, photos and emails, record calls and secretly activate microphones and cameras.

The Israeli company says its software is intended for use against criminals and terrorists and made available to only military, law enforcement and intelligence agencies from countries with good human rights records.

But a consortium of news organisations, led by French media outlet Forbidden Stories, has published dozens of stories based around the list.

NSO Group said it had been told the list had been hacked from its Cyprus servers

But a company spokesman told BBC News: "Firstly, we don't have servers in Cyprus.

"And secondly, we don't have any data of our customers in our possession.

"And more than that, the customers are not related to each other, as each customer is separate.

"So there should not be a list like this at all anywhere."

And the number of potential targets did not reflect the way Pegasus worked.

"It's an insane number," the spokesman said.

"Our customers have an average of 100 targets a year.

"Since the beginning of the company, we didn't have 50,000 targets total."

Of the people whose numbers are on the list, 67 agreed to give Forbidden Stories their phones for forensic analysis.

And this research, by Amnesty International Security Labs, reportedly found evidence of potential targeting by Pegasus on 37 of those.

But NSO Group said it had no knowledge of how some phones on the list contained remnants of spyware.

It could be "a coincidence", the spokesman said.
Northbrook, IL -- (SBWIRE) -- 07/23/2021 -- According to the new market research report "Aircraft Landing Gear Market by Type (Main Landing Gear, Nose Landing Gear), Sub-system(Actuation System, Steering System, Brake System), End Use (OEM, Aftermarket), Aircraft Type(Fixed Wing, Rotary Wing), and Region - Forecast to 2026", published by MarketsandMarkets, the market is estimated to be USD 6.9 billion in 2021 and is projected to reach USD 9.6 billion by 2026, at a CAGR of 6.7%. The growth of this market is mainly driven by the increasing aircraft deliveries due to growing passenger traffic and upgrades in existing aircraft. Advancements in existing types of aircraft as well as new technological developments for enhancements in aircraft performance and efficiency are expected to drive the market for aircraft landing gear across the globe.



Ask for PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=1054



The aircraft pumps market includes major players Collins Aerospace (US), Safran (France), Liebherr (Switzerland), Heroux-Devtek(Canada) and Triumph Group(US). These players have spread their business across various countries includes North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East, Africa, and Latin America. COVID-19 has impacted their businesses as well.



The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the end-use industries adversely, resulting in a sudden dip in 2020 aircraft orders and deliveries. This is expected to negatively impact the aircraft market in the short term, with slow recovery expected in Q1 of 2021.



Increasing aircraft deliveries and technological advancements will drive the demand for main landing gear segment



The main landing gear segment is expected to grow the largest, based on type of landing gears. Increasing aircraft deliveries and technological advancements such as the need for minimum weight, minimum volume, high performance, and improved life of landing gear systems is expected to drive the market for aircraft landing gear.



The actuation system segment is projected to witness a higher CAGR during the forecast period.



Based on sub-system, the actuation system segment is projected to be the highest CAGR rate for the aircraft landing gear market during the forecast period. The growth of the actuation system segment can be attributed to various technological advancements for the incorporation of high-efficiency, high-tolerance, and durability in landing gear systems is expected to boost the market for sub-systems. Aircraft modernization programs such as UAVs, hybrid VTOLs, and AAMs are also expected to boost the market.



The Fixed Wing Segment is projected to witness the highest CAGR during the forecast period.



Based on the aircraft type, the fixed wing segment is projected to grow at the highest CAGR rate for the aircraft landing gear market during the forecast period. The fixed wing segment is projected to have the largest growth due to the rising number of commercial aircraft deliveries and a boost in the orders of business jet and general aviation aircraft. Military fixed wing aircraft are also seeing a rise due to the rise in orders for fighter aircraft and UAVs owing to the rise in tension across borders, especially in the Middle East and Asia Pacific Regions.



Browse in-depth TOC on "Aircraft Landing Gear Market"

327  Tables

47  Figures

262  Pages



Inquiry Before Buying: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Enquiry_Before_BuyingNew.asp?id=1054



The Aftermarket segment is projected to witness the highest CAGR during the forecast period



Based on the end user, the aftermarket segment is projected to grow at the highest CAGR rate for the aircraft landing gear market during the forecast period. The need for timely maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services especially replacements of parts and systems, and also the fact that new MRO facilities are opening are some of the reasons the aftermarket segment is seeing the growth.



The North American market is projected to contribute the largest share from 2021 to 2026



Aircraft landing gear market in North America is projected to hold the highest market share during the forecast period. In North America, the rise in aircraft orders and supplies is encouraging manufacturers of aircraft landing gears to increase their sales year on year. The increasing demand for commercial aircraft and the presence of some of the leading players operating in the market, such as Collins Aerospace (US), Triumph group (US), Parker Hannifin (US) and Crane Co. (US) are expected to drive the aircraft landing gear market in North America. These players are focusing on R&D to increase their product lines and using technologically advanced systems, subsystems, and other components for manufacturing aircraft landing gears.



Related Reports:



Aircraft Actuators Market by End-Use (OEM, Aftermarket), Type (Linear, Rotary), Technology (Hydraulic, Electric, Pneumatic, Mechanical), System, Application, Wing Type (Fixed Wing, Rotary Wing), Platform, and Region - Global Forecast to 2030



Aircraft Tires Market by Application (Commercial, & Defense), By Aircraft Type (VLA, NBA, WBA & RTA), by Product Type (Radial & Bias), by End User (OEM, Retreaded, & Replacement), by Platform (Fixed & Rotary Wing), and by Geography - Global Forecast to 2020



About MarketsandMarkets

MarketsandMarkets provides quantified B2B research on 30,000 high growth niche opportunities/threats which will impact 70% to 80% of worldwide companies' revenues. Currently servicing 7500 customers worldwide including 80% of global Fortune 1000 companies as clients. Almost 75,000 top officers across eight industries worldwide approach MarketsandMarkets for their painpoints around revenues decisions.



Our 850 fulltime analyst and SMEs at MarketsandMarkets are tracking global high growth markets following the "Growth Engagement Model  GEM". The GEM aims at proactive collaboration with the clients to identify new opportunities, identify most important customers, write "Attack, avoid and defend" strategies, identify sources of incremental revenues for both the company and its competitors. MarketsandMarkets now coming up with 1,500 MicroQuadrants (Positioning top players across leaders, emerging companies, innovators, strategic players) annually in high growth emerging segments. MarketsandMarkets is determined to benefit more than 10,000 companies this year for their revenue planning and help them take their innovations/disruptions early to the market by providing them research ahead of the curve.



MarketsandMarkets's flagship competitive intelligence and market research platform, "Knowledge Store" connects over 200,000 markets and entire value chains for deeper understanding of the unmet insights along with market sizing and forecasts of niche markets.



Contact:

Mr. Aashish Mehra

MarketsandMarkets INC.

630 Dundee Road

Suite 430

Northbrook, IL 60062

USA: +1-888-600-6441
Kington, UK -- (SBWIRE) -- 07/23/2021 -- If new to QuickBooks desktop or changing the password for the first time, creating a strong password is vital.



It is important to create a password with a minimum of seven characters, with at least one numeric character, one letter in Uppercase, no spacing in between the characters, preferably adding one special character in the password. It is important to avoid using a date of birth or any personal information, or using a QuickBooks desktop account from a public device.



According to the 90 day password reset policy of QuickBooks, users are required to change the password every three months to avoid security threats.



Passwords can be reset using the Forgot My Password option by entering the username and clicking the "I forgot my password" link. The security question would have to be answered. A new password would then have to be generated and a new security question set.



With the QuickBooks Automated Password Reset Tool, the QuickBooks version that was used to open the company file would have to be selected, after which the QuickBooks license number and the required business information would have to be entered.



In the event that a user is unable to reset the QuickBooks Admin password or QuickBooks goes into a loop when trying to change the admin password, a possible corruption of the Admin user account may be the cause. The regular Admin Password Reset will not work in such cases.



Common causes of a corrupt Admin password are file crashes, operating system crashes, use of third-party applications or viruses.



To fix a corrupted QuickBooks Admin user account, the user account needs to be deleted and re-created. This cannot be done by the end user and requires professional repair service such as E-Tech.



For more information on this service, visit https://quickbooksrecovery.co.uk/quickbooks-data-recovery/password-recovery/



About E-Tech

E-Tech is the leading service provider of QuickBooks File Repair, Data Recovery, QuickBooks Conversion and QuickBooks SDK programming in the UK and Ireland. In their 20 years plus of experience with Intuit QuickBooks, they have assisted over 1000 satisfied customers with their requirements. E-Tech UK covers US, UK, Canadian, Australian versions which include Reckon Accounts, and New Zealand versions of QuickBooks through PC and Mac platforms.



For media inquiries regarding E-Tech, individuals are encouraged to contact Media Relations Director, Melanie Ann via email at Melanie@e-tech.ca.



To learn more about the company, visit: https://quickbooksrecovery.co.uk/



Media Contact



Melanie Ann

E-Tech

61 Bridge St.

Kington HR5 3DJ

Melanie@e-tech.ca

www.quickbooksrecovery.co.uk
Northbrook, IL -- (SBWIRE) -- 07/23/2021 -- According to a new market research report "Low-Code Development Platform Market by Component (Platform and Services), Application Type, Deployment Type (Cloud and On-Premises), Organization Size (SMEs and Large Enterprises), Industry, and Region - Global Forecast to 2025" published by MarketsandMarkets, the low-code development platform market projected to grow from USD 13.2 billion in 2020 to USD 45.5 billion by 2025, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 28.1% during the forecast period. The increasing need of digitalization and maturity of agile DevOps practices are expected to enhance the use of low-code development platform market across the globe.



Browse in-depth TOC on "Low-Code Development Platform Market"

133- Tables

33- Figures

161- Pages



Download PDF Brochure @ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=103455110



Based on organization size, the SMEs segment to lead the market in 2020



Small businesses are expected to witness a higher growth in the adoption of low-code development platform and services. The growing awareness of the benefits of process automation, the increasing focus of governments on digital transformation, and business expansions by global vendors are expected to be the driving factors for the growth of the low-code development platform market. The adoption rate for low-code development platform and services is high in SMEs and is expected to dominate the low-code development platform market, in terms of market size, during the forecast period.



Based on industry, the BFSI to grow at the fastest rate during the forecast period.



The BFSI industry requires low-code development platform and services at a large-scale due to the voluminous information produced across these organizations. Low-code development platform and services helps the BFSI industry in enriching the customer experience using new financial products and services driving the overall market during the forecast period.



North America to hold the largest market share during the forecast period.



North America has the presence of several prominent market players delivering advanced solutions to all the end users in the regions. Owing to their strong economies, the US and Canada are expected to be major contributors to the growth of the low-code development platform market. Apart from this factor, the geographical presence, strategic investments, partnerships, and significant Research and Development (R&D) activities are contributing to the hefty deployments of low-code development platform market solutions. Key pure play vendors, such as Salesforce, Microsoft, Appian, and Oracle, offer enhanced low-code development platform and services to cater to the needs of customers. Such factors are expected to fuel the growth of the global low-code development platform market in North America.



Request Sample Pages @ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsampleNew.asp?id=103455110



Market Players



Major vendors offering low-code development platform software include Salesforce (US), Microsoft (US), Appian (US), Oracle (US), Pegasystems (US), Magic Software Enterprises (US), AgilePoint (US), OutSystems (US), Zoho (India), Quick Base (US), LANSA (US), Fujitsu RunMyProcess (France), Netcall (UK), WaveMaker (US), and K2 (US).



About MarketsandMarkets

MarketsandMarkets provides quantified B2B research on 30,000 high growth niche opportunities/threats which will impact 70% to 80% of worldwide companies' revenues. Currently servicing 7500 customers worldwide including 80% of global Fortune 1000 companies as clients. Almost 75,000 top officers across eight industries worldwide approach MarketsandMarkets for their painpoints around revenues decisions.



Our 850 fulltime analyst and SMEs at MarketsandMarkets are tracking global high growth markets following the "Growth Engagement Model  GEM". The GEM aims at proactive collaboration with the clients to identify new opportunities, identify most important customers, write "Attack, avoid and defend" strategies, identify sources of incremental revenues for both the company and its competitors. MarketsandMarkets now coming up with 1,500 MicroQuadrants (Positioning top players across leaders, emerging companies, innovators, and strategic players) annually in high growth emerging segments. MarketsandMarkets is determined to benefit more than 10,000 companies this year for their revenue planning and help them take their innovations/disruptions early to the market by providing them research ahead of the curve.



MarketsandMarkets's flagship competitive intelligence and market research platform, "Knowledge Store" connects over 200,000 markets and entire value chains for deeper understanding of the unmet insights along with market sizing and forecasts of niche markets.



Contact:

Mr. Aashish Mehra

MarketsandMarkets INC.

630 Dundee Road

Suite 430

Northbrook, IL 60062

USA: 1-888-600-6441

Email: sales@marketsandmarkets.com

MnM Blog: https://mnmblog.org

Content Source: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/PressReleases/low-code-development-platforms.asp
Kington, UK -- (SBWIRE) -- 07/23/2021 -- Data corruption, unbalanced Balance Sheet reports, slow performance and constant errors are just some of the effects of an overgrown file.



The QuickBooks SuperCondense significantly reduces the file size of a QuickBooks data file resulting in higher responsiveness and faster performance, higher network stability, less prone to data corruption issues and a significantly reduced file size.



Customers, vendors, items are also kept well beyond the 14,500 limit for Pro and Premier, and can convert large files to QuickBooks Online. It also allows for the upgrade to newer versions faster and easier. A Pro or Premiere file should not exceed 150Mb and an Enterprise file, 1GB. QuickBooks Repair Pro's SuperCondense service expels old data whereby the size of the file is decreased by as much as 80 percent. "The SuperCondense feature is an advanced version of the Condense feature in QuickBooks and has proven to have far more extensive results with both document size and the QuickBooks' pace," John Rocha of E-Tech said.



This is mainly because the condense operation condenses closed transactions into summary journal entries. If any list items are not used, they are deleted from QuickBooks. Currently, QuickBooks Online can only convert desktop data files under 350MB in size. With E-Tech's SuperCondense Service, QuickBooks users can bring down any file size so they can easily upgrade to QuickBooks Online.



SuperCondensing a QuickBooks file is said to boost performance, bring about stability, stay comfortably under the 14,500 name limit for Pro and Premier, convert to QuickBooks Online faster and easier.



The SuperCondense service has been used by hundreds of satisfied customers in US, Canada, and UK. Since QuickBooks does not have a condense feature in the Canadian and UK versions of QuickBooks. This service allows users to continue using their existing data files rather than create a new data file and lose history. Also, even though the US version of QuickBooks does have a condense feature, it does not work correctly with data files with Inventory or Advanced Inventory.



More service specifications for E-Tech's QuickBooks SuperCondense Service can be seen at https://quickbooksrecovery.co.uk/quickbooks-file-data-services/quickbooks-supercondense-service/.



About E-Tech

E-Tech is the leading service provider of QuickBooks File Repair, Data Recovery, QuickBooks Conversion and QuickBooks SDK programming in the UK and Ireland. In their 20 years plus of experience with Intuit QuickBooks, they have assisted over 1000 satisfied customers with their requirements. E-Tech UK covers US, UK, Canadian, Australian versions which include Reckon Accounts, and New Zealand versions of QuickBooks through PC and Mac platforms.



For media inquiries regarding E-Tech, individuals are encouraged to contact Media Relations Director, Melanie Ann via email at Melanie@e-tech.ca.



To learn more about the company, visit: https://quickbooksrecovery.co.uk/



Media Contact



Melanie Ann

E-Tech

61 Bridge St.

Kington HR5 3DJ

Melanie@e-tech.ca

www.quickbooksrecovery.co.uk
Coffee is a highly popular beverage worldwide, containing caffeine which is a central nervous system stimulant. In a study of 398,646 UK Biobank participants, high coffee consumption (more than six cups of coffee a day) was associated with smaller total brain volumes and 53% higher odds of dementia.

Coffee is among the most popular drinks in the world. Yet with global consumption being more than nine billion kilograms a year, its critical that we understand any potential health implications, said Kitty Pham, a Ph.D. candidate in the Australian Centre for Precision Health at the University of South Australia.

This is the most extensive investigation into the connections between coffee, brain volume measurements, the risks of dementia, and the risks of stroke  its also the largest study to consider volumetric brain imaging data and a wide range of confounding factors.

Accounting for all possible permutations, we consistently found that higher coffee consumption was significantly associated with reduced brain volume  essentially, drinking more than six cups of coffee a day may be putting you at risk of brain diseases such as dementia and stroke.

Pham and colleagues conducted prospective analyses of habitual coffee consumption on 398,646 UK Biobank participants (age 37-73 years), including 17,702 participants with MRI information.

They examined the associations with brain volume, odds of dementia (4,333 incident cases) and stroke (6,181 incident cases).

There were inverse linear associations between habitual coffee consumption and total brain, gray matter, white matter and hippocampal volumes, but no evidence to support an association with white matter hyperintensity volume.

The association between coffee consumption and dementia was non-linear, with evidence for higher odds for non-coffee and decaffeinated coffee drinkers and those drinking over six cups a day, compared to light coffee drinkers.

After full covariate adjustment, consumption of over six cups a day was associated with 53% higher odds of dementia compared to consumption of one or two cups a day, with less evidence for an association with stroke.

While the news may be a bitter brew for coffee lovers, its all about finding a balance between what you drink and whats good for your health, said Professor Elina Hypponen, a researcher in the Australian Centre for Precision Health at the University of South Australia and the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute.

This research provides vital insights about heavy coffee consumption and brain health, but as with many things in life, moderation is the key.

Together with other genetic evidence and a randomized controlled trial, these data strongly suggest that high coffee consumption can adversely affect brain health.

While the exact mechanisms are not known, one simple thing we can do is to keep hydrated and remember to drink a bit of water alongside that cup of coffee.

Typical daily coffee consumption is somewhere between one and two standard cups of coffee. Of course, while unit measures can vary, a couple of cups of coffee a day is generally fine.

However, if youre finding that your coffee consumption is heading up toward more than six cups a day, its about time you rethink your next drink.

The findings were published in the journal Nutritional Neuroscience.

_____

Kitty Pham et al. High coffee consumption, brain volume and risk of dementia and stroke. Nutritional Neuroscience, published online June 24, 2021; doi: 10.1080/1028415X.2021.1945858
Further to the announcement made by Tilt Renewables Limited on Thursday, 15 July 2021 in relation to its Scheme of Arrangement (Scheme) with Powering Australian Renewables (PowAR) and Mercury NZ Limited (MCY) under which it is proposed that PowAR will effectively acquire TLT Australian business and Mercury will acquire TLT New Zealand business, NZX Operations advises of the intention for TLT to delist from the NZX Main Board.

Subject to TLT obtaining final court orders on Friday, 23 July 2021, the final day of trading in TLT will be Tuesday, 27 July 2021, with trading in TLT shares being halted and suspended at close of business. The record date for determining shareholder entitlements to participate in the Scheme is 7pm, Friday 30 July 2021.

Subject to final NZX conditions being met, and the Scheme implementing as proposed, TLT ordinary shares will be delisted and will cease to be quoted on the NZX Main Board from close of business on Tuesday, 3 August 2021.

Please see the link below for details

Tilt Renewables Limited (TLT)  Intention to Delist

Source: Tilt Renewables Limited

Comments from our readers

No comments yet

Add your comment:

Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. Anti-spam verification: Type the text you see in the image into the field below. You are asked to do this in order to verify that this enquiry is not being performed by an automated process.

Related News:

General Capital Limited (NZX: GEN) Gives Notice of Annual Meeting

TIL Logistics Group Limited (NZX: TLL) to Change to Move Logistics Group

28th July 2021 Morning Report

27th July 2021 Morning Report

ikeGPS Group Limited (NZX: IKE) Q1 FY22 Performance Update

Rakon Limited (NZX: RAK) Substantial Holder Sell Down

Radius Residential Care Limited (NZX: RAD) Announces Opening of Retail Offer

26th July 2021 Morning Report

23rd July 2021 Morning Report

22nd July 2021 Morning Report


Things You Can Do If Youre A Victim Of Deepfakes Or Revenge Porn

Many victims of deepfakes and revenge porn suffer similar trauma as sexual assault survivors. If this is your story, we invite you to take comfort in the following options.

Many victims of image-based abusealso known as revenge pornor deepfakes feel powerless. Theyre repeatedly exploited each time these abusive images are viewed or shared, yet the idea of removing them from the vast sea of the internet seems impossible.

If either horrific reality is something youve experienced, youre not alone, and you do have options. Removing anything from the internet permanently isnt always possible, but there are steps you can take to slow the spread of abusive images.

The Cyberbulling Research Center defines revenge porn as the act of distributing intimate photography through different means without the individuals consent. While revenge is not always the motivating factor, this act seems to be increasingly utilized by the perpetrator as retaliation for romantic relationships going south, and is becoming more and more prominent with the growing popularity of sexting.

Now illegal in 41 U.S. states, and possibly soon a federal crime in the U.S., this is a relatively new phenomenon that is also shockingly common. In fact, a 2017 Australian survey suggested that one in five people had nude or sexually explicit images distributed without their consent.

By contrast, with deepfakes porn, the faces of celebrities or ordinary people are grafted onto pre-existing pornographic content. Consumers can even custom order videos of virtually anyonelike co-workers or ex-partnerswithout their consent. These fake videos often look indistinguishably real.

Charlotte Lawsauthor and former politician who led a successful campaign to criminalize image-based abuse after someone posted nude photos of her teenage daughtersays, The distress of deepfakes is as bad as revenge porn. They are realistic, and their impact is compounded by theworld were living in.

In a recent survey of 500 female image-based abuse victims, she found that 12% were also targets of deepfakes. Clearly, these violations of privacy overlap.

What to do if youre a victim of nonconsensual porn

These forms of nonconsensual content-sharing are profoundly painful violations of dignity, intimacy, and trust. Many victims feel out of control, helpless, even suicidal, and suffer similar trauma like sexual assault survivors.

If this is your story and youre at a loss for what to do next, we invite you to take comfort in considering the following options.

1. Connect with online organizations who support survivors

The Cyber Civil Rights Initiative (CCRI) provides a 24-hour crisis hotline, attorney referrals, and a detailed guide for removing your photos from large social media platforms and porn websites.

The website for the Digital Millennium Copyright Act can also help take down your images.

And, no matter where youre from, the Revenge Porn Helpline can assist anyone. You can email help@revengepornhelpline.org.uk or call 0345 6000 459 if youre in the UK. Be advised that COVID-19 has temporarily suspended their phone services, so youre better suited sending them an email if youd like to connect with the Revenge Porn Helpline.

2. Take your case to law enforcement or hire an attorney

Eri Kim, senior clinical director at Safe Horizon, a nonprofit organization that provides services for survivors of sexual trauma, says you should approach this option strategically and consider how your former partner might retaliate if youre a victim of image-based abuse.

And for deepfakes, the Electronic Frontier Foundation notes that its possible to sue for defamation or for portraying a victim in false light, or to file a right of publicity claim alleging that deepfakes makers profited from your image without permission.

Jennifer Rothman, author and professor at Loyola Law School, predicts that most judges would more easily rule in favor of the victim in deepfakes casesespecially if he or she isnt a celebrity or public figure.

Be aware that you may face hurdles. Lawsuits can be pricey, and laws like Section 230 protect website operators legally from what users post on their sites. But there have been significant improvements in image-based abuse cases in the past five years, and theres hope for continual progress.

3. Record evidence of your abuse

Keep a thorough record of the evidence proving videos and images were shared without your consent. Keep screenshots of all the websites or social media platforms where youve found your private images shared or manipulated photos, every takedown request youve submitted online, and conversations with the individual regarding them posting explicit images of you without your consent.

4. Cope with the psychological effects of your abuse

Even just the process of trying to remove image-based abuse from the internet can be traumatizing for victims. Developing strong coping skills to deal with the repercussions of your exploitation is a key part of moving forward.

Contact a crisis helpline to help you find a therapist who specializes in sexual trauma. This comprehensive guide from the Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network (RAINN) can help you find a therapist whos a good fit for you.

5. Remember that this isnt your fault

The trauma of having your private images and videos made public without your consent may lead you to believe that no one in your life can be trusted, or that what happened to you is your fault.

Victim-blaming, whether imposed by others or your own self-dialogueis harmful and wont help you heal and move forward. Be kind to yourself, and surround yourself with people who will show you compassion, too.

6. Focus on what you do have control over

It may be difficult not to obsess over who has seen your images are videos, but these thoughts may send you down a dark spiral.

Instead, focus on what you can do. Review your options, and use the resources available to you. Youll feel yourself slowly regaining control and piecing yourself back together as you develop confidence in yourself and in those who are there to help you.

7. Take precautions for the future

Even if you are in a healthy relationship, cell phones, apps, or websites that appear secure can easily be hacked by someone other than your intimate partner. The reality is, theres really no full-proof safe method for sexting. If you wouldnt feel comfortable having an image posted online, it may not be worth the risk of sending it.

Sexual exploitation is never acceptable

No matter the circumstances or what our porn-saturated culture deems as normal, the exploitation of another human being is never acceptablewhether those images are real or digitally engineered.

It may be discouraging to live in a world where theres a demand for nonconsensual porn of real people, but theres also hope for the future.

Victims can be empowered survivors who speak out about their experiences and fight for change. Each of us can help stop the demand for exploitative content, and expose the industry that normalizes and fuels their abuse.
System error

error: Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.

context: ... 21: </%method> 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: </%perl> 28: <table width="90%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> 29: <tr> ... code stack: /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html:25

/usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm:951

/var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj:17

/usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html:149



Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 129 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 160 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7fc00758b2b8)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 951 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7fc0076c11d8)', 'main') called at /var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj line 17 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7fc00758b2b8)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1305 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 958 HTML::Mason::Request::call_next('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7fc0076c11d8)') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html line 149 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7fc0076d3cd0)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1303 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 436 HTML::Mason::Request::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7fc0076c11d8)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7fc0076c11d8)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7fc006d4a278)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7fc007682378)') called at (eval 487) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7fc007682378)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0
System error

error: Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.

context: ... 21: </%method> 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: </%perl> 28: <table width="90%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> 29: <tr> ... code stack: /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html:25

/usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm:951

/var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj:17

/usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html:149



Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 129 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 160 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7fc0072d07a8)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 951 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7fc00788bed8)', 'main') called at /var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj line 17 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7fc0072d07a8)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1305 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 958 HTML::Mason::Request::call_next('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7fc00788bed8)') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html line 149 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7fc0072b9928)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1303 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 436 HTML::Mason::Request::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7fc00788bed8)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7fc00788bed8)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7fc006d4b560)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7fc0078b4b78)') called at (eval 487) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7fc0078b4b78)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0
System error

error: Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.

context: ... 21: </%method> 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: </%perl> 28: <table width="90%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> 29: <tr> ... code stack: /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html:25

/usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm:951

/var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj:17

/usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html:149



Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 129 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 160 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7fc007637040)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 951 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7fc007696f38)', 'main') called at /var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj line 17 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7fc007637040)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1305 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 958 HTML::Mason::Request::call_next('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7fc007696f38)') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html line 149 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7fc007653120)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1303 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 436 HTML::Mason::Request::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7fc007696f38)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7fc007696f38)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7fc006d49870)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7fc0076a2cc0)') called at (eval 487) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7fc0076a2cc0)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0
Cuba jamming Ham Radio? Listen for yourself

A public SDR network triangulates the island as the source of mystery signals

IEEE Spectrum report that as anti-government protests spilled onto the streets in Cuba on July 11, something strange was happening on the airwaves. Amateur radio operators in the United States found that suddenly parts of the popular 40-meter band were being swamped with grating signals. Florida operators reported the signals were loudest there, enough to make communication with hams in Cuba impossible. Other operators in South America, Africa, and Europe also reported hearing the signal, and triangulation software that anyone with a web browser can try placed the source of the signals as emanating from Cuba.

Cuba has a long history of interfering with broadcast signals, with several commercial radio stations in Florida allowed to operate at higher than normal power levels to combat jamming. But these new mystery signals appeared to be intentionally targeting amateur radio transmissions. A few hours after the protest broke out on the 11th, ham Alex Valladares W7HU says he was speaking with a Cuban operator on 7.130 megahertz in the 40-meter band, when their conversation was suddenly overwhelmed with interference. We moved to 7170, and they jam the frequency there, he says. Valladares gave up for the night, but the following morning, he says, I realize that they didn't turn off those jammers. [Then] we went to [7]140 the next day and they put jamming in there.

Valladres explains he escaped from Cuba to the United States in a raft in 2005. Like many hams in the large Cuban-American community in Florida, he frequently talks with operators in Cuba, and now he says the government there is jamming the signal to prevent the Cuban people who listen to us and to prevent them from talking between them[selves]. Valladres has also heard reports that VHF 2-meter band repeaters have been shut down in Cuba.

Two-meter band radios are typically low-power handheld walkie-talkies used for short-range communications. Their range is often extended by using fixed relay repeaters, which retransmit an incoming signal using a more powerful transmitter and a well-placed antenna. Because Florida and Cuba are so closeonly about 175 kilometers separates them at their closest pointits possible for 2-meter communications to cross the distance. It was possible to go between Miami and Havana  with an external antenna you can talk to Havana easy because its not that far, its like 230 miles away, says Valladres.

Read the full IEEE Spectrum report:

https://spectrum.ieee.org/tech-talk/telecom/wireless/cuba-jamming-ham-radio-listen-for-yourself
Sweden: 80m AM contest August 7 An 80m AM contest will be held in Sweden on Saturday, August 7, from 0700-0900 GMT using 3600-3750 kHz



A translation of the SSA post reads:



Arboga Radioklubb and Arboga FRO department have organized this playful competition since 1988. The intention is to activate FRO's old and new stations, but everyone with AM is welcome to participate.



Over 250 amateurs participated over the years. The stations used have been everything from laptops from the 40s, via large facilities from military staffs, to modern ones with a dusty AM button. You also set up and feel free to attach some background information and a picture of your AM station, together with the log. It can then be a nice follow-up article!



AM is well modulated and beautiful, but difficult!



Rules at https://tinyurl.com/IARU-Sweden
Paris (France), July 22, 2021 (SPS) - The Association of Friends of the Saharawi Republic in France, a non-governmental organization that supports the Saharawi people, criticized the serious operation of the Moroccan intelligence services using the Israeli program of computer espionage "Pegasus" on the phones of several Moroccan and Sahrawi activists, lawyers and journalists, including members and people close to the Association ".

In a statement made public yesterday, the NGO affirms that, due to the obsession of the Moroccan expansionist regime and its inability to impose its control over Western Sahara, it had no choice but to try with all possible means to prevent expressions of support for the legitimate demands of the Saharawi people in France, including spying on militants, journalists, politicians and lawyers outside its borders, with the aim of influencing their political positions of sympathy with the Saharawi people's struggle . SPS

125/090/TRA
Dili (Timor-Leste), July 23rd, 2021 (SPS) - The Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, H.E. Mr. Taur Matan Ruak received Friday the Ambassador of Saharawi Republic (S.A.D.R) in Dili, Mr. Malainin Abba.



The Government of Timor-leste has strong constant commitment and principled unwavering support for the just struggle of the Saharawi people for self-determination and independence, Timor-leste will always stand supportive to this legitimate struggle till the Independence. I would like to confirm that the Saharawi peoples struggle case is Timor-lestes case declared the Prime Minister H.E. Mr. Taur Matan Ruak.



During the meeting, Ambassador Mr. Malainin Abba, expressed his gratitude for the historical, principled and constant strong support stand of the Government of Timor-Leste towards the just struggle of the Saharawi people for Self-determination and full sovereignty of (S.A.D.R) over all its territory.

The Saharawi Ambassador reiterated the commitment of the Saharawi Republic (S.A.D.R) to further deepen the friendly existing good relations between the Saharawi Republic and the Democratic Republic of Timor-leste.



The Saharawi Diplomat briefed the Prime Minister of Timor-Leste about the different aspects of the latest developments in Western Sahara.





It is worth noting that the actual Prime Minister of Timor-Leste was from 2012 to 2017 the President of the Republic of Timor-leste and he is also one of the historical icons of the Struggle for the Liberation and Independence of Timor-Leste. (SPS)

062/090
Twice this week, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis shrugged off the new rise in cases as a seasonal event. He said he would not allow any new COVID-19 restrictions, including mask mandates, or lockdowns. However, he did encourage Floridians to get vaccinated: If you are vaccinated, the number of people that end up hospitalized is almost zero. Its incredibly, incredibly low, he said.
Specializing in small plates and Lams trademark cultural cross-pollination (hence the name), the restaurant will be housed in a recently remodeled, multi-tenant building on Progresso Drive, which runs along the north side of the Brightline/FEC tracks across from the hustle and bustle of the MASS District and Flagler Village. The building, at the corner of Northeast Second Avenue, is notable for an exterior covered in bold slashes of bright blue.
Mark S. Freedman, the Jewish Federation of Broward County's interim president and CEO, discussed the Federation's call for all supermarket chains doing business in South Florida to discontinue carrying Ben & Jerrys products in reaction to the ice cream company's decision to halt sales in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. (Jewish Federation of Broward County/Courtesy)
Nearly nine years later, Bakowski, now 52, has settled her lawsuit against the agency that once employed her  $2 million with no admission of wrongdoing, with Bakowski and her attorney agreeing not to disparage the Broward Sheriffs Office further about the case.
This would be the third official attempt to use arbitration to stop the church from splitting before it becomes irreversible, said Seiler. Its the first attempt to invoke the secular justice system. The churchs bylaws call for disputes to be settled by Christian mediators, such as the Institute for Christian Conciliation.
The California-based research company opened its Jupiter campus in 2009 after being recruited to the state in 2003 by former Gov. Jeb Bush. Palm Beach County and the state invested more than $600 million in taxpayer-backed incentives to bring Scripps Research to the area with the hopes of creating more jobs in biomedical technology.
Without thinking twice, Tony ran up to the rolling car on and grabbed the fender to try and stop it from rolling down the street further, the sheriffs office said. It ran over Tonys foot, but thankfully he had steel-toe boots on.
Alain Dennes waits in his boat with an American Flag and a Cuban flag flying from fishing poles as other boats arrive at Miami's Bayside marina on Friday, July 23, 2021 and prepare for a voyage to the closest point they can get to off of the coast of Cuba. The small group of 5 boats left early Friday, first stopping in Key West where they were hoping to meet up with other boaters in an effort to show support to the Cuban people on the island facing hardships. (Mike Stocker / South Florida Sun Sentinel)
I wasnt diagnosed with ADHD until I was an adult. So Im still learning about this weakness of mine. It is something I used to be ashamed of. I know there is a stigma around ADHD, he said. I wish that I were a perfect example of someone who has overcome all the challenges that come with living with ADHD. Im not. I make mistakes.  But I have to continue to be open about this because I think kids and adults with ADHD need to know that they are not alone, that although they have challenges, theres nothing wrong with them as human beings in that theyre capable of accomplishing a lot in life.
Backed by the consistently aggressive reporting of the Sun Sentinel and by our sister paper, the Orlando Sentinel, we will do our job and vigorously hold elected leaders accountable, starting with the governor and his management of the pandemic. We wont hesitate to criticize, and well seek to offer praise when its warranted. Florida has lost its way politically. This state is best served by a strong and competitive two-party system that offers voters meaningful choices in every election.
Royal Gibraltar Police officers rescued a man from a small inflatable body board two nautical miles south of Europa Point on Wednesday evening.

The man, who is believed to have come from North Africa, was wearing a wet suit, and was in distress and clinging to the board when spotted during a routine patrol.

He was taken to St Bernard's Hospital for treatment and then placed under arrest as an illegal immigrant.
The drones that monitor Fuengirolas beaches have carried out more than 900 missions in their first month of operation.

The Costa del Sol town is the only municipality in the whole Spain that has all its beaches monitored by drones, according to local councillor, Javier Hidalgo, who said that the service will operate from 11am to 8pm every day, until 15 September.

Flights can be requested by lifeguards, the police or the town councils own beach attendants and are intended to help locate and prevent incidents.

New, this year, the drone service will carry a defibrillator on each of the devices, "which can be deployed quickly to any situations that require it."

A loudspeaker can also convey messages, give directions or warn of dangers.

Hidalgo also explained that buoyancy aids can be deployed, which inflate in a matter of seconds when they come into contact with water.

The drones can also carry out surveillance missions, and to search for missing people. "With the zoom lens on the drones camera, you can quickly find these people, especially children," the councillor adds.

The aircraft can fly for up to 55 minutes, although with a payload (camera and life jacket) it is about 40 minutes.
The town hall in Fuengirola is to set up an international library in the Los Boliches area.

Ruling councillors have approved plans to acquire premises for the new cultural facility. The scheme was promised to voters by Fuengirola's mayor, Ana Mula, in her election campaign.

Rodrigo Romero, councillor for Foreign Residents, said, "A third of the population of Fuengirola are foreign nationals and looking after their needs and giving them services is fundamental so they feel at home. Although we'd love all of them to speak Spanish and to be able to express themselves in our language, I think it is a good gesture that we set up an international library."

The council will acquire premises double the size of the existing library in Los Boliches.

"We haven't got enough space," said Romero, adding that the council wants it to be in Los Boliches where most foreign residents live and there are no appropriate council-owned facilities available.
Marbella has managed to lower its coronavirus cumulative incidence rate to below 1,000, the level at which the Junta de Andalucia can propose a curfew in large towns, that must be ratified by the courts.

The Costa del Sol towns current rate is 986.9 as of this Thursday (22 July), and the reduction was key in the Junta de Andalucias territorial committee of high impact on public health not requesting a curfew between 2am and 7am, as it would had Marbella remained above the 1,000 rate.

Earlier on Thursday the president of the regional government, Juanma Moreno, speaking in Andalusian Parliament said that it was a bad sign that it had been necessary to transfer patients with Covid from Marbella to two hospitals in Malaga.

At the moment, only five municipalities in Malaga province of Malaga have more than 1,000 infections per 100,000 inhabitants, but as they are towns with fewer than 5,000 residents, their situation is studied individually and there is no curfew in them. They are: Alfarnatejo (1,098.9), Benaojan (2,202.3), Farajan (1,149.4), Montejaque (1,457.2) and Villanueva de la Concepcion (1,338.2).
The increase in the Covid-19 incidence rate throughout Malaga province has forced Costa del Sol towns to consider banning access to their sands at night. The measure has been proposed by the regional government to prevent large gatherings of mainly unvaccinated groups of young people and illegal botellon drinking parties.

From last night (Thursday, 22 July), the main beaches on the coast will remain closed between 11pm and 7am following the recommendations of the Junta de Andalucias Committee of Experts that advises the regional government on coronavirus containment measures.

With the exception of Mijas and Torrox, the rest of the towns will ban access to their seashores at night. Rincon de la Victoria has not, yet, made a decision on the matter.

Malaga was the first to announce the restricted access measure. The councillor responsible for the beaches said the only exception to the night-time ban would be to hold open-air cinema screenings, although always respecting health safety measures and with all the public seated. Surveillance will be increased and access to the main entrances will be cut off.

On the western coast, from Torremolinos to Estepona, all the beaches will be closed except in the case of Mijas, where the council says it will not do it, at the moment, because it does not have a problem with botellon drinking parties.

In Marbella, since 8 May, the town hall has ordered the closure of beaches between midnight and 6am. The Local Police has quads and drones that have been used to control groups on the sands since the beginning of the pandemic.

Most of the beaches will also be closed on the eastern Costa del Sol. The town councils in Velez-Malaga and Nerja have said that they will abide by the recommendations of the Committee of Experts, while in Torrox the town hall has decided to keep them open saying that there are no problems with crowds gathering at night. The town was also one of the few that did not cancel the San Juan festival and allowed its residents to celebrate it on the sands.
The Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, was on a charm offensive in the United States this week in a bid to woo business leaders and investors, promoting the benefits of investing in Spain.

On his first day on Wednesday, Sanchez held meetings in New York and appeared on US television before moving on to Los Angeles and San Francisco.

However, the visit was not without controversy even before it had started, as no meeting was scheduled with President Joe Biden in Washington. Commentators pointed out that Biden has received several world leaders since coming to power, although the Spanish government said there is a good relationship with America and Biden is focused on the Covid-19 pandemic and has little time.

Travelling with Sanchez were heads of five Spanish start-up companies and the emphasis on the whistlestop trip was on innovation, new technology and the future, green economy.

While in New York, Sanchez met with former city mayor and TV mogul, Michael Bloomberg, but not outgoing mayor Bill de Blasio. He also had talks with head of investment giant BlackRock, Larry Fink, and opened a Spanish trade and investment office in the iconic Chrysler building.

Stability and certainty

Speaking to the media, Sanchez said he had promised investors that Spain has "stability" and "certainty", reassuring them he is a politician that achieves things, passing laws, reforming and, with their help, bringing in investment.

Appearing on news-channel MSNBC's Morning Joe programme, Sanchez strayed into American domestic politics, unusually for a visiting world leader. "I think that when President Biden says that America is back, that is good news not just for you but for us as well," he said.

On Thursday, Sanchez flew to Los Angeles and was to visit the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, where Spain helped make parts for exploration vehicles that went to Mars.

On Friday, the last day of his tour, he was due to be in the San Francisco area for meetings, including with Netflix and Apple.
The purpose of Pedro Sanchez's trip to the US this week is to promote private American investment in Spain. He says he's aiming for $500 billion to boost the 140 billion euros ($165 billion) coming from the EU over the next few years, which seems like an excessive amount of money, until you remember how wildly ambitious the Spanish prime minister is about economic reform.

Sanchez's US tour is part of a broader initiative, aimed at persuading foreign companies to pump cash into Spain - but the Socialist leader was busy doing the opposite back in the spring. At the end of April, he unveiled his "Focus Africa" plan with fanfare, visiting Senegal and Angola accompanied by representatives of a dozen Spanish companies. The project, he said, will improve infrastructure in key Sub-Saharan countries, thus tackling the fundamental causes of migration and reducing the number of undocumented arrivals in Spain.

Although "Focus Africa" seems to have fallen off the agenda since its announcement, Sanchez spoke about it at the time as if it was the defining project of his premiership. In New York this week, though, he said that rebooting Spain's economy is his overarching goal, for which he needs the support of America's private sector.

The Socialist leader has apparently set himself the triple-aspect task of rejuvenating Spain's economy, reforming Sub Saharan Africa and, almost as a by-product, solving a rapidly-escalating immigration problem. But in all three cases, corruption might be an even bigger obstacle to success than over-ambition.

One of the toughest problems Sanchez faces in implementing his "Focus Africa" plan is convincing Spain's business world to invest in a region in which governments and businesses are plagued by bribery, fraud and mismanagement. One can't help wondering whether Spain's reputation in this respect might also be a hindrance to foreign investment, whether from the U.S. or elsewhere.

Having said that, it'd be a stretch to argue that Spain is as corrupt as countries such as Senegal and Angola: in Transparency International's 2020 Corruption Perceptions Index, Spain came in 32nd out of 179 countries, with a score of 62 (an improvement on 2017, when it hit an all-time low of 57 points); Senegal was placed 67th with 45 points and Angola 142nd with just 27 points.

Spain might not have sunk to such depths, but its most recent corruption investigations - into allegations of fraud and corporate espionage - concern Iberdrola, Repsol and CaixaBank, three of the country's biggest companies. That isn't doing much reputational good for the Spanish corporate world as a whole, especially at a time when Iberdrola is bidding for EU funds. Although perhaps not to the same extent, US and other international investors may be wary about Spain for the same reason that Spanish investors are about Sub-Saharan Africa.
Can it be assumed that all chefs are happy with the never-ending media attention? Apart from the famous few who do not need identification, the other 90% surely prefer to work away in their kitchens while occasionally receiving plaudits from contented customers. This hard core hates the limelight, and curses the day a camera was first invited into a restaurant kitchen.

The archetypal celebrity chef is allegedly Wolfgang Puck, shortly to be immortalised in a Disney documentary. When the Austrian arrived in the USA in 1974 the only way was up, and by hard work and a flair for publicity, his first Beverly Hill's restaurant, Spago (1982), allegedly changed the way Americans ate.

Until then chefs were invisible, and it was restaurant owners who were the shop fronts, but Puck developed what many people consider vulgar techniques, such as serving dishes to a musical accompaniment.

The big names couldn't keep away from his restaurants. TV personality Johnny Carson would buy Puck's pizzas and freeze them at home, giving the chef the idea of expanding into the frozen food business. There are now Spagos everywhere, from Las Vegas to Istanbul.

But for all the praise heaped on Puck by the US media, there is little evidence that he was ever more than a mediocre cook. To feed Hollywood legends to the extent that they beat a path to your door has always been more a matter of having a good nose for self-promotion than kitchen skills, and the evidence suggests that even the foul-mouthed Jamie Oliver is a better cook than Puck ever was.
What's Included

With a Digital Only subscription, you'll receive unlimited access to our website and e-edition. Our digital products are available 24/7 and are accessible anywhere, anytime.

If you have any questions or need further assistance, please call our customer service team at 712-243-2624 or email circ@ant-news.com.
Editors notes

Tracing the origin of the COVID19 virus has become a complete political farce With all the political manipulation and biased media reports howling louder than the science the wider society and even the virtual community online is now abuzz with a litany of conspiracy theories that have been deliberately cooked up by some Western politicians hoping to divert attention away from their mishandling of the COVID19 situation at home

Incompetent and selfinterested politicians have ensnarled themselves into a web of untenable lies about the origins of the COVID19 pandemic all without offering up any solid evidence Such talking points have made headlines every day and have served to brainwash an impressionable audience

Despite mounting political pressures more and more scientists have stood up and stood out dismissing some of the most popular but ridiculous ideas surrounding the notion that the virus was leaked from one of the labs in Wuhan This time around why not let the scientists do the talking
News

breaking

Elk County podiatrist charged for allegedly overprescribing opioids

ST. MARYS  An Elk County podiatrist has been charged with several felonies after he was accused of overprescribing opioid-based medications to patients for over a year.

David Gregory Sanderson, 59, of St. Marys, is charged with 15 felony counts of Admin Etc Of Cont Subst By Pract  the administration, dispensing, delivery, gift or prescription of any controlled substance by any practitioner or professional assistant under the practitioners direction and supervision, unless done in good faith, within the scope of the patient relationship or in accordance with treatment principals  according to a criminal complaint filed by the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General at Magisterial District Judge Mark Jacobs office July 21.

A description in the criminal complaint accuses Sanderson of committing 15 offenses with 15 different patients from Jan. 1, 2019 to April 3, 2020.

According to the Forty-Sixth Statewide Investigating Grand Jury, an investigation was conducted into the treatment and prescribing practices of Sanderson, a doctor of podiatric medicine with a practice in St. Marys, Elk County. It was learned that between Jan. 1, 2019 and April 3, 2020, Sanderson allegedly prescribed controlled substances, namely opioid-based pain medications, that were not prescribed in accordance with the treatment principals accepted by a responsible segment of the podiatric medical community, the report says. On some occasions, prescriptions were reportedly written for the treatment of conditions unrelated to podiatry.

{span style=font-size: 12px;}During the investigation, a search warrant for 16 patient files, to whom Sanderson had allegedly prescribed controlled medications above 50 morphine milligram {/span}equivalents{span style=font-size: 12px;} (MME) per day, was executed at Sandersons Chestnut Street Office in St. Marys, the report says. Sanderson said he knew he was required to check the {/span}Prescription{span style=font-size: 12px;} Drug Monitoring Programs (PDMP) system before issuing an opioid prescription, but he was not always checking it as he should, according to the grand jury report. {/span}

{span style=font-size: 12px;}When asked if he prescribed in excess of 50 MME per day, Sanderson reportedly said, Maybe a little. When asked again, he hung his head and then said, Look, I {/span}have{span style=font-size: 12px;} done a bad thing here, according to the report.{/span}

{span style=font-size: 12px;}Later, Sanderson allegedly admitted that he understood his patients were addicted to the medication he was prescribing. When asked if his {/span}prescription{span style=font-size: 12px;} writing became excessive, he {/span}reportedly{span style=font-size: 12px;} said, Yes, it may have gotten out of control.{/span}

{span style=font-size: 12px;}The seized patient files showed that with the {/span}exception{span style=font-size: 12px;} of a few patients, Sanderson allegedly rarely {/span}checked{span style=font-size: 12px;} the PDMP before issuing most opioid prescriptions, and did not conduct urine screens or pill counts. {/span}

{span style=font-size: 12px;}Sandersons preliminary hearing is set for Aug. 3 at Jacobs office in St. Marys. Bail was set at $100,000. {/span}
 Unlimited website access 24/7

 Unlimited e-Edition access 24/7

 The best local, regional and national news in sports, politics, business and more!

With a Digital Only subscription, you'll receive unlimited access to our website and e-edition. Our digital products are available 24/7 and are accessible anywhere, anytime.
Dubai national carrier Emirates has taken off to US city of Miami, marking the airlines first passenger flight to the coastal metropolis, its second point in Florida, and the airlines first new destination launched since the pandemic.

Emirates flight EK213 departed at 3.10 am today (July 22), according to an Emirates statement.

The new four times a week service to Miami takes Emirates US network to 12 destinations on over 10 flights a day. The airline is operating over 60 per cent of its pre-pandemic capacity to the US and continues to expand its presence in line with increasing passenger traffic.

The new service to Miami will also serve as a gateway to Central and South America as well as the Caribbean Islands. In the other direction, travellers will be able to connect to the Emirates network of more than 120 destinations.

In addition to Miami, Emirates has re-started flights to Nice, Mexico City, Phuket, Lyon, Mauritius, and Malta in July.-TradeArabia News Service
The foreign ministers of the Central Asian countries held a ministerial meeting on Afghanistan via videoconference. The dialogue was organized by the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan and the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan jointly with the UN Regional Center for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia.

The meeting participants included the Foreign Ministers of Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. The meeting was also attended by Head of UN Regional Center for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia Natalya German; Special Representative of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan for Afghanistan Talgat Kaliev; and Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for Afghanistan Mette Knudsen.

During the meeting, the sides discussed issues relating to development of regional cooperation, security issues and promotion of the peace process in Afghanistan.

In his statement, the Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister of Turkmenistan Rashid Meredov noted the importance of political and socio-economic support of the international community in achieving a favorable development of the peace process in Afghanistan, whose successful outcome has a direct impact on the political, economic and social situation in the region and beyond.

Rashid Meredov emphasized the role of the Central Asian countries that together with Afghanistan make up a unified geopolitical and geo-economic space and share the centuries-old history, culture and interpersonal relations.

During the meeting, the sides outlined their vision of the situation in the region and exchanged specific proposals.

 TURKMENISTAN.RU, 2021
New Delhi, Jul 23 (UNI) All India Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha member Santanu Sen was on Friday suspended for the remaining part of the monsoon session for snatching the papers from Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and tearing them.

On Thursday, Mr Sen had snatched the papers from Mr Vaishnaw, torn and tossed them in air when the latter was making a statement on the alleged snooping of opposition leaders, journalists, activists and ministers among others using Israeli spyware Pegasus.

MoS Parliamentary Affairs V Muraleedharan moved the motion to suspend Mr Sen and it was adopted by voice vote. "Mr Santanu Sen, please withdraw from the House. Allow the House to function, ' the Chair said.

Sukhendu Shekar Roy, floor leader of Trinamool Congress, objected to the way the motion was moved.

Mr Roy alleged that the due procedure was not followed as the motion was neither listed in the Rajya Sabha's business for Friday nor the members were informed about it in advance.

AITC member Derek O'Brien alleged that Mr Sen was threatened by the BJP members on Thursday when the House was adjourned.

Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu, however, rejected the allegations. "What happened in the House was noticed by the Chair," Mr Naidu said.

The Chairman further stated that the motion for suspension was proved by him.

The Pegasus controversy has dominated the headlines across media platforms and a major cause of face-off between government and the opposition parties over the last few days. The proceedings of both the Houses have been nearly paralysed with the ongoing tussle.On Friday also, the House was adjourned following an uproar by the members of the opposition.While the government has rubbished the reports of any unauthorised phone tapping, the opposition has dug its heel and wants a thorough probe into the matter.

Mr Vaishnaw in statements in both Houses of Parliament has vehemently denied the allegations saying the reports were aimed at maligning Indian democracy and its well-established institutions.

UNI NK SB PS1224/1227


remaining of

Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading.
(The Center Square)  The Texas upstream oil and gas sector continues to add jobs, new data from the Texas Workforce commission shows.

In June, upstream oil and natural gas employment expanded by 3,100 jobs, the fifth best single-month performance in over five years. Since the low point in employment in September 2020, months with job gains in the sector outnumbered decline months seven to two.

Upstream jobs are 9,000 higher in June 2021 compared to June 2020. Junes job count is also 10.3% higher, or 15,600 more, than the job count in September 2020.

Total upstream employment is 173,100 jobs, which are among the highest paying wages in Texas.

"Continuing job growth in the oil and natural gas industry is critical for the economy at large because every direct oil and natural gas job in Texas generates an additional three jobs elsewhere in state's economy," Todd Staples, president of the Texas Oil & Gas Association, said in a statement. A thriving oil and natural gas sector not only provides the power, products and fuels we need but also propels the rest of the economy forward.

The jobs report follows a new analysis released by the TXOGA and the American Petroleum Institute, which found that Texas oil and natural gas industry supported more than 2.5 million total jobs statewide in 2019, contributed $411.6 billion to the states gross domestic product, including $251.2 billion to the states total labor income in 2019.

The upstream sector includes oil and natural gas extraction and excludes refining, petrochemicals, fuels wholesaling, oilfield equipment manufacturing, pipelines, and gas utilities, which all support hundreds of thousands of additional jobs in Texas.

Oil and natural gas extraction is upstream activity, meaning it excludes other sectors in the industry like refining, petrochemicals, fuels wholesaling, oilfield equipment manufacturing, pipelines, and gas utilities.

According to the findings, in 2019, the industry directly and indirectly supported more than 2.5 million jobs (620,330 direct and 1,888,540 indirect) or 13.9% of Texas total employment. For every direct job in the oil and natural gas industry, an additional 3.5 jobs were created.

The industry also contributed 22% to the states total income and to its GDP.

It contributed $251.2 billion in labor income ($134.3 billion direct and $116.9 billion indirect), accounting for 21.8% of the states total income. It also contributed $411.5 billion to Texass gross domestic product ($230.9 billion direct and $180.6 billion indirect), accounting for 22.3% of the states total.

In 2019, the U.S. led the world in oil and natural gas production, with Texas leading the nation.
COVID Closes Oscar Cross Summer Camp

By West Kentucky Star Staff

PADUCAH - The Oscar Cross Boys & Girls Club of Paducah has closed, bringing an early end to its summer camp following a Covid-19 exposure. However, they do plan to open back up when kids go back to school.The club made the announcement on their Facebook page Thursday, saying, "We have enjoyed serving our members this summer, and as always, their safety is our number one priority. It is our plan to be open again on August 18th, as kids are heading back to school."
Paducah North Side Shooting Victim Dies

By West Kentucky Star Staff

PADUCAH - Paducah Police said that Justin Crabtree, the man who was shot early Thursday morning at his home on North 12th Street, died Thursday afternoon at a Nashville hospital.The Paducah Police Department says officers were called at 4:05am Thursday to a home in the 1100 block of North 12th. They arrived to find that 26-year-old Crabtree had been shot.Crabtree was initially taken to a Paducah hospital, but was later transferred to Nashville for treatment.Police are still investigating the shooting. Anyone with information is asked to call the Paducah Police Department at 270-444-8550.Information also may be provided anonymously through West Kentucky Crime Stoppers by texting WKY and your tip to 847411 (tip 411), or by downloading the app WKY Crime Stoppers from the Apple Store or Google Play.Information leading to an arrest or indictment may result in a reward of up to $1,000.
Missing McCracken County Teen Found

By West Kentucky Star Staff





MCCRACKEN COUNTY - The McCracken County Sheriffs Office said that a McCracken County teenager that was reported missing on Friday has been found.The sheriff's office said 14-year-old Riley M. Baumgart was found Monday and is safe. Baumgart left her home in the St. Johns area of McCracken County without permission Friday morning.
White Sentenced to Prison on Federal Sex Charge

By West Kentucky Star Staff

BENTON, IL - A Paducah man charged with attempting to have sexual contact with a child in southern Illinois has been sentenced to prison.A jury found Kenneth White guilty on May 5 on a charge of traveling across state lines with intent to engage in illicit sexual contact.The U.S. Attorney's Office in Fairview Heights says White was sentenced Thursday in U.S. District Court to 12 years behind bars. He will also have to serve eight years of supervised release, and must pay a $1,000 fine and a $5,100 special assessment.White was arrested in Metropolis last June after FBI agents said he drove across the state line, believing he was meeting a man who would let him have sex with the man's 10-year-old daughter. White had been communicating with the man by email and text messages, some of which were explicit, but the man was actually an undercover agent.White is the former owner of two Paducah restaurants, Ken's Place and Gold Rush Cafe. Ken's place didn't reopen after his arrest, but Gold Rush Cafe was sold in July and is under new management.
KY Small Cities Get $157M For COVID Expenses

By West Kentucky Star Staff

WESTERN KENTUCKY - On Thursday Governor Beshear announced more than $157 million in funding for more than 360 cities in Kentucky from the American Rescue Plan Act.The funding to offset expenses related to COVID includes $6.4 million for Paducah, $5 million for Murray, and $2.2 million for Mayfield.The first half of funding will arrive as soon as next week, with the second half to come next spring. It can be used for expenses incurred by the city for items such as personal protective equipment, vaccination clinics, loss of revenue, and payroll.Cities with populations under 50,000 that did not file for a different distinction with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, were required to submit budget certification forms to the Department for Local Government.Here is the list of cities in our area receiving funds and the total amount they will receive:Barlow $166,769.60Kevil $151,232.06La Center $248,341.68Bardwell $174,279.41Hazel $48,712.50Murray $5,004,900.67Marion $735,702.53Fulton $548,993.09Mayfield $2,542,200.54Wingo $150,564.00Clinton $323,957.71Columbus $39,620.73Salem $187,227.36Smithland $74,580.19Eddyville $659,050.66Kuttawa $173,502.53Benton $1,155,734.03Calvert City $648,692.30Hardin $156,411.24Paducah $6,439,015.63Cadiz $691,679.50
Human Remains Found in Lake Barkley Get DNA Test

By West Kentucky Star Staff

TRIGG COUNTY - Kentucky State Police have sent samples to a lab for DNA testing of human remains found in Lake Barkley last month.In June, Stewart County, Tennessee officials contacted Kentucky State Police about possible human remains just north of the U.S. 68 bridge in Lake Barkley.State Police Post 1 Spokesman Adam Jones told WKDZ radio that in an attempt to determine the persons identity a sample of the remains will undergo rapid DNA testing. He added this is one of the first times they have used the rapid DNA process for identification purposes.State Police aren't sure when the results will be released and they are continuing to investigate missing person reports from surrounding states.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-22 23:42:56|Editor: huaxia

Video Player Close

BEIJING, July 22 (Xinhua) -- The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) has launched a law enforcement inspection of China's fire protection law.

In August, inspection teams will go to eight provincial-level regions, according to the first plenary meeting of the inspection teams held in Beijing Thursday.

The NPC Standing Committee will also entrust local legislatures in eight regions with the inspection work in their own regions.

During the inspection, the teams will examine the overall situation of the law's implementation, with focuses on the responsibility system for fire safety, the installation of fire-protection facilities and equipment, and the promotion of fire safety knowledge, as well as the fire protection work in key sites and specific areas.

The inspection teams will discuss the law-enforcement inspection report in November, and the NPC Standing Committee will likely review it in late December.

The fire protection law was adopted in 1998 and has been amended twice. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-23 00:12:15|Editor: huaxia

Video Player Close

Chinese Vice Premier Han Zheng, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, addresses a teleconference on developing rental housing and facilitating regulation of the real-estate market on July 22, 2021. (Xinhua/Ding Lin)

BEIJING, July 22 (Xinhua) -- Vice Premier Han Zheng has called for efforts to accelerate the development of government-subsidized rental housing and resolutely implement the long-term housing mechanism.

Han, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks on Thursday at a teleconference on developing rental housing and facilitating regulation of the real-estate market.

Han urged taking the development of government-subsidized rental housing as a key task in housing construction during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025) and addressing prominent housing issues in large cities.

Efforts should be made to guarantee the housing supply for new urban residents and young people, Han said.

While pushing forward the development of government-subsidized rental housing, Han underscored the importance of ensuring people's basic living requirements and focusing on striking a balance between the needs of work and life.

A scientific rent-pricing mechanism should also be established in accordance with the principle of "affordability and sustainability," he said.

Han also stressed sticking to the principle of "housing is for living in, not for speculation", while avoiding the use of housing as a short-term tool to stimulate the economy.

The long-term housing mechanism stabilizes the prices of land and houses, as well as expectations, and it should be fully implemented to ensure the stable and healthy development of the real-estate market, he added. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-23 00:21:24|Editor: huaxia

Video Player Close

People walk near the headquarters of the European Commission in Brussels, Belgium, May 19, 2021.(Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)

According to the latest data of the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control, 54.7 percent of the adult population was fully vaccinated with either two vaccine doses, or one -- in the case of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

BRUSSELS, July 22 (Xinhua) -- More than half of the adult population in the European Union (EU), equivalent to over 200 million people, are fully vaccinated, a European Commission spokeswoman said on Thursday.

Dana Spinant, deputy chief spokesperson of the European Commission, told journalists during the daily briefing that according to the latest data of the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control, 54.7 percent of the adult population was fully vaccinated with either two vaccine doses or one dose in the case of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

"We have 68.4 percent of adults in the EU who have received their first dose. So we are making very significant progress. We are among those parts of the world that have vaccinated most of their citizens, but of course, it is paramount to ensure that this is evenly shared so that we do not have areas where the virus can propagate and mutate," said Spinant.

A woman walks into a COVID-19 test and vaccination center in Brussels, Belgium, on May 4, 2021. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)

The European Commission has set its target to vaccinate at least 70 percent of its adult population by this summer.

Meanwhile, the Commission announced through a statement that Team Europe, including the EU, its institutions and all 27 member states, will donate at least 200 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccines to low- and middle-income countries by the end of the year.

"Team Europe takes its responsibility in helping the world fight the virus, everywhere. Vaccination is key -- that's why it is essential to ensure access to COVID-19 vaccines to countries worldwide," President of the Commission Ursula von der Leyen was quoted as saying.

People wait to receive the COVID-19 vaccine at a vaccination center in Nice, southern France, on April 10, 2021. (Photo by Serge Haouzi/Xinhua)
Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-23 00:25:38|Editor: huaxia

Video Player Close

HONG KONG, July 22 (Xinhua) -- The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government on Thursday condemned the United States for maliciously smearing the national security law in Hong Kong.

The implementation of the national security law in Hong Kong safeguards the SAR's unique advantages under "one country, two systems," guarantees its security and stability, and reinforces its status as a global financial hub, Financial Secretary of the HKSAR government Paul Chan said, stressing that more global investors will be attracted to do business in Hong Kong.

Chan's remarks came in response to the so-called Investment Climate Statements issued by the U.S. state department, which smeared Hong Kong's business environment.

The U.S. government has repeatedly attacked the national security law in Hong Kong and interfered in Hong Kong affairs, Chan said, voicing strong disapproval of the malicious comments in the report.

Chan pointed out that the U.S. report is self-contradictory as it vilifies the national security law in Hong Kong but at the same time recognizes Hong Kong's popularity among American investors and traders and its competitive professional services.

The report exposed the U.S. double standard, Chan said, noting that every country has the right and responsibility to safeguard national security.

The HKSAR government continues to welcome global businesses, including U.S. businesses, to set up offices in Hong Kong, Chan said, adding that Hong Kong's investment environment is more stable after the national security law took effect.

Hong Kong remains a competitive global financial hub and the HKSAR government is confident in giving full play to Hong Kong's advantages, seizing enormous opportunities in national development and pushing forward Hong Kong's economic growth, Chan said. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-23 00:44:36|Editor: huaxia

Video Player Close

BEIJING, July 22 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has signed a State Council decree to publish a revised regulation on hog slaughtering, which will come into effect on August 1.

The revision of the regulation focused on strengthening the management to ensure the safety and quality of hog-related products to protect people's health.

The new regulation requires efforts to improve the whole-process management of hog slaughtering, enhance prevention and control of animal diseases, and further increase punishment for illegal acts in this area.

The integrated development of pig breeding, slaughtering, processing, distribution, and sales are encouraged. Efforts should also be made to promote standardized slaughtering and support the construction of cold-chain circulation and distribution systems, according to the regulation. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-23 01:09:20|Editor: huaxia

Video Player Close

Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi (R, front) visits a vaccinating and testing center in Kweneng District, Botswana, on July 22, 2021. Botswana's President, Mokgweetsi Masisi on Thursday urged citizens to get COVID-19 vaccines when their turn came, stating that all of the vaccines had been tested and approved by the appropriate authorities. (Photo by Tshekiso Tebalo/Xinhua)

GABORONE, July 22 (Xinhua) - Botswana's President, Mokgweetsi Masisi on Thursday urged citizens to get COVID-19 vaccines when their turn came, stating that all of the vaccines had been tested and approved by the appropriate authorities.

During his visit to the Bokaa Clinic and Boswelakoko vaccinating center in Kweneng District on Thursday, he advised residents to continue following COVID-19 protocols because the vaccine is not a cure and those who have been vaccinated can still become infected with the disease. He warns citizens about the new, easily transmissible Delta variant.

Masisi is currently touring the country, stopping at vaccine distribution centers to see how the rollout is going.

Clinics have seen an increase in the number of people since the government announced the phase two vaccination rollout which began on July 22 for those aged 45 to 54, according to Keboneetse Mmati, Principal Registered Nurse Midwife at the Bokaa clinic.

In order to accommodate the large turnout, the Ministry of Health announced on Thursday that it has decided to extend the hours of operation for vaccination centers in Gaborone. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-23 02:03:57|Editor: huaxia

Video Player Close

Palestinian police officers inspect the site of an explosion in Al-Zawiya market in Gaza City, July 22, 2021. An explosion in Al-Zawiya market on Thursday killed one person, and injured 10 others. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

GAZA, July 22 (Xinhua) -- At least one Palestinian was killed and 10 others injured on Thursday in a huge explosion in the largest public market in the Gaza Strip.

The explosion caused massive destruction in the al-Zawya market, damaging several homes in the overcrowded neighborhood, the Hamas-run Ministry of Interior said in a statement.

Eyad al-Bozzom, spokesman of the ministry, told reporters that the civil defense managed to extinguish the fire caused by the explosion and evacuated the survivors.

It was suspected that the blast was caused by a gas explosion, but the ministry said it was investigating the incident to determine the cause.

The casualties from the explosion were limited largely due to the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha, or feast of sacrifice, during which all the stores in the al-Zawya market were closed. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-23 02:29:43|Editor: huaxia

Video Player Close

RAMALLAH, July 22 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Thursday held a phone conversation with Israeli Minister of Public Security Omer Barlev to discuss peace and security issues in the region, the official Palestinian news agency WAFA reported.

The report did not provide more details about the conversation.

Barlev later tweeted that he hopes to open lines of communication with Palestinian counterparts in the interest of peace and security for the two peoples.

"That friendly conversation is the first of its kind between an Israeli internal security minister and the president of the Palestinian Authority," Barlev said.

On Monday, WAFA reported that Abbas received phone calls from his Israeli counterpart Isaac Herzog and Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz.

Herzog congratulated Abbas on the occasion of the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha. Gantz wrote on Twitter that he spoke with Abbas to express "well wishes on the occasion of Eid al-Adha" and "discussed the need to advance steps of trust-building between us."

The Israeli-Palestinian peace talks have stalled since April 2014 due to their deeply-rooted disputes over the settlements, security and borders. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-23 02:50:55|Editor: huaxia

Video Player Close

JERUSALEM, July 22 (Xinhua) -- Israel concluded on Thursday its first-ever multinational military drone drill at the Palmachim Air Force base, south of Tel Aviv, the Israeli military said.

Six air force teams from Israel, the United States, Britain, France, Italy and Germany trained together with the Hermes 450 drones, known in Israel as "Zik," in several operational scenarios, the Israeli military said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Israeli crews operated other drones of the Israeli Air Force to conduct a wide-range of exercises, according to the statement.

This is the first time that Israeli and foreign drone operators have conducted missions together, including assisting ground troops, locating and striking enemies, and having joint operations with manned and remotely controlled aircraft, Yoav Amiram, the commander of the Palmachim Air Force base, told the Times of Israel. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-23 03:14:02|Editor: huaxia

Video Player Close

UNITED NATIONS, July 22 (Xinhua) -- The first humanitarian flight into Ethiopia's Tigray region in two months on Thursday carried more than 30 aid workers as fighting had blocked a relief convoy into the restive region, a UN spokeswoman said.

"This was the first passenger flight into the Tigray region since commercial flights were halted on June 24," said Florencia Soto Nino-Martinez, an associate spokeswoman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. "The plane carried more than 30 employees from multiple humanitarian organizations, working to deliver urgently needed assistance to communities across Tigray."

She told Xinhua that Thursday's Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) flight originated at the Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa and landed in Mekele, the regional capital of Tigray. The flights will operate twice a week, carrying humanitarian personnel into and out of Tigray.

The spokeswoman said the humanitarian response continues to be challenged by a lack of humanitarian supplies, limited communication services, no commercial supply chain and security concerns.

Published reports said Tigray rebels have clashed with federal government troops and militias from other regions recently, including in the Afar region immediately to the east, holding up road traffic into Tigray.

"A World Food Programme-led convoy of over 200 trucks containing food and other essential humanitarian supplies is currently on standby in Semera (in Afar region) and is expected to depart for Tigray as soon as security clearances are assured," the spokeswoman said.

The UNHAS flights are managed by the World Food Programme. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-23 03:23:42|Editor: huaxia

Video Player Close

RIYADH, July 22 (Xinhua) -- Saudi Arabia announced on Thursday the successful conclusion of this year's Hajj season, free from the COVID-19 and other contagious diseases, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Saudi Health Minister Tawfiq Al-Rabiah attributed the success to an integrated system of health facilities in the holy sites, highly equipped ambulances and qualified teams, the report said.

The minister added that limiting the number of domestic pilgrims during this Hajj season to 60,000 also contributed to the success.

For the second year in a row, Saudi Arabia has allowed only domestic pilgrims to performed Hajj to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-23 05:33:26|Editor: huaxia

Video Player Close

Security force members inspect a damaged vehicle from which rockets were fired in Kabul, Afghanistan, July 20, 2021. (Xinhua/Rahmatullah Alizadah)

A defense official said that the U.S. military conducted more than four airstrikes supporting Afghan forces on Wednesday and Thursday.

WASHINGTON, July 22 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. military in the past few days conducted airstrikes in Afghanistan to support Afghan security forces, the Pentagon said on Thursday.

According to media reports, Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby said that "in the last several days, we have acted, through airstrikes, to support the ANDSF (Afghan National Defense and Security Forces)," without providing details.

A defense official told the Associated Press that the U.S. military conducted more than four airstrikes supporting Afghan forces on Wednesday and Thursday.

At least two of the strikes targeting military equipment that the Taliban had taken from the Afghan forces, and others targeting Taliban fighting positions, including at least one strike in the southern province of Kandahar, said the report.

These airstrikes came as the security situation in the war-torn country deteriorated and the U.S. drawdown was almost completed.

General Mark Milley, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, said in a press briefing on Wednesday that about half of the 419 district centers in Afghanistan are under Taliban control.

"A significant amount of territory has been seized over the course of six, eight, ten months by the Taliban ... strategic momentum appears to be sort of with the Taliban," Milley said.

President Joe Biden had ordered the U.S. military to end its mission in Afghanistan by Aug. 31, days ahead of his original Sept. 11 deadline. U.S. Central Command said last week over 95 percent of the withdrawal had been completed. 
Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-23 09:30:48|Editor: huaxia

Video Player Close

RAMALLAH, July 23 (Xinhua) -- Palestine on Thursday welcomed a decision by the United Nations Human Rights Council to form an independent international commission to investigate Israeli violations of Palestinian rights.

The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that the council's decision "reflects the international community's persistence to implement international law and protect Palestinian human rights."

"Forming the commission came in implementation of Palestine's decision in the council during its special session number 30," the statement said, adding that the commission will look into Israeli violations of humanitarian and international human rights law in the Palestinian territories since April 13.

On Thursday, Nazhat Shameem Khan, president of the Human Rights Council, announced the appointment of Navi Pillay, Miloon Kothari and Chris Sidoti as the three members of the Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

The council said in a press statement that Pillay, a South African, who was the former chief of the council, will serve as the chair of the new three-person commission, which was also tasked with investigating "all underlying root cause of recurrent tensions, instability and protraction of conflict."

Israeli media reported that the Israeli Foreign Ministry said the move "completely ignores the 4,300 rockets fired from the Gaza Strip toward Israeli citizens in May."

In April, tensions escalated in East Jerusalem and then spread to the West Bank and the Gaza Strip in May following an Israeli court's verdict to evict families from their homes in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood in the city.

On May 10, Israel waged a large-scale aerial offensive on the Gaza Strip after militants led by the Islamic Resistance Movement, or Hamas, launched a barrage of rockets at Israel.

The offensive ended after 11 days of fighting when Egypt brokered a ceasefire deal between the two sides. More than 250 Palestinians and 13 Israelis were killed, with widespread destruction of buildings and infrastructure in Gaza. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-23 10:00:05|Editor: huaxia

Video Player Close

Richard Lancaster, chief executive officer of Hong Kong-based power company CLP Holdings, speaks in an interview with Xinhua in Hong Kong, south China, July 21, 2021. In an exclusive interview with Xinhua, the power industry veteran from Australia told his story of pursuing dreams in the Asian commercial hub and elaborated on why Hong Kong has for decades remained attractive to businesses and investors from around the world. (Xinhua/Wu Xiaochu)

HONG KONG, July 23 (Xinhua) -- "If somebody was to ask me where they wanted to set up an office in Asia, I would say Hong Kong," Richard Lancaster, chief executive officer of Hong Kong-based power company CLP Holdings, said.

In an exclusive interview with Xinhua, the power industry veteran from Australia told his story of pursuing dreams in the Asian commercial hub and elaborated on why Hong Kong has for decades remained attractive to businesses and investors from around the world.

At the core of Hong Kong's charm is the mix of East and West, he said. "It has been so fascinating to be positioned right in the middle of Asia. That is really Hong Kong's strength, its ability to interact with the rest of the world, and being part of China."

"It's such a dynamic and exciting place," Lancaster said.

With a strong rule of law, businesses have all the protections in Hong Kong and can operate with confidence, and its sophisticated financial and legal services also enable companies to deal easily with businesses in the rest of the world, Lancaster said.

"Everything that you need to run your business successfully is right here in Hong Kong," he said.

Earlier in his career, Lancaster worked in the electricity industry in Australia and joined CLP in 1992. After nearly 30 years, Lancaster said seeking a career in Hong Kong is one of the best decisions of his life. "I jumped at the opportunity in 1992. Frankly, I fell in love with Hong Kong. It's been my home ever since then."

Despite uncertainty and instability in Hong Kong over the past few years, Lancaster remains a staunch believer of the global financial hub.

"If you look back over the years, Hong Kong has just gone from strength to strength. There's been some ups and downs. We've seen financial crises, global pandemics, a period of social unrest, but each time Hong Kong comes out stronger," he said.

"Now we have a period of stability, I think we are well-positioned to go from strength to greater prosperity here."

As Hong Kong is speeding up its low carbon drive with ambitious plans to cut greenhouse carbon emissions, Lancaster believes that as Hong Kong's largest power supplier, CLP will play a crucial role in building a greener and more sustainable future for the global financial hub.

"Over the last 20 years, we have invested in technology in our plants and moved towards cleaner fuels. We now have a much more diverse fuel mix with nuclear power, some renewable energy, natural gas and coal," he said.

Lancaster vowed efforts to decarbonize Hong Kong's electricity industry in the next 30 years. "Once we do that, then electricity will be carbon-free and able to be used in other sectors such as the transportation sector."

Hong Kong aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. The share of coal-fired electricity generation was down from about 59 percent in 2014 to about 44 percent in 2019, and about 24 percent in 2020. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-23 10:51:33|Editor: huaxia

Video Player Close

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, arrives at the Nyingchi Mainling Airport and is warmly welcomed by local people and officials of various ethnic groups in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, July 21, 2021. Xi visited the Tibet Autonomous Region from Wednesday to Friday. He extended congratulations to the 70th anniversary of Tibet's peaceful liberation and visited officials and ordinary people of various ethnic groups. (Xinhua/Li Xueren)

LHASA, July 23 (Xinhua) -- Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, has visited the city of Nyingchi in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region.

Xi arrived at the Nyingchi Mainling Airport on Wednesday and was warmly welcomed by local people and officials of various ethnic groups.

He then visited the Nyang River Bridge, to inspect the ecological preservation in the basin of the Yarlung Zangbo River and its tributary Nyang River.

On Wednesday afternoon, Xi visited a local city planning hall, a village and a park in Nyingchi, inspecting the locality's city development planning, rural vitalization and city park building efforts.

On Thursday, Xi went to Nyingchi railway station, learning about the overall designing of the Sichuan-Tibet Railway and the operation of Lhasa-Nyingchi railway section, and then took a train to the regional capital Lhasa. He inspected the construction along the railway during the ride.

Officially put into operation last month, the Lhasa-Nyingchi railway is Tibet's first electrified railway. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-23 12:18:22|Editor: huaxia

Video Player Close

The new energy convertible Hongguang MINIEV CABRIO developed by SAIC-GM-Wuling (SGMW), a major Chinese automobile manufacturer, is displayed at the 19th International Automobile Industry Exhibition (Auto Shanghai 2021) in Shanghai, east China, April 19, 2021.(Xinhua/Ding Ting)

NANNING, July 23 (Xinhua) -- SAIC-GM-Wuling (SGMW), a major Chinese automobile manufacturer, reported strong vehicle sales in the first six months of 2021, the company said.

SGMW, a joint venture between SAIC Motor, General Motors, and Liuzhou Wuling Motors, sold 884,195 vehicles during the period, up by 39.5 percent year on year, maintaining a positive year-on-year growth for 15 consecutive months.

The Wuling brand sold 693,351 units in the first six months, up by 56.84 percent year on year, while the sales of Baojun, another vehicle brand of the company, reached 123,057 units.

Its exports gained 91 percent, year on year, to 74,225 units and sets during the period, seeing six successive months of growth.

The sales of the company's new energy vehicles (NEVs) also posted strong growth, with the total sales of small NEVs reaching 189,644 units during the January-June period. It exceeded its total NEVs sales throughout last year.

SGMW is based in Liuzhou, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. 
Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-23 12:18:22|Editor: huaxia

Video Player Close

A driver signals before a Yuxin'ou (Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe) China-Europe freight train leaves the Tuanjie Village Station of southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, March 19, 2021. (Xinhua/Tang Yi)

CHONGQING, July 23 (Xinhua) -- Southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, a major hub for China-Europe freight trains, saw 1,359 trips in the first half of the year, up over 50 percent year on year, according to local authorities.

The Yuxinou (Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe) railway, which is the first China-Europe freight train route, was put into operation in March 2011.

Originally designed to transport laptops for local IT companies, the Yuxinou railway has now launched more than 30 routes, connecting over 40 cities in 26 countries and transported over 1,000 types of goods ranging from whole-vehicles and auto parts to medicines and consumer products.

In the first half of this year, trips of the Yuxinou railway accounted for 18 percent of the total China-Europe freight train trips across the country, data from the port and logistics office of the municipal government showed.

Since its launch in 2011, the Yuxinou route has seen over 8,000 freight train trips, according to the municipal government. 
Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-23 13:32:52|Editor: huaxia

Video Player Close

BEIJING, July 23 (Xinhua) -- China's national observatory on Friday morning issued an orange alert for Typhoon In-Fa, which has become a strong typhoon and is expected to make landfall in east China's Zhejiang Province from Sunday afternoon to early Monday morning.

At 11 a.m. Friday, the center of Typhoon In-Fa, which means fireworks, was located in a coastal area approximately 640 km southeast of Xiangshan in Zhejiang Province, or at a latitude of 24.5 degrees north and a longitude of 125.3 degrees east, according to the National Meteorological Center.

It is moving northwestward at about 15 km per hour and gaining strength. In-Fa will bring rainstorms to regions including Shanghai, Zhejiang and Taiwan.

China has a four-tier color-coded weather warning system, with red representing the most severe warning, followed by orange, yellow and blue. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-23 13:37:49|Editor: huaxia

Video Player Close

ISLAMABAD -- Pakistan has confirmed 1,425 new COVID-19 cases over the past 24 hours, leading the country's tally to cross the 1-million mark, the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC) said Friday morning.

It was the first time when the country reported less than 2,000 new cases in a day after almost one week's time, the NCOC's data showed. (Pakistan-COVID-19)

- - - -

SYDNEY -- As the pandemic outbreak in Australian state of New South Wales (NSW) continues to surge, state authorities declared on Friday the outbreak a national emergency, calling for redirection of national vaccine supplies.

After a crisis cabinet meeting on the morning, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian declared the national emergency based on advice from the state's Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant. (Australia-COVID-19)

- - - -

WASHINGTON -- Two men were shot outside restaurants in Washington, D.C. on Thursday evening, authorities said.

Local media outlet WUSA 9 reported that one person was shot in the chest while the other was shot in the arm. Both are conscious and breathing. (U.S.-Shooting)

- - - -

RAMALLAH -- Palestine on Thursday welcomed a decision by the United Nations Human Rights Council to form an independent international commission to investigate Israeli violations of Palestinian rights.

The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that the council's decision "reflects the international community's persistence to implement international law and protect Palestinian human rights." (Palestine-Israel-UNHRC) Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-23 15:41:43|Editor: huaxia

Video Player Close

Chinese State Councilor Wang Yong, who heads the State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters, chairs a meeting of the headquarters in Beijing, capital of China, July 22, 2021. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)

BEIJING, July 23 (Xinhua) -- China has shored up efforts in emergency rescue and disaster relief in the central province of Henan, where record rainstorms wreaked havoc.

On Thursday, the Ministry of Emergency Management (MEM) deployed another team of 510 firefighters with expertise in water rescue to the flood-hit regions from five provinces and cities, together with 64 remote water supply trucks and 50 rubber boats.

The State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters and the MEM coordinated with the National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration and dispatched flood control supplies such as assault boats, life jackets, electric generators and pumps to Henan to support local flood control and emergency rescue work.

The headquarters also stressed making every effort in flood control, emergency rescue and disaster relief to effectively ensure people's safety and property.

When chairing a meeting of the headquarters Thursday, Chinese State Councilor Wang Yong, who heads the headquarters, urged the headquarters and local flood control authorities to make further preparations in preventing major floods and implementing rescue and disaster relief work to minimize casualties and losses.

In Henan and other regions severely stricken by floods, more work should be done to continue all-out rescue, resettle people affected and restore the order of life and production, Wang said, stressing forecasting severe weather in time, strengthening secondary disasters prevention and enhancing safety control of production, road traffic and tourist attractions.

The headquarters also dispatched a work team to the city of Xinxiang on Thursday, parts of which suffered heavy rainstorms. The team worked with local authorities to dispatch assault boats and bridges to rescue local villagers and visited the city of Dengfeng to inspect damages to houses and infrastructure and the work of personnel transfer and resettlement.

It urged relevant local authorities to speed up water draining, solve the problem of communication and transportation disruptions and allocate and distribute materials in flood-stricken areas, to ensure the basic livelihood of people affected by the disaster. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-23 16:24:25|Editor: huaxia

Video Player Close

BEIJING, July 23 (Xinhua) -- Amid a surge in confirmed COVID-19 cases in the United States, some U.S. politicians have continued to wantonly preach the so-called second phase study into the origin of the coronavirus in China rather than focusing on fighting the virus and saving lives in their own country.

However, when it comes to issues involving Fort Detrick, which is of great concern to the international community, these same politicians desperately evade even talking about it as if they have "aphasia."

But, the time has come for Fort Detrick to be investigated.

Evidence of infection in the United States can be traced back to November 2019 or even earlier, which were much earlier than the "first confirmed case" in the United States, according to multiple media reports. In June and July 2019, U.S. media started to report issues involving Fort Detrick. By the end of July, two retirement communities near the base witnessed outbreaks of pneumonia of unknown cause. In September, vaping-related lung illness cases doubled in Maryland where Fort Detrick is located.

In July 2019, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a "cease and desist order" to halt most research at Fort Detrick. In the same month, there were reports on the unexplained outbreak of respiratory disease in northern Virginia, and the outbreak of the EVALI -- a pulmonary illness with symptoms highly similar to COVID-19 -- which swept through several U.S. states.

Furthermore, the doubtful Fort Detrick has a complex history.

After the end of World War II, the United States successively dispatched germ warfare experts from Fort Detrick to Japan to learn about the latter's bacterial warfare from key members of Unit 731, a notorious Japanese biological and chemical warfare unit during World War II. Ishii Shiro, head of Unit 731, was even made a bio-weapon consultant at Fort Detrick by the U.S. side.

According to U.S. media reports, Fort Detrick stores many deadly viruses that pose a grave threat to human safety.

Despite facing mounting doubts, the United States has continued to refuse to release critical information regarding the base's closure under the pretext of "national security."

Some pertinent questions need to be answered by the United States -- if those U.S. politicians really care about the so-called truth of COVID-19 origin, why don't they invite WHO experts to investigate Fort Detrick? Why do they clam up whenever Fort Detrick is mentioned?

The United States dodging these questions, turning a blind eye to doubts and remaining silent on the pressing issue of Fort Detrick will only make the base more suspicious. Besides, shifting blame to others could only leave the United States in a position on the opposite side of international fairness and justice, the tide of the world, and human conscience. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-23 16:33:29|Editor: huaxia

Video Player Close

BEIJING, July 23 (Xinhua) -- Clinical services featuring traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) will be available in all of China's top-notch hospitals, an official said at a press conference Friday.

All of China's tertiary hospitals, which rank at the top of its three-tier grading system, will be configured with TCM clinics, and the setting up of TCM clinics in secondary hospitals will be supported, said Yan Huaguo, an official with the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

More efforts will be made to increase the number of TCM personnel and pharmacies in hospitals, intensify the synergy between TCM and Western-style medicine at hospital clinics to benefit more patients, and launch TCM training for more clinicians, Yan said.

Efforts will be made to develop a substantial number of therapies combining TCM and Western-style medicine for incurable and hard-to-cure diseases in the next five years, Yan added. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-23 17:05:04|Editor: huaxia

Video Player Close

BEIJING, July 23 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping has stressed further pushing forward the "toilet revolution" in the country's rural areas, calling for solid efforts and practical work to ensure quality and actual results of the campaign.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks in an instruction on the work to advance the "toilet revolution."

Thanks to sustained efforts to promote clean toilets in recent years, notable improvements have been made in the rural living environments, Xi said.

Rural "toilet revolution" will continue to be an important task of rural vitalization in the next five years, he said, calling for solid progress in light of local conditions and in a scientific manner while avoiding formalism and waste of resources.

Authorities at all levels should make joint efforts and perform their duties to produce good and concrete outcomes, said Xi.

Xi's instruction was read out at a national meeting on the "toilet revolution" in the rural areas, which was held Friday in Hengyang of central China's Hunan Province.

Chinese Vice Premier Hu Chunhua, who attended the meeting, stressed efforts to carry forward the work steadily and pragmatically under the principle of "quality first."

Hu called for simultaneous progress in improving toilets, ensuring water supply and treating sewage to ensure hygienic standards are met, as well as giving full play to the principal role of farmers in the campaign. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-23 17:10:52|Editor: huaxia

Video Player Close

HANGZHOU, July 23 (Xinhua) -- The fourth cross-Strait youth development forum opened in east China's Hangzhou City on Friday.

China's top political advisor Wang Yang sent a letter to express congratulations on behalf of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee.

In his congratulatory letter, Wang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee, said young people are the hope and future for the cross-Strait relations.

Wang said that the mainland cares highly about the development of Chinese youth including those from Taiwan and positively supports cross-Strait exchanges and communication.

He urged the youth from across the Taiwan Strait to be more proud, confident, and assured in their identity as Chinese.

The mainland is under rapid and sound development and will provide a broader stage for the growth and success of young people on both sides of the Strait, Wang said.

"We welcome more young people from Taiwan to visit the mainland and will provide good conditions for their study, employment and starting businesses on the mainland," he said.

Wang called on the young people from Taiwan to see the trend of history and contribute to promoting the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations, advancing the process of peaceful reunification and realizing the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

The forum was attended by Hung Hsiu-chu, the former Kuomintang chairwoman, as well as 350 youth representatives from both sides of the Taiwan Strait. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-23 17:49:26|Editor: huaxia

Video Player Close

by Xinhua writer Ma Qian

BEIJING, July 23 (Xinhua) -- As the COVID-19 pandemic is still taking a heavy toll on the world, the last thing countries around the world want to do is to politicize the search for the origins of the virus.

To do that, one needs to demonstrate openness and follow the guide of science and facts. Clearly, the United States is failing on both fronts.

As China is the world's first country to report confirmed cases, Beijing has already invited the World Health Organization (WHO) experts to come to China twice for the origin tracing. And the WHO experts have concluded in a report in March that the so-called "lab leak" theory is extremely unlikely, and recommended conducting further research around earlier cases globally.

Next, the origin tracing work should be conducted in the United States, the country that sees the most infections and deaths in the pandemic, and whose fight against the outbreak has a flurry of questions unanswered.

The most mysterious question is whether the closure of the biochemical research base at Fort Detrick, which stores the most deadly and infectious viruses in the world, including Ebola, smallpox and SARS, has any connections with the pandemic and when the first infection occured in the United States.

Such queries did not come out of thin air. The Detrick lab abruptly closed in July 2019, amid some unexplained outbreaks of respiratory disease in some parts of the United States. And the latest evidence is showing that the earliest infections in the United States can date back to late December 2019.

If the United States acctually believes it could be as open as China on the issue, it should answer those questions in front of the global community with science-based facts and open its door to the WHO.

However, the United States is turning a blind eye to those mounting global concerns.

What is more appalling is that in late May, the White House has tasked the U.S. Intelligence Community with a mission to come to a "definitive conclusion" into virus origin within 90 days.

It is weird enough that the U.S. government is turning to its intelligence community for a scientific question, and gives so short a period of time for an utterly complicated research. What is the motive behind this highly politicized decision? Why the rush?

At a time when scientists should have a bigger say in the world's quest for the truth of the once-in-a-century pandemic, it is increasingly obvious that some U.S. scientists, like Anthony Fauci, have been facing a buildup of domestic pressure, even death threats, for speaking up for truth.

Over the past year and more, the United States has let the world down for its immense failure to play a leading role in the global war on the pandemic. On uncovering the secrets of the virus, the United States should immediately stop its efforts to politicize the virus origin tracing, and start to embrace openness, objectivity and professionalism. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-23 18:02:04|Editor: huaxia

Video Player Close

LHASA, July 23 (Xinhua) -- Chinese leader Xi Jinping has stressed fully implementing the guidelines of the Communist Party of China (CPC) for governing Tibet in a new era and writing a new chapter of lasting stability and high-quality development for the plateau region.

Xi, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visited the Tibet Autonomous Region from Wednesday to Friday for the 70th anniversary of Tibet's peaceful liberation, the first time in the history of the Party and the country. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-23 19:23:25|Editor: huaxia

Video Player Close

A medical worker prepares a dose of COVID-19 vaccine in Jakarta, Indonesia, July 23, 2021. Indonesia's Health Ministry reported on Friday that the coronavirus cases across the archipelago rose by 49,071 within the past 24 hours to 3,082,410, with the death toll adding by 1,566 to 80,598. This has been the highest daily number of fatalities the country ever reported since the outbreak of the pandemic. (Xinhua/Veri Sanovri)

JAKARTA, July 23 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia's Health Ministry reported on Friday that the coronavirus cases across the archipelago rose by 49,071 within the past 24 hours to 3,082,410, with the death toll adding by 1,566 to 80,598.

This has been the highest daily number of fatalities the country ever reported since the outbreak of the pandemic.

Additional 38,988 recovered patients were discharged from hospitals, raising the total number of recoveries from the pandemic in the Southeast Asian country to 2,431,911, according to the ministry.

The virus has spread to all the country's 34 provinces and the more transmissible virus Delta variant has contributed to the surges in COVID-19 cases in some of the country's regions.

The Southeast Asian nation is accelerating its massive vaccination program while maintaining restrictions on public mobility in several regions amid its deteriorating second COVID-19 wave.

The government plans to relax the restrictions on July 26 if the situation is under control. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-23 19:29:03|Editor: huaxia

Video Player Close

BAGHDAD, July 23 (Xinhua) -- A total of three security members and a militant of the extremist Islamic State (IS) group were killed on Friday in an IS attack on a military base in Iraqi western province of Anbar, an army source said.

The attack took place in the early morning when IS militants attacked a base for the Iraqi army and paramilitary Sunni tribal fighters, sparking a clash near the town of al-Rutba, some 450 km west of the Iraqi capital Baghdad, an army officer in the province told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

The attack resulted in the killing of two soldiers and a tribal fighter and the wounding of two soldiers, while an IS militant was also killed in the clash, the source said.

After reinforcement troops arrived at the scene, the attackers withdrew to a nearby desert, the source added.

During the past months, IS militants have intensified their attacks on the Iraqi security forces in the province the militants previously controlled, leaving dozens dead and wounded.

The security situation in Iraq has been improving since Iraqi security forces fully defeated the IS militants across the country late in 2017. However, IS remnants have since melted in urban areas or deserts and rugged areas, carrying out frequent guerilla attacks against security forces and civilians. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-23 19:45:40|Editor: huaxia

Video Player Close

NANNING, July 23 (Xinhua) -- South China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region saw its foreign trade volume reach 290.2 billion yuan (about 44.9 billion U.S. dollars) in the first half (H1) of 2021, up 33.9 percent year on year, according to local customs.

The region's exports increased 27.5 percent year on year to 150.31 billion yuan while imports gained 41.6 percent to 139.89 billion yuan during the period, according to Deng Guangwen, deputy director of customs authorities of Nanning, the regional capital.

In June, the region's foreign trade was 48.15 billion yuan, up 15.1 percent year on year, maintaining a positive year-on-year growth for 10 consecutive months.

During the January-June period, foreign trade of Guangxi's private enterprises reached 183.66 billion yuan, up 29.9 percent, accounting for 63.3 percent of the region's total trade volume.

Foreign-funded companies and state-owned enterprises also reported strong trade growth during the period, with year-on-year increases of 17.4 percent and 52.2 percent, respectively.

The region's trade with countries along the Belt and Road saw a year-on-year increase of 34.1 percent to reach 155.48 billion yuan in H1, while trade with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the United States grew by 36.4 percent and 105.2 percent year on year respectively. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-23 19:47:02|Editor: huaxia

Video Player Close

TEHRAN, July 23 (Xinhua) -- A 20-year-old young man was killed and two 16-year-old others were injured on Thursday night during protests in the western Iranian town of Aligudarz, Iran's state TV reported on Friday.

The three victims were targeted by "suspicious shootings" after "a number of people" went to the streets to protest against the water problems in the neighboring southwestern province of Khouzestan, according to the report.

The father of the mortal victim appeared in an interview on state TV, and requested the cooperation of the authorities.

As reported by Iran's state TV, security forces took to the streets of Aligudarz to confront the protestors, and the situation is currently normal.

Street protests over a lack of drinking water supply in 702 villages and the drying of the Iranian part of the Hawizeh marshes, along the border between Iran and Iraq, have been reported in several towns of Khuzestan since July 15 amid a severe drought.

On Tuesday, Iran's state TV reported the arrival of a water flow to the marshes, after the output of the Karkheh dam in the north of Khuzestan was augmented on July 17.

On Thursday, Iran's President Hassan Rouhani stressed the need to respect the right of people "to protest the harsh living conditions caused by draught and extreme heat," in a telephone conversation with the Governor General of Khuzestan province Qassem Soleimani Dashtaki, official news agency IRNA reported. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-23 19:55:46|Editor: huaxia

Video Player Close

LHASA, July 23 (Xinhua) -- Chinese leader Xi Jinping has stressed fully implementing the guidelines of the Communist Party of China (CPC) for governing Tibet in a new era and writing a new chapter of lasting stability and high-quality development for the plateau region.

Xi, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visited the Tibet Autonomous Region from Wednesday to Friday for the 70th anniversary of Tibet's peaceful liberation, the first time in the history of the Party and the country.

Xi extended congratulations to the 70th anniversary of Tibet's peaceful liberation, visited officials and ordinary people of various ethnic groups and conveyed the CPC Central Committee's care to them.

Xi said over the past 70 years Tibet has made historic strides in the social system and realized full economic and social development, with people's living standards significantly improved.

"It has been proven that without the CPC, there would have been neither new China nor new Tibet," Xi said. "The CPC Central Committee's guidelines and policies concerning Tibet work are completely correct."

Xi stressed efforts to strengthen developing border areas, emphasized the four major issues of stability, development, ecology and border-area consolidation, and called for new achievements in protecting the ecology of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and advancing its sustainable development. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-23 20:19:45|Editor: huaxia

Video Player Close

PARIS, July 23 (Xinhua) -- France will probably not return to a normal post-COVID-19 life until 2022 or even 2023 due to the highly transmissible variants of the virus, the government's top scientific adviser said on Friday.

"The return to normal is not for now, probably in 2022 or 2023. We will probably have another variant which will emerge in the winter. This virus has extraordinary mutation capacity," said Jean-Francois Delfraissy, head of the scientific council that advises the government.

Speaking to BFMTV news channel, Delfraissy expected the number of daily infections to reach around 50,000 by the beginning of August, and the fourth epidemic wave would affect French hospitals in the second half of next month.

"In this context of very high infection, with a variant much more contaminating than the previous one," it's necessary to return to protective measures such as washing hands or wearing masks outdoors in crowded places, he recommended.

The Delta variant, first detected in India, is now the dominant strain of COVID-19 in France and triggered a fourth epidemic wave. On Thursday, the country reported 21,909 new cases, the highest daily figure since May 12.

In order to curb the spread of the variant, the government proposed measures to tighten restrictions for unvaccinated people by massively extending the use of the health pass, and make mandatory vaccination of health workers.

Earlier Friday, the National Assembly, France's lower house of parliament, endorsed the new measures. Under the new draft law, health workers and firefighters would face sanctions if they are not vaccinated.

People who want to visit cultural venues or go to amusement parks, swimming pools and gyms must now present a certificate which proves that they have been vaccinated against COVID-19 or recovered from the disease, or have a recent negative test.

Starting from early August, the health pass will also be needed to enter restaurants and bars and for long-distance train and plane journeys.

The legislation now passes to the Senate and set to be definitively approved during the weekend. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-23 20:26:35|Editor: huaxia

Video Player Close

LAGOS, July 23 (Xinhua) -- The World Health Organization (WHO) has commended Nigeria's efforts and measures taken to track and curb tuberculosis (TB) in the country amid the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

The WHO Regional Office for Africa said in a statement reaching Xinhua on Friday that data indicate that there has been an increase in annual TB case notification due to strategic intervention by Nigeria's National Tuberculosis, Buruli Ulcer and Leprosy Control Program (NTBLCP) in collaboration with the WHO and other agencies.

"In 2020 a total of 138,591 cases were notified, 15 percent higher compared to 106,533 and 120,266 cases notified in 2018 and 2019 respectively," the statement said.

Chukwuemeka Anyike, NTBLCP national coordinator, was quoted in the statement as saying this implies that with additional resources channeled towards TB case-finding, an upscaling of innovative strategies and a focused and targeted approach, the country can realize its goal of tracking down all missing TB cases and possibly end TB in Nigeria.

He added that active TB case-finding is vital to reducing the burden of the disease in the country, because Nigeria has over 440,000 incident TB cases, and over 300,000 are estimated to be missed annually.

The report said that when the pandemic triggered lockdowns in March 2020, diagnosis and enrollment for TB treatment fell in many countries with high TB burdens.

In Nigeria, the key component of intervention began in the second quarter of 2020, with the WHO and partners integrating TB case-finding by conducting outreach in 12 states.

The response included training TB case officers and community informants on advocacy, house-to-house case searches, contact-tracing, and social mobilization for TB and COVID-19. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-23 21:16:44|Editor: huaxia

Video Player Close

KABUL, July 23 (Xinhua) -- The escalating fighting and the ambiguity over the future of Afghanistan's peace talks have triggered concerns among Afghans as both the government forces and the Taliban outfit have been fighting to gain more grounds with three districts having changed hands over the past 24 hours.

Taliban militants, according to media reports, seized Garmsir and Marja districts of southern Helmand province on Thursday, while an army statement claimed that the government troops recaptured Karukh district in western Herat province on Friday.

The government forces have also evicted Taliban militants from several villages from around Kunduz city, the provincial capital of northern Kunduz province on Friday, provincial police chief Zabardast Khan Safi said.

Since the start of the withdrawal of the U.S.-led foreign forces from Afghanistan early in May, the Taliban fighters have intensified activities and overrun more than 170 districts, according to reports.

Ahmad Nader Nadery, a senior government official and a member of the Afghan government negotiation team for peace talks with the Taliban, has confirmed Taliban rule over 116 districts in 29 provinces.

However, a Taliban spokesman for the group's Doha office has claimed the seizure of some 200 districts over the past two months.

Spokesman for the Afghan Defense Ministry Fawad Aman said recently that the government forces would launch counter-offensive to recapture all the districts overrun by the Taliban outfit.

According to the Defense Ministry on Friday, a total of 152 Taliban fighters have been killed and 53 others injured over the past 24 hours elsewhere in the country and the security and defense forces would continue to chase the insurgents.

The tug of war and uncertainty of the peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban has disappointed many Afghans over the future of their country.

"The peace dialogue has proved boring and useless as neither side wants to compromise for the larger interests of the country while the ordinary people have lost everything they had," lamented Abdul Rahman, a displaced from northern Baghlan province.

Rahman, who left his home in Nahrin district for Kabul after the district was captured by the Taliban three weeks ago, said "the fear of counter-offensive on Nahrin by the government forces was looming everyday" and it was dangerous to stay there.

Echoing Rahman, Abdul Hamid, a resident from Khanabad district in Kunduz province who was leaving for Iran to escape the war, told Xinhua "Peace won't return to Afghanistan because the former Afghan regimes had failed to bring about peace and the international community over the past 20 years have failed to ensure reconciliation among Afghans."

The last round of peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban delegation in Qatari capital Doha ended on July 18 without any significant progress except consensus for continuing the talks.

Taliban militants have been demanding the removal of Afghanistan's President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani from power, a pre-condition that has been rejected by Kabul, according to media reports.

"From one hand we are pushing for talks on the negotiating table and from the other, we are fighting on battle ground to defend ourselves," spokesman for the Presidential Palace Dawa Khan Menapal told local media on Friday.

Accusing the Taliban of pushing for war, Khan noted "Taliban militants do nothing except suicide attacks, bomb blasts and killing people as they killed more than 100 civilians in Kandahar recently" and "providing no service." Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-23 21:18:47|Editor: huaxia

Video Player Close

BEIJING, July 23 (Xinhua) -- China has provided over 600 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines to the world to support the global fight against COVID-19, an official with the commerce ministry said.

The country has offered over 300 billion masks, 3.7 billion protective suits and 4.8 billion testing kits to more than 200 countries and regions, Li Xingqian, an official with Ministry of Commerce, told a press conference.

Despite COVID-19 disruptions, China has adapted quickly and moved fast to provide medical supplies and other products to the world, contributing to global anti-pandemic efforts, Li said.

To serve the work and life demands of people around the world, China's foreign trade firms have also mobilized their production resources and exported a large number of quality consumer goods, Li said. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-23 22:00:44|Editor: huaxia

Video Player Close

A child carries a bottle of gasoline in Mashghara town, Bekaa, Lebanon, on July 23, 2021. (Photo by Taher Abu Hamdan/Xinhua)

BEIRUT, July 23 (Xinhua) -- Omar al-Ghazal drives his pick-up truck every night to a gas station located between Nabatiyeh and Marjeyoun in southern Lebanon to fill dozens of plastic galloons with gasoline, and sell them to clients in their houses as the chronic shortage of fuel deepens in the country.

The 34-year-old man said many car owners prefer to pay more than the original price of 75,000 Lebanese Pounds per 20 liters of gasoline instead of waiting for long hours to obtain small quantities of gasoline.

"I add a small profit for myself and for the gas station's owner; this gives me the chance to make some money for my family amid the current dire economic situation," said al-Ghazal who has been unemployed for some time.

Official statistics estimate Lebanon's annual import of oil derivatives including gas, gasoline, diesel, aviation gas, fuel oil and asphalt to stand at around 6.2 billion U.S. dollars for 8.5 million tons in 2018.

However, Lebanon has been recently suffering from a shortage of fuel caused by the absence of U.S. currency needed by the central bank to supply importers with the needed cash to import gasoline and other basic commodities, such as medicines and wheat.

The scarcity of fuel has also been the result of excessive illegal smuggling activities into Syria which secure great profits for smugglers due to the big difference in prices between the two countries.

Ali Bitar, who had lost his job at a sewing factory after the outbreak of COVID-19, said the fuel delivery service has given him the chance to generate some income to feed his family of six members.

"A lot of people now prefer to pay extra money for fuel instead of engaging into quarrels and fights over gasoline at gas stations," Bitar said.

Since the start of the fuel crisis, Lebanon has seen a series of clashes at gas stations. In May, the son of a gas station owner in the northern district of Akkar was shot dead during a dispute with a driver. Also, several videos have circulated on social media in recent weeks showing fights and gunfire at gas stations.

Jalal Abboud, a delivery man who works in the eastern Lebanese town of Rashaya, told Xinhua that he receives tens of calls from people asking for gasoline for their empty car tanks, and his mobile number was circulated among a big number of citizens.

Mehdi Dakhlalah, a gas station owner in the city of Joub Jannine in the Bekaa, told Xinhua that he has agreed with a few delivery men in his area to sell gasoline to citizens in their houses at higher prices, which would give him a bigger profit and slightly reduce congestion and possible incidents at his station. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-23 22:07:25|Editor: huaxia

Video Player Close

JAKARTA, July 23 (Xinhua) -- Indonesian authorities have apprehended a criminal armed group (locally known as KKB) figure involved in previous shootings on police and military personnel in the county's eastern province of Papua, a police officer said on Friday.

Osimin Wenda, 30, was arrested near the city of Mulia in Puncak Jaya district, Papua province on Thursday, Papua police's spokesman Ahmad Mustafa Kamal said, adding that a task force had been conducting surveillance on Wenda's movements for the past two weeks, and made the arrest on Thursday afternoon.

"Yesterday, at around 11 a.m. local time, the team saw the suspect departing a market with a two-wheeled vehicle, and immediately made the arrest," Kamal said.

In 2014, Wenda was sentenced to life in prison. He had been on the run for five years after fleeing Abepura prison with 13 other inmates in January 2016, Kamal added.

The suspect was involved in the criminal group's past shootings on the authorities, most notably the attack on a police group with current Minister of Home Affairs Tito Karnavian, who was then the Papua police chief, in the town of Pirime, Jayawijaya district, Papua province in November 2012, and as a result, three policemen died, Kamal said.

Likewise, Wenda was allegedly involved in the shooting of a motorcycle taxi driver in Popome village, Lanny Jaya district, Papua province in November 2018, he added.

Armed criminal groups in Papua are often associated with the Free Papua Movement, an outlawed independence movement for Papua and West Papua provinces. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-23 22:41:00|Editor: huaxia

Video Player Close

BEIJING/HEFEI, July 23 (Xinhua) -- China on Friday raised its emergency response for flood and typhoon control from level IV to level III, as Typhoon In-Fa approaches the country's eastern coastal areas and heads for landfall as a strong typhoon.

Typhoon In-Fa, the sixth one this year, is expected to make landfall in the coastal areas of the northern part of Zhejiang Province and the northern part of Fujian Province during the daytime on Sunday, the Ministry of Emergency Management said.

The State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters has dispatched working teams to Zhejiang and Shanghai to assist and guide typhoon prevention and response work.

Chinese authorities on Friday also issued circulars to local bureaus for flood control and drought relief in Zhejiang, Shanghai, Fujian, Jiangsu, Jiangxi and Anhui to deploy prevention work for Typhoon In-Fa.

The Anhui provincial flood control headquarters on Friday afternoon initiated a level-IV emergency response for the typhoon, advising relevant departments to prepare for floods, urban waterlogging and other disasters.

The headquarters also warned that vessels should return to ports for shelter and tourist spots in disaster-prone areas should suspend operations. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-23 23:51:59|Editor: huaxia

Video Player Close

HARARE, July 23 (Xinhua) -- Employment levels in Zimbabwe rose modestly to 57 percent in early 2021 from 51 percent in July last year, according to the findings from a survey done by the country's statistics agency released Friday.

The recovery, however, is only partial as employment levels still remain below the pre-COVID levels, thereby contributing to increasing poverty in Zimbabwe.

This is according to the findings from the 2020 Rapid Poverty Income Consumption and Expenditure Survey (PICES) done by the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZIMSTAT) in partnership with the World Bank and UNICEF.

"This pandemic's socio-economic effects continue to cause suffering in communities," said Mukami Kariuki, the World Bank country manager for Zimbabwe.

According to the survey, almost half the population in Zimbabwe was in extreme poverty in 2020 due to the combined effects of increasing prices of basic necessities, economic contraction due to the COVID-19 pandemic and poor harvests.

The survey's findings dovetail with the findings of another survey released by the World Bank last month, which showed that extreme poverty in the country had worsened due to the COVID-19 pandemic, reaching 49 percent in 2020 from 42 percent the previous year.

According to the World Bank's Zimbabwe Economic Update, the COVID-19 pandemic added 1.3 million Zimbabweans to the extreme poor, reflecting job and income losses in urban areas and a deterioration of social services in rural areas.

This increased the number of people in extreme poverty to 7.9 million in 2020, up from 6.6 million in 2019.

Zimbabwe has a population of approximately 15 million people.

The WB said economic disruptions caused by the pandemic reduced jobs in urban areas and limited job opportunities in rural areas.

"Despite renewed economic activity, poverty is likely to remain high as the scars from two years of recession (2019-2020), food insecurity and the pandemic linger," the World Bank said in its report last month. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-23 23:57:49|Editor: huaxia

Video Player Close

ADDIS ABABA, July 23 (Xinhua) -- The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Africa reached 6,380,914 as of Friday afternoon, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said.

The Africa CDC, the specialized healthcare agency of the African Union, said the death toll from the pandemic stands at 161,772 while 5,589,196 patients across the continent have recovered from the disease.

South Africa, Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt and Ethiopia are the countries with the most cases in the continent, according to the Africa CDC.

South Africa has recorded the most COVID-19 cases in Africa at 2,342,330 while the northern African country Morocco reported 567,758 cases as of Friday, it was noted.

In terms of the caseload, southern Africa is the most affected region, followed by the northern and eastern parts of the continent, while central Africa is the least affected region in the continent, according to the Africa CDC.

On Thursday, the Africa CDC disclosed that African countries have only acquired about 82.7 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines so far.

It said around 1.39 percent of Africa's total population have received a full vaccine regimen, with 61.3 million doses having been administered.

Africa CDC data also showed that more than 57 million COVID-19 tests have been conducted by African countries so far. According to the agency, the overall positivity rate in the continent was 11.1 percent. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-24 00:01:45|Editor: huaxia

Video Player Close

NAIROBI, July 23 (Xinhua) -- Kenya plans to promote the development of mini-grids in order to achieve universal electricity access by the end of 2022, the energy regulator said on Friday.

Daniel Kiptoo Bargoria, director-general of the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) told journalists in Nairobi that the main national electricity grid extension is expected to plateau due to the high cost of connecting households that are distant from the existing network.

"This calls for alternative strategy such as use of isolated electricity networks with own generation with a view to electrifying unserved areas," Bargoria said in a speech read on his behalf by Caroline Kimanthi, principal renewable energy officer, EPRA.

Government data indicates that electricity access currently stands at about 70 percent.

Bargoria observed that over two hundred and eighty mini-grids will be completed by the end of 2022 making the total number of operating mini-grids increase to more than four hundred in the next two years.

He revealed that the government is keen to encourage the development of mini-grids in rural Kenya so as to provide a cheaper and cleaner energy alternative to the commonly used energy supplies such as batteries and kerosene lamps.

The energy regulator said that it will continue to support public entities and private investors in the development of mini-grids in the country.

"It is important to note that these mini-grids, most of which are powered by renewable energy resources, accelerate access to safe, affordable, sustainable, and reliable energy for all Kenyans," Bargoria noted.

Kenya is currently developing the Energy (Mini-Grid) Regulations 2021 that will facilitate a clear and competitive process for licensing and interconnection of the mini-grids to the main grid. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-24 00:05:28|Editor: huaxia

Video Player Close

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, arrives at the Nyingchi Mainling Airport and is warmly welcomed by local people and officials of various ethnic groups in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, July 21, 2021. Xi visited the Tibet Autonomous Region from Wednesday to Friday. He extended congratulations to the 70th anniversary of Tibet's peaceful liberation and visited officials and ordinary people of various ethnic groups. (Xinhua/Li Xueren)

LHASA, July 23 (Xinhua) -- Chinese leader Xi Jinping has stressed fully implementing the guidelines of the Communist Party of China (CPC) for governing Tibet in a new era and writing a new chapter of lasting stability and high-quality development for the plateau region.

Xi, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visited the Tibet Autonomous Region from Wednesday to Friday for the 70th anniversary of Tibet's peaceful liberation, the first time in the history of the Party and the country.

Xi extended congratulations to the 70th anniversary of Tibet's peaceful liberation, visited officials and ordinary people of various ethnic groups and conveyed the CPC Central Committee's care to them.

Xi said over the past 70 years Tibet has made historic strides in the social system and realized full economic and social development, with people's living standards significantly improved.

"It has been proven that without the CPC, there would have been neither new China nor new Tibet," Xi said. "The CPC Central Committee's guidelines and policies concerning Tibet work are completely correct."

Xi stressed efforts to strengthen developing border areas, emphasized the four major issues of stability, development, ecology and border-area consolidation, and called for new achievements in protecting the ecology of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and advancing its sustainable development.

On Wednesday, Xi arrived at the Nyingchi Mainling Airport and went to the Nyang River Bridge, where he learned about the ecological preservation of the Yarlung Zangbo River and its tributary Nyang, as well as the construction of nature reserves. Xi underscored the importance of protecting and restoring the ecology of major river basins.

During a visit to the city planning hall of Nyingchi, Xi called for scientifically delineating the boundaries of urban development and drawing the red lines for protecting ecosystems.

In the village of Galai, Xi went to the home of Dawa Gyaltsen and chatted with the family in the living room.

Xi said the village epitomizes the economic and social achievements Tibet has made over 70 years since its peaceful liberation. He also hailed the village as a model of ethnic unity.

Xi later visited a city park in Nyingchi where he greeted dancing locals and tourists.

On Thursday, Xi went to Nyingchi Railway Station, learning about the overall design of the Sichuan-Tibet Railway and how the Lhasa-Nyingchi section has been operated since June 25. Aboard a train to regional capital Lhasa, Xi inspected the construction along the railway. He hailed the railway as a major move to boost Tibet's development and improve people's living standards.

On Thursday afternoon, Xi went to the Drepung Monastery located in the western suburbs of Lhasa. Xi acknowledged the contributions the monastery has made in upholding the leadership of the CPC, supporting the socialist system and safeguarding national unity.

Xi stressed fully implementing the Party's fundamental guidelines governing religious work, respecting the religious beliefs of the people, adhering to the principle of independence and self-governance in religious affairs.

He also stressed governing religious affairs in accordance with the law and guiding Tibetan Buddhism to adapt to a socialist society.

At Lhasa's Barkhor Street, Xi visited shops and learned about the development of tourism and cultural industries, as well as the preservation of Tibetan culture. On the street, people of various ethnic groups greeted Xi, who waved back.

At the Potala Palace square, Xi inquired about the protection and management of the palace, and he was also greeted by people of various ethnic groups at the square.

Xi said people of all ethnic groups had jointly contributed to the development of Tibet and written the history of Tibet. Through its course, the history provided ample examples of exchanges between Tibetan and other ethnic groups.

He said that at present, Tibet is at a new historical starting point of its development, and the Party's leadership must be upheld and the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics must be followed.

Xi joined officials and people of various ethnic groups to watch ethnic art performances on Thursday night.

On Friday morning, after hearing the reports of the Party committee and government of Tibet Autonomous Region on their work, Xi acknowledged the achievements the region has made in various fields and stressed efforts to strengthen social governance and ensure national security, social stability, and people's well-being.

The publicity and education work of building public awareness of ethnic unity and progress should be combined with the education work concerning core socialist values, patriotism, anti-secessionism, history, and Marxist concepts, Xi said.

He called for strengthening exchanges and interactions among ethnic groups, as well as building a stronger sense of identification with the country, the Chinese nation, the Chinese culture, the CPC, and socialism with Chinese characteristics.

Xi said development in all sectors should serve ethnic unity and progress, and should help improve people's livelihood and build consensus.

Stressing deepening reform and opening up, Xi said the building of major infrastructure including railways and roads should be accelerated.

He also noted the development of distinctive industries, the building of national bases for clean energy, and coordination between development and security.

Xi said the achievements made in poverty alleviation should be consolidated and expanded, in coordination with the extensive drive for rural vitalization.

He also stressed solid work in terms of the people's well-being, including employment, education, social security, medical services, elderly care, childcare, and housing.

Xi noted that the ecological environment in Tibet should be well protected, stressing that snow and ice, comparable to green mountains and clear water, are also valuable assets that represent true wealth.

The earth's third pole should be well safeguarded, Xi said.

Xi also urged efforts to guide Party members and officials to combine the learning of Party history with their work.

On Friday, Xi met with representatives of troops stationed in Tibet, calling for efforts to strengthen military training and preparedness in all aspects and make contributions to the lasting stability, prosperity and development of Tibet.

During the inspection in Tibet, Xi learned that an extremely heavy rainstorm had hit the central province of Henan. He instructed swift and all-out rescue efforts to save lives and property. He ordered the military and armed police to assist in the disaster relief, and all relevant ministries and departments to coordinate their work.

Xi also asked Tibet to beef up efforts to prevent and cope with natural disasters. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-24 00:09:53|Editor: huaxia

Video Player Close

DHAKA -- Starting Friday morning, Bangladesh entered its most severe nationwide lockdown to curb the rampant spread of COVID-19.

Authorities decided to impose the strict lockdown from July 23 to Aug. 5 after relaxing restrictions for a week on the occasion of Eid al-Adha festival which was celebrated here Wednesday.(Bangladesh-Lockdown)

- - - -

SINGAPORE -- Singapore needs a "whole-of-nation" effort to achieve the Singapore Green Plan 2030, said Low Yen Ling, minister of state for the Ministry of Trade and Industry and the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth, on Friday.

"To achieve the kind of transformation we envision for Singapore's energy reset and the Singapore Green Plan, we need a 'whole of nation' effort involving all stakeholders, from the industry's big boys, SMEs and start-ups, to researchers, the community at large, and our youths," the minister said when delivering an opening address at the Energy Innovation 2021.(Singapore-Green Plan)

- - - -

HANOI -- Vietnam reported another record high of 7,307 new COVID-19 infections on Friday, surging from the previous record of 6,194 cases registered on Thursday, according to the Ministry of Health.

The new infections included 7,295 locally transmitted and 12 imported, bringing the total tally to 81,678 with 370 deaths, the ministry said.(Vietnam-COVID-19)

- - - -

PHNOM PENH -- Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen on Friday decided to bring forward a COVID-19 vaccination drive for adolescents aged from 12 to 17 to Aug. 1.

The prime minister first set Aug. 6 for the campaign, but changed his decision a few hours later in order to enable the adolescent group to get the jabs sooner, according to a Fresh News report.(Cambodia-PM-Vaccination)

- - - -

KABUL -- The escalating fighting and the ambiguity over the future of Afghanistan's peace talks have triggered concerns among Afghans as both the government forces and the Taliban outfit have been fighting to gain more grounds with three districts having changed hands over the past 24 hours.

Taliban militants, according to media reports, seized Garmsir and Marja districts of southern Helmand province on Thursday, while an army statement claimed that the government troops recaptured Karukh district in western Herat province on Friday.(Afghanistan-Fighting) Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-24 00:22:47|Editor: huaxia

Video Player Close

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi holds talks with visiting Maltese Foreign Minister Evarist Bartolo in Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province, July 23, 2021. (Xinhua/Liu Kun)

CHENGDU, July 23 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks on Friday with visiting Maltese Foreign Minister Evarist Bartolo.

Wang said that China appreciates Malta's long-term adherence to the one-China principle and its support on issues concerning China's core interests.

The two sides should jointly resist and oppose the politicization of the COVID-19 origin-tracing issue and the stigmatization of the epidemic, he said.

China is willing to sign an implementation plan for the joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative with Malta, and will support Malta in playing its due role in international and regional affairs, said Wang.

Bartolo offered condolences to China on the severe floods in Henan Province. He expressed his expectations for deepening mutual trust, expanding common interests, and boosting cooperation in various fields.

The Maltese side advocates that Europe and China should strengthen cooperation instead of competing with each other, said Bartolo. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-24 01:20:23|Editor: huaxia

Video Player Close

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, waves to villagers while visiting Galai village of Nyingchi, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, July 21, 2021. (Xinhua/Shen Hong)

LHASA, July 23 (Xinhua) -- Chinese leader Xi Jinping has stressed fully implementing the guidelines of the Communist Party of China (CPC) for governing Tibet in a new era and writing a new chapter of lasting stability and high-quality development for the plateau region.

Xi, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visited the Tibet Autonomous Region from Wednesday to Friday for the 70th anniversary of Tibet's peaceful liberation, the first time in the history of the Party and the country.

Xi extended congratulations to the 70th anniversary of Tibet's peaceful liberation, visited officials and ordinary people of various ethnic groups and conveyed the CPC Central Committee's care to them.

Xi said over the past 70 years Tibet has made historic strides in the social system and realized full economic and social development, with people's living standards significantly improved.

"It has been proven that without the CPC, there would have been neither new China nor new Tibet," Xi said. "The CPC Central Committee's guidelines and policies concerning Tibet work are completely correct."

Xi stressed efforts to strengthen developing border areas, emphasized the four major issues of stability, development, ecology and border-area consolidation, and called for new achievements in protecting the ecology of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and advancing its sustainable development.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, arrives at the Nyingchi Mainling Airport and is warmly welcomed by local people and officials of various ethnic groups in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, July 21, 2021. (Xinhua/Li Xueren)

On Wednesday, Xi arrived at the Nyingchi Mainling Airport and went to the Nyang River Bridge, where he learned about the ecological preservation of the Yarlung Zangbo River and its tributary Nyang, as well as the construction of nature reserves. Xi underscored the importance of protecting and restoring the ecology of major river basins.

During a visit to the city planning hall of Nyingchi, Xi called for scientifically delineating the boundaries of urban development and drawing the red lines for protecting ecosystems.

In the village of Galai, Xi went to the home of Dawa Gyaltsen and chatted with the family in the living room.

Xi said the village epitomizes the economic and social achievements Tibet has made over 70 years since its peaceful liberation. He also hailed the village as a model of ethnic unity.

Xi later visited a city park in Nyingchi where he greeted dancing locals and tourists.

On Thursday, Xi went to Nyingchi Railway Station, learning about the overall design of the Sichuan-Tibet Railway and how the Lhasa-Nyingchi section has been operated since June 25. Aboard a train to regional capital Lhasa, Xi inspected the construction along the railway. He hailed the railway as a major move to boost Tibet's development and improve people's living standards.

On Thursday afternoon, Xi went to the Drepung Monastery located in the western suburbs of Lhasa. Xi acknowledged the contributions the monastery has made in upholding the leadership of the CPC, supporting the socialist system and safeguarding national unity.

Xi stressed fully implementing the Party's fundamental guidelines governing religious work, respecting the religious beliefs of the people, adhering to the principle of independence and self-governance in religious affairs.

He also stressed governing religious affairs in accordance with the law and guiding Tibetan Buddhism to adapt to a socialist society.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, inspects the Drepung Monastery located in the western suburbs of Lhasa, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, July 22, 2021. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

At Lhasa's Barkhor Street, Xi visited shops and learned about the development of tourism and cultural industries, as well as the preservation of Tibetan culture. On the street, people of various ethnic groups greeted Xi, who waved back.

At the Potala Palace square, Xi inquired about the protection and management of the palace, and he was also greeted by people of various ethnic groups at the square.

Xi said people of all ethnic groups had jointly contributed to the development of Tibet and written the history of Tibet. Through its course, the history provided ample examples of exchanges between Tibetan and other ethnic groups.

He said that at present, Tibet is at a new historical starting point of its development, and the Party's leadership must be upheld and the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics must be followed.

Xi joined officials and people of various ethnic groups to watch ethnic art performances on Thursday night.

On Friday morning, after hearing the reports of the Party committee and government of Tibet Autonomous Region on their work, Xi acknowledged the achievements the region has made in various fields and stressed efforts to strengthen social governance and ensure national security, social stability, and people's well-being.

The publicity and education work of building public awareness of ethnic unity and progress should be combined with the education work concerning core socialist values, patriotism, anti-secessionism, history, and Marxist concepts, Xi said.

He called for strengthening exchanges and interactions among ethnic groups, as well as building a stronger sense of identification with the country, the Chinese nation, the Chinese culture, the CPC, and socialism with Chinese characteristics.

Xi said development in all sectors should serve ethnic unity and progress, and should help improve people's livelihood and build consensus.

Stressing deepening reform and opening up, Xi said the building of major infrastructure including railways and roads should be accelerated.

He also noted the development of distinctive industries, the building of national bases for clean energy, and coordination between development and security.

Xi said the achievements made in poverty alleviation should be consolidated and expanded, in coordination with the extensive drive for rural vitalization.

He also stressed solid work in terms of the people's well-being, including employment, education, social security, medical services, elderly care, childcare, and housing.

Xi noted that the ecological environment in Tibet should be well protected, stressing that snow and ice, comparable to green mountains and clear water, are also valuable assets that represent true wealth.

The earth's third pole should be well safeguarded, Xi said.

Xi also urged efforts to guide Party members and officials to combine the learning of Party history with their work.

On Friday, Xi met with representatives of troops stationed in Tibet, calling for efforts to strengthen military training and preparedness in all aspects and make contributions to the lasting stability, prosperity and development of Tibet.

During the inspection in Tibet, Xi learned that an extremely heavy rainstorm had hit the central province of Henan. He instructed swift and all-out rescue efforts to save lives and property. He ordered the military and armed police to assist in the disaster relief, and all relevant ministries and departments to coordinate their work.

Xi also asked Tibet to beef up efforts to prevent and cope with natural disasters. 
Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-24 03:13:49|Editor: huaxia

Video Player Close

NICOSIA, July 23 (Xinhua) -- Cyprus and Lebanon signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) here on Friday on cooperation in the energy sector, the Cypriot government said in a statement.

The document was signed by Foreign Minister Nicos Christodoulides and Lebanon's Defense Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Zeina Akar during her official visit to Cyprus.

The statement said the agreement establishes the general framework for the enhancement of cooperation between the two countries' relevant ministries.

Lebanon is one of four countries in the region with which Cyprus has an agreement on the delimitation of their respective maritime Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs).

However, Lebanon's Parliament has not ratified the agreement with Cyprus because of a dispute between Lebanon and Israel over the boundaries of their EEZs in an 800-square-kilometer area.

Turkey has challenged all EEZ arrangements Cyprus has signed with its neighboring countries, laying claim on almost half of the Cypriot EEZ.

Christodoulides and Akar also discussed bilateral relations, regional issues of mutual interest and cooperation in several sectors, according to the official statement.

Cyprus was host to thousands of Lebanese citizens who fled the fighting in their country's civil strife, especially during the 1975 civil war.

The statement said Akar also met with Defense Minister Charalambos Petrides. They discussed the strengthening of cooperation in the defense and maritime security sectors, including the setting up of a search and rescue center in Beirut. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-24 03:58:56|Editor: huaxia

Video Player Close

CHIKANKATA, Zambia, July 23 (Xinhua) -- Zambian President Edgar Lungu on Friday launched a power plant in Chikankata district in the southern part of the country, saying it showed the government's commitment and resilience in ensuring that the country's electricity needs were secured.

China's hydropower engineering and construction company Sinohydro is the main contractor of the project.

The commissioning of the Kafue Gorge Lower Hydropower Station was expected to add an additional 750 megawatts of power to the national grid.

Lungu said the country has witnessed increased demand for electricity over the years resulting in increased investment in power generation and transmission infrastructure.

The investment, he said, has been accomplished amidst financial and global health challenges especially the COVID-19 pandemic.

"In less than seven years my government has introduced an additional 1,350 megawatts of power generation to the national electricity. Today as I speak, we have a total installed capacity of 3,250 megawatts. This is an increase of more than 70 percent from previously installed capacity of approximately 1,900 megawatts," he said.

The president said the investment will not only make the country's energy secure but also allow it to become an electricity hub within the southern African region.

He thanked China for contributing to the country's development, adding that China has been an "all-weather friend" to Zambia.

Chinese Ambassador to Zambia Li Jie said the power plant was a key project under the framework of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and the Belt and Road Initiative.

The Chinese envoy said the project will contribute to Zambia's efforts to tackle power shortages and promote the development of different sectors of the economy.

He further commended Sinohydro for making full use of its advantages in financing, technology and management to overcome the impact brought by the COVID-19 pandemic in the construction of the project.

He said that China will always be Zambia's sincere friend and reliable partner. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-24 04:37:18|Editor: huaxia

Video Player Close

RABAT, July 23 (Xinhua) -- Morocco's navy coast guards rescued 368 illegal immigrants in the Mediterranean in past four days, the Moroccan army said on Friday in a statement.

The majority of the rescued are from Sub-Saharan African countries, including seven women and three children, it said, adding that they were traveling on 22 inflatable boats and 30 kayaks.

Those in poor health condition had received first aid from the navy units before being transferred to the nearest Moroccan ports and handed over to security authorities.

Morocco has become a transit country for African migrants seeking to reach Europe. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-24 05:14:21|Editor: huaxia

Video Player Close

ANKARA -- Turkey's daily COVID-19 cases jumped to 11,094 on Friday, the highest count since May.

"We should turn from flexibility to strict precautions and have our first doses of vaccine immediately," Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca tweeted on Friday.

Turkey lifted its restrictions on July 1 and has seen a rapid surge of infections in the past week. (Turkey-COVID19-Case)

----

JERUSALEM -- The number of active coronavirus cases in Israel surpassed 10,000 on Friday morning, according to data released by the country's Ministry of Health.

The number of active cases in Israel has risen since Thursday evening by 452 to 10,194, the highest since March 27, it said. (Israel-COVID19-Case)

----

TEHRAN -- Iran reported on Friday 21,814 new COVID-19 cases, taking the country's total infections to 3,645,654.

The pandemic has so far claimed 88,273 lives in Iran, up by 210 in the past 24 hours, the Iranian Ministry of Health and Medical Education said in a briefing published on the ministry's official website. (Iran-COVID19-Case)

----

TEHRAN -- A 20-year-old young man was killed and two 16-year-old others were injured on Thursday night during protests in the western Iranian town of Aligudarz, Iran's state TV reported on Friday.

The three victims were targeted by "suspicious shootings" after "a number of people" went to the streets to protest against the water problems in the neighboring southwestern province of Khouzestan, according to the report. (Iran-Protest-Death) Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-23 00:24:27|Editor: huaxia

Video Player Close

RABAT, July 22 (Xinhua) -- Morocco announced on Thursday 1,402 new COVID-19 cases, taking the caseload in the North African country to 567,758.

The total number of recoveries from COVID-19 in Morocco increased to 538,370 after 1,744 more were added.

The death toll rose to 9,517 with 19 new fatalities reported during the last 24 hours, while 493 people were in intensive care units.

Meanwhile, a total of 11,568,127 people have received so far the first vaccine shot against COVID-19 in the country, with 9,739,655 having received the second dose.

The North African country launched a nationwide vaccination campaign on Jan. 28 after the arrival of the first shipment of China's Sinopharm vaccines. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-23 00:24:27|Editor: huaxia

Video Player Close

WINDHOEK, July 22 (Xinhua) -- The organizers of Namibia's annual Tourism Expo, Namibia Media Holdings (NMH), for the first time in 23 years announced the cancellation of the 2021 Tourism Expo, an executive said Thursday.

The cancellation is in support of the country's Health Ministry's drive to have more Namibians vaccinated by September 2021, hence their decision to partner with the Health Ministry by setting up more vaccination centers across the country, rather than hosting the expo.

"We believe that if we can have half of the population vaccinated, this will open up more travel to and within Namibia, this will reduce the death rate which is at an alarming state currently and will reduce the overcrowded, health facilities in our current," said Maggy Mbako, PR Executive of NMH.

Meanwhile, Namibia Tourism Board CEO, Digu Naobeb, said the safety of the Namibian residents is of paramount importance, hence a need for a concerted effort and aggressive drive to campaign to dispel and demystify the ongoing misinformation.

"More crucial to restart tourism is for us to reduce the high-risk status of Namibia, therefore joint effort in this is highly commendable," he concluded. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-23 00:36:28|Editor: huaxia

Video Player Close

DAR ES SALAAM, July 22 (Xinhua) -- At least one person was killed and 85 others were injured on Thursday morning when a lorry hit a moving train in Tanzania's eastern region of Morogoro.

Fortunatus Muslim, the Morogoro regional police commander, said the accident occurred at around 9 a.m. when the lorry collided with the train heading to the commercial capital Dar es Salaam from the Kigoma region.

"The driver of the lorry who died on the spot ignored traffic signals as he was crossing the rail tracks," Muslim told a news conference, adding that two of the train's passenger wagons were derailed.

Muslim said the injured train passengers were rushed to nearby health centers for first aid treatment before they were referred to major hospitals for specialized treatment.

He added that the train was ferrying a total of 1,370 passengers. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-23 00:44:46|Editor: huaxia

Video Player Close

DAR ES SALAAM, July 22 (Xinhua) -- Tanzania's Zanzibar authorities on Thursday officially launched the COVID-19 vaccination campaign with a cabinet minister receiving the first jab.

Nassor Ahmed Mazrui, Zanzibar's Minister of Health, Social Welfare, Elderly, Gender and Children, received the vaccine at the Lumumba Health Center.

"Vaccination in Zanzibar is now official. I am happy to be vaccinated against COVID-19," said Mazrui, adding that China's Sinovac vaccines are safe.

The minister said Sinovac vaccines have been approved by the World Health Organization (WHO) and they have been administered globally.

The Chinese Sinopharm and Sinovac vaccines were approved earlier this year by the WHO for emergency use.

Speaking shortly after he was vaccinated, Mazrui also urged frontline workers to be vaccinated.

He said the vaccination of frontline workers should be followed by the vaccination of people aged 60 years and older, restating that vaccination was voluntary.

He said Zanzibar has secured a batch of Sinovac vaccines donated from China, adding that another batch of Sinovac vaccines granted by the Chinese government will also arrive soon. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-23 00:48:10|Editor: huaxia

Video Player Close

NAIROBI, July 22 (Xinhua) -- Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta on Thursday called for the intensified fight against malaria and other diseases ravaging Africa even as the continent tackles COVID-19.

Kenyatta called for more collaboration between the government and the private sector in research, local manufacture and marketing of health products so as to create jobs and grow the economy.

Kenyatta who spoke at the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI)-Wellcome Trust Station in the coastal Kilifi County where he launched the first locally manufactured malaria rapid diagnostics kit developed by the institute called for collaboration of African countries in the fight against malaria, noting that no single country can eradicate the disease on its own.

Kenyatta, who also announced the World Health Organization's (WHO) pre-qualification of Kenya's first locally made anti-malaria drug, said the country had intensified its fight against the disease by enlisting the support of young people through the Kenya Malaria Youth Army.

Kenyatta, who is the current Chairman of the African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA), hailed KEMRI for its leading role in the fight against malaria in Kenya, and challenged the research institution to continue innovating technology-driven methods of defeating the vector-borne disease.

"We have a good number of diseases that we still have to overcome and we are here to overcome that. Even as we continue to partner with you (KEMRI) on COVID-19 work, let us not lose focus on the other areas that you have been working very hard on," he said.

Kenyatta said Kenya has recognized that it's not going to be possible to defeat malaria unless it works together with neighboring countries. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-23 01:14:25|Editor: huaxia

Video Player Close

YAOUNDE, July 22 (Xinhua) -- Cameroonian Prime Minister Joseph Dion Ngute met with senior government officials on Thursday to strategize on how to boost the country's tourism potential, which has been badly affected by COVID-19 pandemic, during the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) scheduled for next year.

Cameroon's tourism potential will be given huge exposure to the world through AFCON, which will increase the popularity of the central African nation as a tourism destination, Ngute said during the National Tourism Board meeting in the capital, Yaounde.

Cameroon will rehabilitate and renovate hotels, improve health service, beautify its towns and cities, install new signposts and project its touristic destinations via traditional news media and social media, Bello Bouba Maigari, Minister of Tourism and Leisure told reporters at the close of the meeting.

"This is a very important event that will be communicated not only in the country but in Africa and the world over. Our strategy is to sell our country in the best possible way in order to attract more tourists during and after the competition," Maigari said.

The world will have a unique opportunity to experience Cameroon's beauty, culture, environment, modern and distinctive made-in-Cameroon products through creative communication, officials said.

The biennial competition is scheduled to take place in Cameroon from January 9 to February 6 next year. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-23 01:48:11|Editor: huaxia

Video Player Close

by Marwa Yahya

CAIRO, July 22 (Xinhua) -- "It is a 21st-century project that will change the life of millions of Egyptians," said Mohamed Khairy, a 32-year-old farmer when referring to the "Decent Life" Initiative launched by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi last week.

In the past years, many similar projects were announced for developing the rural areas, but the implementation remained soundless for unknown reasons, Khairy from a village in the southern province of Minya told Xinhua.

"However, since the initiative was launched, I can see engineers and workers building new roads and sanitation networks," he said.

Aiming to upgrade life in the countryside, the Decent Life Initiative is Egypt's biggest megaproject in its modern history, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said on July 15.

According to the prime minister, the newly-announced initiative costs more than 700 billion Egyptian pounds (nearly 45 billion U.S. dollars), and "it is a 100 percent Egypt-financed project."

Khairy said the project will help provide clean water, improve poor sewers, supply natural gas and add more schools and hospitals to the villages.

The initiative will also reduce the unemployment rates in rural areas because many inhabitants will work in construction work instead of leaving their homes to struggle in cities, he added.

The project will cover 4,584 villages across the country, Madbouly said, adding that the first phase will include infrastructure projects and schools as well as modern houses.

Meanwhile, Waleed Gaballah, professor of financial and economic jurisdictions at Cairo University, said that the initiative is the country's largest project for developing villages, which is expected to raise the standard of living of 58 million people by producing basic services.

Gaballah, also a member of the Egyptian Association for Political Economy, noted that it is a big step that even exceeds the expectations of the citizens and related policies will reach the wide scale of the most needed people.

"The initiative is more about creating a better life in the targeted villages," Gaballah said, explaining that the inhabitants will enjoy a good supply of electricity, water, natural gas.

Besides, the villages will be equipped with developed roads and efficient health, educational and cultural services, and governmental complexes, while small businesses are also expected to be launched in the future.

The economic expert believes that by implementing that developmental project, thousands of direct and indirect job opportunities will be created in the construction and maintenance projects in the short and long run.

"Meanwhile, the initiative will also go compatible with the sustainable development requirements," he noted, saying it will match the environmental necessities by reducing the harmful emission, an important factor for preserving the capabilities of the coming generations.

Developing and upgrading the villages will relatively narrow the gap between towns and villages and increase the satisfaction indicators among the rural populations, according to Gaballah.

Saeed Tawfiq, professor of funding and investment at Ain Shams University, explained that "the project's large fund will accelerate the economic revival amid repercussions of COVID-19 by increasing the revenues of the Egyptian companies and factories."

Saying the Egyptian rural areas are in dire need of changes at all levels as the villages have suffered poor conditions for a long time, he said that once the initiative is promoted, the living conditions of the people there will be improved, thus stimulating the economic growth of the country. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-23 03:13:51|Editor: huaxia

Video Player Close

BRAZZAVILLE, July 22 (Xinhua) -- Africa's third wave of COVID-19 pandemic is at a crossroads, a World Health Organization (WHO) official said on Thursday at an online press conference.

As the rate of new cases fell by less than two percent over the past week, driven by a sharp drop in South Africa, 21 countries are experiencing a resurgence, three more than last week, warned Matshidiso Moeti, WHO regional director for Africa.

"Let's be under no illusions, Africa's third wave is absolutely not over. The small step forward offers hope and inspiration but must not mask the big picture for Africa," she noted.

Africa continues to lag behind in terms of the COVID-19 vaccination, Moeti said, explaining that only about 1.5 percent of the continent's population are fully vaccinated so far.

"African countries must go all out and speed up their vaccine rollouts by 5 to 6 times if they are to get all these doses into arms and fully vaccinate the most vulnerable 10 percent of their people by the end of September," she said.

"Vaccines are key to saving lives and blunting the pandemic, but we must remain focused on controlling the disease until vaccination coverage is increased," Moeti said.

Moeti noted that a gradual easing of vaccine supply constraints in the continent will boost efforts to tame a third wave of COVID-19 infections fuelled by variants and easing of containment measures.

She said that about 60 million doses are set to arrive in Africa in the coming weeks including donations from several countries and purchases through the COVAX facility.

Moeti said that over half a billion doses procured through the COVAX facility are expected to arrive in Africa this year, adding that the continent must vaccinate 21 million doses every week in order to reach the 10 percent target by September.

Moeti said African countries should prioritize upgrading cold chain infrastructure, training of health workers and community education in order to boost vaccine uptake.

She said WHO has partnered with the continent's ministries of health to prepare adequately for a seamless roll-out of the second phase of COVID-19 vaccination. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-23 03:46:57|Editor: huaxia

Video Player Close

LAGOS, July 22 (Xinhua) -- Nigerian police rescued 11 people kidnapped by gunmen in the country's northwestern state of Zamfara following a gunfight with bandits on Wednesday, according to a police spokesperson on Thursday.

In a statement sent to Xinhua on Thursday, Muhammad Shehu, a spokesperson for the police in Zamfara, said after receiving a distress call, a team of police operatives were sent on Wednesday to repel a group of armed bandits who blocked Gusau-Sokoto road at Dogon Karfe axis in the state and attacked commuters.

"On arrival at the scene, the police were engaged in a gun duel by bandits who already abducted innocent commuters and were about to take them to the forest," Shehu said.

"The operatives gallantly repelled them, deterring the hoodlums from the further onslaught on the commuters," Shehu said.

According to the police spokesperson, one of the bandits was killed while 11 kidnapped victims were instantly rescued by the operatives after the encounter.

He added that the police had launched a search and rescue operation to rescue the remaining victims who were taken to the forest before the police arrived.

The northern part of the most populous African country has witnessed a series of attacks by armed groups in recent months, leading to many deaths and civilians kidnapped. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-23 19:10:04|Editor: huaxia

Video Player Close

by Justice Lee Adoboe

ACCRA, July 23 (Xinhua) -- A surge in pirate activities in the Gulf of Guinea poses a grave threat to the survival and growth of west African maritime trade, an expert has said.

Albert Derrick Fiatui, executive director of the Ghana-based Center for International Maritime Affairs, told Xinhua on Thursday that the increase in pirate activities in regional waters have had catastrophic effects on the economies.

"Between 2020 and the first quarter of 2021, Ghana recorded nine attacks," he said. "That is on the high side because, for the same period between 2018 and 2019, there were just about five cases."

"The attacks have been increasing, and it is more pervasive in the Gulf of Guinea than any other region," Fiatui said, noting that the Gulf of Guinea accounted for about 95 percent of all reported piracy attacks over the same period.

"So you can imagine the extent of pressure on the Gulf of Guinea," he said.

The targets of the pirates have been changing over time, from snatching cargo to taking hostages for ransom, endangering the lives of crew members, Fiatui said.

"This threat is affecting the shipping industry because many people are now scared to go to sea. Aside from the other challenges that we had in the past when it was difficult to get people plying the trade, now this issue has made it riskier for crews at sea," he said.

"Lately, we have had reports of the washing ashore of bodies around our coastal communities, and it is obvious that some of the bodies are those of people attacked and killed by pirates on the high seas," Fiatui said.

This was indicative of the increasing threat of piracy in the regional waters, linking the surge in piracy to the rising incidence of armed insurgency and insecurity in the west Africa," he said.

"The piracy threat deters vessels from other parts of the world from sailing to this region because of safety concerns," Fiatui said. "So the few that take the risk increase their freight charges."

Although importers pay the higher freight and insurance charges, Fiatui said, "Ultimately, the consumer bears the increasing cost through purchasing these goods at higher prices."

"Shipment to Africa and the Gulf of Guinea is reducing due to the increasing attacks by these pirates," he said. "Previously, the attacks were on general goods, but now the focus is also shifting to bulk petroleum cargoes and exotic goods."

"As a continent, we are import-dependent, so if we have this threat cutting off the source of our imports, then we are in real danger," Fiatui said.

He called for more proactive measures against rampant piracy, rather than the reactive posture adopted over the years, urging maritime authorities in the region to cooperate more effectively in suppressing the threat.

"We have gone beyond the point of using naval vessels to pursue the pirates," Fiatui said. "It is time to deploy air patrols to go up there and monitor and track the movement of vessels, identify the threat of pirates and neutralize them."

"Just relying on speed boats to chase pirates up and down has not worked. It is time to engage air patrols and tackle the issue," he said.

Fiatui also called for collaboration between the maritime authorities in the Gulf of Guinea and their partners in other regions to clear the regional waters of pirate activities.

"The threat affects other regions that have trading links with west Africa as well," he said. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-23 23:10:40|Editor: huaxia

Video Player Close

LAGOS, July 23 (Xinhua) -- The International Organization for Migration (IOM) said on Friday that 113 illegal West African immigrants were repatriated from Algeria this week.

The IOM said in a statement the 113 immigrants were mainly from Gambia, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Senegal, including 5 women, 87 men and 21 children, and they were repatriated from Algeria to their home countries through two special flights.

"Thanks to a joint and coordinated effort, immigrants were able to return home before the Eid al-Adha and spend the holidays with their families," IOM said.

Prior to departure, IOM said the returnees underwent health checks and got tested for COVID-19.

The organization added it also provided them with pre-departure counseling services, protection screening and transportation assistance.

"IOM offered targeted assistance to immigrants with specific situations of vulnerability such as unaccompanied migrant children, victims of trafficking, and immigrants with medical conditions," the IOM said.

The IOM runs the Voluntary Humanitarian Return program, which arranges the return of illegal immigrants stranded in Libya and Algeria to their homeland.

Since the start of the COVID-19, IOM has helped over 1,500 immigrants return to their home countries from Algeria securely, according to the statement. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-24 00:18:52|Editor: huaxia

Video Player Close

NAIROBI, July 23 (Xinhua) -- Kenya has developed a comprehensive strategy to promote the untapped incentive tourism niche and hasten the sector's revival after a slump occasioned by COVID-19 pandemic, officials said.

Muriuki Mureithi, a senior officer at Kenya National Convention Bureau (KNCB), said the government will tap into local and overseas incentive travelers to boost tourism sector recovery, create jobs and generate revenue to the exchequer.

"We have positioned the country as a safe destination for incentive travel and are confident of its potential to revive the tourism sector that is gradually emerging from pandemic downturn," said Mureithi in the coastal city of Mombasa during the arrival of a chartered flight from Romania carrying 53 incentive travelers who are slated to visit different scenic attractions in Kenya.

Mureithi said the Romanian tourists who are on a week-long vacation in Kenya will help promote the country as a safe destination after easing of COVID-19 restrictions.

He said Kenya has developed a conducive environment to spur growth of incentive tourism and compete favorably with established markets in Africa including Morocco, Seychelles. And the government will leverage meetings, incentive travel, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) to boost recovery of the tourism sector that contributes about 10 percent to the country's gross domestic product.

Anghel Cristian-Daniel, general manager of Map Travel that facilitated the arrival of 53 incentive travelers from Romania, said that Kenya remains an attractive destination for overseas tourists amid favorable weather and security.

He said there will be weekly chartered flights from Romania to Kenya with easing of travel restrictions combined with enhanced COVID-19 containment measures.

Jeff Mukolwe, general manager of Swahili Beach Hotel, said the ongoing vaccine rollout in the country has injected confidence in foreign tourists keen to sample beach destinations.

He said the 53 Romanian tourists were the first batch of incentive travelers to visit Kenya since the onset of the pandemic in March 2020, adding that the country's declining COVID-19 caseload was having a positive outcome on the tourism sector. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-23 00:38:51|Editor: huaxia

Video Player Close

Medical workers inoculate people with Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine in Colombo, Sri Lanka, July 23, 2021. Sri Lanka on Thursday received another batch of the Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccines from China. (Photo by Gayan Sameera/Xinhua)

COLOMBO, July 22 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka on Thursday received another batch of the Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccines from China.

Officials from the Health Ministry received the vaccines which arrived at the Bandaranaike International Airport from Beijing on board two Sri Lankan Airlines charter flights on Thursday morning.

State Minister of Production, Supply and Regulation of Pharmaceuticals Channa Jayasumana said the Sinopharm vaccines will be rolled out in the districts where those above the age of 30 would be jabbed.

A mass vaccination program is underway in Sri Lanka. According to official statistics from the Health Ministry, over 6 million people have been inoculated with the first dose with a majority receiving the Sinopharm vaccines. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-23 13:12:45|Editor: huaxia

Video Player Close

MANILA, July 23 (Xinhua) -- The Philippines will ban inbound travelers from Malaysia and Thailand from July 25 to 31 to prevent the spread of the highly infectious coronavirus Delta variant, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said on Friday.

Roque said travelers coming directly from the two Southeast Asian countries or with a history of travel to any of the two countries within the last 14 days would be barred from entering.

"This action is undertaken to prevent the further spread and community transmission of COVID-19 variants in the Philippines," Roque said in a statement.

Malaysia and Thailand are experiencing a surge believed to be driven by the Delta variant cases.

Roque said that returning overseas Filipino workers under the government repatriation program are exempted from the ban but will be isolated for 14 days upon arrival.

The inclusion of Malaysia and Thailand brings to 10 the list of countries banned by the Philippines. Travelers from Indonesia, India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Oman and the United Arab Emirates are not allowed to enter the country until July 31.

The Philippines has detected 47 Delta cases in the country so far. The Department of Health confirmed the local transmission of the Delta variant first detected in India.

Aside from the Delta variant, the Philippines has also detected three other coronavirus variants of concern.

The Philippines has reported a total of 1,530,266 confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Friday, including 26,891 deaths. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-23 13:52:28|Editor: huaxia

Video Player Close

ULAN BATOR, July 23 (Xinhua) -- Mongolia reported 1,243 COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours after 7,200 tests had been conducted across the country, bringing the national tally to 153,782, the country's health ministry said Friday.

Five of the latest confirmed cases were imported from abroad and the remaining were local infections, the ministry said in a statement.

Meanwhile, six more deaths were reported, raising the national count to 788, it said.

So far, at least seven cases of the Delta variant have been detected in the country, it added.

Delta, a variant first identified in India and also referred to as a "double mutant" because it carries two mutations, is 55 percent more transmissible than the Alpha variant first discovered in Britain, and will rapidly become the dominant strain of coronavirus globally, according to the World Health Organization.

Mongolia launched a national vaccination campaign in late February, with the aim of vaccinating at least 60 percent of its population of 3.3 million.

Over 58 percent of the Asian country's total population has been fully vaccinated against the virus so far. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-23 17:43:58|Editor: huaxia

Video Player Close

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, July 23 (Xinhua) -- Brunei reported two new imported COVID-19 cases on Friday, bringing the national tally to 313.

According to Brunei's Ministry of Health, Case 312 is a 39-year-old woman who arrived in the country from Jakarta, Indonesia on July 18, and developed symptoms on the second day of quarantine. The contact tracing has found three close contacts.

Case 313 is a 20-year-old woman who arrived in the country from London, Britain on July 12, and developed symptoms the day after arrival. The contact tracing has found one close contact for this case.

All new cases were detected when they were undergoing quarantine and they are being treated and monitored at the National Isolation Center with 39 other active patients, who are all in a stable condition.

With the detection of the new cases, a total of 172 imported cases have been confirmed since the last local infection case on May 6 last year. Brunei has recorded 443 days without local COVID-19 infection cases.

There have been a total of 269 recovered patients and three deaths reported from COVID-19 so far in the country. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-23 19:16:55|Editor: huaxia

Video Player Close

The Phonhong railway station is pictured in Phonhong, some 70 km north of Lao capital Vientiane, July 23, 2021. The China-Laos railway made its first completed station's debut show on Friday in Phonhong. The Phonhong railway station, with a maximum capacity of 300 passengers, has a total area of around 1,500 square meters. The design of the station is a mixture of Lao and Chinese style, with a Lao-style yellow roof and Chinese-style brackets in its facade. According to the Chinese engineering company, China Railway Construction Group Co., Ltd. (CRCG), the constructors have overcome the impacts of COVID-19 such as difficulties in bringing in Chinese engineers and material supply, and the lengthy rainy season and the hot weather in Laos, to complete the station. (CRCG/Handout via Xinhua)

VIENTIANE, July 23 (Xinhua) -- The China-Laos railway made its first completed station's debut show on Friday in Phonhong, some 70 km north of Lao capital Vientiane.

The Phonhong railway station, with a maximum capacity of 300 passengers, has a total area of around 1,500 square meters.

The design of the station is a mixture of Lao and Chinese style, with a Lao-style yellow roof and Chinese-style brackets in its facade.

According to the Chinese engineering company, China Railway Construction Group Co., Ltd. (CRCG), the constructors have overcome the impacts of COVID-19 such as difficulties in bringing in Chinese engineers and material supply, and the lengthy rainy season and the hot weather in Laos, to complete the station.

The China-Laos Railway is a docking project between the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative and Laos' strategy to convert itself from a landlocked country to a land-linked hub.

The over 400 km railway will run from Boten border gate in northern Laos bordering China to Vientiane with an operating speed of 160 km per hour.

The electrified passenger and cargo railway is built with the full application of Chinese management and technical standards. The construction of the project started in December 2016 and is scheduled to be completed and open to traffic in December 2021. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-23 20:47:07|Editor: huaxia

Video Player Close

PHNOM PENH, July 23 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia's Anti-Drug Department police have arrested two local men for allegedly trafficking 50 kg of illicit drugs, the National Police reported on Friday.

The suspects, aged 30 and 37, were caught during a raid in Phnom Penh's Russei Keo and Sen Sok districts on Tuesday.

"Some 30.3 kg of crystal methamphetamine and 19.9 kg of ketamine were seized from the duo," the National Police said on its website.

The Southeast Asian nation has no death sentence for drug traffickers. Under its law, someone found guilty of trafficking more than 80 grams of drugs could be jailed for life.

According to the Anti-Drug Department, during the January-June period of 2021, the authorities had nabbed 7,259 drug suspects in 3,258 cases across the country, confiscating more than 850 kilograms of illicit drugs. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-23 01:08:49|Editor: huaxia

Video Player Close

ZAGREB, July 22 (Xinhua) -- Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic announced on Thursday additional, stricter epidemiological measures in four Dalmatian counties as COVID-19 infections rise.

The new measures limit mass gatherings in order to prevent the new spike in infections from jeopardizing the tourist season.

"After a very good nine weeks, we have a significant increase in the number of infected people for the first time and we must be careful," the prime minister said at a government session.

Decisions on holding events attended by larger numbers of people will be made on a case-by-case basis at local civil protection headquarters to avoid misunderstandings.

Plenkovic stated that by Thursday 1.6 million people, or 46 percent of Croatia's adult population, had been administered the first COVID-19 vaccine dose. He said that 94 percent of those hospitalized were not fully vaccinated.

The prime minister called on his compatriots to get vaccinated as the country faces a fourth wave of cases in the autumn.

According to Croatian Institute of Public Health (HZJZ), there were 179 new coronavirus infections and one death in the past 24 hours. Currently, Croatia has 918 active cases, of whom 124 are hospitalized and 14 are on ventilators. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-23 14:18:15|Editor: huaxia

Video Player Close

by Xu Chi

GENEVA, July 23 (Xinhua) -- "A deep investigation of everything that happened at Fort Detrick would be interesting indeed, but difficult for reasons of secrecy," said Stephen Kinzer, senior fellow at the Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs at Brown University.

"Fort Detrick is an enormous complex; it has been for decades the center of American military research related to biology ... some of what's going on there a secret. For a long time, people were coming out, protesting outside the gates of Fort Detrick for projects of which we don't know the nature," Kinzer, a former foreign correspondent for The New York Times, told Xinhua in a recent interview.

One of the many covert projects was MK-ULTRA, which turned out to be "aimed at uncovering the secret of mind control," said Kinzer, also author of bestseller "Poisoner in Chief" which revealed the little-known life story of Sidney Gottlieb, master chemist of the Central Intelligence Agency and head of secret mind control experiments at Fort Detrick and elsewhere in the world.

Kinzer said Gottlieb, hired by the CIA in 1951 to run MK-ULTRA, had not only the right to use prisoners and capture civilians in the United States for his experiments, but also "a license to kill from the U.S. government."

Gottlieb "would go to foreign countries and asked intelligence officers or military police to recruit prisoners for him, and he could experiment on them to death if he wanted to," Kinzer said.

He said in order to find out "the limits of human endurance -- how can you kill people, at what moment do they die, how can you seize control of their bodies and their minds," Gottlieb and the CIA hired "Nazi doctors who worked on the concentration camps, and their Japanese comrades," for example, war criminal Shiro Ishii, who headed a notorious Japanese army's biological warfare program called Unit 731 during World War II that conducted human experiments in Northeast China's Harbin.

"Ishii wanted to see how to make people suffer and how they die under various sorts of excruciating torture. So he had Japanese soldiers simply rounding people up in the countryside. They were rounded up and brought to this complex in Harbin. None of them ever left alive ... They were not called people but as 'logs,'" Kinzer said.

At the end of the war, Ishii, as one of the "most gruesome war criminals," was never put on trial, Kinzer noted.

"The Americans decided: We don't want to hang this guy, we want to hire him," because they were interested in Ishii's trove of thousands of microscope slides that contained human organs removed from those just died after being given a certain amount of poison, Kinzer said, adding that was how a deal was made between the United States and Ishii, which was approved by U.S. Army General Douglas MacArthur.

"MacArthur wrote this quote, and this was a secret document never published at the time: 'The value to the U.S. of Japanese (biological warfare) data is of such importance to national security as to far outweigh the value accruing from war crimes prosecutions,'" Kinzer said.

For Kinzer, Gottlieb and his MK-ULTRA colleagues were undoubtedly aware of the extremes of the vivisections conducted by Ishii, just as they would be aware of the backgrounds of the Nazi doctors.

Kinzer believed that the extremes of MK-ULTRA were far from being fully investigated. "It is a very remarkable aspect of MK-ULTRA that although it involves the most extreme and intense experiments on human beings that have ever been conducted by any agency or officer of the U.S. government, it was never fully investigated by the Senate or any other legislative or executive body. There was never an official probe of what MK-ULTRA was and what Sidney Gottlieb did."

Moreover, Kinzer noted MK-ULTRA was just the tip of the iceberg of what was conducted in Fort Detrick, and a detailed analysis of what happened there "would be fascinating,"

"It is still the center of all American biowarfare research," he noted, adding biowarfare is "sharply limited by international agreements."

Kinzer's remarks come amid growing support to advance the study of the origins of SARS-CoV-2 globally and opposition to politicizing the origins issue.

In mid-July, permanent representatives of 48 countries to the United Nations Office at Geneva wrote a letter to World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, in which they stressed the importance of cooperation on the study of origin-tracing, and that such study is "a matter of science, and should be conducted around the world by scientists."

Following the COVID-19 outbreak in the United States, an online petition submitted to the White House website last year demanded the U.S. government explain the real reason for the closure of the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, which has a history of multiple accidents, and clarify whether there was a virus leak from its Fort Detrick lab.

Furthermore, on many occasions, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian has called for a thorough probe into the origins of the COVID-19 outbreak in the United States, and problems existing in Fort Detrick and over 200 U.S. bio-labs overseas.

"Here are questions for the United States to answer: What is the link between Fort Detrick and the unexplained outbreaks of respiratory disease including EVALI? Why hasn't the United States invited the WHO in for an investigation into Fort Detrick? Why can't origins study be conducted in the United States just as in China? The United States should show transparency and tell as much as they know about all the questions and respond to the concerns of the outside world," Zhao said.

Kinzer said "Fort Detrick is a major military institution, MK-ULTRA was a tiny operation."

"Those guys didn't even say: We were coming from the CIA. They have kind of a code-name working for some projects. It was highly secret even to people that worked in Fort Detrick," he said.

"If there ever is the need for the U.S. to develop a bioweapon, it would certainly be made in Fort Detrick," Kinzer said. "That's the only place where it could be made, that's where all scientists are, that's where all the toxins are." Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-23 09:26:12|Editor: huaxia

Video Player Close

HAVANA, July 22 (Xinhua) -- Cuba on Thursday denounced the latest sanctions imposed against the island by the current U.S. administration.

"I refute the unfounded and slanderous U.S. government sanctions against Army Corp General Alvaro Lopez Miera and the National Special Brigade," Foreign Affairs Minister Bruno Rodriguez posted on Twitter.

"I denounce that the State Dept. is exercising offensive and humiliating pressures on European countries, particularly 6 from Eastern Europe, and 8 from Latin America, to force them to support a declaration condemning Cuba," he added.

Earlier in the day, the U.S. Treasury Department announced sanctions against Miera and an elite military unit popularly known as the "black wasps" for their participation in the "rebuke" of protests this month in Cuba.

The new sanctions come amid the worst outbreak of COVID-19 Cuba has seen to date, with a rise in infections, deaths and hospitalizations. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-07-23 12:53:38|Editor: huaxia

Video Player Close

MOSCOW, July 23 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese diplomat here has urged the United States to cooperate with the international community on origin-tracing of COVID-19, instead of covering up information on its biological experiments.

"If the U.S. indeed aspires for truth and transparency, they must agree to an international investigation on the coronavirus, identify the source of the epidemic in the U.S. and the reasons for its incompetent response," Chinese Ambassador to Russia Zhang Hanhui said Wednesday.

Washington "has to answer the existing questions about biological experiments in the U.S. and other countries, where the Americans also have a number of laboratories," he told a press conference.

Washington scrupulously studied the situation in other countries but hid the situation of its own. Meanwhile, it displayed a non-scientific approach to researching the origins, Russian news agency Tass quoted Zhang as saying.

"This is a job for scientists, while the Americans posed this question and this task to their intelligence services -- for the CIA to determine the origins of the coronavirus," he said.

China has always upheld the principles of openness, transparency and cooperation on COVID-19 origins investigation, but some U.S. politicians only doubted "the statements of scientists, contrasting them against conspiracy theories, therefore politicizing the matters of science," Zhang added. Enditem
with apologies for length D ear Grad, Greetings! Ive been meaning to write this for awhile. But you know how it goes, one gets busy and...
On the evening of June 16, 2017, businessman John Kimama was glued to the TV screen when news of a man on the run for stealing petroleum from Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) was broadcast on NTV.

So cunning was the culprit, the story said, that he had rented a house a few metres from a KPC underground pipeline in Koru, Kisumu, drilled an underground hole from his house to the pipeline and started redirecting diesel to an illegal storage tank in his premises.

The suspect also operated a fuel station, where he sold the stolen diesel.

Mr Kimama recalls how fascinated he was with the story and wondered how sharp the suspect was. Little did he know that he would later be suspected to be that culprit.

How? Mr Kimama had lost his national identity card sometime in 2014. He reported the loss at the Buruburu Police Station on February 2, 2014.

More damage

But it appears the damage had been done. Yet more damage was coming, as he later found out.

His lost ID was used by the diesel-stealing suspect to enter into a lease agreement for the land where fuel was siphoned and to open an account with Transnational Bank.

That marked the beginning of the end of his hitherto "perfect" life.

Three weeks later, on July 7, 2017, detectives pounced on Mr Kimama at a friend's office in Nairobi. He had just booked a bus ticket for a business trip to Mombasa when he was accosted by police officers and taken into custody at the Central Police Station in Nairobi.

On the night he was arrested, Mr Kimama recalled, he was relocated to the Muthangari Police Station. The next day, in the wee hours of the morning, he was ferried to the Ahero Police Station and later to the Kisumu Police Station.

Illegal business

It is at the Kisumu Police Station that Mr Kimama was informed of his charges -- operating an illegal petroleum business. He was shown documents, including a lease agreement that he had no knowledge of and a Transnational Bank cheque. All these were confiscated at the scene of crime.

He recalled being asked by the police to append his signature 30 times on a piece of paper and on the cheque. And, it turned out, he was a stranger to the petroleum dealings and had no knowledge of a land lease agreement.

Mr Kimama was arraigned on July 17, 2017 on charges of operating a business storing petroleum products without a valid licence from the Energy Regulatory Commission (now the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority). He denied the charges and was released on a bond of Sh100,000.

The police also seized his genuine cheque books, his ID and ATM cards. These were to be used as evidence in the criminal case. But because it was an electioneering period, he successfully convinced the court that he needed his ID to exercise his right to vote.

A witness, Grace Akinyi Ajuoga, told the court that around 6.30am one day, she was "awoken by the smell of petroleum" and suspected that the nearby petrol station's underground tanks on land leased to "John Kimama" had overflown and the contents had spilled on the land.

It was based on this statement that detectives had arrested and charged the real John Kimama. On further investigations, police found out that someone else had obtained Mr Kimama's ID and used it to execute the unlawful dealings.

Stressed and traumatised

Upon this discovery, charges against Mr Kimama were withdrawn. He was discharged on November 15, 2017. But the damage had already been done.

As a result of his confinement, Mr Kimama had developed health complications. He was stressed and traumatised. His travel documents have also been blacklisted, meaning he can no longer travel beyond Kenya's borders.

And even though the charges against him were withdrawn, Mr Kimama's ID was used to register Ress Energy Kenya Ltd, the company that was selling illegal petroleum products.

He also risks being listed by Credit Reference Bureaus for defaulting on a Sh2.5 million loan that the culprits took from Transnational Bank.

"Furthermore, my wife took off when the criminal case commenced. She told me that she couldn't continue living with a criminal," he told the Nation.

"I had used more than Sh700,000 in pursuing this case, But, worse, my family disintegrated," a teary Mr Kimama said.

Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Kenya By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later.

"When the tempest billowed, I lost the grip of my family."

When the criminal charges were dropped, he sued the State for causing him emotional torture, damaging his image and for accrued general loss.

Lost civil case

On June 8 this year, exactly four years after his tribulations began, Mr Kimama lost the civil case against the State, with the court ruling that he had not presented enough proof.

"In the upshot, the plaintiff has failed to prove his case against the defendants and the suit is dismissed with cost to the defendants," Principal Magistrate Onzere EM ruled.

The four-year journey that has resulted in "immense" loneliness, inconvenience and deteriorated health cannot be compensated for whatsoever, he said, even as he hopes to appeal the court's decision.

"I was innocently accused because my lost ID landed in the wrong hands. I urge everyone not to take the loss of identification documents for granted. Always report and keep copies of the abstract for it can be used to commit crimes."

dogetta@ke.nationmedia.com, mesimiyu@ke.nationmedia.com
Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) men's team arrived yesterday in Nairobi ahead of the final leg of the Kenya Volleyball Federation National League which serves off at Nyayo National Stadium on Friday.

The will play Rift Valley Prisons on Friday before wrapping up the regular season with ties against Administration Police and General Service Unit (GSU) on Sunday.

At the end of the three-day competition, the top four teams will book slots for the play-offs scheduled for next month in at the KPA Makande Hall in Mombasa.

KPA are second on the standings with 25 points from nine matches, four behind leaders Kenya Prisons.

KPA's team manager Joel Kosgei is optimistic of a good ending, although he is cautious about the tricky tie against reigning champions GSU.

"On paper, we have already qualified for the play-offs but we want to finish the regular season in the first position. We have been training at Makande Hall for the past one week and the players have adjusted to the indoor facility. That's why we have also come in Nairobi early to acclimatise," said Kosgei.

"Mombasa is slightly humid, while Nairobi is a bit cold and therefore our arrival here is timely. We will have a feel of the venus on Thursday. We wanted to play friendly matches with some of the KVF clubs but we have not been lucky to secure one. But with the training we have had, we are good to go," added Kosgei.

GSU, who complete the top three positions, have twenty four points from nine matches and will face off with Rift Valley Prisons, Vihiga County and AP.

Former champions Kenya Prisons have one match against Kakamega Prisons on Sunday.

Last season, GSU, KPA, Prisons and Kenya Defence Forces qualified for the play-offs.

Meanwhile, Prisons, KCB Women's Volleyball Team, Kenya Pipeline and Directorate of Criminal Investigations will compete in the last four event set for August 27-29 in Mombasa.

The four sealed the positions during the third leg of KVF that was staged at the Nyayo National Stadium indoor arena in Nairobi in March.
Eritrean refugees arrive in Adi Harush camp, after being relocated from other camps in the north of Ethiopias Tigray region that were destroyed in the early months of the conflict.

Blog

The conflict in the Tigray region of Ethiopia, far from over following the federal government's declaration of a ceasefire and Tigrayan fighters' capture of Mekelle, is entering an anxious new phase.

The news from Ethiopia gets more alarming by the day, as more of the complex and diverse Ethiopian state is being drawn into the Tigray conflict. When Ethiopian federal forces declared a unilateral ceasefire at the end of June and Tigrayan fighters retook control of the regional capital, Mekelle, it did not signal the end of the crisis, but rather a pivot to a new phase.

The Tigrayans demanded the withdrawal of Eritrean and Amhara forces that had been aligned with federal troops and signaled their intention to push them out by force. Meanwhile, Ethiopian federal authorities denied basic services like electricity and telecommunications to the region, and access for aid agencies was complicated by the deliberate destruction of transportation infrastructure. The standoff, never entirely peaceful, has now given way to a new military campaign in which the federal government seeks to mobilize regional militia from across Ethiopia to fight Tigrayan forces, bringing additional armed, ethnically based forces into the conflict. This mobilization, framed as an exercise in unity, risks further Balkanizing the state, empowering ethnic nationalists whose demands and expectations are too often mutually exclusive.

Meanwhile, a weekend attack on a World Food Program convoy complicates an already precarious situation. With food stocks running low, hundreds of thousands of people already experiencing famine, millions more in need of help, and crops deliberately destroyed in the region, the situation for civilians in Tigray grows more desperate. It is not yet clear who was responsible for the attack, but it is notable that it occurred in Afar, a region bordering Tigray that has now been sucked into the conflict, as Tigrayan fighters, wary of encirclement, have pushed into the region to engage some of the militia being organized to fight against them. Ethiopia already suffered from plenty of insecurity outside of Tigray. Expanding the scope of Tigray's crisis will only complicate the search for solutions.

Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Ethiopia Conflict International Organisations By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later.

All of this is taking place in the context of dangerously toxic rhetoric likely to worsen the already sickening record of atrocities and war crimes associated with this conflict. Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has characterized the Tigray campaign as one focused on "removing the weeds" from the country, a dehumanizing metaphor that echoes chilling language familiar to historians of mass atrocities. Ethnic Tigrayans around the country are finding themselves targeted by law enforcement on flimsy pretexts. The country is awash in propaganda and unreliable information, and critics of government policy are increasingly smeared as terrorist sympathizers.

Meanwhile, Tigray's regional leaders, in announcing preconditions for a ceasefire, denounced the federal government as a "fascist clique," language more likely to inflame tensions than spur negotiations.

It is not hard to see this bad situation getting worse in a handful of different possible scenarios. From potential state collapse to humanitarian catastrophe to the very real risk of genocide, a host of reasons compel a more resolute international response. That response should provide antagonists confidence that a true ceasefire does not mean surrendering to certain slaughter or siege, political space to dial down incendiary rhetoric and get armed ethnic forces out of the driver's seat, and certainty about the high costs of pressing real or perceived advantages to prolong the conflict.
analysis

Although a "well-written feat of archival research," Barnaby Phillips's book attempts to justify British plunder while debating if the Benin Bronzes should be returned.

Early in Barnaby Phillips's well-researched Loot: Britain and the Benin Bronzes, he laments the condition of Benin City's famed earth wall, reputed to be four times longer than the Great Wall of China at the height of the Benin Empire. The wall encircled not just the empire's capital but also a stunningly deep moat -- all part of a robust defense system. But on a recent visit, the author was dismayed: the trenches had filled with sewage.

This is one of a handful of personal moments that stayed with me from Phillips's vivid history of objects taken from West Africa in the 1890s and sold as "exotic" art on the world market. Prominent among them were the Benin Bronzes, the metal plaques that once lined the royal halls of a monarch called the Oba, the king of the Benin Empire, now part of present-day Nigeria. Of the bronzes, 200 wound up in the British Museum; the rest were scattered to dealers and other museums, and many remain in Europe behind glass or hung on millionaires' walls. The moment remained with me because it signaled a particular skew in understanding how history affects the present.

Without diminishing the scale of research here, it is important to state outright that the graft and barbarism of the British Empire is not news to us Africans. Any novelty ascribed to Loot derives from a long history of dismissing African memory as ahistorical. The call for the return of African cultural objects is also not a recent development. Half a century ago, my uncle Nii Kwate Owoo made a film, You Hide Me, shot in the basement of the British Museum, revealing the travesty of so many looted objects from Africa just sitting in crates at European museums. He also described the industry of Western "experts" that formed around colonial theft -- with historians, curators, ethnographers, art critics, and vendors all making careers as specialists in African plunder.

What Loot achieves with skill is to embed facts about the individual journeys of the Benin Bronzes in compelling narratives, tracing the lives of the British officers who looted the palace of the Oba. They kept choice objects for themselves while reserving a respectable haul for queen and country. Quirky revelations uncover the callous nature of British officials. African soldiers in their retinues were given a quarter ration of water on long treks. Lieutenant Vernon Haggard wrote a letter to his father, in which he gleefully states that one can whack the carriers "as much as you please." And there is an occasion where journalist Raymond Blathwayt recounts the consul-general of the Niger Coast Protectorate Ralph Moor dining with friends while a man condemned to death was chained to a pillar beneath them. In the morning, the man is executed and his body thrown into the bush "to teach these people a lesson."

The persistent disregard for Africans delegitimizes any humanitarian claims that the British later used to justify their invasion of Benin. The number of Edo people killed by the indiscriminate use of Maxim guns, explosives, and rocket missiles in the attack on Benin City alone probably accounted for more lost lives than any executions at the Oba's command over decades. Even worse, after Benin City had fallen, the British carried on burning villages in their quest to capture the monarch, with no regard for the lives and livelihood of the Edo people.

Paradoxically, what is reaffirmed in Loot is the clear commercial end for which the British were prepared to kill in astounding numbers. As 1892 Consul-General Major Claude MacDonald explained, "minerals, gum Arabic, gum copal, palm oil, kernels, etc." were available in large quantities in Benin's territory, and, crucially, in preparing to invade Benin City, they had estimated that "sufficient Ivory may be found in the King's house to pay the expenses in removing the King from his stool."

The high valuation placed on this invasion might seem like a precursor to the prices that the Benin Bronzes command on the world art market, but I don't believe so. Some resisted the African provenance of these masterpieces, with one British visitor speculating that "it is probably the Portuguese were the founders of [the] nation," and the Manchester Courier newspaper asking "experienced travellers" to help "solve the problem of the origin and meaning of the Benin Bronzes." Ascribing the origins of art for which the likes did not exist in Europe was the height of delusional, imperial arrogance, but it passed for wisdom in a chauvinistic quest.

In present-day Ghana, I can still buy unique brass and bronze jewelry that comes from Mali, Niger, and Chad, where the centuries-old skill of hammering and twisting these metals remains extraordinary. Anyone who was not busy finding ways to deny the humanity of Africans only had to look to other civilizations in the region: in both the Mali and Asante empires, there were industries of bronze-casting using a range of methods, including the lost wax technique favored by Benin's Igun Eronmwon guild of bronze casters.

The rabid focus on the Oba's obstruction of British interests likely resulted from Europe's economic decline from 1873 until the late 1890s -- the British needed significant profit from the territories they were exploiting. It might therefore be surprising to read that only a handful of the looters of 1897 sold their ill-gotten objects soon after their return. Many held on to their trophies until the 1930s when a generation of officers were "dying, or retiring, or had fallen on hard times during the Depression." One thinks of serial killers holding onto grisly trophies. For many of the marauding officers who bulldozed their way through the lives of the Edo people, the value of the Benin loot was more likely to have been the memory of their bloody conquest, a regular boost for their egos.

In fact, I would go further and posit that the initial allure of the Benin Bronzes for collectors was also blood and gore, or, to quote from an Illustrated London News article of August 1897, they were "made more palatable by their association with an emphatic British military victory." After all, it was British form to collect trophies, some as gruesome as Maori heads and the hair and teeth of murdered sovereigns. And, if the value for the British was ego, then the corresponding loss for the Edo people was dignity. It is not for nothing that even the euphemism that the British coined for their killing and looting -- "punitive expedition" -- cannot hide its undercoat of egoistic spite.

This brings me back to the moment when Phillips stands at the moat, seemingly not grasping that the disorder of present-day Edo State is the bigger loss suffered by the people of Benin. At the height of their empire, they had a society that was structured to maintain order not just at a societal level but also a broader environmental one. They hunted elephants and harvested palm oil, but the Oba and his advisors controlled the volumes, seasons, and frequency; they were not wed to the notion of ruthless profit. What the British did was to undermine Benin's societal structures, humiliate the Oba before his people, decimate their culture and cosmologies, and force a consequence-blind, profit-seeking worldview that led to a rapid loss of forests and wildlife in the name of "British interests." Benin City's walls were set to crumble in that moment, its moat doomed to stench.

The most lamentable part of this book is its British inclinations: looting British soldiers are humanized through their personal histories, but Africans are only humanized in Western terms, with culture defined through European lenses and no space given to the oral accounts of the Edo people. The author decries the condition of a British war memorial in Ugbine without discussing the unmarked graves for thousands of African and Indian soldiers who were conscripted for and died in British wars. My discomfort intensified in later chapters when Loot seemed to fall into a cycle of trying to justify British actions and present a "balanced" debate about whether the bronzes belong back in Benin. We do not hear people in the Western art world debating whether, when Nazi loot is returned, the owners are obliged to replicate the same conditions as the museums in which they were housed.

Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Africa Entertainment By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later.

The Bronzes were seen as static art by their looters, whereas in Benin the bronzes were integral to daily cultural and spiritual life. Their owners should not have to justify what they will do with their recovered property. In the words of the Benin artist Victor Ehikhamenor, "The thief cannot prescribe to the rightful owner."

Even with its European focus, Phillips's Loot is a well-written feat of archival research, and I'm sure that its narrative work will be of value for many in the West. For an African reader like me, however, it reveals how far Europeans -- even the ones with good intentions -- still have to travel to get away from outdated ideas of the value of African culture, history, and society. An author who asks, "Did anything good come out of the British invasion?" completely misses the point and perhaps should not be writing for Africans about the Benin Bronzes. But perhaps the book was never for us in the first place.

This article is republished from the L.A. Review of Books with permission from the publication. Read the original article here.

Nii Ayikwei Parkes is a Ghanaian editor, sociocultural commentator, and multi-genre author, primarily known for his acclaimed hybrid novel, Tail of the Blue Bird. He serves on the editorial board of World Literature Today and has served as a judge for several literature prizes, including the Commonwealth Prize, the NSK Neustadt Prize for Children's Literature, and the Harvill Secker Young Translators' Prize.
analysis

Ghana has just carried out its latest population and housing census. This is an exercise organised every ten years.

For the first time a digital data capture and transfer system was used.

The use of the digital innovations offered important advantages. For example, it facilitated real-time data quality monitoring and reduced data processing time.

In addition, integrating GPS-based information on respondents' location added new spatial data layers. The new system allows for spatial analysis of the population's access to basic necessities such as water. This is helping the census meet its commitment to analysing the living conditions of the population.

In a research paper published last year I examined the digital transformation of the Ghanaian population data system. So far, the focus on these developments has largely centred on costs and implementation.

But there are social and political aspects too which have been largely ignored. For example, the aim of this year's digital census was to give "everyone in the country a voice". Changes were introduced to meet this goal. Examples include the fact that new census categories cover disability status. This suggests a new form of inclusiveness. And, with the use of ICT, new focal areas included access to basic infrastructure.

At the same time, the recent population census offers a window into the contested terrain of population statistics. These rely on sorting individual variation into categories. Categories are technical means for making the population countable. But they are much more than that too. They produce dividing lines along which people identify themselves - personally and collectively. They thereby play a central role in delineating the population and representing it as a nation.

Ghana is a relatively young democracy. And nation-building remains unfinished. It's therefore no surprise that census categories have been subject to contestation. The recent population and housing census is no different. This is clear from the fact that it has stirred up intense emotions about citizenship and belonging.

Strengthening the statistical system

Historically, Ghana's population data system has relied heavily on census taking. Some countries, such as the Netherlands or Denmark, rely on their civil registration systems to produce population statistics. But historically in Ghana there hasn't been sufficient investment in these capabilities. Population estimates thus required periodic surveys and projections.

The foundations for establishing a comprehensive national statistical system in Ghana can be traced back to the 1979 constitution and the 1985 statistical service law. These established the Ghana Statistical Service as an independent statistical body. In 2019, a review of the Statistical Service Act (Act 1003) gave the service additional powers.

The 2020/2021 population and housing census has benefited from this institutional strengthening in several ways. For example, the country's address system has been used to monitor data quality by checking against the existing housing register.

The evolution

Throughout Ghana's post-independence history, census taking did more than simply meet the data needs of various political and development programmes. It has also contributed to the construction of the population in which individuals recognised themselves. In this way, it played a crucial role in moulding how Ghana sees itself.

For example, census historian Gerardo Serra writes, Ghana's first post-independence census of 1960 was mobilised as a departure from colonialism and to represent the first steps into the modern era.

In the colonial era censuses focused less on the living conditions of the population than on establishing control over the colony.

After independence, Ghana's censuses reflected growing concerns of population growth, with a focus on fertility and citizenship. Census categories were incrementally added that were supposed to be sensitive to the nation's economic structure. For example, following the 1983 structural adjustment programmes, the 1984 census was tailored to meet the data needs of international organisations, including the World Bank.

At the same time, the emerging decentralisation of governance called for increased localisation of data analysis and reporting.

When Ghana returned to democratic rule in 1992, census taking emphasised national development. Issues that became the focus included planning for water, transport, health and educational infrastructures.

Disagreements

Changes in the Ghanaian census' focus and method have historically been accompanied by disagreements about the categories being used. New categories, such as boundaries of local authorities, community names, or professional distinctions were added and brought to the fore.

This census is no different. Public discussions and local boycotts of the enumeration in 2021 centred on concerns about misrepresentation.

For instance, in Ghana's Upper East region, concerns were raised about alleged discrimination in the listing of localities. In the Volta region, the focal area of contestation was the alleged failure to list subgroups of the Ewe ethnicity.

Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Ghana Governance By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later.

The census also triggered public commentary about who counted as Ghanaian. Some alleged that certain groups listed in the survey represented foreigners. Examples include dismissing residents of the borderlands as Togolese, while Fulani and Hausa populations were repeatedly labelled as immigrants.

And while the government framed the census as a means of enhancing development in the country, some residents said they wouldn't participate because development had eluded their communities.

These debates politicised the census, reframing it as a moment of cementing the national identity, while also re-articulating the official narrative of data's developmental potential.

Important innovations have accompanied the 2021/2021 population and housing census along with the promise of better data for development. However, these contestations around identity and belonging are concerns technology cannot fix.

Alena Thiel, postdoctoral researcher, PI "How Democracies Know: Identification Technologies and Quantitative Analyses of Development in Ghana", Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg
Three of the 156 abducted girls of the Salihu Tanko Islamiyya School, Tegina in Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State are reported to have died, investigation by THISDAY has revealed.

Many of the remaining students are also said to be seriously ill resulting from hunger, cold and trauma.

The girls, some of their teachers and passersby were abducted more than six weeks ago, though 17 of the abductees - two of them school girls, their teachers and passersby - escaped from the clutches of the bandits three weeks after their abduction.

It was gathered that the bandits gave the sad information to some of the parents in a telephone conversation though they (bandits) did not disclose the names of the deceased pupils.

The Chief Imam of Tegina was also said to have made similar announcement after one of the regular Muslim prayers in the town.

However, according to findings, the bandits reportedly told the parents contacted that they will send the video of the burial of the late pupils and the present condition of the others to confirm their bad state of health. They (bandits) are yet to send the video.

THISDAY also learnt that the deadline given by the bandits for the payment of the reduced ransom of N30 million lapsed two weeks ago.

It was gathered that when the bandits reduced the ransom, the state government which had hitherto not shown any interest in the payment of the ransom to the bandits allegedly reached out to the parents during which it reportedly asked the parents to source for N10 million, while government will provide the balance.

Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Nigeria Legal Affairs By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later.

"We contributed our own N10 million but up till now, we have not seen or heard anything from the government.

"It appears we have been left on our own. No one is showing any interest in getting our children released from the den of the bandits," one of the parents confided in THISDAY.

However, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Ibrahim Ahmed Matane, debunked the claim, saying: "There was never a time that government promised to pay ransom to bandits or assist the parents to pay any or part of the ransom. We have a policy not to pay ransom; we still stand by that policy.

"You know this issue of payment of ransom is not healthy. Government as a policy, does not do it but I know that because they are engaging with the bandits they can tell them anything."

The SSG also distanced the government from any official that pledged that government will pay part of the ransom, saying: "I wouldn't know who that government official is because I coordinate security and I am not aware."

Asked if government is aware that three of the children have died, he said: "I am not aware that three of the girls have died. You know these people (bandits) can be very deceptive. They raise a lot of emotions and sentiments so that we will accept their bidding."
Abuja  The death toll in communities hit by the severe faecal-oral gastro intestinal infection, Cholera, in the nation's capital Abuja, has now risen to 60, Vanguard has learned.

This came as the Federal Capital Territory Administration assured that it has intensified community sensitization on cholera and other severe acute diarrhea disease outbreaks in the territory.

It added that cases of Cholera infections have now risen from 604 to 698 within 72 hours.

Minister of State in the FCT, Dr Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, disclosed this at the continuation of community sensitization on cholera and other severe acute diarrhoea diseases outbreaks in Pyakasa and Gwagwa respectively.

The minister who was represented by the Acting Executive Secretary of FCT Primary Health Care Board, Dr. Iwot Ndaeyo, noted that Abaji Area Council recorded three suspected cases with no death; Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) recorded 281 suspected cases with 22 deaths, while Bwari Area Council recorded 134 suspected cases with 22 deaths.

Special Assistant on Media to the Minister, Mr Austin Elemue in a statement said Gwagwalada Area Council recorded 220 suspected cases with nine deaths, Kuje Area Council recorded 23 suspected cases with four deaths and Kwali Area Council recorded 37 suspected cases with three deaths.

Aliyu, however, vowed that this ugly trend was unacceptable in the Federal Capital Territory, adding that the administration would not fold its hands and watch residents die helplessly over preventable diseases.

According to her, "We must take every necessary step to curb further spread", just as she urged FCT residents and critical stakeholders to publicize the message of cholera disease prevention, proper sanitation with practice of hand hygiene in their respective communities.

Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Nigeria Health Water By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later.

In his remarks, chairman of Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Abdullahi Adamu Candido, affirmed the commitment of his council to forestalling continuous spread of the disease to adjoining communities.

He added that the Primary Health Care Department of the council had embarked on sensitization tour of all the four chiefdoms in AMAC so as to enlighten the traditional rulers and their councils about the cholera outbreak and preventive measures.

His words: "On our part as an area council, we swung into action immediately we received the news of the outbreak and its confirmation in June. We quickly mobilized our health personnel in all our primary healthcare facilities for prompt responses. Following the recommendations from the outbreak report, we provided funds for quick purchase of drugs, infusions and other treatment materials/consumables in addition to the ones we received from the FCT Public Health Department.

"The Disease Control Unit of our Primary Health Care Department through Disease Surveillance Notification Officers have been working tirelessly in different communities of the council including hard-to-reach fields in order to trace and report cases at the primary healthcare facilities for free treatment".

Candido, therefore, commended the professional competence, commitment and zeal of the council's health workers and the Health and Human Services Secretariat of the FCTA in combating the scourge.
The federal government has cautioned against a possible upsurge in COVID-19 cases that may be propelled by the spread of the new Delta variant of the virus recently discovered in the country.

The Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, who said that he made a presentation at a virtual meeting held by the World Health Organization (WHO) on the country's preparations against the third wave of COVID-19, expressed worry that Nigeria had witnessed an increase in the number of new cases of COVID-19 in the last two weeks.

The minister's worry came just as the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) said Thursday that it has confirmed 238 new cases of COVID-19 in the country.

Speaking during a meeting with the leadership of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) at the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment in Abuja, Ehanire said: "COVID-19 Delta variant is already entering Africa. It has been observed in several countries. In fact, it has been identified in Nigeria and is sweeping across the globe now. It is a strong warning that we should all be careful.

"Even those countries where they have done vaccination are trembling, how much more the ones like us that have not done much. UK has done two doses of 70 per cent of her population yet, they are having one of their highest spike in COVID-19 pandemic right now, the same with the United States. Those of us that have only done two per cent are very worried about the situation."

Earlier, in his presentation to the WHO, Ehanire said that the world has begun to see a pandemic of two tracks - where the Delta variant is tearing through unvaccinated populations.

"We witnessed the unfortunate surge in cases in India a few months ago and a similar surge is now being seen in most African countries. In Nigeria, the Delta variant was first detected two weeks ago, and we have begun to see an increase in the number of new cases," he said.

Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Coronavirus Nigeria By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later.

On the challenges faced by the country in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, Ehanire said that Nigeria has had to contend with relatively weak health systems and the inequities in distribution or Covid-19 response tools, ranging from Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and reagents at onset, to vaccines at present.

He said that Nigeria received just over four million AZ doses to start with, from the COVAX facility and the government of India and started deployment early, according to WHO recommendations for health workers and vulnerable populations.

According to the minister, the vaccine deployment lead agency, the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA), had its vast experience on outline immunization, having recently concluded Polio eradication campaign.

He explained the the agency used ICT tools for a smooth rollout, adding that infrastructure, especially cold chain, and precise distribution plan were ready well before vaccines arrived.

"We have expended all vaccines, with 126% of target population of just over 2 million people receiving first dose and 70% receiving 2 doses. Less than 2% of target 112 million population has been reached, to reach herd immunity of 70%. Efficient data management and monitoring was performed for AEFI," he said.
Residents of Addis Ababa City will hold a demonstration on Thursday to express their support to the National Defense Force and the successful completion of the second round filling of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).

More than 1.5 million people are expected to participate in the demonstration, which also aims at condemning the provocative acts of the terrorist TPLF.

City Administration Communication Office Head, Abdi Tsegaye told journalists that the demonstrators would presumably condemn the recruitment and deployment of children as soldiers by the terrorist TPLF with the objective of dismantling the country.

The demonstration is organized in response to the demands of several segments of the society on various occasions, he added.

According to the head, the residents want to express their joy over the successful completion of the second round of GERD and the peaceful conduct of the 6th General Election and other positive achievements in the demonstration to be held at Meskel Square tomorrow morning.
Residents of Addis Ababa City have taken to the streets today in support of the National Defense Force, to condemn TPLF's terrorist activities and express joy over the successful completion of the second round filling of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).

The residents have also been condemning the provocative acts of the TPLF by disregarding the government's unilateral ceasefire.

It is estimated that more than 1.5 million people have participated in the rallies being held at Meskel Square starting early in the morning.

The demonstrators have been condemning the recruitment and deployment of children as soldiers by the terrorist TPLF with the objective of dismantling the country.

The residents of Addis Ababa have called on the international community to condemn the terrorist acts of the TPLF by disregarding the unilateral humanitarian ceasefire declared by the government of Ethiopia with a view to create smooth flow of humanitarian support to the people in Tigray and encourage farmers to engage in farming activities.

The protesters are also expressing their anger over the reluctant being witnessed by the international community over the continued terrorism acts of the TPLF by blocking humanitarian support to Tigray.

The residents commended the successful completion of the second round of GERD and the peaceful conduct of the 6th General Election and other positive achievements in the demonstration.
The long-awaited Indian Supreme Court judgement on three telecommunication companies assertion that their adjusted gross revenue (AGR) dues have been miscalculated is in  and the result isnt good for Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Idea (now known as Vi) and Tata Teleservices.

The Supreme Court on Friday rejected the appeal by the three companies to allow the correction of alleged errors in the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) adjusted gross revenue (AGR) calculations.

It was in October 2019 that the court insisted that AGR could be defined in a way that included income from non-core sources. However, what amounts the redefined fees would imply was not made clear  a little unfortunate when the ruling also ordered providers to pay their dues within 90 days.

Both the DoT and the three telecoms companies quickly did their own calculations and, not surprisingly, their final figures were very different.

According to TeleGeography's CommsUpdate, the demands finally issued by the DoT were roughly double the self-assessed figures, and  at least according to the telcos  full of errors that had massively inflated the final figures.

On the upside, at a hearing in September 2020 the Supreme Court ruled that the telecoms companies would be permitted to pay their AGR dues over a ten-year period. However, at that time the allegedly incorrect DoT calculations were taken by the court as final, something that appears to have guided the latest decision.

There also remains confusion over the payment schedule. The September 2020 ruling allowed providers to pay 10 percent of their dues up front and the remainder in annual instalments to 31 March 2031  but it is still not clear whether payments already made count as dues upfront, giving providers until March 2022 for the next payment as opposed to March 2021.

The ongoing legacy of the AGR debate has certainly been a lot of confusion  but it could soon be much worse than that. Vodafone Idea in particular has an astronomical total AGR debt (calculated by the DoT) of around $7.8 billion at present exchange rates.

Even given the fact that a small amount of this has already been paid, it is hard to see where Vodafone Idea will find the money if this figure is not recalculated which, for the moment, seems unlikely.
Ecuador is set to reform its Organic Telecommunications Law following a new decree signed by president Guillermo Lasso.

The Organic Telecommunications Law has governed the sector since February 2015. Decree 126 will see 18 articles of reform enacted, with the goal of expanding connectivity across Ecuador - particularly to rural regions  as a priority over increasing tax revenues.

The decree redefines the parameters of operators total income invoiced and received, excluding income from the sale of handsets and SIM cards as well as assets not associated with the licence. It also sets the cap on total regulatory obligations at 2.5%, reducing the overall dues from operators.

TeleGeography reports that under the reforms, operators are able to use their annual investment plans as part of their universal service obligation, which currently stands at 1% of their annual revenue. It is expected that spectrum auctions will be geared more towards expanding coverage as far as possible rather than lining the governments coffers.

Industry outlet Digital Policy Law quoted Jorge Cevallos, president of operator body Asetel, as saying that the reforms would contribute to providing legal certainty and regulatory predictability.

We consider this to be an important step in moving from a model predominantly based on tax collection to a new development model focused on connectivity and closing the digital divide, said Cevallos.

It shows a serious commitment on the part of the authorities to connect unserved areas. It is a step in the right direction, not only because of the reform itself, but because of the clear message of where public policy is heading in the new government.
Microsoft is in the final leg of talks with the Telangana state government in India to establish a data center in the state with an investment outlay of about $2 to 2.25 billion (INR 15,000 crore), local media reports say.

The US tech giant has zeroed in on a patch of land near Hyderabad for building the facility. If the discussions fructify, this would be one of the major investments of Microsoft outside the USA.

According to a PTI report, Telangana Minister for IT and Industries KT Rama Rao kicked off the process of discussions by initiating dialogues with senior management of Microsoft about a few months ago.

"The discussions are in the final stage. Certain issues such as whether it would be a single location or multiple and the size of the investment are yet to be finalised. Microsoft appears to be willing to go ahead with setting up a data centre here, though officially not confirmed," sources told PTI.

Microsoft is awaiting some clearance from their global teams and will be making an announcement soon, the local media reports.

Microsoft's plan to set up the data center comes close on the heels of Brookfield Infrastructure planning to establish a joint venture to develop such facilities in India under the brand name BAM Digital Realty. Earlier Amazon Web Services (AWS) had announced its second data centre in Telangana with an investment of INR 20,761 crore ($2.77 billion).
The DRCs state-owned provider SCPT (Societe Congolaise des Postes et Telecommunications) has signed a US$35 million infrastructure modernisation agreement with LMS Holding.

Local news outlet congoactu.net reported that the agreement consists of three phases, with the first primarily focused on fibre backbone. This will include the deployment of a 3000km fibre link between Muanda and Sakania via Kasumbalesa and Kinshasa.

CommsUpdate reports that LMS will extend SCPTs current backbone network from Bukayu to Kasindi, taking in the towns of Beni, Butembo and Goma. The firm will also roll out international fibre connections to Rwanda and Uganda.

The second phase of the deal will see LMS upgrade SCPTs Muanda landing station with 100Gbps capacity, while the third phase will involve deploying fibre access networks across several of the DRCs largest cities, including Beni, Bukaya, Butembo, Goma and Kasindi.
Reports from Russia show that In June of this year, Xiaomi was ranked number one in sales in the Russian market.

Company and its sub-brands Poco Sales in the Russian market exceed those of the Korean group Samsung, according to a popular Chinese Phone blog site Gizchina.

According to an analysis by Russian retailer MTS, in June this year, Xiaomis share was 31.2%, and Samsungs share was 29.8%. Apple is in the third position with a market share of 14.5%.

Another Chinese manufacturer, Realme is in the fourth position with a market share of 4.6%. Xiaomis sub-brand, Poco, is fifth with a share of 3.8%. At the same time, in terms of sales, Apple still maintains its leading position, said the report.

The report quoted a representative of the M.Video-Eldorado Group, Russias largest retailer of household appliances and electronic products, saying: In June, the Xiaomi brand, including the  sub-brand, became the leader in the Russian market in terms of quantity. At the same time, Samsung ranked first in the first half of the year. In addition to Xiaomi and Samsung, other popular brands in June this year are Apple and Honor.

The strategy of Xiaomi is simple - it is focused on bringing cheap and affordable devices to market, says the report. The popular Poco brand in Russia also adopts this strategy. "Poco is focused on offering flagship features at midrange prices," it said.
An overview of the factory of footwear maker Pou Chen in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran.

Key suppliers for major companies like Netflix and Nike have been forced to host employees on site or cease production as Covid-19 keeps spreading, especially in the southern region.

Taiwanese motherboard manufacturer ASRock in the southern province of Binh Duong estimates that its July revenues would take a 5-20 percent hit after it temporarily stopped production on Monday, according to a security filing.

The company, which is a server provider for streaming giant Netflix, would shift production to other contract manufacturers while waiting for local approval of its Covid-19 bubble, president Hsu Lung-luen told Nikkei Asia.

Ching Feng Home Fashions, which makes curtains for retail chain Walmart and furniture giant Ikea, stated in a Monday securities filing in Taipei that its factory in Binh Duong Province would close from July 19 to August 2. It also cited the need to meet a government requirement that employees eat, live and work on site.

Nikes contract manufacturer, footwear maker Pou Chen and South Koreas Changshin Vietnam, have shut down their HCMC factories last week, which "may exacerbate the supply chain disruptions," S&P Global Market Intelligence said in a report.

Samsung Electronics, which makes half of its smartphones in Vietnam, has also suspended work at three plants in HCMC and temporarily cut its workforce from 7,000 to 3,000.

AirPods assembler GoerTek and South Koreas Kumho Tire have set up accommodation for their workers to sleep on site.

As HCMC and southern provinces undergo strict social distancing orders for at least two weeks, factories are scrambling to keep their production going while ensuring workers safety.

HCMC accounts for nearly 65.6 percent of over 74,500 cases that Vietnam has recorded in the latest Covid-19 wave which began April 27.
Rentals for industrial lands in HCMC increased in the second quarter despite the renewed Covid-19 outbreak, according to real estate services provider Colliers Vietnam.

The average rent stood at $175 per square meter in the second quarter,the highest in the country, after rising slightly from a year earlier, it said in its second quarter report on industrial real estate. But there was a slowdown in transactions from April when Covid resurged.

The average occupancy rate of industrial parks was 85 percent.

In the northern region, Hanoi led with $140. Its average occupancy rate was 90 percent.

Many investors are looking for industrial lands in the northern provinces of Hung Yen and Hai Duong for expanding production.

Leasing of industrial lands and ready-built serviced factories is likely to be disrupted due to the pandemics rapid spread and penetration into industrial parks.

According to JLL Vietnams latest regional industrial real estate report, the average rentals in HCMC and the four southern provinces of Binh Duong, Dong Nai, Long An, and Ba Ria Vung Tau was $113 per square meter, up 7.1 percent.

The average for the north stood at $107, a 5.9 percent rise but slowing down from the first quarter.
It was an egregious act by the Lukashenka regime in Belarus: the forced diversion on May 23rd of a commercial airline flight between two European Union member states for the apparent purpose of arresting and imprisoning Belarusian journalist Raman Pratasevich and graduate student Sofiya Sapega.

In response, the United States, in coordination with the European Union, Canada, and the United Kingdom, took action against dozens of Belarusian individuals and entities. Those in the international community working to impose costs on the Lukashenka regime have made it clear that the sanctions imposed against the Lukashenka regime are also in response to the continued violent repression of the Belarusian people. Secretary of State Antony Blinken reaffirmed this in a statement on June 21, that the actions taken by the U.S. are in response "to the continuing repression in Belarus, including attacks on human rights, democratic processes, and fundamental freedoms.

The State Departments most recent human rights report on Belarus cites reports of severe abuses and other forms of repression against the Belarusian people by the Lukashenka regime. Among them are the unlawful or arbitrary killings by Lukashenka's security forces; torture and severe abuse in detention facilities; serious restrictions on free expression, the press, and the internet; inability of citizens to change their government peacefully through free and fair elections; and serious acts of corruption.

On June 21, Secretary Blinken announced the U.S. Department of State took action to impose visa restrictions on 46 Belarusian officials holding key positions in the government, from the Presidential Administration to the military and the judiciary.

The Department of the Treasury designated an additional 16 individuals and five entities. These persons have harmed the people of Belarus through their activities following the August 9, 2020 fraudulent presidential election and the subsequent brutal crackdown on protesters, journalists and the political opposition, or have otherwise supported Alyaksandr Lukashenkas repressive policies within Belarus and abroad, wrote Secretary Blinken.

State Department Spokesperson Ned Price said, We continue to demand accountability from the Lukashenka regime until the repression stopsWe call for an end to the crackdown, the immediate release of all political prisoners, a genuine dialogue with the opposition and civil society as called for in the OSCE Expert Mission report, and free and fair elections with international observation. We stand with the Belarusian people in their aspirations for a democratic, prosperous future and support their call for the regime to respect human rights and fundamental freedoms.
Taiwan has the right to live in peace, said White House Indo-Pacific coordinator Kurt Campbell at a meeting hosted by the Asia Society Policy Institute and Asia Society New York.

Weve tried to send a very clear message of deterrence across the Taiwan Strait, added Coordinator Campbell and warned China that any move against Taiwan would be catastrophic:

We need to signal when China has taken steps that are completely antithetical to the international order. . . . Thats important not only for Hong Kong, but it is also important for other things that China might contemplate.

State Department spokesperson Ned Price said the United States will continue to support a peaceful resolution of cross-strait issues, consistent with the longstanding wishes and the best interests of the people on Taiwan.

And we have repeatedly urged Beijing to cease its military, its diplomatic, its economic pressure against Taiwan and instead to engage in meaningful dialogue with Taiwan.

Secretary Blinken has repeatedly said it would be a profound mistake by any party to try and remake that status quo with the use of force. Our commitment to Taiwan is rock solid, and we believe that commitment contributes to the maintenance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and within the broader region, affirmed spokesperson Price.

For four decades, American policy has been consistent. The one China policy is guided by the Taiwan Relations Act, the Three Joint Communiques, and the Six Assurances provided to Taipei. That has not changed, stressed spokesperson Price. Indeed, several months ago, the State Department unveiled an updated contact guidance that will allow the U.S. to deepen its partnership with the people of Taiwan.

The United States, said White House Coordinator Campbell, has extraordinarily important interests in the maintaining of peace and stability [in the Taiwan Strait].
A Chinese mainland spokesperson on Thursday appreciated the concern from Taiwan for Central China's flood-hit Henan province.

Relevant bodies and people in Taiwan offered their sympathies to those affected, and some Taiwan-funded enterprises made donations, said Zhu Fenglian, a spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council. "We express our appreciation for that."

Torrential rain has left at least 33 people dead and eight others missing in Henan, where about 3 million people have been affected by the record rain and ensuing floods since the past weekend.
Beijing has expressed appreciation to the message from Russian President Vladimir Putin to President Xi Jinping over the floods in Henan province, saying that the message fully demonstrated the close friendship between the two leaders.

Zhao Lijian, a spokesman with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the fact that Putin has conveyed words of sympathy and support to Xi immediately after the floods showcased the solidarity between the two sides in their relations for a new era.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Good-neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation between China and Russia, and bilateral relations are at their historic best, he said.

China stands ready to work with Russia to follow the concept of long-standing friendship and the principle of a new type of international relations and enable bilateral ties to keep securing new progress, he added.
Source: ADB

The project will support the National Deployment and Vaccination Plan in Nepal by procuring an estimated 15.9 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines, which will benefit about 6.8 million Nepalese.



ADBs support will help the Government of Nepal procure much-needed COVID-19 vaccines to protect its citizens from the further spread of this disease, said ADB President Masatsugu Asakawa. It is essential that COVID-19 vaccines are quickly purchased and administered to help get the economy back on track by enabling the restoration of livelihoods and economic activities, as well as the resumption of educational and human development pursuits.



The project is financed by ADBs USD9 billion Asia Pacific Vaccine Access Facility launched in December 2020 to offer rapid and equitable vaccine-related support to ADB developing member countries. Vaccines eligible for financing must meet at least one of the APVAX eligibility criteria: the vaccine has been selected for procurement through the COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access (COVAX) mechanism; the vaccine has been prequalified by the World Health Organization (WHO) or WHO emergency use listing; or the vaccine has received regular or emergency licensure or authorization by a Stringent Regulatory Authority.



In addition to this project, ADBs ongoing technical assistance grants will support the strengthening of the vaccine delivery system, communication, and community engagement to raise awareness on the risks of COVID-19 and the benefits of vaccination. The government is mobilizing female community health volunteers to disseminate information among marginalized communities to raise awareness. At least one female health worker or volunteer will support the effort in every vaccination site or outreach center.



ADB closely collaborates with other partners, like the World Bank, COVAX, WHO, and the United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF), in supporting the Government of Nepal in its efforts to vaccinate its people as soon as possible.



The project will complement the governments broader response through its USD1.2 billion National Relief Program, which consists of social protection, health care, and economic relief measures. In May 2020, ADB provided support to the program through a USD250 million concessional loan./.
-- Companies, social forces and many seemingly unrelated individuals have joined China's massive rescue and relief efforts after a record rainstorm left 33 dead and eight missing in Henan Province.

-- From a hairdresser in a rescuer's helmet to cinema staff sheltering stranded pedestrians in screening halls, ordinary Chinese are expressing solidarity with the hard-hit city of Zhengzhou in their own ways.

-- Donations and rescuer teams are also pouring in from other parts of the country in a nationwide mobilization.

by Xinhua writers Yao Yuan, Zhai Zhuo, Liu Jinhui and Liu Fangqiang

ZHENGZHOU, July 22 (Xinhua) -- After a record rainstorm ravaged central China's Henan Province, Zhou Jing, a resident in neighboring Anhui Province, lost contact with her longtime hairdresser.

Text messages and phone calls went unanswered, which never happened in the past, Zhou said. Only later did she know that the barber had rushed to Henan in his second identity: a professional rescuer.

The barber, Yu Tao, is a member of the Blue Sky Rescue Team in Hefei, capital of Anhui. He said his team, a non-governmental organization, assembled overnight and rushed to Henan in the wee hours of Wednesday after torrential rains unleashed deadly floods there.

On China's popular microblogging site Sina Weibo, Zhou heartily praised her barber for "dropping his scissors to save lives," one of the many messages showing solidarity with the flood-hit Henan.

Aerial photo taken on July 21, 2021 shows submerged roads in flood-hit Zhengdong New District of Zhengzhou, central China's Henan Province. (Xinhua/Li An)

"Every ordinary person around you may become a hero to save others on a special day," Zhou said in a post forwarded 71,000 times.

A video interview by a local media outlet showed Yu standing in ankle-deep floodwater and wearing a blue helmet and a red life jacket, apparently stunned by his overnight fame on social media.

"I do not see myself as special or outstanding. All the team members put aside their daily work to come and help," Yu later told Xinhua.

Thirty-three people have died, and eight remain missing after an unprecedented rainstorm walloped the populous province of Henan. In the provincial capital Zhengzhou, road traffic was paralyzed and many passengers were trapped in waterlogged subway trains after the city's rainfall over three days neared the average annual amount.

The country has launched massive rescue and relief efforts. By Wednesday afternoon, the Central Theater Command of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) had sent over 5,700 soldiers, armed police troops, and militias to join the rescue in Henan, in addition to 148 vessels and vehicles.

Aerial photo taken on July 22, 2021 shows rescuers evacuating stranded people outside the Fuwai Central China Cardiovascular Hospital in flood-hit Zhongmu County of Zhengzhou, central China's Henan Province. (Xinhua/Cai Yang)

China's Ministry of Finance Wednesday earmarked 100 million yuan (about 15.42 million U.S. dollars) for disaster relief in Henan.

Social forces are also on the move to offer timely assistance.

On Tuesday evening, Zhengzhou's library, its science and technology museum, and some schools volunteered free overnight shelter for people trapped on their journeys home by rising floodwater. Many private house owners and companies also joined the initiative.

Online travel service provider Fliggy said Thursday that 487 hotels in nearly 20 cities in Henan are offering free resting space for people in need. Fliggy said the hotels' information could be found by searching "Hang on Henan" on its app.

A cinema in downtown Zhengzhou took in over 1,000 stranded residents, allowing them to sleep on seats in its screening halls on Tuesday evening.

Yang Zhen, a staffer with the Oriental Jiahe Cinema, said he encountered many stranded pedestrians on his way home and guided them to the cinema after the cinema management agreed to his proposal to open up the halls.

The cinema has decided to suspend business until Friday to continue to shelter the displaced and those whose homes had no electricity or water supply, Yang said.

"Operation costs are not our concern at this moment. As part of the city, we're supposed to share weal and woe with Zhengzhou," he said.

Rescuers evacuate stranded villagers in flood-hit Longtou Village, Dengfeng City of central China's Henan Province, July 20, 2021. (Xinhua/Hao Yuan)

Aid also poured in from other parts of the country, as celebrities, companies, and ordinary netizens expressed solidarity with the province.

Alipay said its users had donated 100 million yuan through the online payment platform, 36 hours since it dedicated a donation section for Henan.

Wuhan, capital of neighboring Hubei Province, sent a team of engineers to help pump waterlogged streets and tunnels in Zhengzhou.

"Wuhan received generous support from people in Henan during the epidemic. Now we should repay their kindness as they are in difficulty," said Yang Lei with the Wuhan Water Authority.

Rescuers from east China's Jiangxi Province drain rainwater out of a road tunnel in flood-hit Zhengzhou, central China's Henan Province, July 22, 2021. (Xinhua/Li An)

Yang Xidao, one of the 392 firefighters dispatched to Zhengzhou from the eastern province of Jiangxi, uttered a similar view.

"Last year, when the severe flood hit Poyang Lake, support poured in from across the country to help us overcome the difficulties. Now we feel obliged to help when Zhengzhou is in trouble," Yang said. 

(Xinhua reporters Wang Shuo, Yuan Yueming, Qiang Lijing, Tian Chenyu, Wang Zichen, Yang Kai, Yang Hao and Yao Ziyun contributed to this story; video editor: Hong Ling; video reporters: Zhang Caixia, Li Lijing, Yang Jinxin, Ren Zhuoru, Feng Yuanyuan and Yang Yuhua.)

[ Editor: Zhang Zhou ]
LHASA, July 23 (Xinhua) -- Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, has visited the city of Nyingchi in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region.

Xi arrived at the Nyingchi Mainling Airport on Wednesday and was warmly welcomed by local people and officials of various ethnic groups.

He then visited the Nyang River Bridge, to inspect the ecological preservation in the basin of the Yarlung Zangbo River and its tributary Nyang River.

On Wednesday afternoon, Xi visited a local city planning hall, a village and a park in Nyingchi, inspecting the locality's city development planning, rural vitalization and city park building efforts.

On Thursday, Xi went to Nyingchi railway station, learning about the overall designing of the Sichuan-Tibet Railway and the operation of Lhasa-Nyingchi railway section, and then took a train to the regional capital Lhasa. He inspected the construction along the railway during the ride.

Officially put into operation last month, the Lhasa-Nyingchi railway is Tibet's first electrified railway.

[ Editor: Zhang Zhou ]
Finance Minister discusses continuation of cooperation with IMF with Charge d'Affaires of US in Ukraine

Minister of Finance Serhiy Marchenko and Charge d'Affaires, a.i. of the United States in Ukraine, Deputy Assistant Secretary at the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs of the U.S. Department of State George Kent discussed the continuation of cooperation with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the government's tax initiatives proposed by in the resource bill No. 5600 during a meeting on Friday.

"The parties discussed the continuation of the program of cooperation with the IMF, the reform of state-owned banks, the economic situation in Ukraine, tax initiatives within the framework of bill No. 5600," the ministry's website said on Friday.

The Minister of Finance said that he considers the continuation of cooperation with the IMF to be his main priority in this position.

The U.S. representative assured that the United States is committed to support Ukraine in the implementation of reforms.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine expresses its resolute protest over the adoption by the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation of the decision to engage through electronic voting population of the temporarily occupied territories in Donetsk and Luhansk regions in the elections to the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation scheduled for September.

"Such actions of the Russian side along with the illegal organization of the elections to the State Duma in the temporarily occupied territory of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol constitute a flagrant violation of norms and principles of international law, the Constitution of Ukraine and Ukrainian legislation in force. Organization of the electoral process in the temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine and engagement in it of the local population, on which Russian citizenship has been forcibly imposed call into doubt the legitimacy of the elections results," a statement posted by the Ukrainian MFA on Friday reads.

Despite all attempts of Ukraine to stabilize the situation in the conflict zone, the Russian Federation continues to ignore efforts within the Normandy Four format and the Trilateral Contact Group to find efficient way to settle the Russian-Ukrainian armed conflict in line with norms and principles of international law and with full respect of Ukraine's sovereignty, it says.

"Recent actions of the Russian Federation are particularly cynical taking into account the aggravation of the security situation in the conflict zone, caused by regular ceasefire violations by the Russian occupation forces, as well as further deterioration of humanitarian and socio-economic situation in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine," the MFA said.

The ministry called on international community to condemn this step of the Russian Federation, not to recognize the elections results in the temporarily occupied territories and to strengthen the politico-diplomatic pressure on the Russian Federation to make it cease internationally wrongful acts against sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.

"Ukraine demands from the Russian Federation to revoke all unlawful decisions taken with regard to the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine and to stop taking steps aimed at further integration of the population of the temporarily occupied territories into political, social and legal space of the Russian Federation," the statement reads.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky has dismissed Valeriy Kondratiuk from the post of the head of the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine (SVR) and appointed to this post Oleksandr Lytvynenko, who had previously headed the National Institute for Strategic Studies.

Corresponding decrees No. 301/2021, 302/2021 and 303/2021 of July 23 were published on the president's website.
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) exposed and terminated the activities of the FSB agent network operating in Kherson region, law enforcement officers and officials are among the informants, the press center of the department reports.

"The organizer of the network was a former employee of the regional department of the SBU. He retired from service in 2014 and was recruited by the FSB of the Russian Federation during his departure to the Russian Federation," the message says.

According to the SBU, in order to carry out the tasks of the Russian special service, this person created an extensive agent and information network, to which, in particular, he attracted an SBU officer in Kherson region, employees of the local prosecutor's office and police, an official of the State Emergency Service and a former official of the regional state administration.

"The SBU knows Moscow supervisor of the network. This is a career officer of the FSB of the Russian Federation Vitaly Korol, who specializes in Ukraine. In 2015-2016, he was in the occupied part of Donetsk region as part of the FSB rotational task force under the call sign Mongoose," the report says.

According to the intelligence service, numerous facts of collecting and transmitting information through the closed electronic communication channels previously worked out by the FSB of the Russian Federation have been documented.

"The Russian special services were interested in information with limited access, which concerned the activities of the personnel of the regional department of the SBU, data on regional law enforcement structures, military units and local government bodies. For the information provided, the resident received a monthly monetary reward from the Russian special service," the message says.

During the searches, computer equipment and means of communication with representatives of the FSB, Russian symbols, as well as significant funds in foreign currency were seized from the detainees.

"The resident of the FSB of the Russian Federation and his agent from among the employees of the SBU were detained in accordance with Article 208 of the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine. They announced suspicion under Part 2 of Article 28, Part 1 of Article 111 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (high treason)," the SBU informs.

Later, the Prosecutor General's Office reported that the results of the check of an employee of Kherson Regional Prosecutor's Office revealed that he was not involved in the work of Russian agents.

"One of the civil servants - employees of Kherson regional prosecutor's office was also really checked for participation in the agent-information network ... However, according to the results of investigative (search) actions, including secret investigative (search) actions, information about the involvement of prosecutors in the commission of this crime has not been confirmed," the agency's website says.
People line up outside a newly reopened career center for in-person appointments in Louisville, U.S., (Photo : REUTERS/Amira Karaoud/File Photo/File Photo/File Photo)

An unprecedented number of people falsifying identities to claim U.S. jobless benefits during the pandemic sparked a surge in government spending to curtail the fraud, creating a fierce new battle in the identification business.



No company may be benefiting more than ID.me, founded in 2010 as a Craigslist for verified military veterans and valued at $1.5 billion in financing this year by funds including Alphabet Inc's CapitalG.



Advertisement

ID.me in a year has gone from vetting unemployment claimants in zero states to 27, to help address what the U.S. government said could amount to $87 billion in improper unemployment benefits payments during the pandemic.



Many of those states have exercised "emergency" or "sole-source" exemptions to skip getting competing bids, according to records Reuters reviewed from 11 agencies.



The fast growth is now attracting scrutiny from an industry-backed watchdog group into whether a national association may have unfairly steered business to ID.me. It also led to delays for some benefits-seekers, according to ID.me's chief executive and seven former workers who spoke with Reuters.



Graphic: Wait time falls for speaking to ID.me referees: https://graphics.reuters.com/IDME-STATES/oakvedkeqpr/chart.png



The former ID.me workers said that non-English speakers, the elderly and people of color sometimes waited days for verification because the company lacked multilingual agents. They added that sometimes users struggled with glitchy video conferencing from Pexip Holding ASA, and said some Black applicants were wrongly flagged by the company's fraud-detection software.



Workers had to verify at least 30 people per eight-hour shift and could wait no more than six minutes for users to respond or solve tech issues, said the sources, including former contractors Carlos Moran, Russell Schwartz and Valerie Blankenship.



ID.me CEO Blake Hall told Reuters that language support is expanding, and said the company forewarned states about waits and they never extended beyond a day.



"This is a crisis situation. There were no good choices," said Hall, a former Army Captain.



Hall added that Pexip offers strong security, and that industry-standard "efficiency targets" did not apply to troubleshooting. Pexip did not respond to comment for this story.



With at least some issues addressed, investors are bullish that the McLean, Virginia company is joining a long list of internet services emerging from the pandemic as essential tools.



Graphic: ID.me's users surge amid unemployment deals: https://graphics.reuters.com/IDME-STATES/xklvyxwnmpg/chart.png



Market researcher Juniper expects global annual sales of online identity verification services to reach nearly $16.7 billion in 2025, up 77% from this year.



ID.me, which has nearly tripled to over 50 million users since last March, wants to let them enter the same email and password combination to log into tax or Social Security accounts, download mobile keys for hotel rooms, or prove they are a veteran, nurse or teacher to secure e-commerce deals.



It envisions "Sign in with ID.me" buttons on apps alongside "Sign in with Apple" and "Facebook Login."



"There's a huge identity opportunity because there's no national identity system," said Jesse Wedler, a partner at CapitalG. "ID.me has this out-of-the-box solution."



SELFIE CHECKS



ID.me's automated verification technology analyzes evidence and records, including comparing users' selfies with pictures they take of their driver's license or other identification. If that fails, users can show additional documentation on the video chats with ID.me's "trusted referees https://pages.nist.gov/800-63-3-Implementation-Resources/63A/referees." It saves selfies as another dataset to check against later.



With COVID-19 closing state offices and boosting identity theft, officials saw value in face checks and video chats. A federal law passed last December also required identity verification for aid. ID.me struck its first deal last June with Florida. About 15% of unemployment claimants have needed video chats, Hall said.



Graphic: ID.me verifies most users without video calls: https://graphics.reuters.com/IDME-STATES/xklpyxwqmvg/chart.png



Arizona credited ID.me for reducing fraud and ensuring timely benefits delivery. New Jersey described ID.me as "a tremendous asset," and California called it the best of 12 vendors it considered, including Adobe Inc and DocuSign Inc.



Rivals, including Relx Plc's LexisNexis, which itself went from serving 11 states to 21 during the pandemic, say failed selfie checks needlessly delayed payment to millions of jobless people. They contend that most Americans can be verified without photos by just checking against device information, credit histories or property and utilities records.



Hall for years has said that approach disadvantages recent immigrants, lower-income families and others with what the industry calls "thin files," forcing them to verify offline.



Competitors view his concerns as outdated. But they do not offer video appeals, through which ID.me has verified 1.24 million claimants, Hall said. No state has canceled it.



Thomson Reuters Corp, the parent of Reuters News, offers Pondera software, which spots suspicious patterns among applicants and is being used in seven states including California and Nevada. For a FACTBOX of players in the space, click



'ENDORSED ID.ME'



But lawmakers and taxpayer advocates have begun to scrutinize whether ID.me was the best choice to handle the influx of users.



The IT Acquisition Advisory Council said it wrote to officials including the U.S. Department of Labor's inspector general that the influential National Association of State Workforce Agencies (NASWA) may have interfered with open-competition requirements by recommending ID.me to the exclusion of others.



North Carolina said in its sole-source waiver that NASWA "endorsed ID.me," Pennsylvania cited NASWA guidance in its selection process and Washington state received $177,500 from a NASWA affiliate to try ID.me, records show.



NASWA and Hall denied any endorsement, saying the group facilitates information sharing about tools but does not preference any. The states did not respond to requests for comment. The inspector general declined to comment.



Contracts and payments obtained by Reuters for ID.me services in 16 states collectively are worth at least $29 million. The company says its overall annual recurring revenue is $150 million.



"You'll start to see some oversight hearings for sure: What are the pitfalls we saw during an extreme, high-pressure time and what are the guardrails we need?" California State Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez told Reuters.


A Cuban flag hangs over a street in downtown Havana, Cuba (Photo : REUTERS/Alexandre Meneghini)

The United States on Thursday imposed sanctions on a Cuban security minister and an interior ministry special forces unit for alleged human rights abuses in a crackdown on anti-government protests earlier this month.



The move marked the first concrete steps by President Joe Biden's administration to apply pressure on Cuba's Communist government as it faces calls from U.S. lawmakers and the Cuban-American community to show greater support for the biggest protests to hit the island in decades.



Advertisement

The speed with which the administration has crafted new sanctions further signals Biden is highly unlikely to soften the U.S. approach to Cuba any time soon after his predecessor, Donald Trump, rolled back a historic Obama-era detente with Havana.



"This is just the beginning," Biden said in a statement, expressing condemnation for "mass detentions and sham trials."



"The United States will continue to sanction individuals responsible for oppression of the Cuban people," he said.



Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez, in a message on Twitter, rejected the sanctions as "unfounded and slanderous" and urged the United States to apply such measures to its own record of "daily repression and policy brutality."



The Treasury Department said the sanctions had been placed on an entire Interior Ministry security unit and on General Alvaro Lopez Miera, minister of the Revolutionary Armed Forces, describing him as leader of an entity "whose members have engaged in serious human rights abuse."



Thousands of Cubans staged protests a week ago to demonstrate against an economic crisis that has brought shortages of basic goods and power outages. They were also protesting the government's handling of the coronavirus pandemic and curbs on civil liberties. Hundreds of activists were detained.



Biden had promised during the 2020 campaign to reverse some of Trump's Cuba policies, but Thursday's announcement suggests little appetite for a return to rapprochement.



At the same time, the administration is still seeking ways to ease the humanitarian plight of the Cuban people.



The White House said on Tuesday that Biden would form a working group to examine remittances to Cuba in the wake of the protests. The aim is to determine how Cuban-Americans can send money to families on the island while keeping the funds out of the hands of the Cuban government.



Trump had imposed tight restrictions on remittances, which are believed to have previously amounted to several billions of dollars annually.



The White House, in a statement, cautioned that the remittances issue was complex and "requires a measured and thoughtful approach in coordination with experts."



Biden reiterated on Thursday that his administration is looking for ways to help ordinary Cubans regain internet access after Havana restricted access to social media and messaging platforms including Facebook and WhatsApp.



"We will work closely with our partners throughout the region, including the Organization of American States, to pressure the regime," Biden said.



The Cuban government has blamed the protests mostly on what it calls U.S.-financed "counter-revolutionaries" exploiting economic hardship caused by U.S. sanctions.



GLOBAL MAGNITSKY SANCTIONS



The sanctions were imposed under the Global Magnitsky Act, used to punish human rights violators with U.S. asset freezes and bans on travel to the United States.



But U.S. officials have acknowledged that Cuban officials rarely have U.S. financial dealings and seldom travel to the United States, limiting the practical impact of such measures.



The unrest appears to have injected a new sense of urgency into Biden's broad Cuba policy review, which began shortly after he took office in January. Until now, Cuba had not been treated as a top agenda item while the administration dealt with the economic recovery and coronavirus pandemic at home and challenges such as China, Russia and Iran abroad.



Cuba, a State Department official told Reuters, is now a "top priority."



Analysts say conciliatory moves are unlikely in the near term. Complicating matters was Biden's poorer-than-expected showing with voters in south Florida's anti-communist Cuban-American community, which backed Trump's tough policies toward Havana and Caracas and helped him win the battleground state.



Many analysts say Biden may have to tread carefully on Cuba policy ahead of the 2022 congressional elections.


Thomas Barrack, Executive Chairman, Colony Northstar, speaks at the Milken Institute's 21st Global Conference in Beverly Hills, California, U.S (Photo : REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson)

Falcon Peak Acquisition Corp, the blank-check acquisition firm of former U.S. President Donald Trump's billionaire ally Thomas Barrack, withdrew its initial public offering registration on Friday after he was charged with illegal lobbying.



The special purpose acquisition company, or SPAC, which had filed for a $250 million IPO in March, did not give a reason for the cancellation of the IPO in a regulatory filing on the move. A Barrack spokesperson declined to comment.



Advertisement

Barrack, who chaired Trump's inaugural fund and was a frequent guest at the White House, was arrested on Tuesday and charged with illegally lobbying the Trump administration on behalf of the United Arab Emirates. He denied the charges through his spokesperson.



SPACs are shell companies that raise funds in an IPO with the aim of merging with a private company, which becomes public as result. They have become a popular alternative to a traditional IPO, though investor interest has cooled in recent weeks after some of the deals ended up performing poorly.



The canceled SPAC's sponsors were Falcon Peak Partners, Barrack's family office, and TI Capital Management, a Los Angeles-based investment firm founded by Ziad Ghandour. Barrack was named as the blank-check company's chairman, while Ghandour serves was its chief executive officer.



A TI Capital Management spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment.



Barrack founded telecommunications infrastructure-focused private equity firm Colony Capital in 1991, which was rebranded as DigitalBridge Group Inc. He stepped down as DigitalBridge's chief executive in 2020 but remains a non-executive director.


Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty and husband Raj Kundra (R) arrive on the green carpet during the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Awards in Toronto (Photo : REUTERS/Mike Cassese)

An Indian court on Friday extended the custody of Raj Kundra, a businessman married to popular Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty, police said, in a pornography case that has stunned the country's film industry.



Mumbai police on Monday arrested Kundra in a case related to the production of pornographic films by his company, and on Friday, he appeared before the court for his bail hearing.



Advertisement

The court ordered Kundra into police custody until July 27, S Chaitanya, Mumbai police spokesman, told Reuters.



A lawyer for Kundra and a spokeswoman for Shetty did not respond to requests by Reuters for comment.



Local media reports said police questioned Shetty about her involvement in the case, but Chaitanya refused to comment on that.



Shetty, a leading actress of the 1990s, is a familiar face on television and social media. She married Kundra in 2009, and the couple have two children.


Jacob Anthony Chansley of Arizona stands with other supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump as they demonstrate on the second floor of the U.S. Capitol near the entrance to the Senate (Photo : REUTERS/Mike Theiler/File Photo)

The participant in the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol riots nicknamed the "QAnon Shaman" is negotiating a possible plea deal with prosecutors, after prison psychologists found he suffers from a variety of mental illnesses, his attorney said.



In an interview, defense lawyer Albert Watkins said that officials at the federal Bureau of Prisons, or BOP, have diagnosed his client Jacob Chansley with transient schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression and anxiety.



Advertisement

The BOP's findings, which have not yet been made public, suggest Chansley's mental condition deteriorated due to the stress of being held in solitary confinement at a jail in Alexandria, Virginia, Watkins said.



"As he spent more time in solitary confinement ... the decline in his acuity was noticeable, even to an untrained eye," Watkins said in an interview on Thursday.



He said Chansley's 2006 mental health records from his time in the U.S. Navy show a similar diagnosis to the BOP's.



A spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's office declined to comment on the case.



Chansley is one of the most recognizable of the hundreds of Donald Trump supporters who stormed the Capitol after the then-president in a fiery speech falsely claimed that his November election defeat was the result of fraud.



Chansley, of Arizona, was photographed inside the Capitol wearing a horned headdress, shirtless and heavily tattooed. He is a supporter of the QAnon conspiracy theory that casts Trump as a savior figure and elite Democrats as a cabal of Satanist pedophiles and cannibals.



He faces charges including civil disorder and obstructing an official proceeding.



Watkins did not say what Chansley was considering pleading guilty to, but defendants negotiating plea deals typically seek to plead to a less serious charge to reduce their potential prison sentences.



Watkins said authorities will need to determine how Chansley can get access to the treatment he needs to "actively participate in his own defense." Pleading guilty to a charge negates the need for a trial, but defendants still have to be declared mentally competent to do so.



Watkins said the BOP's evaluation of his client did not declare Chansley to be mentally incompetent, and he does not expect Chansley to be ordered to undergo what is known as competency restoration treatment.



'CHOCOLATE SOUP MESS'



Watkins said his client has expressed some delusions including "believing that he was indeed related directly to Jesus and Buddha."



"What we've done is we've taken a guy who is unarmed, harmless, peaceful ... with a pre-existing mental vulnerability of significance, and we've rendered him a chocolate soup mess," Watkins said.



Federal prosecutors have arrested more than 535 people on charges of taking part in the violence, which saw rioters battle police, smash windows and send members of Congress and then-Vice President Mike Pence running for safety.



About 20 defendants so far have pleaded guilty to federal charges in connection with the attack, according to a government tally.



Chansley is jailed as he awaits trial, after prosecutors convinced a federal judge he remains a danger if released.



U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth in May ordered him to undergo a competency evaluation.



As of July 5, he was one of 188 men and women undergoing an initial mental health evaluation to determine if they are competent to stand trial, according to BOP data.



The BOP in 2017 was faulted by the Justice Department's inspector general for its use of special housing units to confine inmates with mental illness, and the BOP agreed to place limits on the amount of time inmates remain in restrictive housing and to ensure they have meaningful human contact.



But the COVID-19 pandemic led the BOP to step up its use of solitary housing units as a way to quarantine inmates to contain the spread of the virus.



A BOP spokeswoman said that inmates are sometimes held alone in a cell, but they are not cut off from human contact or services.



"While we do have a need to place individuals in a single cell for various reasons, such as medical isolation, they have access to staff and programming," she said.



These COVID-19 restrictions, Watkins said, is what led the BOP to place Chansley in solitary confinement.



Seeking a competency evaluation for a federal inmate can be a slippery slope for defense attorneys.



On the one hand, incompetent defendants cannot be prosecuted if they cannot understand the charges or assist in their defense.



However, if a judge declares there is a preponderance of evidence to show a defendant is incompetent to stand trial, then the defendant is jailed because federal law requires inmates undergoing competency restoration treatment to be committed to a federal prison hospital.



There are only three federal prison hospitals offering restoration treatment for male inmates, and the average wait time for a bed this year for men has been 84 days, according to BOP data.


Egypts prosecution detained three alleged members of a terrorist cell on Sunday as part of investigations into the bombing of two churches on Palm Sunday that left dozens killed and injured.

The three suspects will be detained for 15 days pending investigations into their involvement in the terrorist attacks.

On 9 April, two suicide bombings hit St George's Cathedral in Tanta and St Mark's Cathedral in Alexandria, killing 46 people and injuring dozens in the deadliest attack on Copts in the country's recent history. The attacks were timed to take place on Palm Sunday, at the start of Holy Week, in the run up to Easter, thereby ensuring large-scale casualties.

The Islamic State (IS) group claimed responsibility for the attacks, naming the Alexandria suicide bomber as Abu Isaac Al-Masry and the Tanta suicide bomber as Abu Al-Baraa Al-Masry.

One day following the attacks, the interior ministry said that police had killed seven members of a terrorist cell in a shootout in Upper Egypt's Assiut governorate.

The three men detained on Sunday are being investigated on suspicion of joining an illegal group that calls for disobeying authority and overthrowing the state, as well as attacking Christian citizens and their places of worship.

The three suspects are also accused of conducting a terrorist attack in January on a security checkpoint in New Valley governorate, leaving eight policemen dead.

The interior ministry said at the time that the checkpoint attack was executed by 12 militants, two of whom were killed by the police during the attack.

A three-month state of emergency was declared by President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi on the day of the churches attacks.

The cabinet approved the state of emergency on Monday, and parliament approved the decision unanimously on Tuesday.

Copts, who make up about one tenth of Egypt's population of more than 92 million, have been targeted by several terrorist attacks in recent months.

In December, a suicide bombing claimed by IS killed 29 worshippers at a Cairo church.

Short link:


Egypts Parliamentary Speaker Ali Abdel-Aal said on Monday that Egypt will not stand idly by as any foreign country may pose a threat to its western borders with Libya.

Egypt will not be idle about the reckless agreement signed between Fayez Al-Sarraj, head of the Libyan government in Tripoli, and Turkey, said Abdel-Aal, adding that Egypt will strongly stand against these reckless practices. The madness of some people might push him to pose a threat to Egypt, and I want to inform everyone that Egypt has all the means to strongly stand up to such irresponsible and mad figures, said Abdel-Aal.

Abdel-Aal said Egypt is strongly in solidarity with the Libyan national parliament led by Aqila Saleh. We also firmly support the Libyan army that is currently leading a ferocious battle against terrorism in Libya, said Abdel-Aal.

Egypt utterly rejects Al-Sarrajs agreement with Turkey. To all the mad people who might think they can harm Egypts western air, land or sea borders, you will never be allowed to do so, and you will be vanquished.

Abdel-Aals words came in response to an urgent statement delivered by independent MP Mostafa Bakri who said in a plenary session on Monday morning that the deal between the Tripoli government in Libya, led by Al-Sarraj, and Turkey is in violation of the Sokhairat agreement which does not allow Al-Sarraj to sign treaties with foreign parties.

Bakri said Greece has decided to expel the Libyan ambassador, thereby unrecognising Al-Sarrajs government. We should follow suit," he added.

Hani El-Hennawi, an independent MP, described Al-Sarraj as a traitor who decided to sell off his countrys interests and wealth to Turkey. The agreement is a threat to Arab national security and allows Turkey to occupy Libya and plunder its oil resources, he said.

El-Hennawi said that much like Iran, Turkeys intervention in the affairs of Arab countries such as Libya, Syria and Iraq poses a grave threat to Arab national security. Turkey gives logistical and military support to terrorist groups, particularly to the ruling militias in Tripoli, and I think that all Arab countries and the Arab League should move quickly to stand up to Turkeys bullying practices in the Arab world, said El-Hennawi.

Last week Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and prime minister of Libya's internationally recognised government Fayez Al-Serraj signed two MoUs on security and maritime boundaries in the Mediterranean.

Egypt condemns the signing of two memoranda of understanding (MoU) by the Turkish and Libyan prime ministers on maritime borders and security, saying they have no legal effect, and cannot be officially recognised in light of the Skhirat Agreement's Article 8, which stipulates that the Libyan government or the cabinet, not the prime minister, have the authority to sign international agreements.

"The two memoranda of understanding have no legal effect, they cannot be officially recognised in light of the Skhirat Agreement's Article 8, which stipulates that the [Libyan] government or the cabinet, not the prime minister, have the authority to sign international agreements," the Egyptian foreign ministry said.

"It is well known that the current Libyan cabinet lacks ministers and representation of different Libyan regions, and thus the role of the prime minister is limited, and so making agreements with other countries is considered a blatant violation of the Skhirat agreement," the Egyptian foreign ministry commented.

"These two agreements do not have any effect or impact on the rights of the countries on the Mediterranean or maritime borders in the Mediterranean region," the ministry added.

Short link:


The United Nations said Friday it was "extremely concerned" at the humanitarian situation in Ethiopia's northern Tigray region, where severe shortages of food and supplies are taking their toll.

The UN's World Food Programme called for unimpeded access into Tigray to reach the four million people facing acute food insecurity and needing emergency assistance.

"The WFP is extremely concerned," the organisation's spokesman Tomson Phiri told reporters in Geneva Friday.

"The humanitarian response in the region continues to be challenged by a severe lack of sufficient food and other humanitarian supplies, limited communication services and no commercial supply chain."

He said the WFP had delivered food assistance to more than 730,000 people in parts of the south and northwest of Tigray in the past month.

That figure includes 40,000 people in the Zana area who were reached with food assistance for the first time.

The agency hopes to reach a further 80,000 people in the northwest in the coming days.

"Once this is completed, food stocks in the northwest are likely to run out," said Phiri.

People in Zana "had been completely cut off and living in dire conditions", he added.

"These are people who have been displaced and now shelter in schools and other impromptu shelters."

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed sent troops into Tigray last November to oust the region's ruling party, the Tigray People's Liberation Front, a move he said was in response to TPLF attacks on federal army camps.

Though the 2019 Nobel Peace laureate declared victory later that month, TPLF leaders remained on the run and fighting dragged on.

Phiri said a WFP-led convoy of more than 200 trucks carrying food and other essential humanitarian supplies was on standby in Ethiopia and was expected to depart for Tigray once security clearances are assured.

"WFP renews its call for faster, free and unimpeded access into Tigray to reach millions in need of life-saving food," he said.

Phiri said the WFP's target was to reach 2.1 million people who are at risk in Tigray.

He said it had been projected that more than 400,000 people would be suffering from catastrophic levels of hunger from July onwards.

Short link:


Related One shot dead in Iran water shortage protests

One person was shot dead when rioting erupted in western Iran late Thursday in sympathy with the drought-hit province of Khuzestan which has seen a week of protests, state television reported.

Two people also suffered gunshot wounds in the rioting in the town of Aligudarz in Lorestan province, which neighbours Khuzestan, the broadcaster reported on its website.

"Yesterday evening, rioting broke out for several hours in some streets in Aligudarz," it said, adding that people had taken to the streets "on the pretext of the water problems in Khuzestan."

"Shots were fired by unknown elements," the broadcaster said, adding that the security forces had been deployed to tackle the rioters.

It was the first time state media had reported protests or casualties outside Khuzestan since protests broke out there over the drought, which has gripped the province since March.

At least three people have been killed, including a police officer and a protestor, according to Iranian media and officials, who have accused "opportunists" and "rioters" of shooting at protesters and security forces.

Farsi-language media based abroad have broadcast videos they said were of protests in several towns and cities, showing hundreds of marching people, chanting slogans against authorities, while surrounded by anti-riot police.

AFP could not verify the authenticity of the videos.

President Hassan Rouhani said in a televised speech on Thursday that Iranians have "the right to speak, express themselves, protest and even take to the streets, within the framework of the regulations".

Admiral Ali Shamkhani, secretary general of the Supreme National Security Council, said "the security forces had been ordered to immediately release those detained during the recent incidents in Khuzestan, who had not have committed a criminal act".

Khuzestan is Iran's main oil-producing region and one of its wealthiest.

But it is also home to a large Arab minority, and its people regularly complain of being marginalised by the authorities.

In 2019, the province was a hotspot of anti-government protests that also shook other areas of Iran.

Over the years, blistering summer heatwaves and seasonal sandstorms blowing in from Saudi Arabia and neighbouring Iraq have dried up Khuzestan's once fertile plains. Scientists say climate change amplifies droughts.

Short link:


A boat carrying 45 migrants was sinking in the southeastern Aegean Sea and rescue units were deployed, Turkey's defense ministry said Friday.

The ministry tweeted that the boat ran into trouble about 60 miles (nearly 100 kilometers) south of the Greek island of Karpathos. It said two ships and one plane was involved in the rescue attempt.

Commercial ships were also issued 'search sectors' through a marine announcement system.

Migrants have tried to cross the Aegean Sea from Turkey to Greece in the hopes of starting new lives in Europe. The journey is a deadly one.

A migration deal between Turkey and the EU, which was reached in 2016, helped stem refugee flows but many still attempt the dangerous sea routes to try and reach one of the Greek islands.

Short link:


UN rights chief Michelle Bachelet told Iran on Friday to address with the chronic water shortage in Khuzestan province rather than use excessive force to crush protests.

Bachelet warned that the "catastrophic" situation had been building up for many years and that "shooting and arresting people will simply add to the anger and desperation".

"I am extremely concerned about the deaths and injuries that have occurred over the past week, as well as the widespread arrests and detention," Bachelet said in a statement.

"The impact of the devastating water crisis on life, health and prosperity of the people of Khuzestan should be the focus of the government's attention, not the protests carried out by people driven to desperation by years of neglect."

Khuzestan is Iran's main oil-producing region and one of its wealthiest.

But the southwestern province is also home to a large Arab minority, and its people regularly complain of being marginalised by the authorities.

Bachelet's office said Khuzestan used to be Iran's main and most reliable source of water, but alleged mismanagement coupled with droughts had drained the province.

Protests erupted on July 15 in several cities across the province. In response, state security forces appear to have reacted with disproportionate force against unarmed, peaceful protesters, her office said.

At least four people, including one minor, have been killed, and several others injured, while three are unconfirmed reports of a higher number of deaths, said the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

State media has reported that one police officer has been killed.

Bachelet said: "When you hear reports that injured protesters are avoiding hospitals for fear of being arrested, it is an indication of just how bad the situation is."

The high commissioner said Iran lacked effective channels for people to raise their grievances other than through protest, citing severely restricted civic space and a lack of a free media.

"The government of Iran desperately needs to change tack, beginning with issuing clear instructions to security forces to abide by international standards on the use of force," the former Chilean president said.

"It should also take immediate steps to first of all mitigate the impact of the crisis and to put in place policies that can ensure the right to water in Khuzestan in the long term."

Short link:


Greek and Turkish coast guards are searching for at least eight people who remained missing after a boat carrying 45 migrants sank off the coast of Crete, officials said on Friday.

Thirty-seven people, mostly from Syria and Iraq, were picked up in adverse weather conditions after the boat went down on Thursday near international waters near the Greek island, Greek port police told AFP.

Five of them were taken by helicopter to the Greek island of Karpathos on Thursday while 30 others -- including a woman and a child -- were transported to the Greek town of Ierapetra in southeast Crete, an AFP photographer reported.

Friday's search operations were hampered by gale-force winds, Greek port police said.

Two Turkish frigates and a maritime patrol aircraft were also searching for the missing migrants, said Turkey's defence ministry.

Survivors said that eight to 12 other people had been on board the boat when it went down 60 nautical miles southeast of Crete, Greek port police said.

Illegal immigrants often use Turkey as a transit point to reach prosperous European Union states through Greece.

Many rely on smugglers and risk their lives through perilous journeys in overcrowded boats.

In 2016, Turkey inked a deal with the EU to stem the flow of migrants to Europe in return for some incentives including financial assistance.

Turkey currently hosts some 3.7 million refugees from the conflict in Syria.

- Turkey expects more from EU -

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has long demanded more assistance from the EU to deal with refugees and has in the past threatened to open Turkey's border unless the bloc provides additional funds.

In June, EU leaders approved plans to give Turkey another 3 billion euros ($3.6 billion) over the next few years for assistance to Syrian refugees and to help boost border controls.

The new funding plan is part of a range of incentives that the bloc is using to try to keep Erdogan on side, with Brussels also offering to modernise a customs union with Turkey and start high-level talks on issues from health to security.

But Turkey responded to the proposal saying the idea that money is enough to solve migration is "a big delusion", urging greater cooperation with the EU to tackle the issue on other levels.

Ankara has repeatedly said it wants a review of the 2016 deal in a fashion that "responds to the needs of the day and common interests".

Turkey now fears a fresh wave of Afghan refugees as US troops withdraw following 20 years of fighting against the Taliban, which has been regaining territory.

Erdogan this week said Turkey was holding talks with the Afghan authorities over the issue of migrants.

Short link:


A UK high court ruled Friday that it was plausible there had been a "real prospect" of preventing the 1998 Omagh bombing.

A car bomb ripped through the Northern Irish town on 15 August 1998, killing 29 people and injuring 220 others in the deadliest single incident during The Troubles in Northern Ireland.

"Certain grounds, when considered separately or together, give rise to plausible allegations that there was a real prospect of preventing the Omagh bombing," said Judge Mark Horner in Belfast.

He said this included "consideration of terrorist activity on both sides of the border by prominent dissident terrorist republicans" ahead of the bombing.

The bomb was planted by dissident pro-Ireland republicans opposed to the Good Friday peace deal signed in April 1998, which largely ended 30 years of sectarian strife in Northern Ireland.

A warning was called in before the explosion, but miscommunication meant police moved people towards the bomb's location.

No one has ever been criminally convicted for the atrocity, which drew widespread international condemnation and consolidated the peace process.

Horner's judgement was delivered after Michael Gallagher -- whose son was killed in the blast -- challenged a British government decision not to hold a public inquiry into the bombing.

Horner said he would not order a public inquiry.

British govt urged to conduct a probe

But he said the British government should conduct an investigation under article two of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), which allows for a probe where a death involves the state.

"It is not within my power to order any type of investigation to take place in the Republic of Ireland," Horner said in a judgement summary.

"But there is a real advantage in an article two compliant investigation proceeding in the Republic of Ireland simultaneously with one in Northern Ireland."

He said "any investigation will have to look specifically at the issue of whether a more proactive campaign of disruption, especially if coordinated north and south of the border, had a real prospect of preventing the Omagh bombing."

Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Brandon Lewis said London "will take time to consider the judge's statement and all its recommendations carefully".

"I want to put on record my deep regret that the families of those killed and wounded have had to wait so long to find out what happened on that terrible day in 1998," he added.

"They deserve answers and I have great respect for their patience, grace and determination."

The Troubles saw 3,500 killed by bombs and bullets due to fighting between pro-Ireland republicans, pro-UK unionists and British security forces in the overseas province of Northern Ireland.

Prospective investigations and prosecutions over killings conducted in the three decades of violence have always been politically charged.

But last week the British government promised a new statute of limitations to end prosecutions on all sides, whether perpetrated by paramilitaries or security forces.

London has said the reforms are aimed at improving reconciliation efforts.

But all political parties and the families of those killed in Northern Ireland have insisted prosecutions are needed to bring closure.

Short link:


09:00 Egyptian archer Youssof Tolba finished 56th out of 64 contestants in the mens individual ranking with a total of 645 points. He will face Denis Gankin of Kazakhstan, who finished 9th with 670 points, on Tuesday 27 July.

04:05 Egyptian archer Amal Adam finished 63rd out of 64 contestants in the womens individual ranking with a total of 570 points (Season best). She will face on Tuesday 27 of July Minhee Jang of South Korea, who finished second with 677 points, in Round of 64.

02:30 Egyptian rower Abdel-Khalek El-Banna qualified for the men's single sculls quarterfinals after finishing third of his heat timing 7:03.44m. He completed the first 500m in 1:43.11, the 1000m in 3:31.59m, the 1500m in 5:18.07m and finally the 2000m contest in 7:03,44m behind German leader Oliver Zeidler who timed 7:00.40m. El-Banna will compete in the quarters on Monday 26 July.

Check the full schedule and results of all Egyptian athletes
KYODO NEWS - Jul 24, 2021 - 06:08 | All, World

Secretary of State Antony Blinken will travel to India next week, the U.S. government said Friday, in what will be his first trip to the key Indo-Pacific democracy as the top diplomat of President Joe Biden's administration.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, meanwhile, is departing Friday for a trip to Singapore, Vietnam and the Philippines, making him the first member of Biden's Cabinet to visit Southeast Asia.

The two trips underscore the Biden administration's emphasis on the Indo-Pacific region which faces China's growing assertiveness, including its expansive territorial claims in the South China Sea.

In New Delhi on Wednesday, Blinken plans to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar to discuss their cooperation on coronavirus pandemic response efforts, Indo-Pacific engagement, shared democratic values and addressing the climate crisis, the State Department said.

India is a member of the so-called Quad involving three other major Indo-Pacific democracies -- the United States, Japan and Australia. The group is widely seen as a counterweight against the rise of China, which the Biden administration considers an autocracy that is challenging the rules-based international order.

Blinken's discussions with Indian officials may include a plan to hold the first in-person Quad summit in Washington in the fall. The secretary of state will return to the U.S. capital on Thursday after also traveling to Kuwait.

Dean Thompson, the department's acting assistant secretary for South and Central Asian affairs, said the Quad engagements are expected to be part of the conversations, but did not provide any specific timing for the next possible ministerial or summit meeting.

"We should have more information on those fronts coming out relatively shortly," he told reporters.

Thompson said Blinken will also take up human rights issues in talks with Indian officials, with concerns lingering that the Asian country is descending into authoritarianism.

Austin will deliver a speech in Singapore on Tuesday at an event hosted by the International Institute for Strategic Studies, in which he plans to "make the case for the U.S. role as a reliable partner in helping nations in the Indo-Pacific make their own choices and 'build back better' after COVID-19," the think tank said.

The Biden administration is apparently seeking to increase its presence in Southeast Asia, which has been affected most directly by China's growing clout.

The Pentagon chief will also argue for "a more fair, open, and inclusive regional order" and discuss ways the United States is working with its network of allies and partners to update and modernize capabilities to meet the defense challenges of the 21st century, according to the institute.

Austin's visit will demonstrate the importance the Biden administration places on Southeast Asia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations as "an essential part of the Indo-Pacific's architecture," Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby said in a statement released earlier this week.

Austin previously said at a press conference that he also plans to emphasize the U.S. commitment to the "freedom of the seas" and "make clear where we stand on some unhelpful and unfounded claims by China in the South China Sea."

In the South China Sea -- home to some of the world's busiest sea lanes -- China has in recent years built artificial islands with military infrastructure, much to the consternation of some ASEAN countries with overlapping territorial claims.
KYODO NEWS - Jul 22, 2021 - 21:46 | World, All

South Korean President Moon Jae In asked U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman during their meeting in Seoul on Thursday for further efforts to resume talks between Washington and Pyongyang on the denuclearization of North Korea, according to the presidential office.

Moon asked Sherman to "engage voluntarily in resuming North Korea-U.S. talks" as he recalled his discussions with U.S. President Joe Biden at their summit in Washington in May, according to Park Kyung Mee, presidential office spokeswoman.

In the summit, Moon and Biden agreed to cooperate in achieving complete denuclearization and a permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula.

Sherman, in response, said she hopes to see a quick acceptance by North Korea of a U.S. offer for talks, adding she would also discuss North Korea during her upcoming visit to China, according to Park.

Moon and Sherman also exchanged views on how to deal with climate change and other global issues, vowing to continue cooperation, according to the official.

Sherman has been in South Korea since Wednesday as part of her ongoing tour of Asia, during which she met with her South Korean and Japanese counterparts in Tokyo earlier this week. She will also travel to Mongolia.

Ahead of the talks with Moon, Sherman met with South Korea's Unification Minister Lee In Young, discussing the situation on the Korean Peninsula and North Korea policy.

In their talks, Sherman stressed the role of the Unification Ministry in achieving peace and stability on the peninsula, the ministry said in a statement.

Related coverage:

No. 2 U.S. diplomat Sherman to visit China from July 25 amid tension

Japan, U.S., S. Korea agree to boost cooperation over N. Korea nukes

Japan, S. Korea fail to narrow gap over wartime history issues
KYODO NEWS - Jul 23, 2021 - 20:15 | All, Japan, News

Emperor Naruhito told U.S. first lady Jill Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron and other world leaders Friday that he has the "deepest respect" for all of the athletes who have gathered in Japan for the Olympics despite the challenge posed by the coronavirus pandemic.

"It is my hope that the athletes will be able to give their best performance in good health fending off COVID-19 and mindful of the hot weather," the emperor said in a meeting with 12 foreign dignitaries from 11 countries at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo.

The emperor, speaking in English, called for "an even greater unity of mind" of people worldwide to address the pandemic's challenges.

In the meeting ahead of the Olympics' opening ceremony at National Stadium, the emperor also expressed hope that the Summer Games "will remind us of the spirit of Olympism, peace and harmony, and that we will relay the torch of that spirit to the future."

It was the first time the emperor has met with Jill Biden, who is leading the U.S. delegation to the event.

Macron, whose country will host the 2024 Summer Games, is the only head of state from the Group of Seven industrialized nations to attend the evening's spectacle.

Other foreign leaders included the presidents of Poland, Armenia and Kosovo, as well as the prime ministers of Mongolia and Montenegro.

Earlier Friday, Japanese first lady Mariko Suga hosted Biden for a cultural workshop to make Japanese-style sachets for incense at the State Guest House in Tokyo, a neo-baroque building erected in 1909, also called Akasaka Palace.

"Oh, that's strong, that wakes you up, right?" Biden said as she smelt palo santo fragrant wood that was laid out along with other aromatic items.

Biden was wearing a pin that was a gift from Suga when her husband, Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, visited the White House in April, according to Biden's spokesman.

The Japanese government initially expected a few dozen world leaders to visit Tokyo for the opening ceremony. However, the number now totals about 15 due to the pandemic in Japan and other parts of the world.

Tokyo is under its fourth COVID-19 state of emergency. The metropolitan government on Friday reported 1,359 new coronavirus cases, down from 1,979 the previous day, the highest level in six months.
New Delhi:

Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan on Tuesday accepted the resignations of BJP leaders BS Yeddyurappa and B Sriramulu as the members of Parliament.

Yeddyurappa and Sriramulu resigned from the Shivamogga and Bellary parliamentary constituencies following their election to the Karnataka Legislative Assembly on Friday, according to Lok Sabha Secretariat sources.

Both the BJP leaders had submitted their resignations a day before the floor test, ordered by the Supreme Court to check the majority of the day-old Yeddyurappa government in the Karnataka hung assembly.

While Yeddyurappa, the chief ministerial candidate of the BJP, won from the Shikharipura assembly seat, Sriramulu had registered victory from the Molakalmuru. Sriramulu had also contested from Badami but lost to Congress's chief ministerial candidate Siddaramaiah.

Read | How a googly made in Andhra Pradesh stopped BJP in Karnataka

The BJP emerged as the sigle largest party in the Karnataka Assembly Elections but fell short of 8 seats from the majority mark of 112. The Congress and the Janta Dal-Secular bagged 78 and 37 seats respectively and further forged an alliance to form the government in the southern state.

Yeddyurappa resigned before the trust vote on May 19, following which Governor Vajubhai Vala invited JD-S leader HD Kumaraswamy to take the oath as the chief minister of Karnataka.

Read | Bribe tape against BJP fake, says Congress lawmaker Shivaram Hebbar

Kumaraswamy, who has the backing of the Congress, will be sworn in as the Karnataka chief minister on Wednesday. Earlier, the oath-taking ceremony was scheduled to take place on May 21 but was postponed to May 23 due to former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi's death anniversary on Monday.
New Delhi:

To increase understanding and awareness of biodiversity issues, the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is celebrating the International Day for Biological Diversity on May 22. The CBD has chosen Celebrating 25 Years of Action for Biodiversity the theme for 2018 International Biological Diversity.

The theme was chosen to mark the 25th anniversary of the entry into force of the Convention on Biological Diversity and to highlight progress made in the achievement of its objectives at the national and global levels, United Nations said in a release.

The International Day for Biological Diversity is celebrated with an aim to conserve the biodiversity and promote its sustainable use and the equitable sharing of its benefits for sustainable development.

Earlier, December 29, the day when the Convention of Biological Diversity came into force, was adopted as the International Day for Biological Diversity.

However, In December 2000, the UN General Assembly adopted 22 May as the International Biological Diversity Day to commemorate the adoption of the text of the Convention on Biological Diversity.

Biological Diversity, the variety of plant and animal life in the world, measures variation at the genetic, the species, and the ecosystem level on the Earth.

Biodiversity is significant for natural sustainability for all forms of life on earth as it boosts ecosystem productivity where each species have an important role to play. However, due to the increasing levels of pollution, the earth is losing its greenery, its biodiversity, which is dangerous for the existence of life on the planet.

We all need to make collective efforts to save our animals and plants and preserve the biodiversity of the planet earth because "before we came, the earth was green, the trees were tall, the air was fresh, the soil deep, the water was pure and the birds did sing."

So, on Biological Diversity Day, let's all join hands and pledge that when we left, we left the earth more green.

For all the Latest Science News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
New Delhi:

Days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 330 MW Kishanganga hydroelectric project in Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan on Monday lodged its protest against Indias alleged violation of the Indus Waters Treaty at the World Bank.

A Pakistani delegation met with the Work Bank officials and argued that the 330 MW hydroelectric on Kishanganga River, a tributary of Jhelum, flowing into Pakistan will disrupt water supplies.

Earlier on Friday, Pakistan government had raised its concerns, saying that the construction of dam violated the 1960 Indus Water Treaty between the countries.

Pakistan believes that the inauguration of the project without the resolution of the dispute is tantamount to violation of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), Pakistan Foreign Office said in a statement.

Pakistan reiterates that as the custodian of the Treaty, World Bank must urge India to address to Pakistans reservations on Kishanganga Hydroelectric Project (KHEP), the statement added.

Reacting to Pakistans protest, a World Bank official said that the Indus Waters Treaty was essential for India and Pakistan to address the water management challenges.

The Indus Waters Treaty is a profoundly important international agreement that provides an essential cooperative framework for India and Pakistan to address current and future challenges of effective water management to meet human needs and achieve development goals, PTI quoted a World Bank spokesperson as saying.

The meetings are discussing concerns raised by the Pakistan delegation and opportunities within the treaty to seek an amicable resolution, the spokesperson said.

Islamabad had been raising objections over the design of the hydel project, saying it is not in line with the criteria laid down under the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) between the two countries. But, India says the project design was well within parameters of the treaty.

The project, located at Bandipore in North Kashmir, envisages diversion of water of Kishan Ganga River to underground power house through a 23.25-km-long headrace tunnel to generate 1713 million units per annum.

(With inputs from agencies)

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
New Delhi:

When the prospect of a hung assembly loomed large over the horizon on election eve in Karnataka, it was speculated on the basis of preferences that while Deve Gowda was keen on an alliance with the Congress if there was a hung House, his son HD Kumaraswamy tended to prefer the BJP.

However, as results came pouring in, the issue was settled on the basis of pure and simple expediency. The BJP was not prepared to play second fiddle to Kumaraswamy while the Congress, desperate to stay in power to prove the prophets of doom wrong, was ready to offer chief ministership to him on a platter in a Congress-Janata Dal (Secular) coalition.

For Kumaraswamy, the choice was crystal clearhe wanted the coveted chair and was all set to bite the Congress bait. For him, dumping the BJP was a decision he took without batting an eyelid.

During the electoral campaign, Kumaraswamy had breathed fire especially on the Congress which in turn called his outfit the B team of the BJP. Just as the BJP was soft on the JD-S, there was due reciprocity from Kumaraswamy. But the irresistible bait changed all that.

Overnight, Kumaraswamy got reminded of the Congress secular credentials and of the BJP being a communal party.

History has been instrumental in fuelling suspicion on both sides. The Congress and the JD-S had forged an alliance and formed a coalition in 2004 led by Congress Dharam Singh when the BJP had won the single largest number of seats, but 20 months down the line, the alliance was in tatters as Kumaraswamy walked out of it and tied up with the BJP when he was offered chief ministership on a rotational scheme.

However, when time came for the BJP to head the government, Kumaraswamy backed out of the rotational deal bringing the coalition hurtling down. The deputy chief minister then was Yeddyurappa who was denied a shot at power when his turn came.

"The Congress did not fulfill many promises and we had to dump them," India Today quoted Kumaraswamy as saying then. In protest, Deve Gowda resigned as the JD-S national president.

This time around, while the JD-S had its way with chief ministership, the Congress is extracting its pound of flesh, having pushed Kumaraswamy into conceding 22 ministerial berths to the Congress, keeping only 12 to itself and appropriating the key posts of deputy chief minister and Speaker of the Assembly.

For now, the JD-S has caved in, accepting all that Sonia Gandhi and Rahul asked for on Malikarjuna Kharges goading. But will Kumaraswamy not begin to flex his muscles in due course?

Crucial vote banks of the two parties will also start demanding a greater share in power. While Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara is a Dalit, the Muslims are seeking cabinet berths and so are the Lingayats. Where it will all end is anybodys guess.

The BJP, led by Yeddyurappa, is waiting to take revenge but he knows only too well that the time is not opportune to destabilise the Kumaraswamy government. There are bound to be crossed lines between the Congress and the JD-S in due course. In fact, that is inherent in the very nature of their relationship.

While the survival of the coalition would be imperative in the one year that remains before the Lok Sabha elections, there is no guarantee that the glue would hold much beyond that. Besides, the coalition partners may be bent upon survival in the short run but what stops individual legislators to get lured into quitting their seats in quest of a better deal from the BJP. So insecure is the coalition that the entire herd of the Congress and the JD-S is being held in virtual captivity even now in anticipation of the trust vote on Thursday.
New Delhi:

A day after 11 people lost their lives, another person was killed in fresh police firing on anti-Sterlite plant agitators in Tamil Nadus Tuticorin town on Wednesday. Angered over Tuesdays killings, locals took to streets and started pelting stones at security personnel, prompting police to open fire at Anna Nagar, officials said.

Earlier on Tuesday, 11 people, including a girl, were killed and several others injured after police opened fire at protesters demanding the closure of Vedantas Sterlite Copper unit.

The residents of Tuticorin were protesting for over 100 days demanding the closure of the Sterlite Copper unit. They alleged that the plant was polluting groundwater and causing serious health issues. Sterlite Copper is a unit of Vedanta Limited which operates a 400,000-tonne per annum capacity plant in Tuticorin. The protests escalated after the company announced the expansion of the unit.

Updates:

#03:55 PM: One person killed, three injured in fresh violence: Enraged over Tuesday's killings, the protesters started hurling stones at police, prompting them to open fire. A man was killed and three others injured in fresh police firing.

#SterliteProtests: One person dead, 3 injured in fresh violence at Anna Nagar in #Thoothukudi pic.twitter.com/SJS3fFgTaI  ANI (@ANI) May 23, 2018

#03:45 PM: Protestors set police buses on fire: Two police buses parked in a residential neighbourhood were set on fire by the agitators. While the fire was extinguished in one vehicle, another was gutted completely. (PTI)

# 03:30 PM: Madras HC stays expansion of Sterlite plant: In view of the violent situation over Vedanta's Sterlite plant in Tamil Nadu's Tuticorin that has claimed several lives, the Madurai bench of the Madras High Court on Wednesday stayed the ongoing construction of a new copper smelter by the company.

#02:30 PM: DMK compares Tuticorin killings with Punjab's Jallianwalla Bagh: The Opposition Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) came out strongly against the killings of protesters in police firing and compared the incident with Punjab's Jallianwalla Bagh massacre by the British, which took place nearly a hundred years ago.

"A recent survey shows that maximum protests happen in Tamil Nadu. That's because of the inefficiency of the government. This is a Jallianwallah Bagh type of massacre. The government should pack up and go," DMK leader Sarvanan said.

# 02:15 PM: Kamal Haasan visits Tuticorin: Actor-turned-politician and Makkal Needhi Maiam chief Kamal Haasan on Wednesday visited General Hospital in Thoothukudi (Tuticorin) to meet the protesters injured in the police firing.

"We must know who ordered this firing. It is not me but the victims who are demanding this. Merely announcing compensation isn't a solution. This industry must be shut and this is what people are demanding," Haasan said after meeting the injured.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
New Delhi:

The Kerala government on Wednesday announced a government job to the husband of the nurse who died after contracting Nipah virus from her patients, and Rs 10 lakh each to two of their children.

The government announced the decision after a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in Thiruvananthapuram over the death of nurse Lini Puthussery and the critical situation prevailing in the state.

Linis husband, Sajeesh, will be offered a government job based on his qualifications. Their two children, aged five and two, will be given Rs 10 lakh each from the chief ministers relief fund, a government press release said.

According to the statement, of the amounts sanctioned for Linis children, Rs 5 lakh each will be deposited in their bank accounts. The remaining Rs 5 lakh each will be deposited in such a manner that the interest amounts can be utilised by the guardian for the needs of the children.

The government also decided to give Rs 5 lakh each to the next of kin of the nine others who have lost their lives to Nipah.

Lini, who was working in the Perambra Taluk hospital, had contracted the deadly virus from her patients who had sought treatment at the hospital. Sajeesh, who was working in Bahrain, rushed to Perambra on hearing about her illness, two days before her death.

Before her death, Lini had scribbled an emotional last letter to Sajeesh that went viral in social media.

I am almost on the way. I do not think I can meet you. You should look after our children well, Lini wrote.

Initially, three patients of a family from Soopykada village in Permabra was admitted at the Perambra taluk hospital for treatment, where Lini was a nurse.

So far, the virus has claimed 10 lives in Kozhikode and Malappuram districts. Two more persons, who died of high fever recently, are suspected to have contracted the virus.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
New Delhi:

The abrupt decision by US President Donald Trump to abort a much-anticipated meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un scheduled in Singapore on could well mean the return of heightened tension between the countries and consequently in the world at large. As it transpires, Trump and Kim are both impulsive and unpredictable.



When the two highly combustible leaders chose to meet amid a lot of muscle-flexing and sabre-rattling, the world heaved a sigh of relief. There were sceptics like Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe who feared that Kim would back off but yet, the world was bracing up to the historic summit, expecting a breakthrough.



Whether the failure of the process of forging workable ties will lead to renewed tension again, only time will tell. For now, a military confrontation on the Korean peninsula cannot be ruled out if the escalation is not halted.



The tone of the two countries had been broadly conciliatory until there were intemperate statements made by a North Korean official who disparaged US Vice-President Pence and warned of a nuclear showdown if the US did not alter the tone ahead of the summit. Less than 12 hours later, Trump pulled out of the proposed summit in a typical show of bloated ego and misplaced bravado.



Trump made it a point to warn Kim that he oversees a nuclear weapons arsenal that is so massive and powerful that I pray to God they will never have to be used. But significantly, the US President left the door open for future negotiations tempering his muscle-flexing with a show of regret that the summit had not come about. The North Koreans too reciprocated by saying that it was not all over.



A senior White House official pointed out that Trumps aim was to remind the young dictator of the real balance of power, rubbing it in that Kim was a lesser mortal. Such pin-pricks will continue in the future and if there is to be any tangible headway, both sides will have to go some way forward. Knee-jerk reactions like that of Trump in this case cannot lead anywhere. A lot of rhetoric is for local effect and the sooner both sides accept this the better it would be.



The US side was justifiably resentful that North Korea failed to show up for a key logistical planning meeting with a US delegation in Singapore last month without Pyongyang offering any communication.



Trump and his aides have blamed Beijing for influencing Kim in recent weeks to take a harder line, souring relations ahead of the summit. But the impact of the cancellation of talks will be most felt in Seoul with the recent bonhomie that had been achieved in an atmosphere of perceptible thawing between the two Koreas.



The Chinese intrinsically had a mixed feeling on better US-North Korea relations more so because at present 90 per cent of North Korean trade is with China and any improvement in ties could reduce that share considerably if US-North Korean trade ties resume.



Trumps decision to call off the summit came on the same day that North Korea announced that it had followed through on a pledge to destroy its underground nuclear testing facilities, though White House officials said the action could not be verified because Pyongyang did not admit international nuclear security experts to the site.



US national security adviser John Boltons suggestion, echoed by Pence, that North Korea must relinquish its nuclear programme completely before receiving reciprocal benefits from the United States  a situation he compared to Libyas actions in 2003  had inspired fierce denunciations from Kims aides over the past two weeks.



Criticism of Trump on the lines that his hasty jump into a poorly thought-out summit process had left the US in a weakened position is bound to intensify in coming days internally. One can only hope that better sense would prevail and that the situation will not be allowed to worsen between the leaders who are past-masters in brinkmanship.
Berlin:

The German government approved a draft law that paves the way for energy giants RWE and Vattenfall to receive hundreds of millions of euros in compensation for the country's decision to phase out nuclear power.



The exact sum has yet to be determined but the environment ministry said the amount was unlikely to surpass a billion euros (USD 1.2 billion).



The draft law will bring Germany into compliance with a 2016 court ruling that found energy suppliers had a right to financial compensation over Chancellor Angela Merkel's U-turn on nuclear energy.



Merkel's government, which had earlier championed atomic power, decided in the wake of Japan's 2011 Fukushima disaster to immediately close eight of Germany's oldest nuclear plants and to shutter the other nine by 2022.



German utility RWE and Swedish firm Vattenfall then sued the government, arguing that they deserved damages for the investments they had made in their power plants and the lost income they would suffer as a result of the policy reversal.



Although Germany's constitutional court found that the government did nothing illegal, it agreed with the utilities that they should receive "appropriate" compensation, which national legislation at the time did not provide for.



Environment ministry spokesman Stephan Gabriel Haufe told reporters that the draft law cleared up the remaining "uncertainties".



"The main message is that we have a court ruling that found that this energy exit is constitutional," he said.



It will take until 2023 for the total bill to be calculated, he said, based on estimates of future electricity prices and investments made by the two companies.



The final amount is likely to be in the "upper three-digit-million euros range", according to the draft proposal, which still requires parliamentary approval.

For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
New Delhi:

The death toll due to the deadly Nipah Virus in Kerala rose to 10 on Tuesday, while two more people undergoing treatment were in critical condition, the state government said.

All the deaths were reported in Kozhikode and Malappuram districts of north Kerala and the state government had informed the World Health Organisation (WHO) about the outbreak.

Two personsRajan and Ashokan, who were undergoing treatment at Kozhikode, died this morning, have been confirmed to have contracted the virus. A nursing assistant, Lini, who died Monday had also contracted the virus, PTI quoted state Health Minister KK Shylaja as saying.

The health minister informed that so far, 12 people have been tested positive for the virus, of which 10 have died. Two deaths reported on May 20 from MalappuramSindhu and Sijitha, have tested positive for Nipah virus.

The two had come to Kozhikode Medical College Hospital for treatment and had been in touch with one of the infected persons who had died of the virus, the minister said.

Union Health Minister JP Nadda had enquired about the situation in the state and promised all the possible help from the central government, she said.

The Centre has rushed teams of National Centre for Disease -Control (NCDC), National Institute of Virology and Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme to contain the outbreak of Nipah Virus.

What is Nipah Virus?

The deadly Nipah virus, which broke out in Kerala, is a new emerging zoonosis that causes severe disease in both animals and humans, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Also known as NiV, the Nipah virus is an acute respiratory syndrome and fatal encephalitis which is found in horses, pigs, fruit bats and humans.

The Virus was named after the Malaysian village Kampung Sungai Nipah, where it was first discovered in pigs in 1998. The NiV is related to the Hendra Virus and is caused by an RNA virus of the family Paramyxoviridae, genus Henipavirus.

In 2014, the virus was diagnosed in humans in Bangladesh after they consumed date palm sap that was contaminated by infected fruit bats.

Click Here To Know Symptoms And Treatment Of Nipah Virus

(With inputs from agencies)

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
Bengaluru:

Berth pangs of ministerial aspirants from the Janata Dal-Secular and more important, the Congress, have thrown in an element of built-in instability into the HD Kumaraswamy government to be sworn in on Wednesday on the footsteps of then imposing and majestic Karnataka Vidhan Soudha at 4.30 pm.



With the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) still smarting under the defeat inflicted by a determined Congress and the JD-S that frustrated all attempts by the BJP to shore up its numbers, the BJP is watching the developing political situation and the plight of the Congress leadership in trying to assuage the sentiments and fulfil the aspirations of different groupings.



With the tallest Lingayat leader, BS Yeddyurappa in its ranks, the BJP is banking on the Lingayat MLAs of the Congress to put pressure on the leadership of the Congress and make impossible demands, so that the party cracked.



On Wednesday, Kumaraswamy is expected to be sworn in with a small cabinet, so that hope of ministerial positions keeps the MLAs under check till after the trust vote is successfully negotiated in the assembly on Thursday. As per the power sharing formula being worked out by the leaders of the JD-S and Karnataka Congress leaders, the Speakers post will go to the Congress.



The name of the Congress man of the moment, DK Shivakumar, is being spoken about in Congress circles for the post which will be the most crucial in running the house with the numbers in such a precarious position for the ruling as well as the opposition party. Since the role of the Speaker is going to be very crucial, the Congress which is backing the smaller JD-S for the CM post insisted that it got the speakers post.



There is, however, no clarity on whether the JD-S has agreed to hand over plus portfolios of revenue, finance and home that the Congress was demanding. As if this power-sharing problem was not enough, it is now besieged with demands from the minority community MLAs, who are now seeking respectable accommodation.



What the minority community leaders are demanding is the post of the deputy chief minister for the senior most Muslim MLA like Roshan Baig. There are only seven Muslim MLAs who have won from the Congress ticket and none from the JD(D). But since the minority community has been supporting the Congress for a long time and has never got its due rewards, this time around the issue must be addressed with respectable post for our member, said Abdul Rashid, a minority community leader.



We work day and night and fight to ensure the victory of secular forces but are ignored when it came to giving power to the community, Rashid said.



The pulls and pressures from different MLAs and groupings, working on both the JD-S and the Congress, are keeping the leaders also guessing about the trust vote that the Kumaraswamy government will be taking in the assembly on Thursday, as announced.



Then there are MLAs belonging to the Veerashaiva Lingayat sect, whose youthful leader Mahesh Kumar is trying to break the Lingayat MLAs of the Congress and JD-S to back Yeddyurappa and not the Congress that had tried to divide the Lingayat community and weakened it considerably.



The Kumaraswamy government has the support of 117 MLAs and on paper is well ahead of the halfway mark of 112 in a 221-member house. Three seats are vacant. But, neither the Congress nor the JD-S are sure of their own MLAs and for this reason they are still under lock and key of their minders.



On Tuesday, Congress leader Shivakumar was having a one-on-one meeting with all the party MLAs at the Hilton hotel to read their mind as also to impress upon them the need for unity and trust at this juncture when the big picture idea was to stop the communal forces, a senior Congress MLA said.



But political analysts see an unstable arrangement between the Congress and the JD-S though former prime minister HD Deve Gowda, his son and CM-elect Kumaraswamy, Congress president Rahul Gandhi and former Congress chief Sonia Gandhi have declared that the alliance would continue into the general elections and after that as well. Although the new friendship appears to last, the duo must guard against a BJP that will be waiting for even a small opportunity to unseat the combine from power.



The resolve of the leadership of the two parties, if not shared by its MLAs, can put the government in danger and can destroy the best laid plans of the two parties for the 2019 general elections to the Lok Sabha.
New Delhi:

The abortive attempt to impeach the Chief Justice of India has come a cropper but not before it besmirched the reputation of the judiciary which had survived assaults on institutions under successive regimes at the Centre.

The institutions credibility has suffered a major blow not least because the Congress party, supported by the Left and some other opposition parties, chose to drag its fair name into public domain and some lawyers thought nothing of casting aspersions and attributing motives to CJI Dipak Misra who too proved unequal to the task of protecting the reputation of the highest court of the land.

With two Congress MPs withdrawing their petition to challenge Vice-President Venkaiah Naidus order rejecting the impeachment motion, the curtain has come down on the impeachment plea but the whole drama has left a rank bad taste all around.

Murmurs of disenchantment with the CJI continue and the open verbal defiance of the high office is hitting at the roots of the hallowed institution.

Doubts have crept into the minds of people whether the judiciary is being credited with too much profoundness and wisdomwhether it is as infallible as it is made out to be especially when four of its senior-most judges publicly question the sense of propriety of their chief as was done recently.

Naidu had on April 23 last rejected the notice, given by seven Opposition parties led by the Congress for the removal of the CJI on five grounds of 'misbehaviour'.

This was the first time that an impeachment notice was filed against a sitting CJI. The damage that has been done to the institution by the move for impeachment is incalculable and grave.

The parties that pressed the impeachment move were all along fully aware that in terms of numbers they did not have a ghost of a chance of impeaching the CJI, but they chose to ignore that home-truth. They had the support of 64 members of Parliament while what is required is a two-thirds majority support in both Houses of Parliament.

No judge has been impeached in Indias history and to make a big thing of the seemingly trivial charges of misconduct against him was preposterous indeed.

Senior lawyers Kapil Sibal and Prashant Bhushan contributed greatly to the fiasco that ensued with their ill-thought-out, partisan and myopic conduct. The manner in which they dragged the Chief Justices name into what can only be interpreted as mud did little credit to them and to the institution.

There could not have been a worse cause for the Congress and its allies to take up but egged on by an upstart of a president, Rahul Gandhi, the party soldiered on.

Many legal luminaries tried to make the Opposition see reason but to no avail.

The controversy over who constituted the bench that sought to go into the question of the legality or otherwise of the Vice-Presidents action in rejecting the impeachment move seemed to have caught the CJI on the wrong foot.

Considering that Justice Misra was at the centre of the impeachment controversy, was it morally right for him to have constituted the bench to go into the legality of the impeachment plea? There has been no clear answer whether it was indeed he who constituted the bench but no refusal either.

The CJI was in a bind because the four senior-most judges of the apex court immediately below him had, through a media conference earlier, sought to question his propriety in constituting benches in important cases, keeping them out. The CJIs prerogative of constituting benches as per his will had been duly established through earlier case but his action in constituting the bench in his own impeachment case was deemed to be questionable.

The CJI has less than four months before he retires. Will his retirement restore the majesty of the Supreme Court or will things deteriorate further is a moot question that confronts the country.
Bengaluru:

What may have denied the BJP its full-fledged royal victory is the wrath of the scorned Andhraite who got brethren in Karnataka to avenge by defeating the party that short changed Andhra Pradesh and left it begging for funds.

The BJP and its leaders are loath to admit it, but the traditional campaign of the Telugu-speaking people and leaders of Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and the Congress from neighbouring Andhra Pradesh among the Telugu-speaking voters in Karnataka hit the target. It inflicted defeat in some crucial and very closely contested seats and frustrated the BJP and its powerful electoral machinery. The BJP ended with 104 seats, eight seats short of the magic number.

In Bangalore itself, the BJP could have won more seats, at least six more, but its chances were put paid by the anger of the Telugu-speaking voter, who was organised into fighting the enemy  Modi government for slighting the Andhraites and denying justice on a host of issues. The TDP and its local unit in Karnataka ran a spirited campaign and supported the Congress, in tune with the political belief that an enemys enemy is a friend. Besides, in Raichur or Kolar or Chikkalballapur areas too, the sizeable Telugu speaking voters had made a significant dent in BJPs chances. In closely fought contests, even a few hundred votes made a difference between victory and loss and that showed in the final tally.

Mohan Chowdary, president, Karnataka Telugu Sanghala Aikya Vedika (United forum of Telugu associations of Karnataka) a confederation of some 20 active cultural and social associations, took upon a political role and campaigned to the best of their ability to defeat the BJP. We held street meetings of association members, worked the phones and used the social media to spread the message, to teach a lesson to the party that betrayed Andhra Pradesh, Chowdary said.

The main issue was the denial of special category status to Andhra Pradesh that left little funds for building the new state from a scratch, so to speak, and absolutely no funds to build a new capital city, he said. In fact, AP Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu was contemplating crowd funding to get funds to build the state and the response from the Telugu-speaking diaspora is encouraging.

Although Chandrababu Naidu himself did not campaign in Karnataka, he sent key campaigners to whip the Telugu pride among the people with an Andhra-connect.

More effective was the role played by the IT Employees Forum. Techies hailing from Andhra Pradesh as well as Telangana joined hands to mount a social media campaign to highlight the step-motherly treatment the BJP-led central government was giving to Andhra Pradesh.

Issues were aplenty, said Kameswara Rao, a private sector IT employee, citing the denial of special category status to Andhra Pradesh, insufficient funds to build new capital city of Amaravati, denial of separate railway zone for Vishakapatnam. More firepower on these issues was provided, ironically by the Congress leaders Raghuveera Reddy and Madhu Yakshi Gaud, who toured the state many times.

Then there was Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister KE Krishnamurthy, who even though was on a personal trip, appealed to the people not to vote for the BJP.

BJP leaders refuse to acknowledge this as one of the factors that could have made the difference between the tantalisingly close to majority but too far from the number to form the government and an outright victory that the party seemed marching with solid leads established in 120 seats by noon.

But we pulled them back to 101, crowed Chaudary, claiming some of the claim for stopping the BJP.

Political analysts, however, are not ready to buy this argument, saying there was no empirical evidence of the same.

Shastri, political analyst and pro-vice chancellor of the Jain University said, There is no empirical evidence of such an occurrence of Telugu anger, which is not visible even in Andhra Pradesh. The basic premise of this Telugu anger is something that I do not accept.

But the Telugu-speaking populace was gloating over the BJP defeat that in many associations, there were celebrations after BS Yeddyurappa announced his resignation in the assembly on Saturday.

We had worked very hard, said the president of the forum of associations. There are at least 40 assembly seats which have a sizeable Telugu-speaking population. Veera Kanakamedala, chief of the Bengaluru TDP Forum, said, It was only natural for us to work to defeat the BJP after it cheated Andhra Pradesh.
New Delhi:

Begging at public and religious places in Srinagar has been banned and the police directed to arrest the offenders, according to a new order by the Jammu and Kashmir government.

"Begging being an offence under the Act (Jammu and Kashmir Prevention of Beggary Act I960), it is imperative that strict necessary action under law be initiated against the offenders," the government said in a statement.

Deputy Commissioner of Srinagar Syed Abid Rasheed Shah issued the order on Wednesday.

Srinagar being the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir holds a great importance in the socio-economic landscape of the state and so it is contingent upon the administration to take all measures necessary to make the district more citizen friendly and to prevent public nuisance at all costs, the order stated.

"It has been observed that off late there is a proliferation of beggars on the streets of Srinagar which creates massive nuisance for the general public," The deputy commissioner said.

The order stated that any person found soliciting alms in a public place, or in or about a mosque, temple or other place of public worship, whether or not under any pretense and entering on any private premises for the purpose of soliciting alms shall be immediately arrested under Section 4 of the Jammu and Kashmir Prevention of Beggary Act, 1960 read with Section 61 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, Svt 1989.

Those exposing or exhibiting with the object of obtaining or extorting alms, any sore, wound, injury, deformity or disease whether of human being or an animal shall also be arrested, it said.

"Also, any person found having no visible means of subsistence and wandering about or remaining in any public place or in a temple, mosque or other place of public worship in such condition or manner as makes it like that the person doing so exists by soliciting alms or allowing himself to be used as an exhibit for the purpose of soliciting alms, does not include soliciting money or fee or gift for a purpose authorized by law or authorized in the prescribed manner by the District Magistrate, shall also be arrested," the order read.

The deputy commissioner has directed senior superintendents of police, Srinagar and Budgam, to implement the order in letter and spirit and report the number of such arrests on a daily basis.

(With inputs from agencies)

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
New Delhi:

The ongoing violence in Tamil Nadus Tuticorin has claimed the lives of at least 13 people, who had demanded the closure of Vedantas Sterlite Copper unit. Over 70 people have been injured while clashing with the security personnel. They are currently undergoing medical treatment.

The state government has directed the District Collector of Thoothukudi to disconnect power supply to the Sterlite Coppers smelter. The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board found the unit was carrying out activities to resume the production despite being asked not to do so until the license to operate was renewed.

The Tamil Nadu government on Wednesday had ordered the suspension of the internet services in Tuticorin and adjoining districts of Kanyakumari and Tirunelveli for five days to help bring public tranquillity and also stop the spread of rumours through social media.

The situation in Tuticorin remained tensed and people were unable to get basic commodities like milk as shops closed their shutters for the third consecutive day.

Stalin demands CM Palaniswami's resignation

Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) working president MK Stalin sat on a protest outside Tamil Nadu secretariat and demanded the immediate resignation of Chief Minister K Palaniswami and DGP Rajendran over the killings.

"CM has become ineffective. He did not bother to visit the dist & meet the people. Therefore, we demand that CM must resign immediately, DGP Rajendran must resign too," ANI quoted Stalin as saying.

Earlier on Tuesday, 11 people, including a girl, were killed and several others injured after police opened fire at protesters demanding the closure of Vedantas Sterlite Copper unit.

On Wednesday, angered over the killings, locals took to streets and started pelting stones at security personnel, prompting police to open fire at Anna Nagar. One person was killed in the firing and three others injured. One of the injured later succumbed to the injuries, taking the death toll to 13.

The residents of Tuticorin were protesting for over 100 days demanding the closure of the Sterlite Copper unit. They alleged that the plant was polluting groundwater and causing serious health issues.



DMK, allies call dawn-to-dusk bandh on May 25

Meanwhile, the DMK and other opposition parties in Tamil Nadu called for a dawn-to-dusk statewide bandh on Friday over the killings of 13 people in Tuticorin police firing.

"The DMK, the All India National Congress, the Dravidar Kazhagam, the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, the CPI, the CPI(M), the Indian Union Muslim League, the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi and the Manithaneya Makkal Katchi will participate in the day-long statewide protest," DMK said in a statement.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
New Delhi:

The prices of petrol and diesel continued to skyrocket on the 11th straight day and touched an all-time high on Thursday. In Mumbai, the petrol was being sold at Rs 85.29 per litre, while in Delhi the price rose to a new record of Rs 77.47 per litre.

The diesel also breached all records and touched a new high of Rs 72.96 per litre in Mumbai and Rs 68.53 in national capital.

Meanwhile, the Modi government, which came in power with the promise of cheap fuel prices among many others, seems to have given up to the fuel crisis prevailing in the country.

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Wednesday said that the rise in the fuel prices was unavoidable and subsidising petrol and diesel will take away the money from social welfare schemes.

This is an unavoidable, economic situation. It is directly linked to the global economy. If we have to sell it (petrol/diesel) cheap, it means we will have to buy it at higher prices and subsidise it here, the Indian Express quoted Gadkari as saying.

Congress takes horse-carriage ride to protest rising fuel prices

To protest the skyrocketing fuel prices, members of the opposition Congress on Thursday travelled in a horse-drawn carriage in the Panaji city of Goa. During the protest, which lasted for about an hour, the Congress members went around the district collectorate in the horse carriage.

Goa Pradesh Congress Committee chief Girish Chodankar, Leader of Opposition in state Assembly Chandrakant Kavlekar, former chief minister Digambar Kamat, Congress legislative party spokesman Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco were some of the leaders who took a ride in the carriage.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
New Delhi:

BS Yeddyurappas three-day tenure as the Karnataka chief minister has turned out to be one of the shortest in Indian history.

The 75-year old BJP leader was sworn in as CM of Karnataka on 17 May, and resigned before facing a floor test on Saturday as ordered by the Supreme Court.

The BJP veterans initiation to the league of chief ministers with tenures of a few days, however happened over a decade ago. In 2007, Yeddyurappa had to resign as the chief minister of Karnataka after just eight days in charge.

Jagdambika Pal held the shortest tenure as the chief minister in Uttar Pradesh in 1998. Pal was sworn in as the CM late at night on February 21, after the Kalyan Singh government was dismissed. The decision was later reversed by the high court the next morning, leading him to be dubbed as the one-day CM.

Bihars Satish Prasad Singh was made an interim chief minister for only five days from 28 January to 1 February in 1968. He had brought the Congress back to the power in the state by defeating Jana Kranti Dal government.

BP Mandal, who succeeded Singh, could hold on to the post for a mere 31 days.

Whereas in Haryana, Om Prakash Chautala had served as the chief minister for a period of five days in July 1990 and for 14 days in 1991.

In Meghalaya, veteran Congress leader SC Marak remained in power for just 13 days in 1998.

After the demise of MG Ramachandran in Tamil Nadu, her widow Janaki Ramachandran had a tenure of 23 days as the CM in January 1988.

In Kerala. Indian Union Muslim League leader CH Mohammad Koya could hold on to the post of chief minister for 45 days in 1979. He was the shortest serving CM of the state and the only Muslim one.
New Delhi:

In yet another major achievement, India on Monday successfully test-fired BrahMos supersonic cruise missile from test range along Odisha coast, according to Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) officials.

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman congratulated DRDO scientists and team BrahMos for the successful launch of BrahMos missile with new technology on Monday.

"Smt @nsitharaman congratulates Team Brahmos & @DRDO_India for successful flight test carried out at 1040 hrs on 21 May 2018 from ITR, Balasore to validate BRAHMOS missile life extension technologies developed for the first time in India," Sitharaman's office wrote in a Twitter post.

Smt @nsitharaman congratulates Team Brahmos & @DRDO_India for successful flight test carried out at 1040 hrs on 21 May 2018 from ITR, Balasore to validate BRAHMOS missile life extension technologies developed for the first time in India. 1/2  Raksha Mantri (@DefenceMinIndia) May 21, 2018

Earlier, on March 22, the supersonic cruise missile was successfully launched with an indigenous seeker at Pokhran test range in Rajasthan.

Read | DRDO successfully carries out test flight of Rustom-2 drone

The range of the missile can be extended up to 400 km as certain technical restrictions were lifted after India became a full member of the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) last year.

BrahMos is a joint venture between DRDO of India and NPO Mashinostroyenia (NPOM) of Russia. The missile is the heaviest weapon to be deployed on India's Su-30 fighter aircraft.

The Indo-Russia joint venture, which currently travels at mach 2.8 or 2.8 times the speed of sound, will have to be tinkered to achieve mach 5 in the next three years.

Read | India successfully test fires nuclear-capable 'Dhanush' ballistic missile from Odisha coast

Work has already begun to integrate the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile on 40 Sukhoi combat aircraft which is expected to fulfil the critical needs of the Indian Air Force in the wake of evolving security dynamics in the region.

(With inputs from agencies)

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
New Delhi:

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking his intervention in ensuring sufficient water supply from Haryana as the national capital stares at a possible water crisis next week.

In his letter to the prime minister, Kejriwal said the city had been receiving 1,133 cusecs of water from Haryana since 1996, but recently, for the first time in 22 years, the neighbouring state had contested Delhi's right over this water and partially stopped the supply to the national capital.

"The Supreme Court has directed Haryana to keep supplying the earlier quantity of water till May 21, which means the state could reduce water supply after Monday," he said.

If that happens, it would create an "unprecedented shortage of water" in Delhi and could lead to a "serious" law and order situation, the chief minister said.

"I would urge you (PM) to kindly use your good offices to persuade Haryana to continue supplying same level of water that it has been supplying for the last 22 years and not to disrupt it till the issue is finally decided by the courts," Kejriwal said in the letter.

In a letter to Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal, the chief minister said, "Just two days are left, we need to act fast to prevent a crisis."

Baijal told Kejriwal that he had taken up the issue with different agencies to ensure adequate water supply in Delhi.

"I have taken up the matter with Govt. of Haryana and Union Ministry of Water Resources, Govt. of India so that adequate water supply is ensured for people of Delhi - Hon'ble CM @ArvindKejriwal," Baijal tweeted.

Kejriwal had on Thursday written to his Haryana counterpart Manohar Lal Khattar and the Delhi L-G over the issue.

The Haryana government had on Wednesday told the Supreme Court that it would maintain status quo on supply of Yamuna river water to Delhi till May 21.

The apex court asked the Delhi government and the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) to request Haryana for maintenance of status quo on water supply and directed Haryana to take an independent decision on the matter.

In his letter to Modi, Kejriwal said disruption in water supply from Haryana could affect the Chandrawal water treatment plan, which supplies water to the NDMC area where Rashtrapati Bhavan, Parliament, embassies and major establishments like railway stations and hospitals are located.

"In addition to affecting the public at large, any disruption in water supply would affect all these establishments also.

"The Delhi government has already filed an application before the Upper Yamuna River Board. However, final adjudication by the board could take some time," Kejriwal said.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
New Delhi:

After days of intense political hustling along with the judiciary by the Congress-Janata Dal-Secular combine and the BJP over the government formation in Karnataka, the newly sworn-in Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa resigned on Saturday without facing the floor test scheduled at 4pm on Saturday.

"I am going to resign as chief minister....I will go to Raj Bhavan and submit my resignation," Yeddyurappa said two days after donning the mantle of the state chief minister.

"I will not face confidence vote....I am going to resign," he told the Assembly after a brief emotional speech in the floor of the house that he would now "go to the people".

Yeddyurappa's resignation now paves the way for formation of a government led by JD(S) state chief HD Kumaraswamy, who is backed by the Congress. The newly formed alliance has claimed support of 117 MLAs in the 223-member House with an strength of 221.

Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa moved the motion seeking a vote of confidence of the Karnataka Assembly in his government.



The Supreme Court on Friday ordered a floor test in the Karnataka Assembly at 4 PM , drastically slashing the 15-day window given by Governor Vajubhai Vala to BJP Chief Minister Yeddyurappa to prove his majority.



"Let the House decide and the best course would be floor test," a three-judge bench headed by Justice A K Sikri said, while noting that ultimately the question was about a majority which has to be proved on the floor of the House.

The BJP was eight seats short of the majority mark (112) while the Congress-JD-S coalition claimed to have the support of 116 members in the Karnataka Assembly.

The apex court decision was taken hours after the Congress-JD-S combine moved the SC, challenging Governor Vajhubhai Vala's controversial invitation to BS Yeddyurappa to form the BJP government in the state. The Congress-JD-S alliance termed Karnataka governor's invite to Yeddyurappa 'an encounter of the constitution'.

Yeddyurappa's swearing-in ceremony took place after a three-judge bench of the Supreme Court refused to stay Vala's invitation to Yeddyurappa in a pre-dawn hearing on Thursday.
DUBLIN: The country of Western Europe, IRELAND has witnessed a sharp increase in travel-related Covid-19 cases, and according to a public health official statement. Ronan Glynn, deputy chief medical officer of the Irish Department of Health, said on Thursday that over 800 cases reported in the country over the last fortnight were related to overseas travel, the reports quoted by Xinhua.

From July 5 to 18, Ireland recorded 676 cases in people who had returned from overseas travel in the previous fortnight, including 317 people from Spain, 188 from Britain and 171 from Portugal, the health offcer said on Twitter. He advised non-vaccinated people to avoid international travel at this time when parts of Europe were witnessing a resurgence.

"People should not consider themselves fully vaccinated until two weeks after their Janssen vaccine, one week after their second Pfizer vaccine or two weeks after their second Moderna or AstraZeneca vaccine," Ronan Glynn reportedly said. Glynn's warning came at a time when Ireland has just lifted restrictions on non-essential international travel for its citizens.

On Monday, Ireland joined the rest of the European Union (EU) member countries to allow its citizens to travel freely within the bloc and some other European countries if they hold the European Union Digital COVID Certificate, a proof showing people have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19 or have recovered from the disease in the last six months.

The Department of Health on Thursday reported another 1,189 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the country, increasing the overall infection tally to 289,139. The death toll stood at 5,026.

Chinese President Xi Jinping to embark Tibetan capital Lhasa

Thailand Govt considers new incentive to woo International visitors

Intl Monetary Panel approves policy reforms to support recovery of low-income nations

Pakistan rain-connected incidents; 15 killed, 26 injured
Israel has re-imposed several Covid-related restrictions, limiting the entrance to large events, restaurants, gyms and other places only to people who have been vaccinated. Israels Coronavirus Cabinet approved the return of the "Green Pass" at events with more than 100 people, starting from Thursday, the Prime Minister's office said in a statement.

Under the "Green Pass", according to reports, only people who have been vaccinated or recovered from the disease can participate in indoor and outdoor events with more than 100 persons. The measure still needs to be approved by the government, which is expected to approve it on Sunday.

Beginning from Sunday, unvaccinated people will need to pay for coronavirus tests if they wish to get tested. Until now, coronavirus tests in Israel were offered free of charge for all Israeli citizens. The cabinet also added the UK, Georgia, Cyprus and Turkey to the list of "red" countries to which travels are banned. Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said in a statement that the recent restrictions are part of the government's plan to fight against the quickly spreading Delta variant.

Since the onset of the pandemic last year, Israel has reported 856,261 confirmed Covid cases and 6,455 deaths. About 61 percent of the country's 9.3 million citizens have been vaccinated with at least one dose, and about 56 percent with two doses.

Ireland witnessed a sharp increase in travel-related Covid-19 cases

Chinese President Xi Jinping to embark Tibetan capital Lhasa

Thailand Govt considers new incentive to woo International visitors
The Education Ministry confirmed NEET UG 2021 exam to be conducted in Dubai as well as Kuwait. Yes, for the first time, NEET (UG)-2021 examination center has been established in Dubai, in addition to the one already at Kuwait city, the ministry said.

The candidates are allowed to apply for the exam to appear from the Dubai centre online from July 23, 2021. The ministry further informs that the last date to apply for the new added exam centre in till August 6, 2021. The official site to apply is neet.nta.nic.in. The NTA NEET 2021 medical entrance exam was earlier scheduled on April 1. But now the exam to be held on September 12, 2021. NEET 2021 entrance exam is conducted in multiple languages.

T Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan on Thursday praised Prime Minister Narendra Modis decision, tweeted Good news for NEET aspirations in Dubai and Kuwait. Grateful to Hon`ble PM Shri @narendramodi Ji for allocating NEET centre in Dubai and Kuwait. This generous decision will help thousands of Indian students and their parents.

German carmaker Audi launches three electric variants SUVs in India

Rahul Gandhi conveys message to Congress workers as heavy rains caused floods in Telangana

From August 1, this bank is going to make a drastic change in its rules, directly hitting your pocket
LUCKNOW: More than 50 Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) have reportedly expressed their interest to set up industries in Uttar Pradesh. The NRIs have shown interest in investing in 15 sectors, including, among others, agriculture, health, IT, manufacturing and solar energy. 32 NRIs are already in touch with the state government to invest about Rs 1,045 crore in Noida-Greater Noida, Lucknow, Kanpur, Gorakhpur and Prayagraj.

As per reports, Uttar Pradesh has become a favourite state for both NRIs as well as foreign investors, following the efforts of the Yogi Adityanath government. The interest among NRI investors has increased in the last couple of years, especially after the launch of the website by the Chief Minister last year. The NRI section of the website has been screened by over 500 Non-Resident Indians for investing in Uttar Pradesh while NRI cards have been issued to 540 of them. More than 32 NRIs, staying in 18 countries including America, UAE, Oman, Singapore, Australia, Germany, Ghana, New Zealand, Russia, England, etc. have sent their investment proposals to the government.

According to officials, four US-based Indians as well as eight residing in the UAE and two Indians each living in Oman, Singapore and England have sent their proposals to the Government to invest in the state. As many as 13 of these NRI investors already have businesses in the countries of their residences and now they want to expand it to Uttar Pradesh as well.

The European Central Bank leaves key interest rates unchanged

PM Pension Yojana Scheme offers Rs 1.11 Lakh Per Year, Details inside

Pandemic-led Tax and cost cuts buoy India Inc net by 105 pc in FY21: SBI Report
MANILA: The Philippine govt has tightened restrictions in the community and at the borders, as the country confirmed the start of a new wave of Covid-19 infections - this time fuelled by the highly contagious Delta variant. The country will ban inbound travelers from Malaysia and Thailand from July 25 to 31 to prevent the spread of the highly infectious Covid-19 Delta variant, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said on Friday.

Roque said in a statement that travellers coming directly from the two Southeast Asian countries or with a history of travel to any of them within the last 14 days will be barred from entering. "This action is undertaken to prevent the further spread and community transmission of COVID-19 variants in the Philippines," Malaysia and Thailand are experiencing a surge believed to be driven by the Delta variant.

Roque said that returning overseas Filipino workers under the government repatriation program are exempted from the ban but will be isolated for 14 days upon arrival. The inclusion of Malaysia and Thailand brings to 10 the list of countries banned by the Philippines. Travellers from Indonesia, India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Oman and the United Arab Emirates are not allowed to enter the country until July 31. The Philippines has reported a total of 1,530,266 confirmed Covid-19 cases as of Friday, with 26,891 deaths.

Terror: Taliban kidnaps 380 Afghan civilians, killing more than 100

Pakistan Foreign Minister Qureshi to visit China today, issues possible to be discussed

Israel re-imposes several coronavirus-related restrictions
Privacy is a right protected by constitutions of all civilised countries and it has to be respected, President-elect of UN General Assembly Abdulla Shahid said on Thursday, referring to concerns arising out of the Pegasus snooping row.

Shahid, the foreign minister of the Maldives, is on a 3-day visit to India in his official capacity as the President-elect of the 76th session of the UN General Assembly. He said that the digital regime that governs digital communications is an area that needs to be seriously looked into. Privacy is a right protected by constitutions of all civilised countries and it has to be respected." He also said, "The digital privacy regime that rules digital communications is an area which needs to be seriously looked into (by the global community)," he said.On whether the issue may be discussed at the UN General Assembly, he said it is for the member nations to decide.

The alleged use of the Pegasus software to spy on journalists, human rights defenders, politicians and others in a number of countries including India triggered concerns over issues relating to privacy. Politicians, rights activists and journalists were among those targeted with phone spyware sold to various governments by an Israeli firm, according to an international media consortium. To a question on concerns over violation of human rights in various parts of the world, Shahid said.

Punjab CM Amarinder Singh to participate Sidhu's elevation ceremony tomorrow

Govt reveals statistics: 56 Air India employees died due to COVID-19

Kargil Vijay Diwas celebrations begin, music evening in memory of martyrs
Taliban: 100 people allegedly brutally killed in Spin Boldak district of Afghanistan's Kandahar province. Afghanistan's Interior Ministry is blaming the Taliban for the violence and killings. Earlier, it was said that the Taliban had captured 90 percent of Afghanistan's territories. Last week, the Taliban also attacked spin boulder district.

The loss of 100 lives has sent grief across Afghanistan. According to reports, these 100 bodies are still lying on the ground. The Taliban looted the houses of civilians after capturing them, hoisted their flags there, and brutally killed the innocents. However, the Taliban have not claimed responsibility for the deaths. He has denied any involvement in the killing of civilians. Interior Ministry spokesperson Mirwaiz Stankazai said, "At the behest of their Punjabi Akkas (Pakistan), brutal terrorists attacked the houses of innocent Afghans in some areas of Spin Boldak, looted houses, and martyred 100 innocent people. This exposes the real face of the cruel enemy.''

Last week, the Taliban captured spin boulders and then ransacked them. France 24 released video footage of the incident in which several Taliban members were seen ransacking the city, looting houses, and seizing vehicles of government officials who fled from the area. They were seen riding bikes in the market and looting the area that provides direct access to Pakistan's Balochistan province. They also hoisted Taliban flags in a house.

A gunman has opened fire outside a restaurant in an upscale area of Washington DC

No breakthrough on NI protocol after PM speaks to EU chief

Doctors were also stunned by such serious problems that provoked a cough-stricken girl to get treatment
Kathmandu, July 23

The Ministry of Health and Population has informed that the countrys Covid-19 tally has reached 730,146 as of Friday afternoon.

The ministry 2,977 new cases were confirmed in the country in the past 24 hours.

In this period, 13,698 swab samples were tested in the RT-PCR method, of which 1,982 returned positive. Likewise, 3,610 people underwent antigen tests for the virus, of which an additional 995 tested positive.

Of total tests, 14.46 per cent of the PCR and 27.56 per cent of antigen samples returned positive, keeping the overall per-day positivity rate at 17.20 per cent.

As of today, there are 27,661 active cases across the country. Of them, 2,678 are hospitalised, 682 in intensive care units and 175 on ventilators.

In the past 24 hours, 1,678 people have achieved recovery whereas 18 deaths have been reported.

Of the total cases so far, 639,368 people have achieved recovery. Likewise, 9,679 died, according to the ministry. Nepals current positivity rate is 94.5 per cent whereas the death rate is 1.5 per cent.
SYRACUSE, N.Y., July 22, 2021--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Based out of Syracuse, New York, leading manufacturing hub, 3D Ushers new instant quoting tool expedites manufacturing for plastic parts.

The tool can be accessed on 3D Ushers official website. It is the first ever to provide instant quotes for manufacturing processes including Injection Molding, Vacuum Casting, 3D printing and others.

"The tool cuts down the process from 30 days to 3 clicks. Upload your 3D file, choose the manufacturing process and material, and based on the models complexity, you have your quote instantly! Privacy and confidentiality of your data is assured, and there is no minimum quantity baseline on parts," said CTO, Dhiraj Nayak on the features of the tool.

The website offers a personalized dashboard to track manufacturing status, shipment and delivery timelines. 3D models are typically opened using paid CAD softwares. 3D Usher offers a free online 3D viewer to upload and analyze files across multiple formats, without downloading software.

"Getting multiple quotes, comparing them, and negotiating with vendors for the best prices is exhausting. Finding trustworthy quality control for manufacturing done outside the US is a concern. 3D Usher is meticulous in vendor selection and we implement stringent QC and verification. Post production quality checks are also ensured," said COO, Faizan Mehdi on the problems the tool addresses.

Gopal Krishna, CEO, 3D Usher says that the company will soon add other manufacturing processes to the tool, hinting at something bigger in the pipeline to strengthen 3D Ushers position as the go-to marketplace. "We started with manual quoting, but we aimed to reinvent the business. Hence, the instant quoting tool came about."

To learn more, visit: https://3dusher.com

About 3D Usher:

A marketplace for on-demand manufacturing, 3D Usher was founded in 2018 by three young engineers looking to address the issues of quality and lead time in the plastic parts manufacturing industry. The company has earned the trust of a wide range of customers across the globe, and continues to make life easy for their patrons with the new instant quoting tool. They raised initial capital through notable investors such as StartFast, The Center State CEO and Launch New York, and have accelerated their revenue growth by times 3 in the last 2 years, shipping to more than 1500 businesses in 20+ countries.

Story continues

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210722005519/en/

Contacts

Gopal Krishna, Info@3dusher.com, +1-808-218-8589
AMSTERDAM, July 23, 2021--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of A- (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of "a-" (Excellent) of UnipolSai Assicurazioni S.p.A. (UnipolSai) (Italy). The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable.

The ratings reflect UnipolSais balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as strong, as well as its strong operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management.

UnipolSais balance sheet strength is underpinned by risk-adjusted capitalisation, as measured by Bests Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR), which was at the strongest level at year-end 2020; AM Best expects the companys risk-adjusted capitalisation to be maintained at least at the very strong level. Factors also supporting balance sheet strength are the companys low reinsurance dependence, good internal capital generation and good financial flexibility. An offsetting factor is the concentration, albeit reduced by 8% from year end 2019, of UnipolSais investment portfolio in Italian government bonds, which exposes its risk-adjusted capitalisation to volatility. UnipolSais solvency capital requirement ratio under Solvency II was excellent at the end of Q1/2021, at 277%

The risk-adjusted capitalization level for UnipolSais holding company, Unipol Gruppo S.p.A. (Unipol Gruppo), stood at the strongest level at year-end 2020. Although it has a somewhat higher level of financial leverage than UnipolSai, the holding company is considered to have a neutral impact on the ratings.

AM Best expects UnipolSais technical performance to remain strong, driven by strong non-life insurance profitability, and for the life business, a 1.98% margin between average segregated accounts yield and average minimum guarantee (at Q1/2021). A track record of good non-life underwriting performance is demonstrated by a five-year average combined ratio of 92% (2016-2020). Non-life underwriting performance was particularly good in 2020 (a combined ratio of 85%, as calculated by AM Best) driven mainly by an improvement in motor loss experience due to lower vehicle usage, which is expected to continue into 2021. Life revenues were considerably impacted by the COVID-19 pandemics effect on the economy in 2020, but are expected to partly recover in 2021.

Story continues

UnipolSai has a leading position in Italys non-life segment, with a particularly strong position in motor. Performance is supported by the companys access to data and sophisticated pricing capabilities, as well as its extensive use of telematics applied to the non-life segment. However, the concentration of its business portfolio in Italy exposes the companys operations to any adverse changes in the economic and regulatory environment in the country.

This press release relates to Credit Ratings that have been published on AM Bests website. For all rating information relating to the release and pertinent disclosures, including details of the office responsible for issuing each of the individual ratings referenced in this release, please see AM Bests Recent Rating Activity web page. For additional information regarding the use and limitations of Credit Rating opinions, please view Guide to Bests Credit Ratings. For information on the proper use of Bests Credit Ratings, Bests Preliminary Credit Assessments and AM Best press releases, please view Guide to Proper Use of Bests Ratings & Assessments.

AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specialising in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.

Copyright  2021 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210723005359/en/

Contacts

Jose Berenguer

Financial Analyst

+31 20 308 5429

jose.berenguer@ambest.com



Dr. Angela Yeo

Senior Director, Analytics

+31 20 308 5421

angela.yeo@ambest.com



Christopher Sharkey

Manager, Public Relations

+1 908 439 2200, ext. 5159

christopher.sharkey@ambest.com



Jim Peavy

Director, Communications

+1 908 439 2200, ext. 5644

james.peavy@ambest.com
FILE PHOTO: Visitors to the BHP booth speak with representatives during the PDAC convention in Toronto

TORONTO (Reuters) -BHP Group has reached conditional agreement with a unit of Westshore Terminals Investment Corp for port services for the global miner's proposed Jansen potash mine in Canada, the terminal operator said late on Thursday, moving the project closer to fruition.

The port agreement is subject to approval by BHP's board and conditional on it moving ahead with Jansen's first phase, Westshore said in a release.

The world's biggest listed miner has estimated Jansen would cost up to $5.7 billion in its first phases.

The project in Canada's Saskatchewan province offers diversification into agricultural markets given that potash is a key element in plant nutrition that also makes crops more drought resistant.

"BHP confirms that Westshore Terminals Limited Partnership ... has signed an agreement to provide port services for the Jansen potash project in Saskatchewan," BHP said in a statement to Reuters.

Last month BHP said it would present its board with a decision on whether to move ahead with Jansen after choosing between two port options.

"If the Jansen project does proceed, the agreement requires Westshore to handle potash for BHP for a term to 2051, subject to extension," Westshore said.

Under the agreement, Vancouver-based Westshore would construct infrastructure to handle potash at Westshores Roberts Bank Terminal by 2026, with BHP funding the construction.

The pact would become binding on BHP if it announces a final decision to proceed with Jansen's first stage, Westshore said.

Westshore's Toronto-listed shares climbed as much as 38% Friday.

(Reporting by Jeff Lewis; editing by Jason Neely, Kirsten Donovan)
Former Maryland police chief Tom Manger has been selected as the new chief of the U.S. Capitol Police (USCP), per a Thursday announcement.

Why it matters: Manger will assume command on Friday, taking a role that became highly visible after the deadly Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol. The insurrection killed a USCP officer, injured several more and led to mental health challenges throughout the force.

Stay on top of the latest market trends and economic insights with Axios Markets. Subscribe for free

The department's failure to act on intelligence indicting possible violence on Jan. 6 "betrayed" its mission and was "inexcusable," the USCP union said in a statement in January.

Under the authority of acting chief Yogananda Pittman, USCP has since enhanced security around the Capitol as well as a range of reforms, including joint trainings with other law enforcement agencies and wellness initiatives.

His background: Manger, who was selected following a nationwide search, served as chief of police in Montgomery County, Maryland, and in Fairfax County, Virginia. He retired from the Montgomery County Police Department in 2019 after 15 years as chief and 42 years in the force.

Manger was president of the Major Cities Chiefs Association from 2014 to 2018.

What they're saying: "The Congress is fortunate to have a seasoned decision-maker who will lead with integrity, draw on his regional experience in strengthening partnerships with law enforcement partners, and make intelligence-based security decisions," the board said in a press release, thanking Pittman for her work during the last six months.

"Chief Mangers commitment to listening, fairness and transparency will be key in rebuilding trust amongst USCP sworn officers and civilian employees."

"I am humbled and honored to join the men and women of the US Capitol Police Department in their mission to protect the Congress, the Capitol and the federal legislative process," Manger said in a statement.

"The challenges in protecting the Capitol campus, and everyone who works or visits there, have never been more complex," he added. "The courage and dedication of the men and women of this agency were on great display on Jan. 6th."

"It is now my job to ensure that they have the resources and support to continue to fulfill their mission in an ever increasingly difficult job."

Like this article? Get more from Axios and subscribe to Axios Markets for free.
KNUTSFORD, England, July 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Alternative banking solution, Suits Me, have transformed their brand identity with a brand-new logo and website. This new facelift represents the continual growth that the six-year-old fintech has experienced in the last year, and signifies a fresher, better, and faster user experience available to all account holders.

The New Suits Me Website Displayed on a Laptop Screen

Working in partnership with brand consultants, oser, Suits Me created a new concept which better reflected their audience within the financial sector. In addition to this, Suits Me wanted to incorporate their company values into the new design, which can be seen within the vibrant 'swooshes' that appear within the logo and website.

Kim Roberts, Marketing and Communications Director, explained more about the graphic design elements that better reflect Suits Me's identity: "With a pop of energy and colour, the dynamic swoosh is created from elements of the new logo. It encapsulates how Suits Me is by your side to weave around your financial obligations, and support you in achieving your financial aspirations, regardless of whoever you are, and whatever your situation and lifestyle.

At the heart of Suits Me's rebranding strategy, they wanted to provide their account holders with a great user experience. One way they've done this is by replacing their traditional blue colour scheme with bright, gradient colours against a fresh white background that better reflects their unique and diverse customer base.

Suits Me's new tagline, "the account for everyone", represents the fintech's mission to break down the restrictive barriers that exclude people from mainstream financial products. This frequently leads to people getting trapped by the 'banking poverty premium', blocking their access to the best deals, credit products and often results in paying hundreds of pounds more a year on basic goods and services.

Matthew Sanders, CEO, spoke about the impact the rebranding will have on their 150,000+ account holders. He said: "Our customers are at the heart of what we do, and we strive to give them the best experience when it comes to navigating the world of personal finance. The rebrand is just the start of even more amazing benefits we want to give our account holders, with no additional costs attached. Some of the benefits already on offer include an exclusive cashback reward programme to help our account holders to save money, plus a multilingual customer care team so anybody can feel comfortable speaking to us in their preferred language."

Story continues

This is the start of the new, modern Suits Me, with plenty more exciting plans coming up in September and Q4 2021.

Notes to the Editor:

Snapshot of an Average Suits Me Account Holder:

65% of account holders are male

Average age: 25-34

Nationality: English, Romanian, Bulgarian, and Polish

Customer Values: Transparency, Honesty, Integrity, and Reliability

Links

Check out the new Suits Me website here: suitsmecard.com

Find out more about brand consultants, oser, here: www.oser.io

Contact

Kim Roberts

Marketing and Communications Director

kroberts@suitsmecard.com

07855503443

About Suits Me:

Suits Me are a hassle-free alternative to traditional banking, offering personal accounts with access to online banking, a mobile banking app and a contactless debit card. Suits Me was founded in 2015 to provide an account to customers who may have poor or no credit history, no proof of address, or struggle to open an account with a traditional bank.

Currently operating in Cheshire, UK, Suits Me gives people an alternative solution to a high street bank. Suits Me do not perform credit checks and provides all their account holders with access to their exclusive cashback reward programme.

For more information, go to suitsmecard.com or follow us @suitsmecard on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1579419/Suits_Me_Wesbite.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1579418/Suits_Me_Logo.jpg

Suits Me Logo

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1579419/Suits_Me_Wesbite.jpg

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1579418/Suits_Me_Logo.jpg
(Bloomberg) -- A U.S. safety regulators decision last week to sue Amazon.com Inc. could bring clarity to a question that has long befuddled courts and state legislatures nationwide: Who is responsible when a product bought from the worlds largest online retailer hurts or kills someone?

In recent years, dozens of people who say they were harmed by products, such as exploding hoverboards, defective batteries or faulty dog collars, have sued Amazon for compensation. The company argues its not liable, pointing instead to the third-party sellers that technically sold the items and are sometimes based overseas beyond the reach of U.S. jurisprudence. Several courts have agreed with Amazon, citing product liability laws that never contemplated online shopping or digital middlemen.

But last week, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission sued Amazon, seeking to compel the company to participate in formal recalls of dozens of defective products sold by merchants on its sprawling marketplace. The regulator is also seeking what would be a precedent-setting ruling that Amazon is a distributor of consumer products under federal law, a designation that would subject the company to future mandatory recalls on behalf of its sellers. Declaring Amazon a distributor would upend a commonplace tech industry defense deployed by companies from Facebook to Google, which claim they arent responsible for whats said, posted or sold on their platforms.

If CPSC wins on this, its going to be a huge deal for Amazon, says Boaz Green, a former agency staffer who now works for Neal Cohen Law advising companies that sell their products on Amazon. Product safety advocates and some in Congress have been calling for action to tame whats perceived as this Wild West, unregulated market, with all these small sellers they cant get at. But they can get at Amazon, or they can try.

A determination that Amazon is responsible for its third-party sellers would hold the company legally liable for instances where it failed to warn consumers of defective products or banned products resurfaced for sale again, potentially forcing the company to spend more time and money overseeing its web store. It would also likely increase Amazons insurance costs.

Story continues

The battle involves an oft misunderstood feature of Amazons retail empire: Most items sold on Amazon.com arent owned by the Seattle company. Technically, theyre sold by third-party sellers, a category that encompasses established brands, mom-and-pop crafts makers and hundreds of thousands of Chinese manufacturers and distributors. Amazon charges a commission and other fees to list on the site. Increasingly, it also takes care of shipping and handling, under a program called Fulfillment by Amazon that charges sellers to store items in the companys warehouses and send them on to customers after they click Buy Now.

The model helped fuel Amazons rise, stocking its shelves with an almost endless supply of goods. But the marketplace, which lets sellers sign up and manage their listings with largely self-service tools, has become increasingly difficult to control and patrol. When consumers are harmed by unsafe or counterfeit products, they have little choice but to try suing a company that has won more often than it has lost.

And because product liability rules are set at the state level, the case of a California woman who sued and won after being burned in a fire allegedly sparked by a hoverboard she bought on Amazon had little bearing on the companys success earlier this year fending off a lawsuit from the parents of a toddler injured in Texas after swallowing a remote-control battery.

Product-liability cases have usually been decided on narrow issues such as whether Amazon took ownership of the items, or if it played a role in creating a market for a certain product. The company typically asserts that its a neutral marketplace, connecting buyers and sellers, or that it is protected from liability because other companies wrote item descriptions and arranged for product delivery. It has also sought to use as a shield Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, a legal provision that grants web platforms immunity for content created by others.

Now the Feds are side-stepping that defense and lasering in on Amazons vast logistical operation. In the lawsuit filed last week, the CPSC says products stored and shipped by Amazon meet the distributor definition as laid out in the Consumer Product Safety Act, giving the agency the power to compel Amazon to cooperate with recalls of third-party products and levy penalties when it fails to do so. The CPSC is trying to get Amazon to participate in formal recalls of hundreds of thousands of hair dryers, carbon-monoxide alarms and childrens pajamas, sold by third parties but stored and shipped by the company.

At the Prosper Show, a conference for Amazon merchants held last week in Las Vegas, dozens of attendees sat in on a session about product safety rules, a topic that took on more importance in light of the CSPC lawsuit. Rachel Greer, a former Amazonian who now advises merchants, said the company began contacting clients who sell childrens sleepwear about eight months ago, hinting that regulators were sniffing around.

Amazon has been gradually getting more vigilant about product safety over the past several years, she said. A new product-safety team started work by 2016, and Amazon began requiring better product labeling on potentially hazardous products. Last year, the company started requesting compliance documents from those selling certain products to show they were meeting standards.

Amazon is fighting responsibility for recalls, Greer said, to avoid this giant can of worms. There are so many items being imported that arent meeting requirements in the U.S. So if they do this recall, CPSC could say, Great, now do the rest.

In emailed statements, Amazon said that, by contacting customers about defective products and issuing refunds, it had already done what CPSC aims to achieve with a formal recall.

Amazon has always believed that we have an obligation to our customers to provide the safest shopping experience, said company spokesperson Mary Kate McCarthy. This is why Amazon has messaged customers and covered the cost of refunds when selling partners failed to engage with regulators about recalls.

The company has also touted its work to make sure products on its marketplace are safe, including software that scans products for hazards, and requirements that sellers of some categories of goods upload product testing or other certificates.

Prior to the lawsuit, Amazon had proposed working with the CPSC to set up a voluntary system in which Amazon and other marketplaces would coordinate recalls on behalf of their sellers. Talks broke down, a spokesman for the agency said, when it was clear Amazon would refuse to go through formal, legally mandated recall processes.

In a statement, acting CPSC Chairman Robert Adler lamented that before it can carry out a recall of a product sold on a marketplace, the agency typically has to go through a lengthy negotiation with companies like Amazon to establish whether theyre even subject to regulation. Clearly the current approach is not sustainable, he wrote.

This is a shot over the bow for online platforms in general, Creighton Magid, a product liability and regulatory attorney with Dorsey & Whitney LLP, said of the lawsuit. Its also a gamble for the roughly 500-person agency, which coordinates hundreds of product recalls but rarely seeks to take uncooperative manufacturers or retailers to court.

Magid, who represents businesses that must comply with product regulations, said the CPSC is an under-resourced agency that has to be very selective in what it does. Here, its taking on an 800-pound gorilla, he said.

The case could take years to resolve. It will first be heard by an administrative law judge; then parties can appeal to the full board of CPSC commissioners. From there, the loser could seek another hearing in federal district court.

In the meantime, state legislatures could act. California has considered a bill that would apply to online marketplaces the same liability standards as physical retailers, but it stalled as appeals courts found Amazon responsible for marketplace products under existing law. Amazon offered support for that bill if it would encompass all marketplaces, spreading around the costs of compliance that Amazon is well positioned to bear. Amazons smaller rivals, and a trade group representing EBay Inc., Etsy Inc and Shopify Inc., opposed the measure.

Somebody needs to pay for the harm, says Daniel Hinkle, a senior state affairs counsel with the American Association for Justice, a trade group for trial lawyers. Because if they dont pay for the harm, its the consumer that does. Theyre the ones who are out a home, a car or a child, or are relegated to a wheelchair for the rest of their lives.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com

Subscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source.

2021 Bloomberg L.P.
Funding will help establish Quantum Algorithms Institute housed at Simon Fraser University's Surrey Campus

SURREY, BC, July 23, 2021 /CNW/ - A quantum ecosystem brings together business experts with industry and academia specialists from different sectors of the economy to develop new technological solutions that solve business and science problems. British Columbia has a considerable local competitive advantage in the quantum ecosystem, and is well positioned to become a world leader in the field. That's why the Government of Canada is providing $2,210,000 to support the establishment of the Quantum Algorithms Institute (QAI) to accelerate the innovation and commercialization of quantum technologies.

Quantum Algorithms Institute at Simon Fraser Universitys Surrey Campus (CNW Group/Western Economic Diversification Canada)

The Quantum Algorithms Institute, hosted at Simon Fraser University's Surrey campus, will be a collaborative centre aimed at attracting unique industry partnerships, growing a world leading talent pool, and developing commercial applications and adoption of quantum technologies. The Institute will use the funds to renovate a state-of-the-art physical hub to facilitate engagement, host collaborative events between industry and academia, organize quantum technology conferences for local and international players, and promote collaboration between existing quantum companies and potential new customers.

A new generation of optical and electronic devices use quantum effects to significantly enhance the performance over that of existing technologies. For example, quantum computers will be able to solve problems that the largest classical supercomputers would take thousands of years to solve, but in a fraction of the time. This technology will have significant impacts across many sectors including manufacturing, natural resources, finance, engineering, healthcare, defense, transport, telecommunications and life sciences.

This funding is expected to result in training for at least 100 highly qualified personnel, bringing two quantum technologies to market, and helping 10 businesses adopt quantum technologies.

Story continues

By funding this project, Western Economic Diversification Canada is supporting its Digital Technology Cluster and Clean Energy Cluster priorities by accelerating innovation and commercialization of quantum technologies through unique industry, academic and government partnerships. The Government of Canada recognizes that quantum technologies represent significant innovation opportunities and Canada is well-positioned to become a global leader in the quantum industry.

Quotes

"Quantum technology is a key field that will bring opportunities and talent into British Columbia. Our government's support to the Quantum Algorithms Institute is in line with our plan for a strong economic recovery, and our commitment to making strategic investments in digital technologies that will support growth and prosperity in the West."

- The Honourable Melanie Joly, Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages and Minister responsible for Western Economic Diversification Canada

"British Columbia has a considerable local competitive advantage in the quantum ecosystem, and is well positioned to become a world leader in the field. This project will have a positive lasting effect in the province as we gain expertise in this important sector."

- Terry Beech, Member of Parliament for Burnaby North  Seymour and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard and to the Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages (B.C.)

"On behalf of the Institute, SFU and all partners, I would like to thank Western Economic Diversification Canada for their generous support. This funding will further contribute to the mission of the Institute in bringing academia, industry and government together, and raise awareness of the province's flourishing reputation as a leader in quantum computing."

- Dugan O'Neil, Vice-President, Research and International, Simon Fraser University

Quick facts

The quantum technology sector is on a high growth trajectory worldwide, and presents a significant opportunity for economic growth and creating high-paying jobs in Canada.

The quantum sector is growing exponentially worldwide with significant public and private investments that will reach $30B in the next 10 years.

Budget 2021 proposed $360 million towards the launch of a National Quantum Strategy.

B.C. has a competitive advantage in the quantum ecosystem as important global-leading companies are based in the province. D-Wave Systems Inc., Photonic, and 1-Qbit are all key members of the QAI initiative. Other QAI founding members include the Government of British Columbia, University of Victoria, University of British Columbia, Simon Fraser University, Amazon Web Services, IBM, and Microsoft.

Associated links

Stay Connected

Follow the department on Twitter: @WD_Canada

WD Homepage

WD Toll-Free Number: 1-888-338-WEST (9378)

TTY (telecommunications device for the hearing impaired): 1-877-303-3388

SOURCE Western Economic Diversification Canada

Cision

View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/July2021/23/c8080.html
FILE PHOTO: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) seal is pictured on a gate outside the RBI headquarters in Mumbai

By Swati Bhat

MUMBAI (Reuters) - The Reserve Bank of India is considering a phased introduction of its own central bank digital currency (CBDC), deputy governor T. Rabi Shankar said, and is examining various issues including the underlying technology and issuance method.

"CBDCs are likely to be in the arsenal of every central bank going forward. Setting this up will require careful calibration and a nuanced approach in implementation," Shankar said according to a speech released late on Thursday.

"As is said, every idea will have to wait for its time. Perhaps the time for CBDCs is nigh," he added.

According to a 2021 survey by the Bank for International Settlements, 86% central banks were actively researching the potential for CBDCs, 60% were experimenting with the technology and 14% were deploying pilot projects.

China leads the space and has already started trials of a digital currency in several cities while the U.S. Federal Reserve and Bank of England are looking into it for a future launch.

RBI has been working on the idea of CBDC for years. Virtual currencies (VCs) like bitcoin have gained popularity in India in recent years and unofficial estimates suggest the country has around 15 million investors holding over 100 billion rupees ($1.34 billion) in crypto assets.

The RBI has repeatedly voiced its concern over the spread and use of cryptocurrencies which it sought to outlaw in April 2018. It had to withdraw the ban in March 2020 when the country's top court said the move was unconstitutional.

"CBDCs are desirable not just for the benefits they create in payments systems, but also might be necessary to protect the general public in an environment of volatile private VCs," Shankar said with regards to the need for CBDCs for emerging economies.

Sameer Narang, chief economist at Bank of Baroda said investors would still look to private digital currencies, which have appreciated in value despite recent falls.

Story continues

"Some users may want to use the private digital currencies as store of value and not only for payments," he added.

($1 = 74.4080 Indian rupees)

(Reporting by Swati Bhat; editing by Philippa Fletcher)
FORM 8.3

PUBLIC DEALING DISCLOSURE BY

A PERSON WITH INTERESTS IN RELEVANT SECURITIES REPRESENTING 1% OR MORE

Rule 8.3 of the Takeover Code (the Code)

1. KEY INFORMATION (a) Full name of discloser: Invesco Ltd. (b) Owner or controller of interests and short positions disclosed, if different from 1(a):

The naming of nominee or vehicle companies is insufficient. For a trust, the trustee(s), settlor and beneficiaries must be named. (c) Name of offeror/offeree in relation to whose relevant securities this form relates:

Use a separate form for each offeror/offeree NortonLifeLock Inc. (d) If an exempt fund manager connected with an offeror/offeree, state this and specify identity of offeror/offeree: (e) Date position held/dealing undertaken:

For an opening position disclosure, state the latest practicable date prior to the disclosure 22-07-2021 (f) In addition to the company in 1 above, is the discloser making disclosures in respect of any other party to the offer?

If it is a cash offer or possible cash offer, state N/A Yes: Avast Plc 2. POSITIONS OF THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE If there are positions or rights to subscribe to disclose in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1, copy table 2(a) or (b) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security. (a) Interests and short positions in the relevant securities of the offeror or offeree to which the disclosure relates following the dealing (if any) Class of relevant security: USD 0.01 Ordinary US6687711084 Interests Short Positions Number % Number % (1) Relevant securities owned and/or controlled: 5,303,080 0.91% (2) Cash-settled derivatives: (3) Stock-settled derivatives (including options) and agreements to purchase/sell: Total 5,303,080 0.91%  Class of relevant security: 2.000% Senior Unsecured Convertible Notes August 2022

US668771AA66 Interests Short Positions Number % Number % (1) Relevant securities owned and/or controlled: 4,875,000 0.78% (2) Cash-settled derivatives: (3) Stock-settled derivatives (including options) and agreements to purchase/sell: Total 4,875,000 0.78% All interests and all short positions should be disclosed.



Details of any open stock-settled derivative positions (including traded options), or agreements to purchase or sell relevant securities, should be given on a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions). (b) Rights to subscribe for new securities (including directors and other employee options) Class of relevant security in relation to which subscription right exists: Details, including nature of the rights concerned and relevant percentages: 3. DEALINGS (IF ANY) BY THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE Where there have been dealings in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(c), copy table 3(a), (b), (c) or (d) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security dealt in.



The currency of all prices and other monetary amounts should be stated. (a) Purchases and sales Class of relevant security Purchase/sale Number of securities Price per unit Ordinary Purchase 90 25.81 USD Ordinary Purchase 45 25.59 USD Ordinary Purchase 9,528



25.72 USD Ordinary Purchase 1,155 25.71 USD Ordinary Purchase 2,571 25.75 USD Ordinary Purchase 34 25.61 USD Ordinary Sale 75 25.61 USD Ordinary Sale 60 25.71 USD Senior Unsecured Convertible Notes Sale 1,975,000 130.55 USD (b) Cash-settled derivative transactions Class of relevant security Product description e.g. CFD Nature of dealing e.g. opening/closing a long/short position, increasing/reducing a long/short position Number of reference securities Price per unit (c) Stock-settled derivative transactions (including options) (i) Writing, selling, purchasing or varying Class of relevant security Product description e.g. call option Writing, purchasing, selling, varying etc. Number of securities to which option relates Exercise price per unit Type e.g. American, European etc. Expiry date Option money paid/ received per unit (ii) Exercise Class of relevant security Product description e.g. call option Exercising/ exercised against Number of securities Exercise price per unit (d) Other dealings (including subscribing for new securities) Class of relevant security Nature of dealing e.g. subscription, conversion Details Price per unit (if applicable) 4. OTHER INFORMATION (a) Indemnity and other dealing arrangements Details of any indemnity or option arrangement, or any agreement or understanding, formal or informal, relating to relevant securities which may be an inducement to deal or refrain from dealing entered into by the person making the disclosure and any party to the offer or any person acting in concert with a party to the offer:

Irrevocable commitments and letters of intent should not be included. If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state none None (b) Agreements, arrangements or understandings relating to options or derivatives Details of any agreement, arrangement or understanding, formal or informal, between the person making the disclosure and any other person relating to:

(i) the voting rights of any relevant securities under any option; or

(ii) the voting rights or future acquisition or disposal of any relevant securities to which any derivative is referenced:

If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state none None (c) Attachments Is a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions) attached? NO Date of disclosure 23-07-2021 Contact name Philippa Holmes Telephone number +44 1491 417447

Public disclosures under Rule 8 of the Code must be made to a Regulatory Information Service.

Story continues

The Panels Market Surveillance Unit is available for consultation in relation to the Codes disclosure requirements on +44 (0)20 7638 0129.

The Code can be viewed on the Panels website at www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk .




Motley Fool

Shares of Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group Holding (NYSE: BABA) dropped 4% as of 10 a.m. EDT Monday, and given the headlines coming out of China last week regarding how the government is cracking down on tech companies left and right, this is not too surprising. As The Wall Street Journal reported over the weekend, the Chinese government is pressing tech giants Tencent Holdings (OTC: TCEHY) and Alibaba affiliate company Ant Group to help it develop a new "state-backed digital currency" -- i.e., a cryptocurrency -- to be dubbed the e-CNY (or electronic Chinese yuan). This is bad news for Alibaba because Ant operates the Alipay digital payments network already, and the emergence of a competing e-CNY brings "the risk of eroding the huge user base" that Alibaba and its affiliates have built up over the past decade.
Kincora commences maiden drill program at the Fairholme Project to test the potential for ' Cowal-style ' gold-base metal mineralization and to confirm and expand previous significant broad and high-grade intervals at the Gateway prospect

The Gateway prospect at Fairholme is located 15km on trend from the Cowal mine "gold corridor" (endowment 13.7Moz gold) with analogous mineral tenure, alteration, geochemical zonation, structure and scale

No drilling has taken place at Fairholme since Evolution Mining's acquisition and resource growth at the Cowal mine with previous explorers having largely underestimated the gold-base metal corridor scale potential at the Cowal and Fairholme Projects

Permits for up to 39-holes and 6,000m of drilling across various prospects at Fairholme

Drilling continues at Kincora's brownfield Trundle project at the Mordialloc N-E prospect

MELBOURNE, Australia, July 23, 2021 /CNW/ - Kincora Copper Ltd. (the Company, Kincora) (TSXV: KCC) (ASX: KCC) is pleased to have commenced drilling activities at the Fairholme Project, located in the Macquarie Arc of the Lachlan Fold Belt (LFB) in NSW, Australia.

Kincora commences drilling at Fairholme Project (CNW Group/Kincora Copper Limited)

First phase diamond drilling at the Gateway prospect of five holes for approximately 1,700 metres will follow up multiple shallow to moderate depth, broad width and high-grade gold-copper intervals from previous explorer drilling (including hole DR004: 123m @ 0.62g/t gold and 0.12% copper from 44m, with 4m @ 2.39g/t, 8m @ 1.07g/t and 5m @ 8.21g/t gold and 0.85% copper). The Gateway prospect hosts a north-south trending 2km long by 300m wide gold-copper-zinc corridor (and open).

A program of up to 6,000 metres of drilling including follow up diamond and air core programs at the Gateway prospect, and air core drilling of other under explored known mineralized prospects is planned.

John Holliday, Technical Committee chair, and Peter Leaman, Senior VP of Exploration, commented: "The Fairholme Project hosts a number of prospects where favourable historical gold and copper-gold intersections have not adequately been followed up.

This is particularly significant in light of the considerable exploration success and resource growth at the neighbouring Cowal mine since the last phase of exploration at Fairholme.

Initial diamond drilling has commenced at the Gateway prospect testing a 4oom strike within the wider prospective gold-base metals corridor following up previous broad and high-grade intervals."

Story continues

An updated corporate presentation, including further details on the Fairholme project, is available on our new website: www.kincoracopper.com

Fairholme Project

Kincora has commenced its maiden-drilling program at the Fairholme Project, located in the southern sector of the Junee-Narromine Belt of the Macquarie Arc. Fairholme is adjacent and along strike to Evolution Mining's flagship Cowal Project. The Cowal mine hosts a cluster of epithermal, quartz-carbonate-base metal-gold mineralization deposits across a 7.5 x 2km north-south oriented "gold corridor", located on the western edge of Lake Cowal, approximately 350km west of Sydney in Central West, NSW.

This first phase program of five holes for approximately 1,700 metres at the Fairholme Project comprises diamond drilling focused on the Gateway prospect with permits and plans for up to 6,000 metres.

Kincora's drilling is following up multiple historical shallow to moderate depth broad intersections, with localized high grade gold intervals, from previous explorer drilling (e.g 123m @ 0.62g/t gold and 0.12% copper from 44m in hole DR004, including 4m @ 2.39 g/t gold and 0.05% copper from 58m; 8m @ 1.07 g/t gold and 0.05% Cu from 82m and 5m @ 8.21 g/t gold and 0.85% copper from 115m), within a north-south trending 2km x 300m wide gold-copper-zinc anomaly (>0.1g/t gold, >500ppm copper and >900ppm zinc).

The Gateway prospect is located 15km north of the Cowal "gold corridor" (current endowment 13.7Moz gold, including past production and current resources 3) along a major linking fault on the western side of the Booberoi shear zone with strong sericite alteration hosted by similar intrusive and volcanic rocks.

Mineral tenure, alteration, geochemical zonation, structure and scale provide significant encouragement for Gateway to possibly host a higher level porphyry associated system located 15km north and along trend from a similar series of intermediate-high sulfidation epithermal and carbonate base metal deposits in the gold corridor at Cowal.

Modern exploration in the Cowal region was commenced by Geopeko in 1980 following its discovery of porphyry mineralization in the Goonumbla district (Northparkes). Geopeko was seeking to test a similar geophysical profile under generally shallow post mineral cover. The exploration resulted in the Cowal epithermal gold deposit discovery (E42). In 1997, Newcrest discovered the nearby Marsden porphyry copper-gold deposit (now >0.5Mt copper and >1Moz gold 3). Newcrest also undertook the majority of exploration and drilling at Fairholme between 1990-2005, with total prior explorer drilling of 62,768m for 641 holes.

The last exploration prior to Kincora's involvement at Fairholme was by Kaizen Discovery earning into the project (a High Powered Exploration group company). Despite Kaizen recognizing the potential for Cowal style gold deposits its primary focus was copper porphyry potential and undertook exploration to moderate-deep depths (including a Typhoon system Induced Polarization survey, magnetics and drilling). Kaizen left the project in the last commodity cycle downturn (March 2016).

In mid 2015, Evolution Mining acquired the Cowal mine and has since grown the gold inventory from 3.4Moz to 9.7Moz (net of 1.7Moz mine depletion), with a target total endowment of 15Moz Au (noting total historical production of 4Moz gold) 1.

Previous explorers had largely underestimated the scale potential of the gold corridor at Cowal. No drilling has taken place at Fairholme since Evolution's rapid resource growth with the immediate regions gold endowment now far outshining the deeper copper porphyry potential (the latter generally the main focus of previous explorers).

Kincora has designed a maiden first phase drill program on the Fairholme project to test the potential for shallow to moderate depth "Cowal-like" gold-base metal style mineralization by following up previous significant gold and copper intervals and their supporting pathfinder geochemical and alteration zonation patterns. Permits and plans are to hand for up to 39-holes for a total of 6,000m of drilling across various prospects.

Initial diamond drilling has commenced at the Gateway prospect (initial five diamond core holes for approximately 1,700m), within a 1km N-S zone of anomalous down-hole gold-copper-zinc mineralization. The initial program will test a 4oom strike within the wider strong sericite alteration zone and in an interpreted favorable structural setting (intersection of NNW and NE faults) following up previous broad and high-grade intervals  refer to Figure 3.

Following completion of the initial program a second phase follow up diamond drilling program at Gateway and shallow air-core drilling is planned. The latter is designed to expand and infill a pipeline of prospects testing single or multiple point gold, and gold and copper, anomalies at the Gateway, Driftway C, Anomaly 2, Manna Creek, Glencoe and Kennel prospects, situated across a 15 km N-S strike (see right hand side of Figure 2 for prospect locations).

Evolution has recently approved the A$380m development of an underground mine on the GRE46 deposit within the gold corridor at Cowal from to provide increased grade to supplement existing open pit operations (from E42) 2. This approval underpins the planned expansion to 350,000/oz pa production at Cowal (and extends mine life out beyond 17 years) 2. Drilling activities have also commenced at the E39 porphyry target, south of operations, and also within the gold corridor 2.

Outside of the Fairholme Project, a second drill rig for Kincora continues at the brownfield Trundle project at the Mordialloc North-East (N-E) prospect.

An updated detail corporate presentation, including further details on the Fairholme and Trundle Projects, and their hallmarks respectively to the neighboring Cowal and Northparkes mineral systems (latter cumulative total of over 20Moz gold and over 5Mt copper 3), is available on our new website: www.kincoracopper.com

1 Evolution September 2020 investor day. 2 Evolution June 2021 quarterly results and associated releases. 3 Stated resource endowments, previous mine production and current resources sourced from public market release and bespoke Mar'20 request by Richard Schodde from MinEx Consulting for Kincora Copper.

Fairholme project background

The Fairholme project includes two contiguous licenses covering a total of 169.2km2 and was secured by Kincora in the March 2020 agreement with RareX Limited ("REE" on the ASX). Kincora is the operator, holds a 65% interest in the Fairholme project and is the sole funder until a positive scoping study is delivered at which time a fund or dilute joint venture will be formed.

This announcement has been authorised for release by the Board of Kincora Copper Ltd (ARBN 645 457 763)



Forward-Looking Statements

Certain information regarding Kincora contained herein may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements may include estimates, plans, expectations, opinions, forecasts, projections, guidance or other statements that are not statements of fact. Although Kincora believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to have been correct. Kincora cautions that actual performance will be affected by a number of factors, most of which are beyond its control, and that future events and results may vary substantially from what Kincora currently foresees. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include market prices, exploitation and exploration results, and continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions. The forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. The information contained herein is stated as of the current date and is subject to change after that date. Kincora does not assume the obligation to revise or update these forward-looking statements, except as may be required under applicable securities laws.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) or the Australian Securities Exchange accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Drilling, Assaying, Logging and QA/QC Procedures

Kincora Copper Limited, and its contractors, using the Company's protocols as per industry best practise, carry out Sampling and QA/QC procedures.

All samples have been assayed at ALS Minerals Laboratories, delivered to Orange, NSW, Australia. In addition to internal checks by ALS, the Company incorporates a QA/QC sample protocol utilizing prepared standards and blanks for 5% of all assayed samples.

Diamond drilling is being undertaken by DrillIt Consulting Pty Ltd, from Parkes, under the supervision of our field geologists. Well-trained geologists logged all drill core to best industry standard and Kincora's drill core sampling protocol consisted a collection of samples over the entire logged core.

Sample interval selection was based on geological controls or mineralization or metre intervals, and/or guidance from the Technical Committee provided subsequent to daily drill and logging reports. Sample intervals are cut by the Company and delivered by the Company direct to ALS.

All reported assay results are performed by ALS and widths reported are drill core lengths. There is insufficient drilling data to date to demonstrate continuity of mineralized domains and determine the relationship between mineralization widths and intercept lengths.

True widths are not known at this stage. Significant mineralised intervals are reported with dilution on the basis of:

Internal dilution is below the aforementioned respective cut off's; and,

Dilutions related with core loss as flagged by a "*".

The following assay techniques have been adopted for drilling at the Fairholme project:

Gold: Au-AA24 (Fire assay), reported.

Multiple elements: ME-ICP61 (4 acid digestion with ICP-AES analysis for 33 elements) and ME-MS61 (4 acid digestion with ICP-AES & ICP-MS analysis for 48 elements).

Assay results >10g/t gold and/or 1% copper are re-assayed.

JORC Competent Person Statement

Information in this report that relates to Exploration Results, Mineral Resources or Ore Reserves has been reviewed and approved by Dr. Paul Cromie, a Qualified Person under the definition established by JORC and have sufficient experience which is relevant to the style of mineralization and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity being undertaking to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the 2012 Edition of the 'Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves'.

Paul Cromie (BSc Hons. M.Sc. Economic Geology, PhD, member of the Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy and Society of Economic Geologists), is Exploration Manager Australia for the Company. Dr. Cromie consents to the inclusion in this report of the matters based on his information in the form and context in which it appears.

The review and verification process for the information disclosed herein for the Fairholme projects have included the receipt of all material exploration data, results and sampling procedures of previous operators and review of such information by Kincora's geological staff using standard verification procedures.

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical information in this news release was prepared in accordance with the standards of the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum and National Instrument 43-101  Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") and was reviewed, verified and compiled by Kincora's geological staff under the supervision of Paul Cromie (BSc Hons. M.Sc. Economic Geology, PhD, member of the Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy and Society of Economic Geologists), Exploration Manager Australia, who is the Qualified Persons for the purpose of NI 43-101.

JORC TABLE 1

Section 1 Sampling Techniques and Data

(Criteria in this section apply to all succeeding sections).

Criteria JORC Code explanation Commentary Sampling techniques Drilling techniques Drill sample recovery Logging Sub-sampling techniques and sample preparation Quality of assay data and laboratory tests Verification of sampling and assaying Location of data points Data spacing and distribution Orientation of data in relation to geological structure Sample security Audits or reviews

Section 2 Reporting of Exploration Results

(Criteria listed in the preceding section also apply to this section.)

Criteria JORC Code explanation Commentary Mineral tenement and land tenure status Exploration done by other parties Geology Drill hole Information Detailed information on prior drilling at Fairholme is given in the body of the report with further details available in the March 1st, 2021, Independent Technical Report included in the ASX listing prospectus, which is available at:

https://www.kincoracopper.com/investors/asx-prospectus Data aggregation methods Relationship between mineralisation widths and intercept lengths Diagrams Balanced reporting Other substantive exploration data Further work

SOURCE Kincora Copper Limited

Cision

View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/July2021/23/c7486.html
New Orleans, Louisiana--(Newsfile Corp. - July 22, 2021) - Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF") and KSF partner, former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors that they have until August 30, 2021 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against Rocket Companies, Inc. (NYSE: RKT), if they purchased the Company's shares between February 25, 2021 and May 5, 2021, inclusive (the "Class Period"). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.

What You May Do

If you purchased shares of Rocket Companies and would like to discuss your legal rights and how this case might affect you and your right to recover for your economic loss, you may, without obligation or cost to you, contact KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or via email (lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com), or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-rkt/ to learn more. If you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff in this class action, you must petition the Court by August 30, 2021 .

About the Lawsuit

Rocket Companies and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws.

On May 5, 2021, the Company disclosed disappointing financial news, including closed loan volume within a range of only $82.5 to $87.5 billion and gain on sale margins within a range of only 2.65% to 2.95% for the second quarter of 2021, due to certain market trends that began in part "at the end of Q1."

On this news, shares of Rocket Companies plummeted nearly 17% to close at $19.01 per share.

The case is Qaiyum v. Rocket Companies, Inc., No. 21-cv-11528.

About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC

KSF, whose partners include former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is one of the nation's premier boutique securities litigation law firms. KSF serves a variety of clients - including public institutional investors, hedge funds, money managers and retail investors - in seeking to recover investment losses due to corporate fraud and malfeasance by publicly traded companies. KSF has offices in New York, California and Louisiana.

Story continues

To learn more about KSF, you may visit www.ksfcounsel.com.

Contact:

Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC

Lewis Kahn, Managing Partner

lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com

1-877-515-1850

1100 Poydras St., Suite 3200

New Orleans, LA 70163

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/91057
Remember the high-tech face masks teased during the relatively early days of the COVID-19 pandemic? Not many have made it into stores (or on to our faces) just yet, but thats given companies even more time to build in upgrades. Like LG, which has used the Tokyo Olympics (and the Team Thailand) to showcase its improved wearable air-purifying mask.

LG mask

Still packing three fans and a pair of HEPA-style filters, it now also features a smaller, lighter motor and a built-in mic, speaker and voice amplifier. LG says its VoiceOn tech will detect when you're talking and boost the sound so others can hear you  a common issue when youre trying to communicate while wearing any kind of mask. This new version will arrive in Thailand in August.

 Mat Smith

Fortunately, a fix came a few hours later.

Starting at approximately 11:20 AM ET yesterday, Downdetector began logging a spike in outage reports across a variety of online services and websites. Some of the more notable platforms people couldnt connect to included, PSN, LastPass, TikTok, Steam and UPS. Visiting the PlayStation Store and other affected websites would return a DNS error. Akamai said it implemented a fix for the issue it was having with its Edge DNS service, and most sites and services returned to normal. Continue Reading.

The CEO's protection costs far eclipsed those of other tech execs.

Facebook Inc. CEO Mark Zuckerberg is escorted by security guards as he departs New York City's Sheraton Hotel May 7, 2012. Facebook Inc kicked off its IPO roadshow in New York on Monday, attracting hundreds of investors to the Sheraton as the world's largest social network aims to raise about $10.6 billion, dwarfing the coming-out parties of tech companies like Google Inc and granting it a market value close to Amazon.com Inc's. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz (UNITED STATES - Tags: BUSINESS SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY)

A new analysis of the security expenses racked up by Silicon Valley giants shows they collectively spent $46 million to safeguard their top brass last year. Of that, $23.4 million alone was spent on Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg's personal security, up from $20.4 million in 2019, according to a report by Protocol. In comparison, Jeff Bezos paid $1.6 million in personal security costs. Continue Reading.

Story continues

Female employees deal with constant sexual harassment, the complaint said.

UKRAINE - 2021/06/18: In this photo illustration, Activision Blizzard logo of a video game company is seen on a smartphone screen in front of Blizzard Entertainment logo. (Photo Illustration by Pavlo Gonchar/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Activision Blizzard is facing a lawsuit filed by the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing for fostering what the agency describes as a "frat boy" workplace. The DFEH sued the company that owns the Call of Duty series and Overwatch after a two-year investigation. It said at the company, in addition to receiving smaller salaries than their male counterparts, female employees were allegedly subjected to constant sexual harassment. Activision Blizzard, denies DEFH's allegations, adding that the lawsuit "includes distorted, and in many cases false, descriptions of Blizzard's past." Continue Reading.

The messaging app cost $27.7 billion.

Messaging app Slack is now officially a part of Salesforce after completing a deal worth $27.7 billion. The IRC-style client, which cost 27.7 times as much as Instagram when bought by Facebook, will now operate as a standalone unit inside the computing giant. Salesforce intends to use the $27.7 billion Slack as the new interface of Customer 360, its tool for managing its many apps. It also puts Salesforce, which paid, I repeat, $27.7 billion for Slack, into an antitrust war with Microsoft, after the Windows maker bundled Microsoft Teams with its Office suite. Continue Reading.

Its a laptop designed for the right to repair movement.

Framework Laptop Hero Image

The right to repair movement is all about giving users the right to make basic repairs to their devices without too much fuss. But many companies make it very difficult to get your smartphone or laptop screen replaced after a bump. Framework is a company that has designed its first laptop to be entirely user-serviceable, and easy enough that anyone can do so. Dan Cooper put the machine through its paces, and what it lacks in battery life and sound, it more than makes up for in repairability. Continue Reading.

But if you're in the US, you won't see it.

OnePlus Nord 2 5G hands-on

OnePlus has an unusual problem. Its making very good flagship smartphones these days, but at the same time, its still chasing status as a flagship phone killer. Thats where its Nord series comes in, offering premium-looking (and feeling) smartphones at the fraction of a price of flagship devices. The Nord 2 5G is a similar proposition to the original Nord, with some camera improvements and a new processor rounding out the biggest changes. The 399 (roughly $458 before tax) Nord 2 has a slightly more premium style similar to its expensive relatives, like the $729 OnePlus 9. But while it might look the part, is it as good? Mat Smith tested the phone out for a few days. Continue Reading.

He said issues with the current monetary system distract 'from the bigger problems.

Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey testifies during a remote video hearing held by subcommittees of the U.S. House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee on

Twitter and Square CEO Jack Dorsey has long been a bitcoin enthusiast. In fact, he's so optimistic about the cryptocurrency, he reckons it could bring about a more peaceful planet. During a video discussion on cryptocurrency with Elon Musk, another vocal cryptocurrency figure, and Cathie Wood, chief executive of Square stakeholder ARK Invest, he said:

My hope is that it creates world peace or helps create world peace. We have all these monopolies off balance, and the individual doesnt have power, and the amount of cost and distraction that comes from our monetary system today is real and it takes away attention from the bigger problems. Continue Reading.

But wait, theres more...

PlayStation 5 owners now get six free months of Apple TV+

Introducing Engadget's 2021 Back to School gift guide!

Battlefield 2042's secret third mode is 'Portal'

Rivian is planning to build a second EV factory in the US

Engadget Deals: The Apple TV 4K (64GB) is on sale for $180 right now
Korber's warehouse execution system (WES) and voice-directed picking solutions revolutionize supply chain operations

HAMBURG, Germany, July 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Korber is working with Toolstation, one of Britain's fastest growing suppliers of tools, accessories and building supplies to the trade, home improvers and self-builders, to evolve its multichannel capabilities to meet consumer demands. This includes enhancing processes in its Redditch distribution center while supporting Toolstation's expanding network of stores.

Toolstation is experiencing significant growth in online and retail orders. As a result, the company outgrew its paper-based processes - leading to a lack of visibility and productivity constraints for the workforce. With its vast range of products, even though broken into warehouse 'logic zones', Toolstation was challenged to simultaneously manage smaller, sometimes single, e-commerce orders along with bulk distributions for its stores. The company needed a solution to increase workforce productivity, simplify picking, increase capacity within its current warehouse and integrate with its existing, proprietary order management system that linked all of its stores. Krber made this possible.

"At Toolstation, our customers and colleagues are at the heart of everything we do. As our business continues to rapidly grow and expand, the needs and expectations of our customers continue to develop and change, be it product range, speed of delivery or convenience. It was really important for us to streamline our processes to make picking easier for our colleagues, improve visibility of workload across our distribution center and to improve the quality of delivery to our customers. When we turned to Korber, we were looking to reduce our in-house complexities to develop a superior solution that would work in our current operation and with our existing IT infrastructure," said Jim Gowland, Head of Distribution at Toolstation.

Story continues

Working with Toolstation, Korber designed a solution that uses a warehouse execution system (WES) combined with voice technology to facilitate process change, driving efficiency and accuracy.

The WES builds the basis of operational improvements: It links orders geographically in the warehouse to limit the walk time of each operator. Innovative multi-order picking logic enables picking for multiple customers. Furthermore, product information is used to maximize the fill of each delivery unit, reducing transportation costs as well as amplifying operators' picking tours.

The voice system improves the pickers' experience in a different way. Workers hear and verbally confirm instructions step by step via headset. This ensures process conformity, improves productivity and reduces errors. The complexity of Toolstation's product range also makes onboarding new pickers challenging. Voice technology has a proven record of significantly reducing training time. Due to the accuracy of voice picking, goods-in and put-away of orders delivered to stores will also be significantly improved, freeing up employees' time for more valuable customer tasks.

A further benefit of the two linked systems is the WES' ability to log and track each voice-directed action and provide near real-time visibility via a suite of standard dashboards. This gives the warehouse management team true insight into the operation.

"At Korber, we review operations to not only understand the 'what you do' but more importantly 'the why'. We work with our customers to identify how we can improve a process, and then consider the best technology fit. Along with decades of successful deployments worldwide, we have a wide range of solutions covering the entire supply chain at our disposal, as the complexities in today's supply chain mean there is no 'one-size-fits-all' solution. The solution we will be implementing at Toolstation goes to show how much potential an existing warehouse has if the right type of technology is applied," said Anton du Preez, Chief Sales Officer Software EME, Korber Business Area Supply Chain.

About Toolstation

Established in 2003, Toolstation is one of Britain's fastest growing suppliers of tools, accessories and building supplies, offering a reliable multi-channel service to ensure customers can quickly and conveniently access over 12,000 quality trade essentials at their local store and 8,000+ more online.

Customer satisfaction ratings surveyed by Which? has seen Toolstation recognised as top Online Retailer in the DIY & Decorating category for six years running, and top High Street Retailer in the DIY category consistently for four years, most recently in 2020, achieving the full five stars for range, products and value for money. In both 2016 and 2017, the retailer was also named overall Retailer of the Year by Which? at their awards and shortlisted in 2018.

About the Korber Business Area Supply Chain

Supply chains are growing more complex by the day. Korber uniquely provides a broad range of proven, end-to-end supply chain solutions fitting any business size, strategy or appetite for growth. Capable of delivering software, automation, voice, robotics, and materials handling  plus the expertise to tie it all together. We are a global partner not just for today, but also as the needs of supply chains continue to evolve. Conquer supply chain complexity  with Korber. The Business Area Supply Chain is part of the global technology group Korber. Find out more on www.koerber-supplychain.com

Contact:



Julia Maul

Corporate Communications Officer

Korber Supply Chain

Julia.Maul@koerber-supplychain.com

T +44 1253 579912

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1098713/Korber_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Korber Supply Chain
#GiveAVax campaign provides unique opportunity to support the vaccination of millions of people in low-income countries

TORONTO, July 23, 2021 /CNW/ - With almost 80 per cent of Toronto adults having received at least their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, the light at the end of the tunnel looks brighter than ever. However, the situation is very different for families and communities in low-income countries, where less than 1 per cent of vaccines have been administered.

Canadians can help UNICEF deliver life-saving vaccines around the world. (CNW Group/Canadian Unicef Committee)

Today, David Morley, President and CEO of UNICEF Canada, Minister of International Development Karina Gould, Toronto Mayor John Tory, Medical Officer of Health Dr. Eileen de Villa and Councillor Joe Cressy gathered to ask Canadians to #GiveAVax to help end the pandemic for everyone, everywhere.

UNICEF Canada's #GiveAVax campaign provides a unique opportunity for Canadians to help UNICEF deliver life-saving vaccines to health workers and high-risk groups in lower-income countries around the world. Over the summer, the Government of Canada will match donations dollar for dollar up to $10 million to UNICEF Canada, meaning that donations will go twice as far to save lives.

As new and more infectious variants of the virus emerging, the world is in a race against time to vaccinate as many people as possible. The pandemic will not end for anyone until it ends for everyone, warns UNICEF Canada.



In a recent poll, 85 per cent of Canadians agreed that it is important COVID-19 vaccines are distributed fairly to all countries and two-thirds of Canadians said they want Canada to take a leadership role in ensuring vaccine access for all. #GiveAVax allows Canadians who are vaccinated to pay it forward and donate to UNICEF's efforts.

As the global leader in vaccine delivery, UNICEF has been tasked by the COVAX Facility with delivering 2 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines to countries around the globe before the end of the year.

Canadians can donate to #GiveAVax by visiting unicef.ca or by texting "VACCINES" to 45678 to donate $10.

Story continues

Quotes

"Time is ticking. Working together to vaccinate the world is one of the most effective ways to help children, their families and their communities move beyond the pandemic and protect us all from future variants. We are urgently calling on Canadians to #GiveAVax and help us with the monumental task of delivering vaccines to people around the globe, including in some of the world's hardest-to-reach places."

- David Morley, President and CEO of UNICEF Canada

"As more and more Canadians are receiving their 2nd dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, I encourage them to donate to UNICEF Canada's fundraising campaign. Their donation to UNICEF will be matched and will help front-line workers and vulnerable communities in the developing world to access life-saving vaccines. It's time to give back, it's time to Give a Vax."

- The Hon. Karina Gould, Minister of International Development

"I'm proud of the excellent progress we have made in getting people across our city vaccinated against COVID-19. The Team Toronto vaccination efforts have allowed Torontonians to get both their first and second shots quickly, but we know that many countries still do not have the same opportunity. I am proud to support #GiveAVax to help other communities get their shots, and help end the pandemic for everyone around the world."

- John Tory, Mayor of Toronto

"In a global pandemic, no one is safe until everyone is safe. In our city and country, we've been incredibly privileged to have access to life-saving vaccines to help protect ourselves and our loved ones from COVID-19. Many countries around the world are still struggling to get vaccines to their most vulnerable residents. Through the #GiveAVax campaign, Torontonians can partner with UNICEF and the Government of Canada to help vaccinate people around the world, bringing us one step closer to our goal of global vaccine equity."

- Councillor Joe Cressy, Chair of the Toronto Board of Health

About UNICEF's role in COVAX

UNICEF is leveraging its experience as the largest single vaccine buyer in the world and working with manufacturers and partners on the procurement of COVID-19 vaccine doses, as well as freight, logistics and storage. In collaboration with the PAHO Revolving Fund, UNICEF is leading efforts to procure and supply doses of COVID-19 vaccines for COVAX. In addition, UNICEF, Gavi and WHO are working with governments around the clock to ensure that countries are ready to receive the vaccines, with appropriate cold chain equipment in place and health workers trained to dispense them. UNICEF is also playing a lead role in efforts to foster trust in vaccines, delivering vaccine confidence communications and tracking and addressing misinformation around the world.

SOURCE Canadian Unicef Committee

Cision

View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/July2021/23/c5160.html
BERLIN (Reuters) - Volkswagen expects semiconductor supply bottlenecks in China to start easing over the coming weeks and to cover the needs of the carmaker's main brand by the end of the third quarter, it said on Friday.

"We see light at the end of the tunnel," Volkswagen China chief Stephan Woellenstein told journalists in a briefing.

Woellenstein said he was still confident the company will record a rise in sales volume in China, both for the VW brand and the group, this year as long as the chip shortage does not worsen.

But he cautioned that further adjustments to production of Volkswagen brands made in China could not be ruled out due to COVID-19 outbreaks in Malaysia that were affecting chipmakers.

(Reporting by Jan Schwartz; Writing by Riham Alkousaa; Editing by Maria Sheahan)
Download The Last Chronicles of Planet Earth July 15, 2021 Edition by Frank DiMora

How to Add the Last Chronicles to your Electronic Device

Our Alternative Channels for Facebook & YouTube:

Brighteon

MeWe

RoxyTube

Bitchute

Only the spiritually blind can not see what has been happening around the world! One of the many last day signs Jesus told us to look for was the storms. The reports below are just a few of the reports coming in around the world showing these massive storms are getting worse. Not only are the storms disrupting thousands of lives so is the intense heat that we are witnessing in many places around the world. Take your stand now on what you believe when it comes to Jesus Christ because He is coming back to take those who have taken Him as their savior. You want to be left behind to face the Antichrist? You will if you reject Christ Jesus. One thing you need to understand if you are not aware by now is do not expect things to get better when it comes to the weather. Christ told us to look for the last days birth pains. We are in the midst of those pains now. Get your heads out of the sand and pay attention to our Lord's warnings. So far in the video below 200,000 people have been displaced. You have been warned! You have been warned! You have been warned! Getting the message?

Biblical flooding devastates mainland China

https://www.naturalnews.com/2021-07-bibical-flooding-devastates-mainland-china-html

Report: Unprecedented flood worldwide: 'Washing away the enemies of Israel before Messiah'

In the last week, heavy rains and flooding have hit separate sections of the globe with disastrous effects. While some Biblically unsophisticated onlookers associated the flooding with the deluge in the age of Noah, two noted Israeli mystics noted that the floods were, on fact, carrying out a pre-Messiah function that, while it will be massively destructive, will not threaten the entire world. According to the Midrash, the rivers that witnessed the cruelty of the haters-of-Zion will also exact punishment for that cruelty, and all the cruelty against the jews since the Babylonian exile.

https://www.israel365news.com/195126/unprecedented-floods-worldwide-washing-away-the-enemies-of-israel-before-messiah/?utm_source=ActiveCampaign&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Massive+Floods+are+Breaking+Out+All+Over+the+World%3A++A+presage+to+Messiah++and+Today+s+Top+Stories&utm_campaign=I3N+-+AM+-+July+21%2C+2021

Widespread floods hit central India, roads cut off as rivers overflow in Maharashtra

Heavy rains affecting central India since Wednesday, July 21, 2021, caused rivers to overflow in parts of Maharashtra, causing severe flooding. Severe flooding are also affecting neighboring Telangana, where more than 1 000 people have been evacuated.

Typhoon In-fa churns in West Pacific on course toward China, Taiwan

The West Pacific was brimming with tropical activity on Wednesday, as portions of China were enduring downpours from slow-moving Tropical Storm Cempaka. AccuWeather meteorologists are keeping a close eye on the most intense threat in the basin, Typhoon In-fa, which was churning in the western Philippine Sea with winds equivalent to Category 2 hurricane

Catastrophic floods could hit Europe far more often, study finds

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jul/21/catastrophic-floods-could-hit-europe-far-more-often-study-finds

Intense Heat

"And there shall be signs in the sun" (Luke 21:25a). The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and the sun was given power to scorch people with fire. They were seared by the intense heat and they cursed the name of God, who had control over these plagues, but they refused to repent and glorify himMen gnawed their tongues in agony and cursed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, but they refused to repent of what they had done (Revelation 16:8-11). Matthew 24:7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. When you read Matthew chapter 24 you will see Jesus warned about the birth pains that would happen in the last days. We are in the midst of those birth pains now and the heat and fires we see are part of those birth pains. When you read Matthew 24:7 we see famines. What causes famines? Many things but two of the major elements to famines are lack of water and heat that scorchs the earth. Right now much of California is burning up like it did last year.

Running out of water: Two US water reservoirs hit record lows in June 2021

Two large water reservoirs in the western U.S. hit record lows after a decline of more than two decades. Water levels at Lake Mead and Lake Powell, both on the 1,450-mile Colorado River, fell to their lowest in June 2021. Due to the dwindling water levels, the federal government said it plans to declare a water shortage this coming summer.

Private wells are running dry in Oregon, as serious drought conditions and government resource controls threaten peoples lives

A historic, multi-year drought is affecting 94 percent of the Western United States. Even the rainy Pacific Northwest is experiencing record drought conditions. According to the US Drought Monitor, Oregon has not been this dry since the late 1800s! The conditions have continued to deteriorate in July, and now dozens of private wells are running dry in Oregon. While arid weather conditions pose ongoing challenges, there is another serious government issue that is starving groundwater from rural landowners and small farmers.
Two bystanders saved a Fredericksburg police officer from a more severe beating early Wednesday by pulling a suspect off an officer who was being assaulted, police said Thursday.

City police spokeswoman Sarah Morris said the officer went to the Walmart parking lot in Central Park about 6:30 a.m. for a report about a suspicious person going through someone elses vehicle.

The officer found stolen items in the mans possession and tried to detain him, Morris said. The man began walking away from the officer, police said, then turned around and hit the officer.

According to Morris, the officer was knocked to the ground and punched several more times in the head. The bystanders pulled the suspect off the officer and he was arrested.

Support Local Journalism Your subscription makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}}

Joshua J. Duggins, 31, of Fredericksburg was charged with assault on a law-enforcement officer and malicious wounding. He was placed in the Rappahannock Regional Jail.

The officer, who has been on the city police force for two years, was treated at a hospital for head injuries and released.
NEW YORK (AP)  Edgar Ramirez wants people to understand that although the world is starting to come out of the pandemic, the fight is not yet over.

The Venezuelan actor told The Associated Press on Wednesday that his own family is suffering gravely because of COVID.

Many families ... continue to be affected, including mine in a terrible way, Ramirez said in a remote interview from Los Angeles. At this very moment that I am talking to you, I have family members dying of COVID, so it is very important that we remain alert and attentive to this disease because it has not ended.

While he did not specify which relatives he was referring to or where they were, he stressed the importance of avoiding fake news, trusting science and getting vaccinated.

Remember that our grandparents and our parents defeated polio and smallpox with vaccines, and that it is very important to be very careful because in times of fear there is a lot of misinformation, Ramirez said.

"We need to trust science and follow the recommendations and be very responsible with the way we handle information in times of fear and uncertainty."
"She doesn't belong in jail. She should be celebrated. Her disclosures were in the public interest and led to significant changes throughout the world as it relates to anti-money laundering," he said in an interview.

Daniel P. Meyer, the former executive director for the Intelligence Communitys whistleblowing and source protection directorate, said he was not familiar with Edward's case, but that FinCEN's work plays a crucial role in national security by tracking the laundering of drug or other illicitly-obtained money that can fund terrorism directed at the U.S.

"FinCEN is almost as revered . . . as the CIA and NSA. For any whistleblower to come forward from those three agencies, you really need to proceed with caution," said Meyer,now managing partner at the Washington law firm of Tully Rinckey PLLC.

Disclosure of protected material by a federal employee, at an intelligence agency or not, needs to be made through the formal whistleblower process. If it is not, he said, "You are at that point a leaker. The difference between leaking and whistleblowing - whistleblowing is a lawful disclosure, leaking is an unlawful communication."

"If you're going to be a whistleblower you're going to do it lawfully, or you're going to get hammered," Meyer said. And, he warned, "they will find you out."
One example is the increased weighting of infrastructure. CNBC has determined infrastructure is more important than ever in determining a states competitiveness to attract corporations, yet it is one of the most hotly debated legislative matters before Congress today.

The new Life, Health and Inclusion category is getting the most reaction. As this years winner, Virginia, earned points for its voting rights and anti-discrimination laws, two areas that have seen significant change since Democrats took complete control of state government in 2019.

And of course, while the award is supposed to be devoid of politics, Gov. Ralph Northam was quick to take credit for Virginias No. 1 ranking.

When you do the right thing for people its not only right for them but its good for business, and weve proven it, Northam told CNBC on Tuesday.

Yes, Virginia went through some tough times and Virginians stuck with me. I committed to dealing with equity, to addressing numerous inequities we have in Virginia, Northam said.
Last week, California lawmakers approved a state-funded guaranteed income plan with a unanimous vote that showed bipartisan support. It will provide monthly payments to qualifying pregnant people and young adults who recently left foster care.

Some pilot programs have been funded privately  Twitter founder Jack Dorsey has donated over $15 million to MGI. Other places, like Minneapolis, are using federal dollars from the American Rescue Plan.

Matt Zwolinski, director of the Center for Ethics, Economics and Public Policy at the University of San Diego, has studied guaranteed income policy for over a decade and says the increased interest is remarkable.

But he says theres a flaw in using the pilot projects as a proof of concept. Most are for one to two years and give money to a narrow slice of the population that knows the cash will eventually stop, so participants may be more likely to seek fulltime employment during that period than if they knew the cash was permanent.

Zwolinski also questions whether people in the U.S. are willing to support a national program that gives money to people who could work but arent doing so.

That really rubs a lot of people the wrong way, he said.
Citing the need to assist a fellow state that is battling a wave of illegal immigration, Gov. Pete Ricketts on Thursday defended his decision to dispatch Nebraska State Patrol troopers to the Texas border with Mexico without assurance that Nebraska will be reimbursed for the $500,000 in estimated expenses.

Nebraska signed an agreement that it would not seek reimbursement with the understanding that a special session of the Texas legislature might provide some funding for expenditures, Ricketts told a news conference.

But, he said, "Democrats are holding up that reimbursement possibility by fleeing the state."

That was a reference to the decision by Democratic lawmakers to leave Texas and fly to Washington in an effort to deny the legislature a quorum that is necessary to enact a package of proposed voting restrictions that prompted the special session.

It is common practice for states to help one another with security needs, Ricketts said, usually with compensation, but sometimes without such guarantees.

"We knew there was no guarantee that we would be reimbursed," he said. "There's still an opportunity. I hope there is reimbursement."
Dear reader,

Welcome to Gandhara's weekly newsletter. This briefing brings you the best of our reporting from Afghanistan and Pakistan.

If youre new to the newsletter or havent subscribed yet, you can do so here.

A looming humanitarian disaster

Frud Bezhan reports on the mounting humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan where a surge in fighting has already displaced hundreds of thousands of civilians this year as aid agencies and neighboring countries brace for a flood of refugees fleeing their war-ravaged country in desperation.

I was washing myself ahead of evening prayers when a mortar landed in our house, Musa Jan, a resident of Kandahar, the scene of some of the toughest recent battles, told us. I lost consciousness. When I woke up, my wife and children were crying over me.

Jan is among the 270,000 Afghans displaced by the fighting this year. UNHCR estimates there are 3.5 million displaced Afghans while more than 18 million requires humanitarian assistance.

The Taliban says it now controls most of Afghanistans border crossings with neighboring countries -- a claim the government was quick to denounce as propaganda. You can use our interactive map to follow the militants territorial control.

In Kandahar, Afghan authorities allege at least 100 civilians were killed by Taliban fighters in raids on homes in Spin Boldak by the Pakistani border.

The growing humanitarian crisis has echoes of earlier cycles of war in the country hallmarked by massacres, large-scale displacement, and widespread hunger and abuses. Afghans comprise one of the worlds largest refugee communities, and the war has killed or maimed more than 5 million since 1978.

Pakistans Taliban divide

This week I delve into why some in Pakistani are cheering for the Talibans battlefield successes while others warn it opens up their country to extremism and terrorism, which have plagued Pakistan for two decades.

The Islamist political parties and jihadist groups in Pakistan are celebrating the American withdrawal from Afghanistan as their victory, Karachi-based journalist Zia Ur Rehman told me. But many people are really concerned about the negative impact of the evolving situation in Afghanistan on their countrys security.

The situation is even trickier considering the poisoned bilateral relations between Islamabad and Kabul, who have recalled their ambassadors while senior officials volley accusations and insults. Even a visit by Zalmay Khalilzad, the U.S. special envoy to Afghanistan, to Islamabad this week achieved little in mending fences.

Russia and China court the Taliban

In response to the vacuum left by the withdrawal of international troops from Afghanistan, Russia and China are seeking to charm an unlikely partner: the Taliban.

Chinas outreach is fueled by attempts to contain threats to its security and interests. Theres always been a level of mistrust that the Chinese have toward the Taliban, Andrew Small, a fellow with the German Marshall Fund, told us. Regardless of what deals they strike and whether they are kept, [Beijing] is also concerned that the groups success could provide inspiration to other groups.

Russian attempts to woo the hard-line Islamists it still officially considers terrorists, however, are more complicated.

The Kremlin is taking a two-track approach in which its Foreign Ministry engages the Taliban while President Vladimir Putins Security Council keeps up appearances with the internationally recognized government in Kabul.

Political analyst Andrei Serenko calls this political schizophrenia, adding that this is a sign that Moscow today does not have a clear position on the Afghan situation.

Boosting regional trade

Bruce Pannier weighs in on a recent conference in Uzbekistan that indicated despite the upheaval in Afghanistan there is still great interest in building trade networks between Central Asia and South Asia.

[This] provides added incentive for countries in both regions to work on bringing stability to Afghanistan and reaping the benefits of trade connectivity, he noted.

But Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan -- Afghanistans Central Asian neighbors -- are taking no chances on security threats spilling over.

Moscow will join Tashkent and Dushanbe in military maneuvers near the Tajik-Afghan border, where Tajikistan has stationed thousands of troops. Moscow has also deployed tanks ahead of the drills. Meanwhile, Turkmenistan is stockpiling aircraft, heavy weaponry, and troops near its border to fend off possible repercussions of the Taliban offensive.

Afghan library is a womens refuge

This week we visit a library in Lashkar Gah, capital of the embattled Helmand Province, that has become a refuge for many. Founder Homaira Nawrozi, 23, tells us in this video report of how she wants to give other Afghans a chance to learn outside of the classroom.

We need to educate men and women in our society to get ourselves out of the crises were facing, like poverty, instability, and male domination, Nawrozi, a part-time teacher, told us.

The library has become especially popular with women, many of whom are worried about what the Talibans increasing gains will mean for their access to schools, books, and learning.

Breathing room for hospitals

In another video report, we meet faculty and students at Kabul Medical University who have built an oxygen-concentrating machine that pulls the vital gas from the air.

All of the machines components were designed by the team, who says the device could help Afghanistan meet its own demand to battle a third wave of COVID infections without having to rely on imports from neighboring countries -- if it can get the investment needed.

If we receive financial, technical, and personnel support, we will be able to produce more of these devices, says Pashtana Banayee Ahmadzai, a professor at Kabul Medical University. We could supply all of the countrys hospitals with medical equipment made here in Afghanistan.

I hope you enjoyed this weeks newsletter, and I encourage you to forward it to colleagues who might find it useful.

If you havent subscribed yet, you can do so here. I encourage you to visit our website and follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Yours,

Abubakar Siddique

Twitter: @sid_abu



P.S.: You can always reach us at gandhara@rferl.org.
Afghanistans Defense Ministry has rejected a Taliban claim that the insurgents control 90 percent of the countrys borders, calling the assertion an "absolute lie.

"It is baseless propaganda," ministry spokesman Fawad Aman told AFP on July 23, a day after a spokesman for the militant group made the claim.

In recent weeks the Taliban has brought large swathes of Afghanistan under its control, including key border crossings, as U.S.-led international forces withdraw, raising increasing concerns that the Afghan government may collapse.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid made the claim in comments to Russian state news agency RIA Novosti on July 22. The statement could not be independently verified.

In an earlier tweet, Aman called the claim "fake news."

On July 21, U.S. General Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the Taliban was in control of almost half of the country's roughly 420 district centers.

Taliban fighters appear to have the "strategic momentum" in their sweeping offensive but the victory is far from assured, Milley said.

Local officials in Herat Province said on July 23 that Afghan forces had liberated the Karukh district in the northwest of the country near the area where Iran, Turkmenistan, and Afghanistan meet.

The Herat Military Council said that according to preliminary reports, 15 Taliban fighters were killed and 20 wounded in the operation. There was no immediate comment from the Taliban.

In the face of the rapid withdrawal of foreign forces and the Taliban's battlefield successes, Tajikistan said on July 22 it had put its entire armed forces on high alert for a combat-readiness check and relocated thousands of troops to the border with Afghanistan.

Russia, which maintains bases in Central Asia, said it would stage military drills with Tajikistan and Uzbekistan near the border with Afghanistan next month.

This story includes reporting by Radio Azadi correspondents on the ground in Afghanistan. Their names are being withheld for their protection.

With reporting by AFP and RIA Novosti
CHAMAN, Pakistan -- Despite allegations of a massacre near a border crossing between southern Afghanistan and Pakistan, foot traffic is resuming across this normally bustling trade and travel crossroads in South Asia.

The partial reopening at a key point of the Afghan-Pakistani border follows a purported deal between Taliban fighters and Pakistani officials.

But ongoing delays and reports of the mounting civilian casualties in nearby Afghan districts under Taliban control highlight major obstacles to the normalization of trade or other aspects of life in the region amid a dire security situation.

In the southern Afghan province of Kandahar, the district around the Spin Boldak border crossing into Pakistan is among dozens that have fallen into Taliban hands since the withdrawal of U.S.-led international troops began in May.

Afghan government forces are said to be trying to retake the district from the militants.

But a Pakistani official told RFE/RL's Radio Mashaal that the partial reopening of the Spin Boldak crossing adjacent to the Pakistani town of Chaman was the result of a July 21 meeting between Taliban representatives and Pakistani border officials.

The source, who did not want to be identified because he was not authorized to talk publicly about the situation, said the Taliban has agreed to allow people to cross the border on foot each day from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.

A former head of the Pakistan Traders Association, Daro Khan Achakzai, told Radio Mashaal on July 23 that merchants are suffering due to insecurity in the area.

He said even though the border is now being opened for foot traffic, containers full of goods intended for trading remain stranded on both sides.

Achakzai said the area on the Afghan side of the border is under Taliban control and that Pakistan doesn't recognize Taliban authority.

He said that means Pakistan also is not accepting documents on things like customs fees -- inflicting huge losses on trapped traders.

And while would-be traders and others are eager to see the checkpoint fully reopened, renewed traffic could complicate a precarious security situation that already has Islamabad and Kabul sniping undiplomatically in public.

Cross-Border Tensions

Afghan officials routinely accuse Pakistan of supporting the Taliban and abetting cross-border attacks.

Such fears intensified on July 22 when Afghan officials alleged Taliban fighters had stormed and looted homes and killed at least 100 innocent civilians in attacks throughout Spin Boldak on orders from their Pakistani "bosses."

The allegation echoed similar charges during recent months in other parts of the country where the Taliban has taken over more sparsely populated districts.

A Taliban spokesman dismissed claims of that group's involvement in attacks on civilians in Spin Boldak.

"The Taliban have always denied any involvement in the incident, which has sparked a huge public outcry, Afghan Interior Ministry spokesman Mirwais Stanekzai told RFE/RL's Radio Azadi on July 23.

But in the Spin Boldak area where the killings took place, no group other than the Taliban holds power, Stanekzai said. "It is under Taliban control, and everything that happens there depends on the Taliban."

The head of Mirwais Hospital in Kandahar told Radio Azadi this week that more than 300 wounded people were admitted over a span of 10 days from nearby war zones, including Spin Boldak.

He said the fighting also killed at least 77 people whose bodies were brought to the hospital, "most of them unidentified.

He said it seems that many civilians are among those killed."

Stanekzai said "the vast majority" of those killed "were civilians and innocent people," including some who "used to work in the government but have been sitting at home for a long time now."

Many of the dead are young people, including athletes, activists, entrepreneurs, vloggers, and people "suspected of sympathies with the government of Afghanistan," he said.

'Revenge' Killings

In newly captured areas, the ministry spokesman said, Taliban gunmen have "initially been friendly to the people but after they took control of the area, they harassed people and even killed some people in retaliatory attacks."

Stanekzai charged that the Taliban have killed...for revenge.

A number of the latest reports appear to testify to revenge killings in the area.

Taliban gunmen evicted and killed a comedian and former Afghan soldier overnight on July 22-23 who was popular on social media in Kandahar's Dand district, which the group overran several days ago. Photos from the scene showed his corpse with his hands tied.

Officials in Kandahar said the Taliban also dragged a tribal elder from Daman district, Mahboob Khan, from his home and shot him dead.

The violence has been so alarming that the withdrawing U.S. forces acknowledged they have conducted recent air strikes to support Afghan security forces, reportedly including in Kandahar.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told Radio Azadi on July 23 that "several air strikes" near the city of Kandahar killed three Taliban fighters.

Mujahid said the Taliban "condemns these U.S. air strikes." He accused the United States violating its February 2020 Doha agreement with the Taliban that paved the way for the withdrawal of international forces.

With heightened international concerns over the Taliban offensive, Kabul was forced on July 23 to publicly refute as "baseless propaganda" a Taliban claim that the militant group now controls 90 percent of Afghanistan's borders.

Afghan government forces have been battling to regain control of Spin Boldak since Taliban fighters captured the district earlier in July.

In the intervening days, Pakistani authorities have repeatedly closed and reopened the Spin Boldak-Chaman crossing.

Its so-called Friendship Gate, a towering brick structure built in 2003, normally facilitates tens of thousands of border crossings a day.

But hundreds of Pakistani and Afghan trucks have been stranded on both sides of the border since its closure on July 18 to coincide with Eid al-Adha, one of Islam's major holidays.

Unlike the Torkham border crossing at the Khyber Pass -- which carries traffic between the eastern Afghan city of Jalalabad and the Pakistani city of Peshawar --there are few visa restrictions on traffic through the Spin-Boldak-Chaman crossing.

Traders and other entrepreneurs on either side of the Torkham crossing have also complained bitterly that the border closure there has affected their businesses.

Maqsood Anwar Mashal, head of the Chamber of Commerce in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, told Radio Mashaal earlier this month that reopening trade routes is a matter of life and death for the province.

"Unless there is peace in Afghanistan, our province will drown because we have no other market," Mashal said. "The social, economic -- there are all kinds of relationships -- they are ours and we are their food. We are one people."

Written by Andy Heil in Prague with reporting by RFE/RL's Radio Mashaal in Chaman, Pakistan, and RFE/RL's Radio Azadi in Kandahar, Afghanistan
Colorado-based writer Pam Houston is this year's recipient of Pikes Peak Library District's annual Frank Waters Award. She'll accept the award and speak at an event Aug. 8 in Colorado Springs. She's the author of several books, including "Cowboys are My Weakness," "Deep Creek" and "Air Mail: Letters of Politics, Pandemics, and Place."
In the second grade, two boys became best friends. The next year, they started playing Dungeons and Dragons together.

And they never really stopped.

A few decades later, friends Jared Scriven and Clay Fuchs have turned their lifelong love of games into a gaming store/coffee shop called Dungeons and Javas in Colorado Springs.

It hasnt been all fun and games so far, though.

The pair, along with Scrivens wife, Candus, opened Dungeons and Java in May 2020, enduring months of slow business due to the pandemic.

But people showed up. They rented games from the shops library. They bought games for Christmas presents in hopes of helping it stay open.

And it has.

Each day, Dungeons and Javas is fulfilling its purpose, which wasnt possible much over the last year. The shop has a packed list of weekly events, including a family board game night on Sundays and a regular meeting of the Colorado Springs Board Game Club.

People come in randomly, too, when theyre looking for a place to play a new game or paint Dungeons and Dragons miniatures.

Scriven said they hosted events via Zoom, but it just wasnt the same.

It was apparent during COVID what we were missing, he said. The thing I enjoy about gaming is getting together with your friends and laughing and actually having conversations.

As people are able to do that again, theyre seeking out Dungeons and Javas.

The place off Austin Bluffs Parkway follows suit of similar concepts like Board Game Republic in Denver.

And, yes, this is a dream place for gamers, whether theyre friends or strangers.

Inside, one corner of the walls are painted to resemble a stoney dungeon. There are rows and rows of games to choose from.

Tables, which Scriven calls ultimate gaming tables are set up around the shop, complete with player pads and cup holders.

Often, youll find groups playing Magic the Gathering, the card game. Or you might find Scriven playing a game called Zombacide.

Theres also a VIP game room with a library of digital maps and the ability to play music and sound effects.

And, to fill those cup holders, theres a menu of coffee options called potions and themed after Dungeons and Dragons.

So far, those details have helped create a community.

We wanted to have a gaming store where everyone feels welcome, Scriven said. And to be that place for people to go and be with their friends.

And its a different experience than playing games at home.

When you actually go to the store to play games, it allows you to disconnect and get away from whatevers going on in life, he said. Its like an escape.

Now that Dungeons and Javas has survived its first year in business and the pandemic, Scriven said hes looking forward to whats next.

Its like, OK, whats the next level? he said. How can we make this even better?
Colorado Springs police arrested a 23-year-old man they say posed online as a teenager to lure children in what detectives call a sexual assault case.

Christian M. Banks of Fountain was held at the El Paso County jail Friday without bail, according to jail records. An initial court hearing in the case was pending.

Suspected DUI driver slices car on tree in Colorado Springs Police suspect a driver was under the influence after smashing a car into a tree near downtown Colorado Springs early Friday morning, law enfo

He was arrested in Colorado Springs after an investigation by the police department's Internet Crimes Against Children unit. Detectives pursued a July 14 tip that Banks was luring children online.

"In one instance, investigators learned that the adult suspect met a 14-year-old female victim online," police said in a statement. "After further communication between the suspect and the victim, the two parties met and the suspect sexually assaulted the victim."

Police say they piled up evidence in the case after searching Banks' home on Southmoor Drive in Fountain. Detectives are also hoping more tipsters come forward.

"While an arrest has been made, this is still an active investigation," police said. "As part of the continuing work being done by investigators, they are seeking any additional information, to include potential unreported incidences involving the suspect."

Fires at Colorado Springs businesses investigated as arson: Police The Colorado Springs Fire Department extinguished two fires in Old Colorado City businesses Wednesday night, and police are investigating them

The Colorado Springs-based Internet Crimes Against Children unit, which includes investigators from several Colorado police agencies and federal law enforcement agents, recently marked its 20-year anniversary.

"Their mission is to protect children by investigating and prosecuting crimes committed against children through the internet or other technology usage," the department said.

Police asked that people with information on the Banks case call the department at 444-7000.
Contemporary racists are back in big fashion, meaning Colorado Springs should remember and cling to its past. We must say no to racism and other forms of hatred. We must always send it packing.

Colorado Springs celebrates its 150th birthday on July 31. About 50 years after the citys founding, Colorado stood at a crossroads. Just as radical factions see Colorado as the modern lab for political experimentation, things were not much different back then. The community had to decide what to do about the Ku Klux Klan, which was taking over Boulder, state government, Denver City Hall, and attempting to infiltrate and control the power structures of most communities throughout the state. The Klan succeeded in amending the Colorado Constitution to contain a Blaine Amendment, which continues obstructing the educational choices of minority children.

If the Klan could control Colorado, mostly by targeting Catholics and Jews, it could port the model to other non-southern states.

The Klan held its first Colorado organizational meeting in Boulder in 1922, after hundreds of hooded Klansmen paraded down Pearl Street. Local businesses openly supported them. A dry cleaner adopted the slogan Klothing Karefully Kleaned. Boulder had a Kash and Karry grocer. The Klan burned a cross on Flagstaff Mountain so large that Coloradans saw it from the plains.

Members of the citys only Catholic church found crosses burning on their lawns.

Only two years later, when Colorado had about 30,000 active Klan members, the Klan infiltrated the Colorado Legislature. Voters elected Klan member Clarence J. Morely, a Denver judge, as governor. Morely ordered University of Colorado President George Norlin to fire Catholics and Jews serving on the CU faculty. Norlin refused, and Morley shut down nearly all state funding of the school.

They truly did control the state, said Leah Davis Witherow, curator for the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum, as quoted in a Gazette story this week by Jessica Snouwaert.

Yet, the Klan did not control Colorado Springs. Just as the Klan amassed power in Boulder and took it to Denver, it tried to take over the Springs. Klansmen burned a cross on Pikes Peak, just as they had on Boulders Flagstaff Mountain.

The community said, no way, not here. The Colorado Springs City Council passed an emergency resolution against marching in hoods, whether it would withstand court scrutiny. The Gazette publicly outed and shamed a local Klansman, publishing his membership card for all to see as a warning to any others who might be enticed to join the Klan.

They never gained the strength they had in other communities, Witherow said.

Fast forward two decades to World War II and the federal government, at the behest of Democratic President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, was rounding up and imprisoning Japanese Americans for fear they might side with Japan in the war. While most of the political and media establishment supported this human rights atrocity, The Gazette crusaded against it and called it unconstitutional.

We would shorten the war and lose fewer lives and less property if we would rescind the order and let the Japanese return and go to work, until such time as we have reason to suspect any individuals of being guilty of being disloyal to America, wrote then-Gazette Publisher R.C. Hoiles in 1942.

Colorado Springs has a long and proud tradition of saying no to hatred and welcoming people of all backgrounds without regard for race, religion or creed. We should never forget the gargantuan efforts by our local churches, governments, businesses, landlords, and civic organizations to invite and welcome victims of Hurricane Katrina. The 2005 storm displaced hundreds of thousands of mostly elderly, poor, nonwhite residents of New Orleans. At least 2,000 found shelter and recovery support in Colorado Springs.

The Springs is a wonderfully diverse city because it tries to accommodate all. Just this week, the Colorado Springs City Council, doubling as the board of Colorado Springs Utilities, worked on a financial package to incentivize new housing for low-income individuals and families. A great city strives to remain welcoming and affordable to all.

Modern racists and other forces against inclusion and unity seldom show up in pointy hats. Thats just so 1920s. Instead, they stand before classrooms and tell the white children to consider themselves oppressors and the nonwhite children to consider themselves oppressed by everything that defines their country. It is a sick return to the past when, as The Gazettes historic reporting explains, the Klan tried to instigate unrest and social discord within communities by exacerbating religious and racial differences.

Colorados Klan of the 1920s mostly worked to pit Protestants against Catholics and Jews. In curriculums endorsed by the National Education Association  an organization that also endorses the political intimidation and divisive tactics of leftist Saul Alinsky  teachers are encouraged to exacerbate racial differences. Known as critical race theory, some school districts give the Marxist curriculum names that include equity, diversity, and other nice-sounding words intended to disguise it.

Colorado, often inspired by leadership in Colorado Springs, has historically rejected hateful and racist movements that highlight differences and foment division. Like the flu or common cold, hate and derision always try to insidiously harm a society pursuing unity, inclusion, and diversity. We must never be fooled. We must spot hatred and stop it, just as Colorado Springs immediately rejected and condemned the Ku Klux Klan.

The Gazette Editorial Board
States weigh bans on ransomware payoffs

As ransomware attacks continue to wreak havoc on police departments, school districts and city and county governments, some state legislators say theyve had enough.

At least three statesNew York, North Carolina and Pennsylvaniaare considering legislation that would ban state and local government agencies from paying ransom if theyre attacked by cybercriminals. A similar bill in Texas died in committee earlier this year.

Prohibiting ransom payments would help deter attacks because cybercriminals would know they couldnt get paid and would have no financial incentive, the legislators say.

If criminals know that Pennsylvania will not pay ransom, we are going to make ourselves a less likely target for these types of attacks, said Republican state Sen. Kristin Phillips-Hill, who is sponsoring a no-ransom bill. Our citizens personal information is on the line. We have to do everything we can to protect them.

But some cybersecurity experts say that while banning ransom payments may be well-intentioned, its a bad idea because local governments, particularly smaller ones, may not be able to restore or rebuild their computer networks quickly. That could prove even more costly and disruptive than paying a ransom.

Extortion is always wrong. Its bad. But this way, youre punishing the victim, said Dan Lohrmann, chief security officer for Security Mentor, a national cybersecurity training firm that works with states. I think it could end up causing more harm than good.

Ransomware typically spreads through phishing, in which hackers email malicious links or attachments and people unwittingly click on them. Malware then hijacks the victims computer system and holds it hostage until the victim either pays a ransom, usually with the cryptocurrency bitcoin, or restores the system on their own.

In recent months, the fallout from ransomware attacks has received widespread public attention. In May, the Colonial Pipeline shutdown sparked panic buying and gas shortages along the East Coast. The company paid more than $4 million to recover its stolen data. In June, JBS, the worlds largest meat processing company, paid an $11 million ransom after it was forced to halt operations at its U.S. plants.

Last week, the Biden administration announced the creation of a multiagency task force to combat ransomware and launched a new website to help companies and government agencies better protect themselves.

Hackers frequently take aim at state and local governments. In 2020, at least 113 state and local governments were affected, according to Brett Callow, a threat analyst for cybersecurity company Emsisoft. Nearly 1,700 schools, colleges and universities also were struck.

Hackers have shut down courts, disrupted 911 systems and prevented police officers from checking suspects criminal histories during traffic stops. They have taken down government websites and prevented residents from paying utility bills or renewing city licenses.

For years, hackers typically didnt steal the ransomed data or make it public. But now, many are downloading files and threatening to release sensitive information as additional leverage if they dont get paid.

Some have made good on that threat.

In May, for example, the city of Tulsa, Oklahoma, was hit in a ransomware attack in which cybercriminals later posted more than 18,000 files, mostly police citations and internal department files, on the dark web. Hackers got access to more than two dozen peoples Social Security numbers. City officials, who refused to pay ransom, had to shut down part of Tulsas computer network and said it could be months before it is fully restored.



The FBI does not support paying a ransom in response to an attack. Nor does the federal Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, which strongly discourages it.

Paying ransoms only encourages this malicious activity, Eric Goldstein, the agencys executive assistant director for cybersecurity, said in an emailed statement to Stateline. Further, paying a ransom provides no assurance that the victims data will be restored.

State bans

The North Carolina House was the first state legislative chamber to pass a no-ransom bill. The House approved the measure 114-0 in May, and it is now in a Senate committee.

The bill would bar any state agency or local government entity from paying ransom in a cyberattack.

The main objective is to take a target off of North Carolinas back, said Republican state Rep. Jake Johnson, one of the bills primary sponsors. Were saying we cannot negotiate with you. Its not legal for us to pay anything. You need to stay away from North Carolina.

Johnson, who chairs the House Information Technology Appropriations Committee, also is proposing lawmakers allocate an additional $15 million to help state and local agencies beef up their cybersecurity.

If you think of a small county, they dont have the capital to go out and hire big firms to do their cybersecurity, he said. My vision is we would have grants set up that would help counties and local governments that need it.

In Pennsylvania, legislators are considering a broader ransomware bill that would make possessing, using or transferring ransomware a criminal offense, ranging from a first-degree misdemeanor to a first-degree felony, depending on the ransom amount. While these actions could fall under a more general computer crime state statute, the bill would make it a specific offense and increase the maximum penalty.
Local

topical alert featured

An eel of a tale: Manly boy reels in slithery catch

Childhood stories of fishing trips with the family typically recount the struggle to reel the fish in and how big it was.

Eleven-year-old Mariano Mosher will instead have an eel of tale to tell.

Contributed photo Mariano Mosher, right, holds up an eel he caught while fishing in the Shell Rock River near the dam in Nora Springs on Tuesday night.

Mariano, who is from Manly, was fishing late Tuesday night for catfish at the Nora Springs dam with his family. His mother, Lindsay Mosher, said it was like any typical night to out fishing.

The pole was really jerking around and I thought it was a big catfish, Mariano said.

Lindsay Moshers boyfriend helped pull the line in for Mariano. When they first saw the animal, they thought it was just a snake.

But when Mariano pulled it onto land, everyone was shocked at what they saw: A creature that clearly was not a snake but had the characteristics of an eel.

My first reaction to seeing it was very, very shocked and a little scared, Mariano said.

Lindsay Mosher said that Mariano stands just over four feet tall and the creature was about three feet in length. She added that the slender animal weighed close to 10 pounds.

We didnt know what to do with it, she said.

They released the animal back into the water after taking a few photos with it, because everyone needs proof of their fish ... or eel tale. Lindsay Mosher called Iowa Department of Natural Resources to report it and to get more answers.

The DNR told her that they thought Mariano had caught a lamprey, a long freshwater fish with sucking mouth. Lindsay Mosher said she did not think the water creature was a lamprey because it did not have a round mouth.

Scott Grummer, a fisheries biologist with Iowa DNR, says Mariano caught an American eel.

Catching one is a unique and rare instance, Grummer said.

Contributed photo What was identified by Iowa DNR biologist Scott Grummer as an American eel was caught by Mariano Mosher in the Shell Rock River near the Nora Springs dam Tuesday night.

American eels are catadromous, meaning they hatch in the Atlantic Ocean then migrate to fresh water. The eels then stay in fresh water until they reach sexual maturity before heading back to the ocean.

Grummer said that it is not common to find one in Iowa because of the journey it would have to make to reach Iowa waterways, and since they are mainly nocturnal.

Marianos eel would've had to navigate through numerous locks and dams in order to end up in Nora Springs. Grummer added that the eel from that night might have been trying to figure out how to conquer the obstacle of the dam since it was caught at the bottom of it.

American eels have the ability to slither short distances on land if necessary, according to Grummer, a possible solution when the eels cant conquer water obstacles.

The eels can reach five to six feet and weigh up to 10 to 15 pounds. American eels might reach full length but stay in fresh water for a couple seasons.

Grummer said the last instance of an American eel being caught in North Iowa was by another young angler back in July 2017 in Greene. The Moshers did the right thing by letting it go back into the water to give it the chance to travel back to the ocean, he said.

Mariano says he is excited for his next fishing trip with his family.

Maybe Ill catch something bigger, he said.

$1 for 3 months to support local journalism
Proving the inadequacy of a mattress as a hiding spot, a Mason City man is now in jail after attempting to first flee, then hide from law enforcement late Thursday night.

A Cerro Gordo County Sheriff's deputy was attempting a traffic stop of a car driven by Jeremy Nicholas Mulford, 41, around 11:30 p.m. on 12th Street Southeast and Federal Avenue, when Mulford took off in his 2003 Chevrolet Astro Van. Mulford's van reached speeds of 90 mph through the city until he reached his home at 504 Sixth St. SE, according to a press release issued Friday morning by the sheriff's department.

Mulford fled the van and ran into his home to hide, eventually ending up under a mattress, where deputies found and promptly arrested him.

Support Local Journalism Your membership makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}}

Mulford was wanted on several Cerro Gordo warrants, including violation of parole; trespassing; failure to appear on a 2nd degree theft and eluding charges; 2nd, 3rd and 4th degree theft; 1st degree criminal mischief; three counts of trespassing; and ongoing criminal conduct. Charges from Thursday night include eluding and driving under suspicion, and further charges are possible as the investigation is ongoing.

Mulford finds himself on a much thinner mattress, courtesy of the Cerro Gordo County Jail, where he is being held on a $20,000 cash bond.
"I believe that a free and informed person should make their own decision," said Rep. Terry Baxter, R-Garner. Baxter added the mandate would affect people in his district, which covers Hancock, Wright, and part of Kossuth County.

Sen. Dennis Guth, R-Klemme, says he has been researching the vaccine for a long time now. For him, decisions like Trinity's should be based on science.

"We all should have the decision to choose what we put into our body, especially healthcare professionals, and that right shouldn't be taken away," Guth said.

Others who did not sign the letter also had questions.

"Ever since Trinity made the announcement that employees and vendors would have to get vaccinated or be terminated, my phone has been ringing with calls, Facebook messages and emails," said Rep. Shannon Latham, R-Sheffield. "These healthcare workers  the very same healthcare workers who have been our heroes throughout this pandemic  are now being faced with what is for many an impossible choice: take an experimental vaccine or face termination."

Support Local Journalism Your membership makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}}

Latham added she has been working on getting answers about Trinity's decision. One of her concerns is hearing reports that a quarter of MercyOne and its clinics could either quit or be terminated because of the policy.
FRIDAY, SEPT. 7

GOD'S PIT CREW GOLF TOURNAMENT: Golf tournament sponsored by USW Local 831 and Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. will be held at Goodyear Golf Club. Team registrations are being accepted. The tournament will be 4-person, captain's choice, shotgun choice, shotgun start with tee times at 8 a.m. and again at 1 p.m. Breakfast biscuits and grab-and-go lunch will be provided and heavy hors d'oeuvres will be served at the awards ceremony at the end of the day. Every player will be entered into a drawing in the million-dollar shootout. Registration is encouraged by Sept. 1. Contact Sandra Adams at 434-836-4472 for more information.

SUNDAY, SEPT. 19

HANDEL'S MESSIAH: Danville Area Choral Arts Society presents selections from Handels Messiah with string quintet, harpsichord and trumpet at 3 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 937 Main St. Admission is free.

ONGOING

DANVILLE MASTER GARDENER HELP DESK: The Danville Master Gardener Help Desk is available to answer gardening, lawn and landscaping questions every Monday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. through October. Call the Cooperative Extension Office at 434-799-6558 or email danvillemastergardeners@gmail.com

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: As part of the VCU Massey Cancer Center Office of Health Equity and Disparities Research, the Cancer Research and Resource Center in Danville is studying factors that impact colorectal cancer screening in local clinics. Resident of Virginia who receive care from a local community health center are asked to call 434-791-5205 or email masseycrrc@vcuhealth.org. You will be asked to complete a 30-35 minute interview and will receive a gift card as compensation for time.
Dacha Fitzgerald, 29, of Bassett, says the bullet is still in his head after being shot while at work in Danville but hes thankful to be alive and recovering at home.

Fitzgerald was working at the American Freight Furniture Mattress Appliance store he manages on Riverside Drive in Danville shortly before 2:30 p.m. on July 14 when police said he was shot in the head by another employee.

Police arrested Jaivon Alonzo Scott, 32, behind the AutoZone nearby after he was chased down by three police officers.

A motive for the shooting has not been disclosed.

Fitzgerald was shot once in the back of the head and was transported by ambulance to Sovah Health-Danville, where he was airlifted to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital.

Fitzgerald was treated and released and went back to Roanoke for a follow-up visit Thursday, when the trauma surgeon removed the staples and made sure the wound was healing properly.

They are not going to remove the bullet as it will probably work itself out and, if not, will not move or cause future issues, Fitzgerald wrote in an update on his Facebook page. I do have a severe concussion that will have to be monitored until the symptoms go away ... still in some pain and my ears are still ringing.
Interior Secretary Deb Haaland is paying her first visit Friday to the new Colorado headquarters of her department's Bureau of Land Management after its relocation from the nation's capital by the Trump administration sparked criticism that the move was intended to gut the agency that oversees vast tracts of public lands in the West.

The BLM headquarters has been in staffing turmoil after the 2019 move to Grand Junction and after four years without a confirmed director. Interior had planned to move more than 320 headquarters jobs to Grand Junction. But agency officials recently confirmed that only three workers ultimately relocated. The revelation was first reported by the media outlet Colorado Newsline.

Haaland is reviewing whether the move should stand. Proponents of the move called it a reorganization that put top agency officials closer to the nearly quarter-billion acres of public lands it oversees. Environmental advocates say it weakened the agency which handles fossil fuel extraction, recreation and livestock grazing. As a member of Congress, Haaland opposed the move.
Drs. Maria Puschinsky and Richard Puschinsky would play piano recordings, their daughter recalled, then added piano lessons.

Support Local Journalism Your subscription makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}}

"And it just worked out," Audrey said with a laugh.

She could read music before she could read, her father recalled.

Her parents began taking her to watch EMF concerts, orchestra rehearsals and master classes when she was 5, when her feet probably didn't reach the floor in Guilford College's Dana Auditorium.

"I thought they would be a great way to introduce her to world-class musicians locally," said Maria Puschinsky, a veterinarian. "It was like a game to see how many EMF concerts we could get to in a summer. One summer, we had 35."

Even though Audrey fell asleep during some concerts, "She seemed to enjoy her practice and her recitals more after shed experienced these kinds of performances," added Richard Puschinsky, a urologist.

Although she didn't understand everything she heard, Audrey said: "It was getting embedded into my brain. ... Even if I didnt know the name of a piece, I would hear it and think I have heard that, probably at EMF, when I was like 9."
GREENSBORO  Cone Health said Thursday it will require all employees and even volunteers be vaccinated against COVID-19, a move also being made by the state's other large health care systems.

The hospital system, which serves Guilford, Alamance, Rockingham, Forsyth, Caswell and Randolph counties, said in a news release the decision comes as the coronavirus' more contagious delta variant increasingly dominates new cases in the state and nation.

I sincerely believe that this decision is absolutely the right thing to do for our patients and the communities we serve, Cone Health CEO Dr. Mary Jo Cagle said in the release. Vaccination is critically important in health care settings. It is one way that we ensure a safe environment for all members of our community.

Of Cone Health's more than 13,000 employees, 62% are vaccinated, according to Patrick Wright, a marketing and communications specialist.

While Cone Health's new policy takes effect next week, employees will be given time to meet the requirement, Wright said.

Along with employees and volunteers, medical and dental staff and professional students will also need to be vaccinated at Cone Health sites.
That side of the blaze also had burned into an area blackened by a previous fire, creating gaps in the fuel and reducing the spread of flames through grass, shrub and timber, Gracey said.

In California, the Tamarack Fire south of Lake Tahoe has now burned more than 91 square miles (235 square kilometers) of timber and head-high chaparral of mostly national forest land, fire officials said Friday.

The fire, sparked by lightning July 4 in Alpine County, has destroyed at least 10 buildings and forced the evacuation of more than 2,400 homes. That includes about 1,300 that were ordered evacuated for the first time Thursday when blowing embers ignited a new spot fire that jumped U.S. Highway 395 north of Topaz Lake on the California-Nevada line.

Pat Seekins, operations section chief for the Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team that was called in to manage the fire, said Friday they were shifting significant resources to its eastern flank along the state line. More than 1,300 firefighters were battling the overall fire, and more resources were on their way.

Seekins said the spot fire grew very large very quickly. It already has burned an estimated 10 square miles (26 square kilometers).
As we anticipate another pleasant summer weekend in North Carolina, no doubt many among us plan to head to the great outdoors, to our regions parks, forests and beaches, to facilities and amenities that allow us to experience the unbridled beauty of our state. Our region is unmatched by any when it comes to appealing hiking trails, campgrounds, lakes, rivers, mountains and other natural wonders.

But as we do so, well need to keep in mind an unexpected complication: smoke from distant wildfires that have caused air-pollution levels in the Piedmont to spike. A Code Orange air-quality alert was announced throughout the state on Wednesday, the Winston-Salem Journals Wesley Young reported earlier this week.

Hazy skies caused by the fires have been reported from Asheville to the Triad, and extend north all the way to New York.

As a result, seniors, children, athletes and those with heart disease or lung diseases such as asthma  all of us, really  have been advised by weather forecasters and air-quality experts to limit prolonged or heavy exertion outdoors.

Code Orange means theres also a burn ban in effect.

On the bright side, maybe lawn mowing and other outdoor chores can be delayed another week.
GREENSBORO  Tests at the city's North Buffalo wastewater treatment plant show a sustained upward trend that residents are shedding  through their stools  particles of the virus that causes COVID-19.

The plant, the only one being tested locally, serves nearly 136,000 people in the north half of Greensboro.

The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services is testing samples from 19 wastewater treatment plants across the state to look for evidence of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes the disease. A Charlotte wastewater treatment plant is the only other one in North Carolina showing a "statistically significant increasing trend," according to the state.

People who are infected with COVID-19 shed viral particles in their feces, according to a news release from NCDHHS. Though the particles are no longer infectious in wastewater, they are measurable if enough people are infected.

Phone calls and emails seeking comment from state and local health officials late Thursday afternoon were not returned.
Graduates walk under the Lemoore Fire Department flag to their seats Thursday night at Lemoore High School.
The family of Darrian Martin, pictured, is organizing a blood drive in the 21-year-old's memory. Martin was killed last month when she was struck by a vehicle.
City-County Consolidated Planning Committee: One citizen to serve as a city representative. Interim term will begin upon appointment and expire on September 1, 2021. Thereafter terms are three years. One member to be selected as a joint appointment of the city and county. Term is three years. An inter-local agreement between the City of Helena and Lewis and Clark County, dated June 4, 2001, re-established the City-County Consolidated Planning Board. The nine-member board shall consist of the following: two official members to reside outside the City limits, but within Lewis & Clark County and two official members who reside within the jurisdictional area of the Board to be appointed by the Board of County Commissioners, four official members to reside within the City limits to be appointed by the City Commission and the ninth member shall be a joint appointment. Terms are three-years. The Board shall perform planning functions for the City and County and shall be the sole Planning Board to serve either or both governmental entities. Duties of this Board will be to ensure the promotion of public health, safety, morals, convenience, order and the general welfare, and for the sake of efficiency and economy in the process of community development, the Board shall prepare a growth policy and serve in an advisory capacity to the local governing bodies establishing said Board.
The Rocky Mountain Development Council has been combating broken air conditioning units since July 1 at its Eagle Manor Residences in Helena.

According to operations director Kathy Marks, the issues stemmed from coil blockages on the second, third and fourth floors of the 66-unit affordable housing facility. Working with two separate contractors, RMDC has been trying to get the problem resolved for the majority of the month but are still waiting on some parts to fix a few remaining units.

The outages have occurred during times that temperatures have gotten into the 90s.

Marks said there are about eight "cottage" units that remain without air conditioning along with the main office and lobby on the first floor of the building. So far three residents were moved due to health concerns. One resident was moved to a different room with air conditioning and two other residents were moved into hotel rooms paid for by RMDC.

"We really want to take care of our seniors," Marks said. "It's really unfortunate that this happened at a time when it's so hot outside."
Eli Siegel, the owner of Market Maven in Baltimore, is also saving Ben & Jerry's inventory in the hopes that the company retracts Monday's statement. If it doesn't, he said, dropping the ice cream brand is "something we're willing to commit to long-term."

Market Maven serves mainly Orthodox Jews who Siegel says love Ben & Jerry's non-dairy products because they meet high kosher standards, and religious Jews don't eat dairy and meat in the same meal. "People love it, people look for it, people request it," he said. "Financially, it was a hard decision to make."

Siegel says Market Maven would have done the same thing if it felt another community was being discriminated against. Last summer, he says, it put up a Black Lives Matter sign to show solidarity with the Black community of Baltimore. "As a community supermarket, we feel that the right thing to do is to stand up for everybody," he said.

One grocery store in South Florida posted an Instagram story of a man taking pints of Ben & Jerry's Phish Food from the shelves and throwing them directly into a garbage can. "I was really hoping to create some more freezer space," the man said. "And then Ben & Jerry's did it for me!"
Thumbs down

Driving more than 30 mph over the speed limit in a construction zone is bad, but the way a state senator reacted after he got caught for the violation was far worse.

In May, a Montana Highway Patrol trooper pulled over Senate President Pro Tempore Jason Ellsworth for driving 88 mph in a 55-mph construction zone between Helena and Townsend. The Hamilton Republican told the trooper he was headed to a legislative session the following morning and demanded to be let go.

Ellsworth also told the officer to call the attorney general and ignored multiple orders to get back in his car.

The senator is charged with obstructing a peace officer and exceeding the posted speed limit in a construction zone and an alternative charge of reckless driving, as he should be. Kudos to the MHP officer for holding Ellsworth accountable and to Attorney General Austin Knudsen for condemning his inappropriate behavior.

Now its up to Ellsworths constituents to decide whether they want to be represented by someone who is willing to abuse his power to avoid the consequences of his actions.

At the very least, he owes them an explanation and an apology.

Thumbs down
DECATUR  Denise Smith lives in rural Sullivan and commutes to Coles County, so shes well aware of any fluctuations in fuel prices. And there sure have been plenty lately.

"Living in a rural community, you have to travel; and for most of my career, I have commuted," Smith said. "I am used to it, but gas prices do have an impact."

Said AAA spokeswoman Molly Hart: There's a couple of different things going on. Crude oil has regained some strength this week after dropping last week, with prices above $70 a barrel. The delta variant (of COVID-19) means numbers are rising again, but opinions are that rise in cases won't derail growing demand.

The Energy Information Administration estimated that gas demand for the week ending July 2, which included only one day of the Independence Day holiday weekend, was the highest in 30 years.

The economy has reopened, and demand as a rule is close to normal levels, said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy. The problem is supply is not at normal levels. Part of the reason is the amount of drop in demand last year and the price dropping last year, forced the hand of oil companies, so they shut down production.

Last year, with the virus creating so many shutdowns and people traveling much less, supply and demand dictated low gas prices. OPEC laid off workers and decreased production in the Middle East, but has reached an agreement to increase production next month.

The lower production was complicated by the fact that during the pandemic, laid-off truck drivers took jobs with companies like Amazon and that resulted in fewer of them available to deliver gas to retail outlets.

Support Local Journalism Your membership makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}}

The prices are especially painful for drivers who just a year ago saw gas fall to its lowest point since 2016, but who couldnt take advantage because the virus pandemic limited travel.

Sherrie Dhermy of Dalton City took a family trip in June to Myrtle Beach and gas prices ranged from $2.14 to $2.70 outside of Illinois.

It took a chunk of the gas budget set aside, she said.

Smith, the Sullivan resident, said shes worried about the impact on local tourism, especially around Lake Shelbyville.

For her, finances have to be stretched. Her family uses a pickup as part of living on a farm, and filling its gas tank has cost more than $100 recently. She said gas for mowing their property also has been expensive. They've cut costs and reduced driving, and her teenage daughter is working extra hours at her part-time job to help cover gas costs for her vehicle.

Theres also concern at the Habitat for Humanity chapter where she volunteers.

Decatur police top state agencies for DUI arrests in 2020 The Decatur Police Department topped a list of law enforcement agencies making the most arrests for people driving under the influence in 2020.

"The fuel prices definitely translate to higher prices for materials and other costs related to the build," Smith said.

Overall, the national gas price average has increased 40% since the start of the year, according to AAA, and drivers can expect the price to keep rising. The highest recorded cost for a gallon of regular gas was $4.187, which happened in June 2013.

De Haan said the changes in fuel prices signal a post-COVID economy.

I don't think anyone, in our best case scenario, would have thought the economy would come back so fast and furious. Oil prices have gone up because things have gotten better, the economy is open, Americans are getting out, he said. The imbalance between supply and demand means we're paying more than we're accustomed to.

Rob Stroud, of the Journal Gazette/Times-Courier, and the Associated Press contributed to this report

Contact Valerie Wells at (217) 421-7982. Follow her on Twitter: @modgirlreporter

Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0

The business news you need With a weekly newsletter looking back at local history. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy.

Valerie Wells Education Reporter Education reporter for the Herald & Review. Follow Valerie Wells 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
SALT LAKE CITY (AP)  People in Utah are gathering to celebrate the state's history and recognize early Mormon pioneers who trekked west in search of religious freedom.

Pioneer Day is a beloved only-in-Utah holiday every July 24 that features parades, rodeos, fireworks and more. The festivities were canceled last year because of the pandemic.

Hundreds of people on Friday camped and staked out spots along the parade route in downtown Salt Lake City.

Pioneer Day marks the date in 1847 when Brigham Young and other Mormon pioneers, many pulling handcarts, ended their treacherous journey across the country from Illinois to the Salt Lake Valley.

Many businesses and government offices close for the state holiday.

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Republican U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger, an ardent foe of former President Donald Trump and his GOP allies in Congress, was being considered by Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi as a late addition to a select committee examining the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, the panels chair said Thursday.

A day earlier, House GOP leader Kevin McCarthy pulled all five of his Republican members from what was supposed to be a 13-member panel after Pelosi vetoed two of them. She contended Republican Reps. Jim Jordan of Ohio and Jim Banks of Indiana could not render independent judgment because of their past statements and support for Trump.

Illinois Rep. Rodney Davis of Taylorville was one of three other members McCarthy tapped to serve on the select committee. Davis, who is considering a run for governor, has sought to carefully navigate his way among Republican Trump supporters. But he labeled Pelosis panel a sham in a fundraising email after she vetoed the two GOP members and McCarthy yanked the rest of the picks.

Pelosi has already selected one Republican member to the committee, Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming, and may be looking to add to a veneer of bipartisanship by adding more GOP members.

Cheney and Kinzinger were the only two House Republicans to support the Pelosi panel after Senate Republicans rejected a House-passed effort to create a bipartisan independent commission to look into the storming of the Capitol on Jan. 6 and Trumps role in inspiring the attack.

Cheney and Kinzinger were also among 10 House Republicans who supported Trumps impeachment. Cheney was stripped of her role in House Republican leadership as a result.

On Thursday, Rep. Bennie Thompson, the Massachusetts Democrat chairing the select committee, told CNN that adding Kinzinger to the panel has been discussed with Pelosi.

I know its been discussed, Thompson said, adding that if Kinzinger were selected it will be a welcome addition.

Kinzingers office did not have any immediate comment.

But earlier this month, he replied, Who gives a s---? when asked by reporters about McCarthys threat to strip committee assignments from any GOP member who joined the panel.

Of McCarthy, Kinzinger added: When youve got people that say crazy stuff and youre not gonna make that threat (to them, but) to make the threat (to) the truth tellers, youve lost, you know, any credibility.

Pelosi on Thursday made clear that regardless of McCarthys actions, the select committee would move forward with its investigation.

This is deadly serious. This is about our Constitution, its about our country. Its about assault on the capital that is being mischaracterized. For some reason, at the expense of finding the truth for the American people, Pelosi said.

Like Kinzinger, Davis, a five-term central Illinois congressman who is the ranking Republican on the House Administration Committee, had backed the independent commission to look into the Jan. 6 insurrection that was blocked by Senate Republicans.

But Davis derided Pelosis panel after McCarthy pulled him and the other GOP members. Davis likened himself to Jordan as strong conservatives who were standing up to Nancy Pelosi and her sham investigation into Jan. 6 in a fundraising email.

They were so scared that I was going to expose them for the lies they have been feeding the American people, they refused to seat our GOP members, Davis said of Democrats. Its clear that this is just a partisan ploy to attack President Trump.

Abby Witt, executive director of the state Democratic Party, contended Davis was not interested in finding the truth about Jan. 6 and was only focused on proving his credentials as an extreme GOP Trump loyalist.

Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0
The traffic and parking plan is the only plan related to the event that has not been formally approved, Ayers said. The board approved the permit because Purpose Driven Events received signatures from all relevant regulating agencies for their plans.

We have gone above and beyond our due diligence with both the revisions of our music festival ordinance and in our consideration of the application for the Blue Ridge Rock Festival, Bob Warren, chairman of the Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors, said in a prepared statement. I am confident that all of the planning will allow this event, as well as the two that were previously permitted, to proceed safely and efficiently.

The Blue Ridge Rock Festival is the third and largest music festival at the Blue Ridge Amphitheater in Blairs that has received a permit from the board.

During a special called meeting on June 22, supervisors approved permits for Worship at the Mountain  a three-day Christian Music festival expected to draw in more than 8,000  and the Blue Ridge Country Festival, which is also expected to have more than 10,000 attendees. Worship at the Mountain is scheduled for Sept. 3-5 and the Blue Ridge Country Festival is scheduled for Oct. 1-3.

New ordinance
BRISTOL, Tenn.  Endo, the last drug company left in the Sullivan Baby Doe lawsuit, offered the plaintiffs $35 million Thursday  a mere sliver of what they asked for, and a step toward a settlement that could be finalized as early as next week.

The sum is about 1.5% of the original $2.4 billion that nine Northeast Tennessee counties and a slew of cities and towns within them sought in damages from the company for its role in the regions massive opioid addiction crisis. That $2.4 billion demand didnt include the damages also sought by Baby Doe, a Sullivan County baby born addicted to opioids and the cases namesake.

Endos parent company, Endo International PLC, announced the $35 million offer in a Thursday afternoon statement on its website, saying that Endo had reached an agreement in principle to settle with the plaintiffs.

Its tricky to find a hard definition of an agreement in principle, but it appears to mean a first  and incomplete  pass at a settlement.

Endos statement said that the settlement itself wont be sealed until it receives final approval from some plaintiffs and the official documentation is complete. The settlement money will be split among the cases 28 plaintiffs in their discretion, according to the statement.
Support Local Journalism Your subscription makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}}

I think its an opportunity for both the regional jail and the city of Bristol to save money. Im excited about it, Young said after the meeting. Financially, it could be a positive for both sides if we structure the deal correctly. I was the county attorney for Tazewell County in 2005, when we negotiated a deal to become a regional jail, and Ive been a witness to the tremendous savings weve had with the regional jail system with the past 15 years. It could be a big win for Bristol and us because it spreads our debt service over a broader base.

Negotiations are expected to begin soon, and the board could consider a deal at its next meeting, authority Chairman Phil McCall said.

Hopefully, at our next board meeting in October, we will discuss this and approve it or not, McCall said. Well have all the figures in, but it would probably be January before everything could be finalized.

Asked about potential support or opposition, McCall said he thinks most board members are in agreement.

Its all in the figures, who it might help or who it might hurt. Hopefully, it wont hurt anybody, McCall said.
ABINGDON, Va.  Washington County Public School Board officials have opted to take no action on any policy changes that could affect the rights of transgender students.

On Monday in Abingdon, dozens of people addressed the Washington County School Board at its regular meeting, with many voicing concerns about transgender students.

Some said they wanted to be sure that bathrooms remained for biological boys or girls. Others spoke on the rights of all students.

I think were heading into a hornets nest, what were fixing to do, said Dennis Arnold, the grandfather of a Washington County schoolgirl.

Arnold said he was concerned that the states model policy for transgender rights could have boys and girls in the same bathrooms at schools.

The Lord gave us two genders  a boy and a girl, Arnold said.

Part of the states model policy says school divisions should adopt policies that will protect transgender students from bullying and harassment.

They are saying that they could take a 5-year-old boy and teach him that hes a girl, and they dont have to tell his parents that, said Mike Dye, when speaking at the Washington County School Board meeting on Monday.
HICKORY  Catawba Valley Community College recently served as the host for one of three regional locations for the 2021 4-H Electric Congress, welcoming 28 youth to its campus this past week for the yearly event.

Continuing our long-term partnership with Duke Energy through their 4-H Electric Congress was an awesome opportunity for us to talk to these motivated young people about their futures by showing them the quality opportunities that we provide as a college, said Garrett Hinshaw, president of CVCC. We were thrilled to host this program on our campus this year.

The 4-H Electric Congress, which normally meets in one location in North Carolina, was modified this year due to COVID-19 to include three regional hosts in the western, central and eastern parts of the state.

CVCC was selected as the regional host for the west, welcoming students ages 11-18 from counties in the western part of the state, including Catawba, Alexander, Burke and Lincoln.
The information below has been supplied by dairy marketers and other industry organizations. It has not been edited, verified or endorsed by Hoards Dairyman.

Wisconsin 4-H Foundation and Wisconsin Beef Council announced a social media contest that will feature Wisconsin 4-H Beef Exhibitors throughout the month of July. Community members, family, and friends will have the opportunity to nominate a 4-H member who has achieved outstanding work during their time in the program.

In the past four years, the Wisconsin 4-H Beef Project has averaged 3,500 participants per year. Up to 2020, the number of participants have steadily increased, making the beef project one of the most popular programs in the state. 66 out of the 72 Wisconsin counties have an active 4-H Beef Program. The Wisconsin 4-H Program serves around 30,000 youth across the state.





Throughout this month until July 21st. To nominate a 4-H member, a nominator can:

Take 5-10 minutes to fill out the nomination survey: https://tinyurl.com/Wi4HCelebratesBeefTogether

Provide brief information about themselves and the nominee

Provide a photo of the nominee



Each youth nominated will be featured on the Wisconsin 4-H Foundation page, as well as receive the opportunity to win a prize package that includes 4-H branded BOGS, a $50 Culvers Gift Card, and a 4-H Swag Bag. Facebook users will have the opportunity to 'vote' for their favorite 4-H Beef Farmer by 'liking' their photo and caption; the 4-Her with the most likes by the end of the week will receive the prize package.



The contest will begin on July 25th and end on July 31st, with the announcement of the winner on August 1st. Nominees must be a Wisconsin 4-H member and enrolled in the Wisconsin Beef Project.





The Wisconsin 4-H Foundation and Wisconsin Beef Council encourage social media users to include #Wi4HCelebratesBeefTogether on their social media posts throughout their time at county fairs this summer.
The information below has been supplied by dairy marketers and other industry organizations. It has not been edited, verified or endorsed by Hoards Dairyman.

Beginning July 15, dairy businesses in Tennessee, North Carolina and Kentucky will be eligible to apply for a new round of funding to modernize and diversify their operations through the Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives (DBII) program.

The first round of funds for this program was made available in 2020 as part of an ongoing grant from the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service. So far, the University of Tennessee Department of Animal Science in partnership with the UT Center for Profitable Agriculture and Tennessee Department of Agriculture have awarded approximately $165,000 through DBII to Tennessee dairy producers.

In this new round of DBII funding, the pool of potential recipients is being expanded to include dairy businesses in Kentucky and North Carolina as well as Tennessee. The scale of projects that can be funded through this phase of funding has also grown.

Starting July 15, applicants in the three states will have the opportunity to submit project proposals for up to $500,000. The program will support projects of many sizes, but those making requests exceeding $150,000 should operate a viable dairy farm and/or dairy plant and utilize a large portion of local milk. Their grant proposal should include a robust business plan.

DBII is working in affiliation with North Carolina State University and the Kentucky Dairy Development Council (KDDC) to publicize and evaluate applications for this round of grant funding.

Anyone who has questions about the program or about allowable expenses or purchases should reach out to project leader and UT Extension Dairy Specialist Liz Eckelkamp at

eeckelka@utk.edu

or Hal Pepper, financial specialist with the UT Center for Profitable Agriculture, at

hal.pepper@utk.edu

.





Through its land-grant mission of research, teaching and extension, the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture touches lives and provides Real. Life. Solutions. utia.tennessee.edu
A day after French President Emmanuel Macron called for an urgent national security meeting in relation to the Pegasus spyware case, he has changed his mobile handset and his phone number, a presidency official said on Thursday, 22 July.

This comes after media reported that phone numbers linked to at least 14 world leaders, including French President Emmnuel Macron, were among the potential Pegasus spyware targets.

The presidency official was quoted as saying, "He's got several phone numbers. This does not mean he has been spied on. It's just additional security," Reuters reported. However, Macrons security protocols are being adapted, government spokesman Gabriel Attal said.

Also Read: Amnesty Stands Firm With Pegasus Project Findings, Refutes BJP's Claim

An hour after yesterday's Cabinet meeting, Attal said, "Obviously we're taking (this) very seriously."

Meanwhile, as the Pegasus revelations continue, prosecutors in Paris have opened a probe following complaints from investigative website Mediapart and the satirical newspaper Le Canard Enchaine, AFP reported.

Several international media organisations reported that the Pegasus spyware was used in snooping on smartphones belonging to journalists, human rights activists and government officials in several countries, including 300 phone numbers in India.

Though it has not been established if an attempted or successful hacking had taken place, as Macrons phone has not yet been forensically analysed, evidence of an attempted hacking, allegedly originating in Morocco, was found on the device of former environment minister Francois De Rugy.

De Rugy on Tuesday, 20 July, demanded Morocco to provide "explanations to France, to the French government, and individuals like me, who was a member of the French government when there was an attempt to hack and access the data on my mobile phone", AFP reported.

Macron Was Not a Target: NSO

Denying that Macron was a target, Chaim Gelfand, chief compliance officer at NSO Group, told Israeli television network i24 on Wednesday, 21 July, we can specifically come out and say for sure that the president of France, Macron, was not a target.

Story continues

NSO had earlier said that it does not operate the systems that it sells to vetted government customers and neither does it claim to have access to the data of its customers targets. However, it can obtain the NSO for investigation purposes.

Also Read: 'Only Word for This is Treason': Rahul Gandhi Slams Centre on Pegasus Report

(With inputs from Reuters and AFP)

. Read more on World by The Quint.Pegasus: France's Emmanuel Macron Changes Phone After Name Appears in List Sidhu Takes Charge as Punjab Cong Chief, Amarinder Says 'Will Work Together' . Read more on World by The Quint.
The Reserves Network will celebrate the grand opening of the companys Concord office with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Tuesday, Aug. 3 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

I noticed that Prime Beverage, with that big location over off Kannapolis Parkway, now also has some space leased in one of the buildings off International Boulevard (near Poplar Tent Road).

It looks like Cabarrus County is becoming a beverage hub. Weve got Pepsi is Harrisburg and Prime Beverage in Kannapolis and now Red Bull coming. I still wonder what drinks Prime Beverage cans.

No. 5

A few housekeeping issues. As most of you know the Independent Tribune no longer has an office. Please dont drop things off at our old location on Church Street. The landlord there has been very good about trying to get things to us, but it is unfair for them to keep having to deal with our stuff.

We are having trouble with deliveries. I appreciate those of you who have let me know so that we can try to get things fixed. Sometimes the calls to our customer service center in Tulsa, Oklahoma don't solve the issues. If I can get the problem location to someone locally we have a better chance of correcting the problem.
This wasnt a mild offense in which she conspired, said Utah Republican Sen. Mike Lee. People are hurt and killed by this kind of behavior.

Energy committee Chairman Joe Manchin said he closely reviewed the case and found no evidence Stone-Manning was directly involved or committed a crime. The West Virginia Democrat said the decades she spent in public service and environmental advocacy work made Stone-Manning a good choice for the bureau.

I think of Tracy Stone-Manning being a youthful sympathizer for the environment, said Manchin, whose reputation as a moderate made his vote closely watched. There's no proof that she's guilty of any of these things we've been talking about.

Republican lawmakers sought to dramatize Stone-Mannings ties to the sabotage case during Thursdays hearing, by holding up metal spikes similar to the ones that were used in 1989.

Idaho Republican Sen. James Risch referred to her as an attempted murderer because of the potential for the spikes to harm loggers. The remark drew a sharp rebuke from New Mexico Democratic Sen. Martin Heinrich, who said he was disgusted by Republican lies and the attempt to besmirch Stone-Manning.
Attorney Max Meyers with the Mississippi Center for Justice was gearing up to submit DACA paperwork on behalf of 40 young immigrants last week, most of them first-time applicants. But he had to scrap those plans.

It really just throws everybody back into uncertainty, he said. Rather than people treat people as humans with foundational needs to go to school and be able to get a job, a judge decided that politics is more important in striking this down.

Advocates were informed that as of last week, Citizenship and Immigration Services had 90,000 new DACA applications pending, according to Astrid Silva, executive director of Dream Big Nevada.

She said the agency received 50,000 applications in the first three months of the year but made decisions on fewer than 1,000.

After the application period opened in December following the Supreme Court decision, Silva said advocates were patient with the delays, understanding the agency might face a backlog from the coronavirus pandemic or other issues. But as time went on, they started to wonder what might be wrong.
The so-called Gerald Hege bill has cleared the General Assembly after the state Senate approved the legislation Thursday.

The bill goes to Gov. Roy Cooper, who has 10 days after it is presented to sign it, veto it or let it become law without his signature.

Hege is the controversial former Davidson County sheriff.

House Bill 312 would bar felons, including those who have had their records expunged, from running for sheriff.

The legislature's website has not listed the final Senate vote. The House approved the bill by a 118-1 vote on April 1.

The bill does not name Hege, the Republican sheriff of Davidson from 1994 until he resigned in 2004. His name was not mentioned during debate about the bill.

However, Hege is apparently the only sheriff candidate in recent memory whom the bill would affect.

Hege pleaded guilty in 2004 to two felony counts of obstruction of justice after facing 15 felony counts. His convictions, though, were later expunged, meaning they were removed from his record. He ran for sheriff in 2007 and in 2018.
Theres nothing good going on after midnight that you need to be part of, my momma repeatedly told me. She was right. Our legislators would do well to heed that advice. No legislation passed after midnight is good for most of our state. Exhibit A is House Bill 951, passed by a 7-vote margin at 12:01 a.m.

Why the dark of night shenanigans? Why did this bill require negotiation behind closed doors? Why do we even need HB 951? No wonder a legion of groups lined up to oppose the bill; some are normal antagonists with each other.

Nobody has yet made the case why we need HB 951. It circumvents the regulatory rate authority of the North Carolina Public Utilities Commission. Instead of Duke coming to the Commission to ask for a rate increase every year, HB 951 would allow them to set their rates three years at a time. A similar measure was defeated last year. Why try to cram it through again? Ok, there is too long a time lag between the date rate hikes are requested and a decision is reached - typically 270 days. A better use of everyones time would be to consider how to shorten that timeline while ensuring adequate public protections.
MATTOON  A variety of foods can be canned at home through boiling water bath canning and pressure canning. Pressure canning is important when canning low-acid foods, particularly meats and vegetables.

Along with providing virtual and in-person classes on preserving at home through canning, freezing, and drying, Illinois Extension offers free testing for dial-gauge pressure canners.

Over time, the needle on a dial-gauge pressure canner can become inaccurate. If the dial-gauge is not measuring the correct pressure, foods inside the pressure canner may be under-processed, which increases the risk of serious illness from botulism.

We recommend home canners have their dial-gauge pressure canners tested at least once each year to see if the needle is accurate. Testing often takes no more than 15 minutes per canner and it is well worth the visit to know what the gauge reads, says Caitlin Mellendorf, nutrition and wellness educator with University of Illinois Extension.

On Tuesday, August 3 from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., the Coles County Extension Office at 809 Broadway Avenue in Mattoon will host a day of free dial-gauge pressure canner testing. Make your appointment today by calling the office at 217-345-7034.

Please leave dial-gauges attached to canner lids. Attendees do not need to bring the canner base unless they want something checked.

If you cannot attend in-person, drop off your canner lid(s) at the Coles County Extension Office before August 3. They will call for you to pick up your lid(s) once they are tested.

If you do not live in Coles County, drop off your dial-gauge pressure canner lid(s) at one of the following County Extension Offices by Friday, July 30. These lids will be brought to the Coles County Extension Office for testing on August 3. Participating offices include:

 Cumberland County Extension Office, 102 S. Meridian in Toledo (217-849-3931)

 Moultrie and Douglas County Extension Office, 304 E. Progress in Arthur (217-543- 3755)

 Shelby County, 1125 W N 2nd St, Shelbyville, (217-774-9546)

For more information about preserving at home, visit the National Center for Home Food Preservation at https://nchfp.uga.edu/

University of Illinois Extension provides equal opportunities for programs and employment. If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in this program, please contact 217-782-4617. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time for meeting your access need.

Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0

Want to see more like this? Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy.
On Thursday, Ohl said that this fall, schools should be suspicious of every cough and sniffle.

Because so many people were masked last year, the cold and flu season was mild. This year will be different, Ohl predicted.

Anyone who has a cold will have to have it sorted out  Is it a cold? Is it the flu? Is it COVID? Ohl said. There will be a lot of demand for testing.

Vaccinated people will also need to test. Though rare, breakthrough cases can happen, especially if a person is surrounded by unvaccinated people.

The best way to protect yourself from a breakthrough is to surrounded yourself with vaccinated people, he said.

Because a vaccine does not exist for children under 12, Ohl said he supports Gov. Roy Coopers recommendation that staff and students in K-8 schools wear masks indoors.

One thing we learned that does make a difference is a mask, he said. And the kids are fine with it, actually. Its the adults who seem to have more problems.

Schools with a high percentage of vaccinated staff and students, say around 80%, may consider relaxing masking protocols, he said.

About 70% of North Carolinians between the ages of 12-17 are unvaccinated.

Want to see more like this? Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy.
However, the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services COVID-19 dashboard listed, as of Tuesday, The Citadel at Winston-Salem with an outbreak of at least 139 cases comprised of 102 residents, including five related deaths, and 37 staff.

The House would be required to approve the addition of the SB191 language or reject it. Rejection likely would send the amended bill to a concurrence committee to attempt a compromise.

Krawiec said Thursday there could be additional changes to the SB191 element of the bill in the expected concurrence committee.

We must make sure that no patient in North Carolina is ever left alone in a hospital or nursing home while their spouse or family members are forced to wait at home or in the parking lot while their loved one is receiving care, said Sen. Warren Daniel, R-Burke, and co-primary sponsor, during the Senates floor debate on SB191.

A video call to a hospitalized patient, many who dont know how to use a computer, cannot become a substitute for having a family member present during potentially life- and-death health care situations.
The last time the daily statewide case count was higher was 2,076 on April 3. The last time the states COVID-19 hospitalization count was higher was 820 on May 18.

Unvaccinated North Carolinians are unnecessarily getting sick, being hospitalized and dying, Cohen said in a statement.

Dont wait to vaccinate. If you havent gotten your shot, you need to wear a mask indoors at all times when you are in public spaces.

DHHS said more than 94% of recent North Carolina cases are in individuals who were not fully vaccinated, which puts them at higher risk for infection by the more contagious and potentially more dangerous Delta variant.

Research has shown even people who had a mild case of COVID-19 may struggle with long-term effects, like shortness of breath, chest pain and brain fog, Cohen said.

Cooper expressed concern about the spread of the delta variant and hinted he could take action to reinstate some social-gathering restrictions if the key COVID-19 numbers rise high enough.

If the pandemic worsens and additional action is necessary, well take it, Cooper said.

Support Local Journalism Your subscription makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}}
Nationally, 56.4% of all Americans, including children, have received at least one dose of the vaccine, according to the CDC. Vaccinations are starting to increase in some lagging states where cases are rising  Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Missouri and Nevada.

What I learned from my patients is that when a loved one dies, thats a tragedy, says Dr. Howard Koh, a professor at the Harvard Chan School of Public Health. But when a loved one dies and you know it could have been prevented, that tragedy haunts you forever.



LITTLE ROCK, Ark.  U.S. regulators are weighing the final stamp of approval for certain COVID-19 vaccines. Governors in states hard hit by the pandemic hope the move will help persuade the many holdouts in their states to finally get the shot.

Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines approved for use in the U.S. were authorized for emergency use. The governors of Arkansas and Ohio have appealed in recent days for full approval as virus cases and hospitalizations skyrocket in their states. They say the move would help combat vaccine resistance and could also clear the way for more businesses to require their employees to be inoculated.
As we anticipate another pleasant summer weekend in North Carolina, no doubt many among us will head to the great outdoors, to our regions parks, forests and beaches, to facilities and amenities that allow us to experience the unbridled beauty of our state. Our region is unmatched by any when it comes to appealing hiking trails, campgrounds, lakes, rivers, mountains and other natural wonders.

But as we do so, well need to keep in mind an unexpected complication: smoke from distant wildfires that have caused air-pollution levels in the Piedmont to spike. A Code Orange air-quality alert was announced throughout the state on Wednesday, the Winston-Salem Journals Wesley Young reported earlier this week.

Hazy skies caused by the fires have been reported from Asheville to the Triad, and extend north all the way to New York.

As a result, seniors, children, athletes and those with heart disease or lung diseases such as asthma  all of us, really  have been advised by weather forecasters and air-quality experts to limit prolonged or heavy exertion outdoors.

Code Orange means theres also a burn ban in effect.

On the bright side, maybe lawn mowing and other outdoor chores can be delayed another week.
Before his mother got sick and eventually became bed-ridden, Stutzman enrolled at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln as a chemical engineering major, but the need to take care of his money and make a living caused him to quit school.

He worked in a few office settings before finding his way to the kitchen. It wasnt unfamiliar to him. His mother, a Vietnamese refugee who immigrated to America from Saigon when she was 4, worked in a number of restaurants and was an excellent cook at home.

She is an amazing cook, he said. I was inspired by her cooking all the time. She did all kinds of jobs, but her first job was to be a mother and to be a mother, you have to provide for your family. So she cooked anything and everything.

As a result, there is an Asian influence in Stutzmans cooking style.

Nothing warms the soul like a bowl of pho, he said.

Theres nothing like pho on the Piedmont Bistro menu, but that doesnt mean Stutzman hasn't worked a little Asian magic in some of his dishes. Some of his ingredients -- shrimp paste, for example -- might seem out of place, but they make perfect sense to him.
Just two nights, its half as long as usual. And it will have about half as many bands -- just 61 this year.

About two-thirds of the bands slated to perform this weekend played Lincoln Exposed 2020. But some festival regulars wont be on stage this weekend.

There are bands that have broken up in the pandemic, there are bands still on hiatus and bands that are reforming and starting to practice again, but arent ready to play a show, Hunke said. Thats alright.  Theres always next year.

Other prominent Lincoln groups and solo artists arent in the festival because theyre out of town, touring for the first time since things opened up again.

Josh Hoyer & Soul Colossal will be playing Plaza del Espolon in Bergara, Spain Friday and Hell Dorado in Vitoria-Gastez, Spain Saturday on a tour that also took the Mezcal Brothers out of the festival because guitarist Benjamin Kushner plays in both bands.

Orion Walsh is in Indiana and Tennessee this week on a U.S. tour. Andrea Von Kampen, about to release her first Concord Records album, will be touring in support of that record.
Please log in to keep reading.

Enjoy unlimited articles at one of our lowest prices ever.
"We haven't ever let anyone ride one of our horses before," Laue said. "But it's been a really neat experience."

Laue said Armendariz's performance in Mexico -- as well as a glowing endorsement from Steve Ross, the mutual acquaintance who connected the two -- is what helped persuade Rainy Lake to lease Ruby to the teen.

The practice isn't uncommon, she said, with competitors from Alaska and Hawaii often leasing horses when competing at rodeos in the Lower 48. But it was a first for Laue, who has transported Ruby back and forth from the stables to the Lancaster Event Center each day ahead of Armendariz's events.

In the week since Armendariz's arrival, she's grown close to Laue's niece, Clara Bradbury, who has helped her both train with Ruby and navigate life in Lincoln, often serving as an interpreter despite the fact that neither fluently speaks the other's language.

Using the translating app, Armendariz said she's competed in about six national rodeos in Mexico, but brought her talents to Lincoln this summer to compete on a larger stage as she pursues scholarships in the sport.
Gerrard stepped in to say he would be following the statutes as passed by Congress, not what happens elsewhere.

Lynch argued for a term of nearly 22 years, the high end of the federal guideline range, saying Xia had been entrusted to teach the girl and abused that trust.

"It's about the actions of the defendant," he said. "This case involved the defendant taking a tutoring opportunity of a high-school-aged girl and quickly turning it into a sexual predatory relationship."

He said on July 10, 2018, within 16 days of meeting the girl he'd been hired to tutor Chinese, Xia drove to Lincoln, where the girl was at a summer camp at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, took her to a hotel and sexually assaulted her under state law.

Xia was 27 at the time. The girl was 15, too young to consent.

He later pleaded guilty to coercion and enticement of a minor.

"I struggle to find any sort of credence with the idea that Mr. Xia did not know that his conduct was illegal," Lynch said.

In the end, Gerrard told Xia his actions were totally inappropriate and -- more importantly -- illegal. The law is designed for situations exactly like this where two individuals are not on equal footing, he said.
A Lincoln man has been charged with first-degree sexual assault of a child after police say he had sex with and was hiding a 14-year-old girl who was reported missing earlier this month.

Jermaine Brown, 29, was arrested July 13 following an investigation into the case of the missing juvenile, records from the Lancaster County Sheriff's Office state.

According to investigators, the girl's foster parents reported her missing on July 2 from rural Lancaster County. On July 12, they presented information about the girl's Snapchat account to authorities.

When searching the girl's account, investigators found conversations between her and Brown which centered around previous sexual encounters and included a topless photo of the girl.

Police traced Brown's Snapchat username to his social media accounts which were under the name "Jay Brown." On Facebook, he had posted a photo of a car that was registered using Brown's address in Lincoln.

On July 13, investigators observed Brown and the girl walk into an apartment at the address. When Brown left the apartment, he was arrested by sheriff's deputies. Police then searched the residence for the girl, who was found hiding in a closet.
A Lincoln man has been sentenced to federal prison on child pornography charges from last year.

John T. Bogart, 60, was given 12 years behind bars by U.S. District Court Judge John M. Gerrard for possession of child pornography, according to a news release. Additionally, Bogart will have to serve 15 years of supervised release after his prison term and pay $1,000 to a fund established for victims of child exploitation crimes.

The investigation began with a series of tips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, which indicated that an individual at Bogart's residence was engaged in child pornography crimes in July 2020.

The Nebraska State Patrol executed a search warrant at the home and during that time, Bogart consented to having his phone searched as well. There, an investigator found stored child pornography photos and related internet searches.

A review of all of Bogart's devices revealed at least 14 videos and 80 images of child pornography, the release stated.
On March 15, 2020, just four days before Love would be sentenced for it, Montgomery, Gary's cousin, and Nathaniel Love, cousin to both DaQuan Love and Winston, got into a fistfight just outside the bar.

"And it's Mr. Winston who introduces a gun into this fistfight, trying to show Mr. Montgomery who was tougher," Goodro said.

When it was his turn to address the jury, defense attorney John Ball said: "This beef goes the other way."

He said Montgomery was beating Winston's cousin "to death right in front of him." Ball said Winston tried to talk to Montgomery, tried to get him to stop, before firing four times, hitting and killing Montgomery and accidentally wounding Nathaniel Love, from a grazed bullet or ricochet that hit his head and left leg.

Montgomery ran, nearly making it across the street, where he collapsed and police found him.

Winston and Love ran, too, with Love leaving a winding trail of blood drops as he fled to his mom's apartment at Eighth and G. She called 911.

Winston, now 35, later turned himself in to police. And prosecutors charged him with first-degree murder and use of a firearm to commit a felony.
Zach Hammack Education reporter/Night content coordinator Zach Hammack, a 2018 UNL graduate, has always called Lincoln home. He previously worked as a copy editor at the Journal Star and was a reporting intern in 2017. Now, he covers students, teachers and schools as the newspapers K-12 reporter. Follow Zach Hammack 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

With Lincoln schools set to open in less than a month and health experts sounding the alarm about another coronavirus surge, there's one data point that remains elusive.

Just how many K-12 teachers have been vaccinated?

If you're looking for a hard-and-fast number in Nebraska, good luck.

At Lincoln Public Schools, officials don't collect that data. Teachers, instead, are asked to follow the honor system  if you're vaccinated, masks are optional; if you're not, mask up. An Omaha Public Schools spokesperson said its district does not collect those records, either.

"We had an awful lot of teachers wondering when the vaccine was going to get here; my hope is that that correlated to a high percentage getting the vaccine," said Superintendent Steve Joel when the district first rolled out its draft back-to-school plan earlier this month.

That anecdotal enthusiasm appears to be at least empirically true across the country. Nearly 80% of pre-K-12 teachers, staff and child care workers had received at least one dose of the COVID vaccine by the end of March, according to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
CHADRON -- A 21-year-old Chadron man arrested Friday in South Dakota faces charges of first-degree murder and use of a deadly weapon to commit a felony in connection with an overnight shooting, Police Chief Rick Hickstein said.

Authorities on Pine Ridge located Sage Little Moon hours after asking the public's help in finding the person of interest in the early Friday morning homicide in Chadron.

Little Moon was apprehended by officers with the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety.

Hickstein reported at about 2 a.m. that shots were fired in the 300 block of Maple Street in Chadron. Officers responded to a residence, Hickstein said, and found the victim, 72-year-old John Martinez of Chadron.

Other details on the homicide have not been released.

The Nebraska State Patrol said Little Moon is suspected of stealing a 2005 blue Ford Freestar van that was recovered Friday morning in the northern part of Sheridan County, near the South Dakota border.

Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0
After more than a month of uncertainty, the Governors Office on Wednesday approved credentials for an online news outlet based in North Omaha  effectively ending a saga that had raised alarm from press freedom advocates and scholars.

With the decision, officials at NOISE Omaha, the nonprofit news site that had previously been denied access to Gov. Pete Ricketts news conferences, are hoping that the outlet will stop being the news and continue covering it.

Its good news.  Were happy we can get back to doing our jobs, said Myles A. Davis, interim executive director of NOISE, which stands for North Omaha Information Support Everyone.

NOISE, which was founded in 2018, had submitted applications for 11 staff members to be credentialed on June 15. While other outlets had their applications approved within days, NOISE was largely in the dark until Wednesday.

Asked about the cause of the delay, Ricketts spokesman Taylor Gage reiterated in an email Thursday that the Governor's Office has been busy.

The wait to receive credentials was the latest in a series of access issues involving NOISE and the Governor's Office.
Even after adjusting for changes in state laws and for moving the deadline to file 2019 income taxes to July 2020, the report shows that revenue collected in fiscal year 2020-21 increased 14.6% from the previous year. He said that was the largest increase in his almost three decades working for the state.

He and Stinner estimated that federal relief is responsible for about half the increase, which is expected to create a "cliff effect" in tax collections as relief dollars taper off this year.

The other major factor is the state's new property tax program, which will bring down tax revenue by $548 million a year during the two-year budget period, Bergquist said. The program provides income tax credits to Nebraska property owners to offset a portion of their school property tax bills.

State law determines the amount of the credits based on the growth of tax revenue. The credit total remains flat when revenue grows at 3.5% or less. Half of the increase above 3.5% goes toward increasing the credits, with the other half directed to the cash reserve.

The record revenue growth means that the program is more than quadrupling in size, growing from $125 million in the just-ended fiscal year to $548 million this year.
Cuba trades with much of the rest of the world, so the islands problems cant be all, or even mostly, Americas fault.

Should human suffering not include the number of people imprisoned by Castro and his successors? As one might expect, Cuba does not publish information about the number of humans suffering in their prisons, but in 2012, Reuters reported that Cuban authorities acknowledged 57, 337 of its 11.2 million population were incarcerated. The Cuban Prisoners Defenders group, based in Madrid, estimates the number is far higher  123,000, which would make it first in the global ranking of prison populations per capita.

For years the Hollywood left, liberal clergy and some American politicians have touted the supposed greatness of Cubas literacy program and free health care.
Local

topical alert

UNDERGROUND RAILROAD HERITAGE TRAIL

Racine Underground Railroad Heritage Trail moves closer to reality

Submitted photo Markers such as this one, designating the location of Rev. Martin Kinney's home on State Street, are to be part of the Racine Underground Railroad Freedom Heritage Trail.

RACINE  The city is a bit closer to memorializing the important role it played for people escaping slavery on the Underground Railroad.

Graves Signs has been awarded a contract for nine cast bronze historical markers that will commemorate stops on the Racine Underground Railroad Freedom Heritage Trail, which actually includes 27 sites across the county, but only the nine in the Main Street business area will be memorialized at this time.

A pamphlet that accompanies the walking/driving tour has been available at the Racine Heritage Museum since 2008.

The $31,000 in costs for the historical markers was paid for with revenue from the hotel tax, which is earmarked for projects that promote tourism.

Decades of effort

The Racine Heritage Museum and the Racine chapter of the Professional Womens Network for Service spent decades researching and focusing the spotlight on the people who escaped to freedom and those who sheltered them along the way.

The sites that will be memorialized include the First Presbyterian Church of Racine, 716 College Ave., which is the only building from the time still standing, where a crawl space was said to have been used to hide escaping people.

The National Park Services official list of Underground Railroad sites includes three entries for Racine: the Joshua Glover plaque; the Dutton and Raymond Warehouse site; and the Racine Heritage Museum, which has a permanent exhibit dedicated to the Underground Railroad.

Glover

The story of Joshua Glover and how Racine freed him from slavery in 1854 This is what democracy looks like! That chant has been heard at protests in Racine, Milwaukee, and nearly every major American city. While some of these chants are new, Racine's history of seeking change and justice goes back even before the Emancipation Proclamation was issued.

The plaque in Monument Square was erected in 2003 to recognize the citys role in the Joshua Glover case. Glover was an enslaved person who had escaped to Racine and sold handmade items in Monument Square, then known as Haymarket Square, until he was arrested in 1854  Wisconsin had only been a state for six years at that point  and taken to a jail in Milwaukee.

About 100 men gathered in Haymarket Square, then took a steamer to Milwaukee to protest Glovers arrest, which eventually led to them breaking him out of jail. Glover was then smuggled via the Underground Railroad to Canada.

In 2007, another plaque was installed, this one on the south side of the Root River east of the Main Street Bridge, to commemorate the Dutton and Raymond Warehouse site where Achas P. Dutton smuggled fugitive slaves onto ships bound for Canada.

History

The Underground Railroad was a network of secret routes and safe houses established in the United States during the early- to mid-19th century and used by enslaved people to escape first to free states, then to Canada.

While people may associate the Underground Railroad with New England, Wisconsin has its own rich abolitionist history with many accounts of locals smuggling escaped people to safety.

According to the Wisconsin Historical Society, more than 100 enslaved people made their way to Canada and freedom through Wisconsin between the years of 1842 and 1861.

Details, however, are sketchy because the participants sought to keep their activities a secret due to harsh federal laws that penalized escaped people and those who aided them.

+10 +10 In photos: Stops along the Racine Underground Railroad Heritage Trail The city of Racine is a bit closer to memorializing the important role it played for people escaping slavery on the underground railroad.

Related
RACINE  Local faith leaders and other community members will gather on to declare their support for a faithful reckoning with the reality of the countrys racist past and the ways in which systemic racism continues to harm and disadvantage black, indigenous and other people of color.

Take advantage of this great offer Get full access to exclusive content from The Journal Times and journaltimes.com for one year at this special rate.

The prayer vigil is being organized by the Racine Interfaith Coalition and will take place on Monument Square starting at 6 p.m. Monday.

According to the Rev. Yeprem Kelegian, a retired priest who will be one of the speakers at the vigil, faith leaders have recently become concerned about attempts to use a misunderstanding of both religion and patriotism to hamper efforts to acknowledge and dismantle the racism that has characterized the laws and history of the United States from its earliest days.

Our faith values require us to treat all people with dignity and respect, he said. These values also obligate us to seek to eliminate policies and practices in all of our institutions, from health care, government, financial services to workplaces, and schools, that cause harm and undermine the equitable treatment of Black and indigenous people of color.
The plaque in Monument Square was erected in 2003 to recognize the citys role in the Joshua Glover case. Glover was an enslaved person who had escaped to Racine and sold handmade items in Monument Square, then known as Haymarket Square, until he was arrested in 1854  Wisconsin had only been a state for six years at that point  and taken to a jail in Milwaukee.

About 100 men gathered in Haymarket Square, then took a steamer to Milwaukee to protest Glovers arrest, which eventually led to them breaking him out of jail. Glover was then smuggled via the Underground Railroad to Canada.

In 2007, another plaque was installed, this one on the south side of the Root River east of the Main Street Bridge, to commemorate the Dutton and Raymond Warehouse site where Achas P. Dutton smuggled fugitive slaves onto ships bound for Canada.

History

The Underground Railroad was a network of secret routes and safe houses established in the United States during the early- to mid-19th century and used by enslaved people to escape first to free states, then to Canada.

While people may associate the Underground Railroad with New England, Wisconsin has its own rich abolitionist history with many accounts of locals smuggling escaped people to safety.
Residents of Racine have been packed into a blatant example of gerrymandering in a state widely recognized as having some of the most gerryman
Copperas Cove, TX (76522)

Today

A few clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low around 75F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

A few clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low around 75F. Winds light and variable.
1. Yes. It would certainly be a start. The added foot traffic would encourage growth.

2. Yes. If enough other services are combined in one location, it could be a huge boon.

3. No. Putting an office building downtown wont solve all the problems the area faces.

4. No. Too many churches and businesses have left downtown. Its too little, too late.

5. Unsure. Its hard to say what effect it would have without knowing the full plan.

Vote

View Results
Among the top difficulties for businesses include a lack of skilled workforce and training opportunities, inaccessible materials, and barriers that are keeping people from getting back to work such as childcare, transportation and housing.

A handful of small business owners shared that they have felt left behind at this point in the pandemic.

Kelsey Williams, who owns Fayzes Restaurant and Bakery with her husband, said that even though customers perception during a busy breakfast rush might imply that the restaurant has fully healed, that will likely take years.

The restaurant is currently not open for dinner, and Williams described loyal employees who have worked for no or little pay during the pandemic  slinging cinnamon rolls on the sidewalk  or sharing servers with another restaurant to try and fill gaps.

Were open, but we have to recover, Williams said, describing the struggle.

Many employers said that the pandemic only heightened an existing workforce shortage, and said that there are groups of workers such as students who have not returned to work as normal.
Leighton noted Calvin and Friends practices about once a week. Through Calvin and Friends, a strong friendship between Leighton and Morris has developed. Calvin is an incredible man. I make him soup, we sing together, and go for walks, Leighton said.

The Rev. Doctor Calvin Morris is a human rights advocate who has spent his life fighting for justice and equality. Morris worked alongside Martin Luther King Jr. and Jesse Jackson, serving as the executive director of Atlantas Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change in the 1970s. Morris lives in Viroqua near his daughter Dodie Whitaker. Whitaker is a professional musician and artist. Morris and Whitaker led the crowd together in African American spiritual-tuned protest songs at a rally to honor George Floyd.

Erickson said she wrote the grant application with the intent of providing access to the arts for our senior population, especially residents of nursing homes or care centers where COVID-19 has kept them very isolated. We know music and engagement is therapeutic for minds and souls as we have witnessed that first-hand through various library programs.
A triple homicide in town of Hamilton is under investigation after three bodies were discovered early Friday morning.

At 4:57 a.m., a 911 call was received reporting three deceased persons at the entrance to Milestone Materials, Romskog Quarry, N6290 County Trunk M. Employees arriving at work made the discovery and made the emergency call.

During a press conference, La Crosse County Sheriff Jeff Wolf said the Wisconsin Department of Justice, Wisconsin State Crime Lab, State Patrol, La Crosse County District Attorneys office and La Crosse County medical examiner are currently on the scene, which is being processed.

We believe at this time it was a targeted act. We do not know the reason, Wolf said. There were no vehicles left at the scene. Its a very fluid case at the present time, its a very complicated crime scene.

We are trying to identify the victims, which we hope will lead us to potential suspects, Wolf said. No suspects are currently in custody.

Support Local Journalism Your membership makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}}
Assistant District Attorney Rick Spoentgen said he and defense attorney Mark Frank had agreed on a sum of nearly $135,000, but the conditions of the repayment will be decided during the hearing. Frank said repayment should not be required to insurance companies.

Schroeder will be prohibited from taking part in any alcohol or drug abuse program while in prison. Once under supervision, he will not be allowed to have any contact with Giddings, her home or place of employment, Todd Martin, his home or place of employment, or with Habitat For Humanity.

Martin, who operated a beer bread making business out of The Barn when it was still standing, spoke to the court as well. Martin said he still has nightmares about finding the vandalized business. The largest loss was to Giddings, he said, but entertainers and the local economy also lost out because she no longer had her business.

While I lost everything I had in there, financially, it was nothing compared to what she lost, Martin said. The support from the community, though, was amazing.
ROME (AP)  Many of the climate and energy ministers at a Group of 20 meeting hosted by Italy agreed Friday to work toward even more ambitious goals for fighting climate change than those established in the 2015 Paris accords, an Italian official said.

Italys minister of ecological transition, Roberto Cingolani, also said during a news conference that concern over last week's devastating flooding in Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands was palpable during the two days of negotiations in Naples. Germany and the European Union are G-20 members.

All began by offering condolences to the representatives of the affected countries, Cingolani said. Such natural disasters are changing consciences, even on a political level, he said.

Climate scientists say the link between extreme weather and global warming is unmistakable, making it clear that urgent action is needed. The G-20 nations collectively account for some 80% of the world's gross domestic product and some 60% of the planet's population.

At the Naples talks, the United States, the European Union, Japan and Canada made clear they firmly intend to go faster than the Paris agreement by the (end of) the decade, and below 1.5 degrees," Cingolani said.
Affordable housing still is a key part of a sweeping plan to redevelop the vacant former St. Joseph Hospital site, but it's going to be created differently, due to the soaring cost of construction materials.

And as a result, the proposed $90 million mixed-use project will have one less use.

The shuffle was disclosed Wednesday at a city Planning Commission meeting, when co-developers HDC MidAtlantic and Washington Place Equities presented a sketch plan to get the panels feedback, an early step in a thorough and multi-faceted review and approval process by the city that will take months.

Though no vote was taken, the commissions reaction was largely favorable. Commission member Maxine Cook said shes hopeful that the redevelopment will turn out to be good for the community and provide opportunities to thrive. Hear, hear! added commission member Jon Lyons.

Lancaster-based HDC and Baltimore-based Washington Place Equities unveiled their original plan a year ago, proposing a mix of market-rate housing, affordable housing, office space and retail to revitalize the idle 6.4-acre site, bounded by College, Marietta and North West End avenues plus West Walnut Street.

The site has been dark since the final occupant, UPMC Pinnacle, left in February 2019, only two years after acquiring what was then Lancaster Regional Medical Center. Lancaster Regional lasted 17 years. Before that, the facility was St. Joseph Hospital.

The plan has evolved, but generally speaking the (emphasis) has been consistent throughout. All the reasons that brought us to be interested in this location are all still in play. Were still very, very excited about this, said Dominic Wiker, vice president and director of development for Washington Place Equities. The goal remains to create a mixed-use, mixed-income community, he said.

Market-rate apartments

Under the newly revised plan, one pillar of the project  converting the six-story hospital at the corner of College Avenue and West Walnut Street into 150 market-rate apartments  is unchanged. The 225,000-square-foot building, which dates to 1954, could be ready for occupancy as soon as the latter part of 2024, Wiker said.

The second pillar -- affordable housing provided by HDC -- is shown in the same quantity but will be provided in different spots and by different means.

Last year, HDC said it would construct 50 to 60 townhouses on Marietta Avenue, construct a four-story building of 20 to 30 units on the other side of College Avenue and do the same on a site two blocks away on Wheatland Avenue.

In total: 90 to 120 units of affordable housing.

Now the plan calls for adding one story to the building on the other side of College Avenue (making it a 5-story building with 64 units), re-evaluating plans for the Wheatland Avenue site, and redeveloping the former George C. Delp Pavilion at Marietta and College avenues into 48 to 50 apartments.

In total: 112 to 114 units of affordable housing.

The 48,000-square-foot Delp building, opened as a surgical suite in 1993, initially was going to be turned into office space by Washington Place Equities. With the switch, office space is no longer included in the redevelopment.

(Delp led CNH Industrial predecessor New Holland Machine Co. for 33 years. He also was a community leader and philanthropist. He died in 2001 at age 92.)

Wiker said Washington Place Equities had been staying flexible about the best way to redevelop the corner. We werent 100% committed to office use, he said Thursday. When market conditions changed and HDC could benefit significantly from renovating an existing building, the swap was made.

Claude Hicks, HDC senior vice president of real estate, indicated that the nonprofit was being flexible too. The way it provides affordable housing on the project is being configured differently in that we are adaptively reusing an existing building instead of building new construction.

Adaptive reuse allows us to utilize an existing structure which means no demolition. This is a benefit to the neighborhood and the environment. Additionally, costs should be reduced by utilizing the existing structure instead of new construction, he said by email on Thursday.

Hicks believed the savings would be substantial but said its too early in the development process to specify the savings or the total cost. It could be ready for occupancy in 2025.

New construction

The 5-story apartment building at 213 College Ave., measuring 67,000 square feet, could be ready for occupancy as soon as late 2023, Hicks said. Its a $15 million undertaking. Whether that timetable holds depends on whether HDC succeeds in getting low-income tax credits from the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency for the venture. The agency is set to award the next round of tax credits in September.

Because HDC is no longer using the Marietta Avenue side of the main parcel for affordable-housing townhouses, Washington Place Equities will use that area to enlarge the amount of market-rate housing it will offer.

Rather than constructing 25 to 30 row homes for sale, as originally proposed, now the developer will build 54 townhouses, in groups of three to six units. The developer has yet to decide whether these will be for sale, for lease or a combination of both, Wiker said. These units will have three bedrooms. Prices remain to be set.

These will go on the northwest side of the tract, now a large parking lot, and the southwest quadrant, where roughly 75,000 square feet of hospital buildings will be razed, said Wiker. The targeted buildings were used as a nurses dormitory, chapel, auditorium, office space, utility plant and in-patient mental health facility, he said.

One existing building in that area will be preserved  a one-story brick garage that dates to about 1910. Because were pursuing historic tax credits, that (building) has to remain, Wiker said. It will be used to house common-space amenities, such as a game room or meeting room, he said, but its too soon to be specific. A swimming pool and childrens play area might be added there too.

An eight-foot-wide trail for pedestrians and bicycles, as well as a paved lane for vehicles, will bisect the site north and south, connecting Marietta Avenue and West Walnut Street. The co-developers also will plant 53 trees across the site, create several green spaces and put green roofs on the buildings, the sketch plan shows.

The main hospital building, originally constructed as St. Joseph Hospital, will be renovated as studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, Wiker said. Units will have large windows and high ceilings. Amenities in the building are projected to include a hotel-style lobby, fitness room, roof-top patio, on-site parking and bicycle storage, among others. Rents remain to be set, he said.

As part of the renovations, the developer will shift the entrance to the former hospital building from College Avenue, where the hospital created a sheltered off-street drive-up, to its original location on the corner of College Avenue and West Walnut Street. This will put the entrance next to the buildings bank of elevators, Wiker explained.

The smallest component of the redevelopment, retail space, is unchanged. The new plan shows 8,000 square feet of retail space on the College Avenue side, with an unspecified restaurant or two among the likely tenants, Wiker said.

Washington Place Equities has the main parcel under agreement with UPMC Pinnacle, though Wiker declined to disclose the amount. UPMC Pinnacle paid $29.4 million for the property in 2017, when it was a functioning hospital, courthouse records show. UPMC Pinnacle next month will ask the city to subdivide the property so it can sell Washington Place Equities and HDC the portions each will redevelop.
Justo Smoker pleaded guilty to third-degree murder, kidnapping and related charges in the death of Linda Stoltzfoos, the 18-year-old Amish woman abducted less than a half-mile from her family's home as she was walking back from church in Upper Leacock Township last June.

The plea agreement, which was signed in April when he told investigators where he had buried her body, included a sentence of 35-1/2 years to 71 years in prison -- the maximum possible -- giving the 35-year-old only the most unlikely chance of ever seeing freedom again. The sentence will technically begin after a parole violation hearing in which he faces about 17-1/2 years stemming from prior armed robbery convictions.

All told, Smoker faces the likelihood of 88 years beyond bars, effectively a life sentence, according to the prosecution and judge.

In accepting the plea, Lancaster County President Judge David Ashworth made it clear he understood it was the best possible outcome, in particular for the Stoltzfoos family, who were not in court though they supported the agreement.

"Absent the plea agreement, in all likelihood Linda Stoltzfoos' body would never have been recovered and the outcome of a trial of the defendant would have been uncertain," he said. "With the plea agreement, a conviction is certain, the community is protected and perhaps most importantly the family of Linda Stoltzfoos is afforded some measure of closure."

It also allowed the family to give their daughter a proper burial.

Ashworth, who addressed the courtroom in which a half-dozen Amish people, members of Smoker's family and more than a half-dozen law enforcement members as well as media, were seated, said: "The cowardly, despicable actions of the defendant clearly demonstrate that he is a predator of the worst kind and an extreme danger to the community."

In laying out the prosecution's rationale for the agreement, First Assistant District Attorney Todd Brown told Ashworth that it achieved three objectives law enforcement had since it became clear Stoltzfoos had fallen prey to a criminal and not simply left her community of her own choosing. Those objectives were to bring her body home to her family, to obtain a murder conviction and to protect society.

Smoker, who wore a white dress shirt with no tie and had his hands shackled at the waist of his grey pants, stood and faced members of the Amish community and addressed them as they sat in the jury box of the small, but packed courtroom.

He paused several seconds, as he seemingly searched for words.

"I thought I would know what to say, but what words can I say other than I am sorry: to Linda's family, the community, and my supporters," he said.

He said he has thought about Stoltzfoos and the life he cut short.

"I robbed the family of time and memories," he said, adding that he would think of that each time he shares a memory or laugh with his family. "All I can say is, I am sorry."

He then turned to his father and biological brother and other family members, who were seated in the back row of the courtroom, and apologized to them.

"I was raised better than this. I am better than this ... I was loved better than this. I am sorry," he said.

His apologies followed comments on behalf of Stoltzfoos' family and the Amish community by Samuel Blank.

The crime violated the community, creating fear, suspicion and anxiety, Blank said, adding it will never be the same. Smoker faced Blank directly as he spoke.

"I believe we were all Stoltzfooses that day," Blank said.

Linda was the family's first-born child, Blank said, then talked of what now can never happen: No courting, no marriage, no children of Linda's own, no grandchildren for her parents.

Blank then spoke of forgiveness, a hallmark of how the Amish live out their Christian faith.

The family, he said, was not missing from court because they could not forgive, but rather, "They are not here because it is too hard for them. The family and the community can and will forgive you, Justo."

For some, forgiveness will come easy, Blank said, for others it will take time and work.

Defense attorney Christopher Tallarico said that to this day, "I still have a hard time coming to grips that the person I've come to know is the person charged with these heinous crimes."

He attributed Smoker's behavior to "a lot of darkness, a lot of alcohol and a lot of abuse."

Smoker had lived in an orphanage in Costa Rica for seven years where he was physically and sexually abused, Tallarico said. His mother died while he was in the orphanage. Later, his sister died shortly before his release from prison in February 2019 in his underlying robbery case.

Though Smoker had never had an official diagnosis, Tallarico said Smoker was clearly depressed and had turned to alcohol. Sometimes, he said, Smoker would find himself at home after drinking and no recollection of how he got there. The weekend Stoltzfoos had been abducted, Smoker had been drinking heavily, Tallarico said. He'd been to a liquor store on June 20 and had bought beer at a convenience store on June 21, shortly before the abduction.

"There is no logical explanation for what he did next. To this day, he wishes he could take it all back," Tallarico said.

Tallarico said he had been busy preparing to defend the charges as best as possible, knowing that prosecutors could seek the death penalty. Then, in April, Smoker told Tallarico he wanted to stop with trial preparation and accept responsibility. He stressed that Smoker had not been biding his time by holding out information on the body's location in exchange for a plea deal.

Tallarico told Ashworth that Smoker knows he did wrong and "wants to help other angry young men in prison."

Brown shed more details than had previously been disclosed.

Most significant was that the autopsy revealed Stoltzfoos had been sexually assaulted, though Smoker denied that in his confession, Brown said.

In his confession, Smoker admitted abducting Stoltzfoos last June 21 and driving her to an area in Ronks where he choked her by placing his arm under her neck until she stopped moving, then strangled her with shoelaces around her neck until she stopped breathing. He then stabbed her once in the neck to make sure she was dead.

Smoker buried her body in some woods near a Harvest Drive business. Two days later, upon realizing that the area was close to where Stoltzfoos lived, he dug her body up and reburied it on Amtrak property behind Dutchland Inc., on Rte. 41 south of Gap. Smoker worked at Dutchland at the time.

District Attorney Heather Adams, speaking at a news conference afterward, acknowledged that the case may not have been solved had East Lampeter police investigators missed finding surveillance camera footage that showed the abduction. The camera was more than 330 yards from the abduction, however, and the imagery had to be enhanced to bring Smoker's car into focus.

Armed with that evidence, police arrested Smoker last July 10 at Dutchland and charged him with kidnapping and false imprisonment. Prosecutors added the homicide charge on Dec. 21 -- exactly six months after Stoltzfoos went missing -- after revealing that DNA samples collected by swabbing Smoker's cheeks matched DNA samples found on Stoltzfoos' undergarments that he had unknowingly left where he had first buried her on Harvest Drive.

Stoltzfoos was given a proper burial on April 26 at the Myers Cemetery on East Eby Road, just a couple miles far from the Stoltzfoos family home.

Smoker had been released from state prison in February 2019 after serving the minimum of a 12-1/2- to 30-year sentence for a series of armed robberies he committed in 2006 with his brother. It is not clear how soon a parole violation hearing could occur, though it must happen within 120 days, Brown said.
Bound by chains and standing in front of the parents of the woman he killed, Justo Smoker pleaded guilty to third-degree murder, kidnapping and other charges relating to the abduction and murder of 18-year-old Linda Stoltzfoos.

Smoker will get 35 1/2 years to 71 years in prison, and he could face up to another 17 years for parole violation. Lancaster County District Attorney Heather Adams said the sentence is "effectively is a life sentence for Smoker."

The sentencing hearing lasted for nearly two hours Friday morning in front of Lancaster County President Judge David Ashworth, and happened just over a year since Stoltzfoos went missing.

Here are five new things we learned from Smoker's guilty plea and sentencing:

1. Smoker led investigators to Stoltzfoos' body

Adams said that after signing the plea agreement on April 21, Smoker helped investigators get Stoltzfoos' remains back to her family.

Despite drawing maps and telling officials where he moved the body two days after he killed her, police still couldn't pinpoint her remains.

Smoker went to the scene and showed investigators where he buried her.

2. Smoker didn't specifically target Stoltzfoos, was drunk during the abduction

Adams said that prior to Stoltzfoos' abduction, Smoker was following other Amish women in the area.

Christopher Tallarico, Lancaster County's chief public defender who represented Smoker, didn't go into detail about why Smoker picked Stoltzfoos.

However, while telling the court about Smoker's dark past, Tallarico said that he was drinking heavily and was extremely intoxicated when he abducted Stoltzfoos.

Smoker, his brother and his sister all grew up in an orphanage in Costa Rica, Tallarico said. During that time, Smoker was sexually assaulted and abused.

"He's had plenty of darkness in his life, judge," Tallarico said.

Near the end of the sentencing, Smoker addressed the Stoltzfoos family and apologized.

"I'm gonna be reminded everyday of what I took," he said. "All I can say is I'm sorry. I was raised better than this. I was loved better than this."

3. When Smoker moved Stoltzfoos' body

Smoker initially buried Stoltzfoos near a business on Harvest Lane in Ronks, where her bra and stockings were found by investigators on July 10. Within days, he moved the body and reburied it up to 42 inches deep on Amtrak property behind Dutchland Inc., on Rte. 41 south of Gap.

Adams said Smoker moved Stoltzfoos' body on June 23 after he realized the initial burial site was close to where she lived.

4. Smoker sexually assaulted Stoltzfoos before killing her

Smoker denied sexually assaulting Stoltzfoos to investigators. But Lancaster County District Attorney Heather Adams said that the autopsy revealed vaginal trauma, indicative of sexual assault.

The autopsy also revealed that Smoker strangled Stoltzfoos with his hands before using a shoe-string kill her. He also stabbed her once in the neck.

5. The Stoltzfoos family, Amish community will forgive Smoker

While reading a statement for the Stoltzfoos family, Sam Blank said that Smoker was forgiven for his crimes.

But before he addressed Smoker, Blank told the court about the impact his actions have had on the Amish community.

"It really feels like our community has been violated," Blank said.

"The family and community will forgive you, Justo," Blank continued during his statement. He added that it will take time.

After the statement, Smoker wiped his eyes with a tissue.
Britains Royal Air Force To Bring Back Cold War-Style Exercises

July 22, 2021 (EIRNS)The British Empire is setting up the conditions for wars against Russia and China, and the geopolitically demented leadership of the U.S. military is willingly falling into the trap. The latest example if this is remarks by Air Chief Marshal Sir Mike Wigston, chief of the Royal Air Force, in which he told the Telegraph that he wants to bring Cold War-style training exercises back to the RAF, to include deploying Typhoon fighter jets to scattered airfields, and even practicing operating the jets from highways, as was done during the Cold War. Wigston said fixed RAF bases would be as vulnerable to a surprise attack in any future conflict as U.S. forces had been when the Japanese struck in December 1941. Well be re-learning how to disperse, he said, further stating that if the arsenal [of advanced cruise missiles] Putin has been bragging about were moved to the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad wed be in range. He claimed that the trajectory of Russia over the last 15 years is forcing military leaders to be innovative in the face of an increasing threat.

New Russian missile and air defense systems, combined with a willingness to use force, has prompted the move, Wigston claimed, repeating all of the unproven or exaggerated allegations against Russia. Theyve murdered people on the streets of Britain and annexed part of Europe. Theyve got the threat systems. We are concerned about them, he said. In the worst-case scenario, things we hold dearlike national infrastructurewill be in range of Russian missiles. Moving modern equipment like the latest cruise missiles to Kaliningradthe small piece of Russian territory sandwiched between Poland and Lithuaniawould be a step up the ladder of escalation, the head of the Royal Air Force said.

Joining the warmongering rhetoric against Russia was U.S. Navy Adm. Robert P. Burke, commander of U.S. naval Forces Europe-Africa, who called Russias actions an effort to bully neighbors into accepting the narrative that no other nations have the right to be in the Black Sea, in a July 20 event live-streamed by the U.S. Navy Memorial. When a strike aircraft overflies a destroyer at 100 feet altitude and right over top, our [commanding officers] are making a judgment call of whether that strike fighter is on an attack profile or not, Burke said July 20. There is a tactical risk involved here, that tactical risk could turn into a strategic issue, and thats a big concern with this increasing aggression.

Burke said Russian efforts to control the Black Sea must be met with a U.S. and NATO strategic presence, Burke claimed. We need to challenge that [Russian government] narrative and not let that become the norm, he said. If Burke were to look at a map, hed realize that NATO is 1,000 km closer to Moscow than it was during the Cold War, not only from the west but also from the south.
Ukraine Remains at the Center of U.S.-Russia Tensions

July 22, 2021 (EIRNS)The Russian Foreign Ministry issued a very strong official statement yesterday on U.S.-Russian tensions, in the aftermath of the discussions between President Joe Biden and German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Washington, and the official U.S. statements on Nord Stream 2, which threaten further sanctions against Russia. These issues were discussed in a phone call yesterday between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Merkel. At the same time, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who will be meeting with Biden on Aug. 30, said that the issue of Nord Stream 2 will be at the center of their talks and that he will continue to press for Ukrainian membership in NATO. The formal signing into law yesterday of Ukraines On the Indigenous Peoples of Ukraine is also contributing to heating things up.

The Russian Foreign Ministrys board met on July 21, led by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, and adopted a strongly-worded statement on U.S.-Russian relations:

It was noted during the discussion that bilateral relations had approached a dangerous confrontational threshold through the fault of Washington, who have provoked an unprecedented escalation between our states over the recent years.... This line by Washington, which blatantly violates international law, will continue to come up against unwavering opposition as far as protecting Russias legitimate interests goes,

the ministry said. The board meeting also emphasized that the Putin-Biden summit in Geneva on June 16 created opportunities for restoring a constructive dialogue on strategic stability, but, Naturally, such cooperation could only be successful under the condition of adherence to principles of mutual respect, equality, and non-interference in internal affairs.

Ukrainian President Zelensky signed the indigenous peoples law yesterday, which denies this status to ethnic Russians. Zelenskys press service announced yesterday: The document is aimed at maximum protection of cultural, informational and other rights of indigenous peoples. Putin has characterized the law as de facto ethnic cleansing, like that which the Nazis carried out.

Zelenskys office further announced possible agenda items for his Aug. 30 meeting with President Biden, which will include:

First and foremost, the security issues, such as countering the continued aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, deterioration of the situation in the Black Sea region and in the Donbas, de-occupation of Crimea, strengthening energy security of our country and Europe as a whole, military and defense cooperation between Ukraine and the United States. The talks regarding the Nord Stream 2 project as a security threat for Ukraine and the region will be continued,

the statement posted on the website of the Presidents office said.
China has rejected a plan by the World Health Organization (WHO) to continue investigating the origins of the new coronavirus.

Chinas vice minister of health, Zeng Yixin, dismissed on Thursday a WHO proposal made this month for further study. The official objected because the WHO plans to investigate the theory that the coronavirus may have escaped from a Chinese laboratory.

It is impossible for us to accept such an origin-tracing plan, Zeng told reporters. He described the lab origin idea as a rumor that goes against common sense and science.

The earliest known cases of the new coronavirus, which causes the disease COVID-19, were identified in the Chinese city of Wuhan in December 2019. The head of the WHO said earlier this month that the organization was seeking more information from China on the first days of the virus spread.

We are asking China to be transparent, open and cooperate, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said. Especially on the information, raw data that we asked for in the early days of the pandemic, he added.

The investigation into the origins of the virus has become a diplomatic issue that has fueled China's worsening relations with the U.S. and other countries. The U.S. and others say China has not been completely open about what happened in the early days of the pandemic. China accuses critics of seeking to blame it for the health crisis and for politicizing the issue.

Zeng repeated China's position that some data cannot not be completely shared because of privacy concerns. He urged the WHO to "seriously review the considerations and suggestions made by Chinese experts. He added that the issue should be treated as a scientific matter with no political interference."

Most scientists do not believe a lab escape was responsible for releasing the coronavirus. In a report released in March, the WHO said the new coronavirus likely started in bats before being passed on to humans through another animal. That report was carried out jointly between the WHO and China.

But debate has continued over whether the possibility of a lab escape is so unlikely that it should be dropped, or whether the theory justifies further study.

Zeng, along with other officials and Chinese experts at the news conference, called on the WHO to expand origin-tracing efforts beyond China to other countries.

"We believe a lab leak is extremely unlikely and it is not necessary to invest more energy and efforts" said Liang Wannian, Chinas head of the WHO joint expert team. More animal studies should be carried out, especially in countries with bat populations, Liang said.

Liang did say the lab escape theory should not be completely ignored. He suggested, however, that if such evidence is justified, other nations need to look into the possibility that it leaked from their labs.

Im Bryan Lynn.

The Associated Press and Reuters reported on this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the reports for VOA Learning English. Susan Shand was the editor.

We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.

____________________________________________

Words in This Story

origins  n. the cause of something or where something begins or comes from

trace  v. to try to find someone or who they have met by collecting and studying evidence

rumor  n. information or a story that is passed from person to person but has not been proven to be true

transparent  adj. being open and honest about something

raw  adj. being in or nearly in a natural state


Reporters writing news stories must be careful not to say someone is guilty before a trial in a court of law gives a decision. The expressions we use to talk about crime and punishment use combinations of prepositions and verbs. Today we will look at some of these special patterns.

You will often find the word "suspect" used as both a noun and a verb in news stories about a crime. As a noun, it is the person officials think may have done the crime. We use the preposition "in" with the noun form of suspect. For example:

The suspect in the robbery ran away.

As a verb, it is the act of believing someone is guilty of a crime or of doing something wrong. We use the preposition "of" with the verb form suspect, and you often hear the passive verb form:

Susan is suspected of selling drugs.

You will also notice that the noun and verb are pronounced differently. The noun has stress on the first syllable - SUS-pect. The verb has stress on the second syllable - sus-PECT.

Another word you will notice in news stories is "allege." Before a jury or a judge gives a decision, a reporter cannot say that someone has committed a crime. So, the media use this word to show someone is a suspect. A person is alleged "to" have done something.

For example:

Charles was alleged to have stolen the money.

When the police catch a suspect, we say they were arrested, or put "under arrest." If the reason for the arrest is given, you will find the preposition "for" nearby. Here is a sentence from our story on the murder of the Haitian president.

Among the suspects arrested for Moises killing are 23 former Colombian soldiers.

The next word you will hear often is "accuse" or to say that someone is guilty of a crime or a bad quality. The preposition following the object of this verb is "of." Here is a sentence from a recent news story:

The United States and its major allies have accused China of working with criminal hackers to carry out computer attacks worldwide.

The object of that sentence is "China," so the preposition "of" comes after it.

Anyone can accuse someone of a crime, but only an official can "charge" someone with wrongdoing. Here, you will find the preposition "with" following the object, as in this sentence from a story on the police officers involved in the death of George Floyd:

All four officersare charged with failure to provide Floyd with medical care.

Guilty or not guilty?

After a suspect is charged, they must tell the court whether they are guilty or not. To plead guilty is to take the blame, or responsibility for a crime. The Associated Press guide for writers says that the past tense for the legal word is "pleaded." About half the time, you will read or hear people using "pled" as the past tense which also is used. Our question is, what is the correct preposition to follow "pleaded guilty?" Here is one example from a story about people accused of leading protests in Hong Kong:

Joshua Wongpleaded guilty to organizing and taking part in the June 2019 demonstration outside Hong Kongs police headquarters.

When we use the word "guilty," the preposition "to" comes before the condemned act. But when what follows is the word "charges" or "crime," the preposition may be "of."

Here is an example from our story about the bubble man of San Francisco:

Later in life he was found guilty of a crime and served time in prison.

Freedom or behind bars

I do not want to end this lesson on a down note, so I will give you one more verb pattern  after serving time, a criminal may be released "from" prison or jail. Recently, we reported this about several Hong Kong activists:

Conditions for their temporary release from jail include that they do not leave Hong Kong and that they hand over all travel documents.

My final advice is to do everything "by the book" -- that means to follow the rules and stay out of trouble!

And that's Everyday Grammar!

Im Jill Robbins.

Dr. Jill Robbins wrote this lesson for Learning English. Mario Ritter, Jr. was the editor.

___________________________________________

Words in This Story

pattern  n. the regular and repeated way in which something happens or is done

pronounce  v. to make the sound of words with your voice

stress  n. greater loudness or force given to a syllable of a word in speech or to a beat in music

allege  v. to state without definite proof that someone has done something wrong or illegal

*complement  n. a word or group of words added to a sentence to make it complete

Here are the patterns we covered in this story:

Verb Preposition *Complement suspected of robbery alleged to have stolen arrested for stealing accused of murder charged with killing released from prison

Can you think of any other common verb patterns having to do with crime? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section.


Traditional wooden boats, known as caique or kaiki, are an important part of Greek culture.

They have been used for centuries to fish and to transport goods, animals, and people. They are seen everywhere in printed materials for visitors and holiday pictures.

But the art of designing and building these wooden boats, completely by hand, is under threat.

To build a caique, one person has to do all the work from cutting down trees and moving the wood, to securing each piece in place. The tradition is passed on from father to son or from one family member to another.

Now, fewer people are ordering wooden boats since boats made from materials like plastic and fiberglass are less costly to maintain. And young people are not as interested in joining a profession that requires years of learning with an uncertain future.

Giorgos Kiassos is one of the last remaining boat builders on the Greek island Samos. It was once a major boat production center.

Kiassos is currently building two boats, one for pleasure and the other for fishing. While working, he said, If something doesnt change, there will come a time when there wont be anyone left doing this type of job...

Unfortunately, I see the profession slowly dying, he added.

The boats are being made to order. The bigger one costs $70,000 and the smaller one is around $35,000.

Caiques from Samos island are famous for both the quality of the work and the material. The wood is taken from a kind of pine tree that is stronger and more resistant to insects.

Years ago, there were many boat-building centers on the island. They employed many people and supported whole communities. Now, there are only about four left.

Kiassos said caique building is an art but the work is tough and tiring. He said young people are not following the profession. He tried to get his 23-year-old son to learn, but his son hopes to become a boat captain instead.

Why is the craft dying?

Kostas Damianidis is an architect with a doctorate, or Ph.D., in Greek traditional boatbuilding. He said there are many reasons for the fast decrease of traditional boatbuilders in Greece.

He said, It is a traditional craft which is slowly dying, and yet its treated as if it were a simple manufacturing or supply business. There is no support from the state.

On top of that, for years the European Union, of which Greece is a member, has supported destroying these boats as a way of reducing the countrys fishing fleet. Damianidis questioned why a young person would want to learn the craft if the government is destroying the boats.

Another major reason for the fast-shrinking number of shipbuilders is the lack of any official learning process.

Damianidis said, Young people have to go learn beside the old craftsmen, often for five years, six years, for them to be able to make a small boat, a kaiki, themselves. He added, There is no boatbuilding school.

Help is on the way

Damiandis is setting up a new museum of Aegean Boatbuilding and Maritime Crafts on Samos. He hopes a traditional boatbuilding school, which would be Greeces first, will open in the museum.

That could also help the boatbuilders on Samos who now work mainly alone due to a shortage of skilled assistants.

Its important to have someone experienced because if you make one mistake,... the boat might end up being  well, more of a basin than a boat, Kiassos said laughing.

After working for more than 30 years, Kiassos has learned the right time to cut down a tree, when to use naturally curved wood, and where on the boat each piece should go.

He explained if you get that wrong, the boat could end up with problems. Get it right, and his creation combines beauty, strength, and purpose.

Kiassos says he is ready to finish each boat and start on the next.

But when it leaves, Im somehow sad. Yes, Ill be happy when I see it in the water and I see everything is OK, but its like something is leaving  like a piece of me.

Im Caty Weaver.

And I'm Gregory Stachel.

Elena Becatoros reported this story for The Associated Press. Gregory Stachel adapted it for VOA Learning English. Hai Do was the editor.

______________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

craft n. an activity that involves making something in a skillful way by using your hands

maintain v. to keep (something) in good condition by making repairs, correcting problems, etc.

captain n. a person who is in charge of a ship or an airplane

fleet n. a group of ships or vehicles that move or work together or that are controlled or owned by one company

museum n. a building in which interesting and valuable things (such as paintings and sculptures or scientific or historical objects) are collected and shown to the public

basin n. a wide shallow usually round dish or bowl for holding liquids

curved adj. having a rounded shape
Lewiston, ID (83501)

Today

Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 72F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 72F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph.
Lewiston, ID (83501)

Today

Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 72F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 72F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph.
Its a big country out there, and I just reacquainted myself with much of it  traveling around by car, on a journey that took us from the Pacific Ocean to the Great Lakes, from the dusty deserts and craggily canyons of the Southwest to the lush forests and pristine rivers Up North.

We traveled from the oil fields and wind farms in Texas and Oklahoma, to the corn fields and hog farms in Illinois and Indiana; solar farms in the Mojave, wheat fields in Kansas, and cherry orchards in Northwest Michigan; across the plains and over the mountains, through crumbling cities and rusted towns, ghost towns and thriving communities.

We saw rejuvenated neighborhoods and revitalized blocks, on bikes and boats and bridges, porches, decks and docks, across the straits and out to the island, through city, state and national parks, ballparks, stadiums, halls  of music and art.

In diners, cafes and brew pubs, past monuments and memorials, through cemeteries and graveyards, familiar haunts and the old stomping grounds, where I saw that friendship can endure and overcome, that family ties are powerful and deep-rooted with a force that flows through our veins, bonding us and binding us, redemption and condemnation.

The driving days were each about a 1,000 miles, and took us through different light, different times, different conditions and different regions of the country, distinguished by geography, geology, culture, customs, crops, language, history and more.

As we drove 

I was reminded that most of the land in this country is open space  forests and fields, lakes and mountains, vast areas unoccupied by people  which brought to mind those red and blue political maps that show the vast majority of the country colored in red with scattered specks of blue which some people use to suggest that thats how the country thinks despite the fact that 82% of the American population lives in urban areas and not in the wide-open, natural landscapes (represented by all that red).

From billboards that line the interstates in the middle of the country, I came to conclude that some people must think Jesus was a great American the way they wrap him in the red, white and blue on huge signs that also bear the name of the ex-President (as if to associate the two).

As we were heading into the homestretch of the trip, on a day that started out in Salina, Kansas and ended up in Salina, Utah, I was reminded of a very important lesson: magic often occurs when we go off script. It happened while driving across I-70 in the center of Colorado, when a mudslide poured out across the road, closing traffic in both directions.

It took hours to get off the road at the next exit, and from there the options were to either wait it out  which who knew how long that would be, drive north on a winding but paved highway  which would add 3 1/2 more hours to our crossing, or go south on unpaved roads that would only add 1 1/2 more hours.

We didnt know when we chose option three that it would put us on a one-lane rocky, muddy trail of switchbacks and hairpin turns that had us hanging out over the edge while taking us over one of the highest mountain-passes in the state, which means one of the highest in the country. Though I have spent much time in much of that state, I had never been there before, or beheld such scenery.

The colors were a revelation, the currents were tantalizing, and at that moment, despite the threat of danger and the treacherous conditions we had come through, a prayer of gratitude erupted from my heart and bubbled out into the universe. I thanked the Great Spirit for our safety, and that it was not to be just some trip down memory lane, but instead would supply us with new adventures and new tales to tell.

While I cherish the memories and enthusiastically continue to relate the stories of old, I am, and I believe, we are, invigorated by new experiences and expanding horizons.
A Lompoc man was arrested July 21 on suspicion of assault and firearm possession charges after witnesses said he pointed at gun at them near the intersection of Laurel and D streets, according to police.

Officers were dispatched to a call of a man with a gun near the intersection shortly before 4 p.m. and located two separate people who provided a description of 28-year-old Ismael Aguilera, who's accused of pointing a handgun at them, according to Lompoc Police Sgt. Sergio Arias.

Additionally, members of the LPD's Special Investigation Unit responded to the area and located Aguilera, who allegedly matched the description and was near the scene.

After detaining Aguilera, officers located a semi-automatic handgun in his possession during a search.

Aguilera was booked into the Lompoc Police Department Jail on suspicion of assault with a firearm on a person, felon in possession of a firearm and possession of stolen property. In addition, Aguilera is under supervision with the Santa Barbara County Probation Department, which revoked his probation, according to Arias.
Lompoc Police Department Capt. Kevin Martin told the City Council last week that the agency is now almost fully staffed for dispatchers.

The pending hire of an eighth dispatcher completes the long-awaited rejuvenation of the unit and marks an increase from three full-time dispatchers when he and Chief Joseph Mariani took on their roles 2.5 years ago.

In addition, Martin reported the record department is fully staffed, and there are three candidates in the background-check process for the last open position in the jail. Of the 48 officers budgeted, 44 are in place including: 26 patrol officers, five station detectives, four administrators including Mariani and Martin, three in police academy, two in field training, and one new hire who will begin Aug. 2.

Once officers currently in academy enter full duty, the department intends to redeploy its motor officer for a greater focus on traffic incidents. It will also then redeploy its homeless liaison officer.

The chief and I are very excited. We havent been able to see these numbers since we took over, but were excited with what the future has and what were going to be able to do for this community moving forward, Martin said.

In addition, three detectives have been assigned to the newly minted special investigation unit. The unit will focus on trending issues in the community beginning with the citys gang problem, working with other agencies including parole, the FBI, and whoever we have to support us.

Lompoc City Council to review voting districts, adopt new maps Lompoc City Council members voted unanimously July 6 to spend $21,000 on voter redistricting as mandated by state law. The city will hold a va

Once we have dealt with that, and Im confident we will make a huge dent in that problem, we will then reassign them to do a different task. Stolen vehicles are a problem in our community, so well assign them to deal with stolen vehicles. Thats why were calling it a special investigation (unit). Theyre not just one thing; theyre going to deal with those problems in the community, Martin said.

The city will test for other officer candidates at 9 a.m. July 30 at Hancock College. Mayor Jenelle Osborne encouraged any interested potential officers to apply.

Also at the July 20 meeting, the Council approved a number of business items on its consent agenda including levying a special tax on Summit View Homes, entering into an agricultural lease agreement with Rancho Laguna Farms Inc., providing an increase in pay to the city manager and members of the citys police officers association, and accepting a donation of land to the city.

Among the consent agenda items, council members unanimously approved a 3% increase in salary to sworn and nonsworn members of the Lompoc Police Officers Association with an additional 2% increase for dispatchers. In addition, the agreement with LPOA includes an increase in monthly medical benefit of $50 for individuals and up to $150 for members family coverage.

City Manager Jim Throop said the additional $554,632 cost will be covered entirely by the general fund reserve, which saw a $1.3 million surplus last year.

Lompoc City Council votes outdoor dining at restaurants can continue through Dec. 31 The ordinance will remain in effect despite expiration of the state of emergency measure issued last year due to the pandemic.

According to a staff report, the special tax levied on Summit View Homes will raise $20,051 for the annual operation, maintenance, servicing, and repair and replacement of streets, parkways, roads, sidewalks, curbs, gutters, street lighting, signals, street signage, and a contribution to public safety services costs related to the development.

Responsible parties will be assessed $871.77 per developed parcel and $2,423 per acre on 3.13 acres of undeveloped property. The remaining 3 acres is tax exempt.

The city will also raise $20,000 in rent over the next five years and save money on weed control and other maintenance by leasing city owned property to Rancho Laguna Farms, Inc. The business already owns and farms parcels adjacent to the three vacant, unimproved, city-owned parcels on H Street.

Under the lease, the tenant will be responsible for supplying its own water source from a well located on adjacent property and will be responsible for all other utilities, as necessary.

The council also accepted the donation of 123 North H Street, currently used as a parking lot, as offered by Lorraine M. Cox in memory of her late husband Terrill F. Cox. No conditions were placed on the donation, and the city initially plans to retain it in its current use for downtown parking.

And lastly, the council held the second of four required public hearings on the mandated redistricting process and heard an explanation of the process from consultant Daniel Phillips of Glendale-based National Demographics Corporation.

Lompoc established voting districts in December 2017 after threat of a lawsuit by two Lompoc residents who claimed the at-large system led to racially polarized voting. They sought, and won, the district-based system.

The council is currently comprised of one representative from each of Lompocs four voting districts with the mayor presiding regardless of district of residence.

Two years after Lompoc established its first voting districts, the state adopted the FAIR MAPS Act establishing new criteria and timelines for city and county redistricting in California. The law requires redistricting every 10 years in alignment with the latest census data.

Council Member Victor Vega, representing District 2, said he didnt appreciate that the district seemed to have been defined by a race-based demographic.

I think we should mix it up a little bit more just to make sure we include more, theres just not a line there where just the Hispanic population ends. Yes, theres a higher demographic, but when we can, use the percentages to expand a little bit more so were doing it with a methodology that is aimed at reducing crime and helping others. Lets just keep that mentality in mind, ok, he said.

I hate to be boxed up and saying, hey, District 2 is  57 percent Hispanic, and that may be a true statement, but I want to be a little more color blind when we do this so we can be more with crime statistics instead of more with your heritage, Vega said.

Lompoc readies for microenterprise home kitchen applicants Lompoc residents can put their culinary skills on display following the passage of countywide ordinance AB 626, which allows the operation of mini-food businesses  known as a Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operations or MEHKOs  from private home kitchens.

At the mayors request, Phillips attempted to clarify the requirements of state versus federal law in redistricting.

The (federal) voting rights act is really designed to make sure that historically marginalized communities, what it calls protected classes  in your community it would be Latinos, Latinx, Hispanics, however you want to call them  you do not want to dilute their voting strength, their power, Phillips said.

One way that dilution can occur is to split up those groups concentrations when drawing lines, which the city should avoid, he said.

However, on the flip side, the Supreme Court has said dont make race or ethnicity the paramount or only factor. Look at other things. Look at demographics like percent renters, percent Spanish speakers, percent lower income or lower education levels and you can define communities of interest that way and thereby satisfy both the federal voting rights act while also observing communities of interest and not racial gerrymandering, Phillips said.

Vega said he still believes Lompoc is too small for districting.

In essence, we would all be doing a better job if there were no districts in my opinion.  Lompocs a little too small at 40,000 to be cutting it up. As a whole, we should be at-large, Vega said.
Dr. Darry Meyer with Angelina Surgical Associates accepts an award from Megan Walker, clinical sales representative for Intuitive Surgical. Meyer recently joined an elite group of surgeons after performing his 2,000th robotic surgical procedure.
They have not been successful, said Mayor Becky Glewen. We have comparables that show they wont be successful in this either.

Glewen said a change would be concerning because large companies and businesses like Walmart have a lot of needs that the city provides for and use protective services and infrastructure at a higher rate than residents. She said there would be a shift of a lot of taxes onto individual homeowners and that while businesses are trying to streamline, so are homeowners.

I believe everybody has to play their part in the community to make it a community, Glewen said.

Glewen also emphasized that Walmart has already received funds from the city through a tax increment finance district. In 2003, the city struck a deal with Walmart to offer $6.18 million in incentives to Walmart to build the distribution center, including a lump sum of $1.38 million and 20 annual payments of $200,000.

The city has not yet filed a response in the new court cases.

Several municipalities, including Beaver Dam, have officially urged the state legislature to take action on the dark store loophole, but the loophole remains open. Glewen said she sees the issue going through the courts now.
Val is not so much a documentary as it is a personal memoir from actor Val Kilmer. Kilmer, 61, not only wrote the narration for the film, directors Ting Poo and Leo Scott draw heavily from thousands of hours of home video footage that Kilmer shot throughout his life. Ive lived a magical life, and captured quite a bit of it, he says.

Val is now playing at Marcus Point, and will be on Amazon Prime beginning Aug. 6.

Why make this movie now? The answer is obvious when we see Kilmer today. A two-year battle with throat cancer resulted in a tracheotomy, and he can now only speak in a croaky rasp by plugging a hole in his throat. His son Jack reads Kilmers narration in the film (written in first person) in an uncanny echo of his fathers voice.
Dear Editor: On July 13 our high court sentenced one of their own, Winnebago County Circuit Judge Scott Woldt, to seven days without pay in what appeared a rallying sentence to encourage Woldt to act more professionally. For a well-heeled veteran judge this is equivalent to seven days of unpaid vacation  water off a ducks back. In addition to giving Woldt a veritable pass, our high court faked a show of using this feather duster of a sentence as a warning to Wisconsins judges, writing in the ruling, We remind  the other judges in this state that how justice is dispensed is often just as important as the substance of the legal ruling.

If any other Wisconsin judges were considering the unlawful and unconscionable act of pulling a gun out from under their robes in court to intimidate a defendant, the weightless sentence would deter none of them. For the same actions in any job outside of our criminal justice system, Woldt would have been quickly fired. This is a clear example of how the corruption in Wisconsins criminal justice system extends up to our high court.

According to the complaint, Woldt, when brandishing his gun, didnt point the gun at anyone in the courtroom and kept his finger off the trigger. So thats not as professional as the high court would prefer, but basically OK?
Indeed, nearly all COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. are now people who haven't been vaccinated. Nonetheless, just 56.2% of Americans have received at least one vaccine dose, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Overall, only 51% of Republicans said in mid-June that they had received at least one vaccine dose, versus 83% of Democrats, according to an AP-NORC poll. And many appeared to have made up their minds. Forty-six percent of those who had not been vaccinated said they definitely would not. Among Republicans, even more  53%  said they definitely wouldnt; just 12% said they were planning to.

I think theyve finally realized that if their people arent vaccinated, theyre going to get sick, and if their people arent vaccinated, theyre going to get blamed for COVID outbreaks in the future, said GOP pollster Frank Luntz, who has been working with the Biden administration and public health experts to craft effective messaging to bring the vaccine hesitant off the fence.

But Luntz, who conducted another focus group Wednesday evening with vaccine holdouts, said there has been a discernible shift in recent weeks as skepticism has calcified into hardened refusal.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP)  The crowded Republican primary for an open U.S. House seat in central Ohio is testing the ongoing political sway of former President Donald Trump as his choice in the race, a longtime coal lobbyist, is competing against candidates backed by other conservative leaders, movements and donors.

The race in the sprawling GOP-leaning 15th Congressional District, which is gerrymandered to include all or part of 12 Ohio counties including parts of Columbus, also has seen endorsements by Republican groups backing women candidates, a powerful anti-abortion group and allies of the former president.

Trump, who twice won the state by wide margins, has touted candidate Mike Carey as the best choice to succeed former U.S. Rep. Steve Stivers. Stivers resigned in May to lead the Ohio Chamber of Commerce after holding the seat for a decade. The special election primary is Aug. 3.

In a release, Trump's Save America PAC said Carey, "will be a courageous fighter for the people and our economy, is strong on the Border, and tough on Crime, and mentioned his experience in the U.S. Army National Guard and support for the Second Amendment. Former Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski has also been crossing the district to campaign for Carey.
The discoveries of hundreds of unmarked graves at former residential schools for Indigenous children in Canada have prompted renewed calls for a reckoning over the traumatic legacy of similar schools in the United States  and in particular by the churches that operated many of them.

U.S. Catholic and Protestant denominations operated more than 150 boarding schools between the 19th and 20th centuries. Native American and Alaskan Native children were regularly severed from their tribal families, customs, language and religion and brought to the schools in a push to assimilate and Christianize them.

Some U.S. churches have been reckoning with this activity for years through ceremonies, apologies and archival investigations, while others are just getting started. Some advocates say churches have more work to do in opening their archives, educating the public about what was done in the name of their faith and helping former students and their relatives tell their stories of family trauma.

We all need to work together on this, said the Rev. Bradley Hauff, a Minnesota-based Episcopal priest and missioner for Indigenous Ministries with the Episcopal Church.

Whats happening in Canada, thats a wakeup call to us, said Hauff, who is enrolled with the Oglala Sioux Tribe.
Two years after a fire damaged Takara Japanese Restaurant on Madison's West Side, its owner is reopening it with a new twist: A conveyor belt sushi transport system.

Owner Jeannie Ni calls the conveyor belt a "convertible train," and said with the new system, customers can try more types of sushi and "know what is good for you."

Her son, Davis Chan, said diners can grab a small plate, try it, and if they like it can keep choosing similar items.

The restaurant, 696 S. Whitney Way, which is set to reopen Aug. 1 after extensive remodeling, also has a new, industrial appearance. It has been renamed Takara Sushi Station.

"It's been a long time," Jeannie said. "Hopefully people did not forget about us."

Davis describes the conveyor belt as U-shaped with branches. He said his mother decided to implement the system after visiting similar restaurants in Japan, Switzerland and Denmark.

The conveyor belt will bring different types of sushi rolls and pieces of nigiri, the classic sushi with rice pressed into an elongated shape and usually topped with fish. Davis said the conveyor belt will feature about 100 items at a time.
In 2016, before she did stand-up and before C.K.s 2017 scandal, Rosser met the comedian when he stopped in Comedy on State for its weekly open mic event.

Back then, I really loved C.K., said Rosser, 31. And I still really enjoy a lot of his jokes. Theres a reason he was a very famous comedian.

Rosser said as a top comedian doing almost exclusively hourlong sets, C.K. told her he missed the feel of the open mic and wanted to be treated like any other comic at least for one night.

She said she was excited to meet him and told him it was awkward to watch him perform since he looks so much like her father and does a lot of questionable, shameful things.

Rosser said had C.K. been among female comedian friends when he pulled his masturbation stunts, he wouldnt have faced the same level of scrutiny.

Hed apparently behaved like this with Sarah Silverman, a comedian of roughly equal stature and she was fine with it, but thats because theyre friends and friends can be weird with each other, she said.
Authorities on Thursday began draining the pond behind the Windsor home of a man accused in the killing of his father and suspected in the disappearance of his mother after a cadaver dog indicated the possible presence of human remains at the site.

Dane County Sheriff Kalvin Barrett said after the Madison police K-9 team took a dog onto the water, it showed some particular behavior that leads us to believe there may or may not be some evidentiary items in the area.

After marking several areas in the pond where the dog reacted with yellow buoys, authorities began hooking up hoses and a large pump to lower the pond from about 12 feet at its deepest to about 5 feet to help the Sheriffs Offices dive team search for evidence.

Investigators were assisted in the search by officers from the state Department of Natural Resources as they searched the pond behind the home at 4595 Oak Springs Circle, where 23-year-old Chandler Halderson lived with his mother, Krista, 53, and father Bart, 50, whose torso was found earlier this month in a wooded area in the town of Cottage Grove. Krista Halderson has not been seen since before the July Fourth holiday.
Having had only one partially in-person class last year, his first at UW-Madison, Walker is excited to be on campus and agrees that the university should be reopening. But how is the key question.

I understand Madison is safer than certain southern states, but students come from all over the country, he said. Theyre going to bring whatever they were around to campus. I just think theres a way (UW-Madison) could reopen more safely, but its so afraid of losing what little dollars the state government will hand to them that they wont.

Testing, vaccines

Another point of contention is phasing out the Safer Badgers app next month. The cellphone app was used last spring to restrict building access for people who skipped regular COVID-19 testing.

This fall, only unvaccinated students living in the dorms will be required to undergo weekly testing despite Chancellor Rebecca Blank implying thered be regular and required testing for all unvaccinated students at the Faculty Senate meeting in May.

We had something this spring that more or less worked and now were pretty much throwing that away and eliminating the incentive to get vaccinated, German professor Hannah Eldridge said.
Wisconsin Democrats are demanding Republican lawmakers confirm Gov. Tony Evers choice to replace the GOP-appointed head of the Department of Natural Resources board in a battle that could shape how the agency approaches a host of pressing issues, from this falls wolf hunt to pollution limits.

Former Gov. Scott Walker, a Republican, appointed Fred Prehn to the DNR board in 2015. The Wausau dentist has served as chairman since 2019.

His six-year term on the board ended May 1; Evers tapped Ashland High School agriculture teacher Sandra Naas to replace him on April 30. He also appointed Sharon Adams to replace Julie Anderson, another Walker appointee whose term ended on May 1. The moves would give Evers appointees a 4-3 majority on the board.

Traditionally, a prior administrations appointees step aside to make way for their replacements, as Anderson left to make room for Adams. But Prehn has refused to vacate his position, citing a state law that allows him to continue to serve until the state Senate confirms his replacement. Republicans control the Senate and have yet to schedule a confirmation hearing for Naas or Adams.
CHILTON  Wisconsin's former top sturgeon biologist has resigned and has been fined for lying to investigators looking into the illegal processing of sturgeon eggs into caviar.

Ryan Koenigs earlier pleaded no contest to resisting a conservation warden in Calumet County. He was fined $500 in court Thursday, WLUK-TV reported.

Koenigs resigned from the Department of Natural Resources Thursday morning, according to his attorney.

The criminal complaint alleges Koenigs' statements in an in interview last year didn't match phone records and other DNR documents.

An investigation revealed that Koenigs and other DNR employees would allegedly collect eggs from spearers, telling them they were for research purposes.

According to a criminal complaint, Koenigs allegedly allowed a co-worker to take the eggs and have them processed, then shared some of the caviar with DNR employees. Koenigs is accused of accepting about $20,000 worth of caviar, by way of bartering, which is illegal.

Koenigs was also convicted last month in Winnebago County of resisting a conservation warden. He was fined $50 in that case.
A lot of big, important policy issues such as equitable education, housing, health care and access to polls need more and diverse analysis and coverage. So do weightier topics such as immigration, the future of work, and how we create informed and engaged citizens to make democracy work for people from all walks of life.

But dont worry, dear readers, Ill try not to bore you with too much policy talk. I want to explore and understand many other issues.

For starters, I want to know why The Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream Company doesnt carry bubble gum flavored ice cream (Youre losing sales to the Cedar Crest people, jaunty cow, what gives?). Also, why do the map apps in this city never have you go back the way you came?

I want to meet all kinds of people. Sure, Madisons leading lights, political movers and shakers and cultural influencers. But I also need to find places to meet my people. I mean, surely a town with such a magnificent pencil mural will have some amazing neighborhood shop for me to find ridiculously expensive pencils that Ill never sharpen or use (I collect them).

That said: Please find me.
I have been to Cuba many times and talked and worked with people all over the island.

News of recent demonstrations in Cuba mostly ignores the aggression of the United States government against a small island of 11 million people.

The United States began imposing collective punishment on the Cuban people with a trade embargo in 1962, currently the longest trade embargo in history. According to the U.S. State Department in 1960: Every possible means should be undertaken promptly to weaken the economic life of Cubato bring about hunger, desperation and overthrow of government.

While thousands of Canadians and Europeans have travelled freely to Cuba as tourists, Americans face serious restrictions, increased under the Trump administration.

The United Nations General Assembly has condemned the blockade every year since 1992, as violation of the Charter of the United Nations and international law. The United Nations General Assembly voted on June 23 to end the blockade of Cuba.

Though our press often mentions the blockade, they dont provide in-depth coverage of its impact on the Cuban economy and the daily life of Cubans.
Biden has said, We stand with the Cuban people on the right of peaceful protest and the right to freely determine their own future. It is important for Biden and democratic allies to repeat that pledge, including calls for an open internet.

But any effort by the United States to openly intervene in what were clearly spontaneous demonstrations can only delegitimize a genuine Cuban protest. And it could spur a geopolitical conflict if Russia intervenes.

Instead, Biden should reinvigorate Obamas effort to link Cuba more closely to the United States and its people by dropping Trumps restrictions on tourism and remittances. Perhaps this cant be done immediately  lest it appear to reward a government crackdown. But, if the Cuban government refrains from more repression, it should be done soon.

And before Russia or China offer Cuba assistance with their COVID-19 vaccines, Biden should follow up his offer to send vaccines  so long as they are administered by an international organization. And he should help Havana get the necessary materials for Cubas home-produced vaccine.
Officials with these health care systems told reporters during the briefing that despite these public displays, the vast majority of their employees are supportive of the requirement.

Dr. Jim Souza, chief physician executive for St. Lukes, said about 80% of the hospital systems employees are already vaccinated against COVID-19. And hospital officials are having conversations with those who have reservations.

Were approaching those wanting to listen, wanting them to be heard, wanting them to explain the legitimate concerns they might have, and then meeting that with factual information, Souza said.

Despite trying to reach people, Souza acknowledged that St. Lukes could lose some employees over this requirement. But the mandate creates a safer environment for both staff and patients, he said.

We will not sacrifice safety, ever, Souza said.

Lt. Gov. Janice McGeachin  who is running for governor in next years election  has urged the Idaho Legislature to get involved with this discussion. On July 9, McGeachin sent a letter to Speaker of the House Scott Bedke in which she asked him to reconvene the Idaho Legislature to examine this issue.
Dr. Jim Souza, chief physician executive for St. Luke's, said about 80% of the hospital system's employees are already vaccinated against COVID-19. And hospital officials are having conversations with those who have reservations.
Across the Northwest, the number of human-caused wildfires has nearly tripled in the past 10 years, from 1,078 in 2010 to 3,107 last year, according to NIFC.

Even worse, though, as a hotter and drier climate makes wildfires larger, the number of acres burned by human-caused wildfires has gone up by a factor of 21 in the past 10 years. Last year, 1.5 million acres in the Northwest burned in fires with human causes. Nationally, nearly 6 million acres burned last year because of human activity.

Most of Idaho right now is under some sort of fire restriction, in what seems like a futile attempt to get people to do the right thing.

North Idaho is under the most restrictive Stage II fire restrictions, which ban all fires (except liquid or gas stoves) in any location, including developed campsites.

Most of the rest of the state is under Stage I, which affects what sort of fires recreators can have and where those fires can be built. Under the restrictions, open campfires are banned on dispersed camping sites and are permitted only in permanent fire structures  concrete or metal fire rings  typically found at developed campsites.
There is a critical lack of crisis intervention help for people with serious mental health or drug abuse problems, particularly for those without insurance coverage or other financial resources. People who need immediate help are often turned away because existing crisis response facilities are already crowded. Sometimes, the only alternative is to call in law enforcement officers, many of whom are not trained to deal with mental health and other crisis issues.

To its credit, the State has begun to reduce the behavioral health deficit with Regional Behavioral Health Centers but there is a long way to go to meet the need. The Idaho court system has contributed with its problem-solving courts. Drug Courts, Mental Health Courts, and Veteran Treatment Courts have been instrumental in helping troubled people deal with mental issues and drug abuse. The problem is that these services are only available to those caught up in the justice system. So many people in Idaho who are not yet in legal trouble but who need similar support simply cannot find it.
RIHMOND  John Tyler Community College has been renamed Brightpoint Community College, scrapping a name it has held since 1967 because Tyler was a slaveholder and a member of the Confederacy. The State Board for Community Colleges unanimously approved the renaming of the Chesterfield college on Thursday, as five schools said they intend to change names.

Ted Raspiller, president of Brightpoint, said the name is vibrant, reflects a warm, welcoming environment and embodies a commitment to diversity. The college wants to be a bright point for the people it serves.

There was a disconnection with the old name, the president said. People didnt understand why the school was named for John Tyler, unaware that Tyler lived in nearby Charles City County or that he is buried in Richmonds Hollywood Cemetery.

Since deciding on a name change in November, the college held focus groups and conducted a survey that received 1,400 responses. A task force of students, staff and other community members led the process.

I was surprised how good the engagement was, Raspiller said.
When the humidity is up, the water vapor is up, the particles grow in size because theyre hygroscopic, said Salkovitz. They absorbing.

When will it get better?

Some short-term improvement is expected in Virginia on Thursday due to a cleaner, drier air mass blowing in behind a cold front.

The DEQ predicts good air quality (code green) for Richmond, Roanoke, Winchester and Hampton Roads. The smoky air will take longest to clear out of southeastern Virginia, however.

Dew points on Thursday will range from the mid 50s to lower 60s across the commonwealth, versus the haze-inducing mid 60s to lower 70s that were widespread on Wednesday.

In the long-term, we may see more smoky days. Those distant fires continue to burn, and the ingredients for an active fire season in the Western U.S. will persist into the fall. If the jet stream pattern returns to a similar setup in the weeks ahead, with a wave rippling down from Canada to the Great Lakes, more smoke could come our way.

And if cold fronts fail to sweep the polluted air out to sea, high pressure systems could trap residual smoke as well.

What do the readings mean?
Fig 1. Components of the healthcare system and health-seeking process. The shapes show where shortcomings in access or quality of human and animal healthcare could happen and impair ideal health provision. They also indicate the dimension of the framework affected.

A One-Health review in East African countries shows that efforts to address antimicrobial resistance must go hand in hand with improved access to quality health care and antimicrobials.

Led by the Universities of Glasgow and Edinburgh, under a joint One Health Ph.D. studentship program, the review found that improving access to quality healthcare provision, of which antimicrobials are a major component, could help to address the risk of antimicrobial resistance in low- and middle-income countries.

The review of research in East African countries, published in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, found that a range of measures could help to balance the need for universal access to treatments with optimal use of medicines, in countries where limited access and uneven quality of care lead to potentially problematic practices around the use of antimicrobials in humans and livestock.

Their study of human and animal healthcare in Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda looked at previous research on the provision of widely used antimicrobial drugs, such as antibiotics and antimalarials.

The team, involving scientists from the University of Glasgow's Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health & Comparative Medicine and the School of Social & Political Sciences, and from the University of Edinburgh's Roslin Institute, found infrastructural, economic, organizational and social barriers to human and animal healthcare at all levels of society.

The study found that human and animal healthcare coverage, including the availability of quality antimicrobials and counseling by trained professionals, is often inadequate, inaccessible and unaffordable. These issues are particularly acute in the most remote and disadvantaged communities where healthcare costs have a substantial impoverishing effect. Drug choice is often poorly informed, due to a ubiquitous lack of treatment and prescribing guidelines, training opportunities and diagnostic capacity to confirm the condition to treat.

Cost of treatment is also an important driver of treatment decisions. Underfunding and understaffing are widespread in public healthcare services, and supply issues lead to shortages of treatments, the review found. Combined, all of these factors can lead to antimicrobial overuse and over-prescriptiona product of the major limitations of the healthcare system rather than inappropriate practices on the part of providers and users.

In a majorly constrained environment, informal care, comprising retail and community-based providers operating outside the formal system, critically compensates for these inadequacies and increases access to vital medicines. However, patients and farmers often do not have access to all necessary information on antimicrobial use, which can lead to suboptimal administration, dosing and course length.

To address the problem of antimicrobial resistance, the researchers suggest improvements to ensure that healthcare and medicines are good quality, affordable, available and accessible when necessary.

They also recommend the need to bring together all levels, from patients and farmers to healthcare providers and policy makers in order to understand the range of perspectives and constraints around health choices and practices key actors face, and how these could be addressed.

Future research should aim to better understand the link between human and veterinary use of antimicrobials to inform best practice for prescription, dispensing and use, and to examine antibiotic access for animal health. Such information can also facilitate the design and implementation of antimicrobial stewardship programs and resistance surveillance systems.

Overall, improvements to water and sanitation infrastructure as well as broader access to preventative interventions such as vaccination would reduce the high burden of infectious diseases, hence the need for antimicrobials in both humans and their livestock, the team concluded.

Dr. Tiziana Lembo, from the University of Glasgow's Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health & Comparative Medicine, said: "The antimicrobial resistance crisis exerts pressure on us to reduce the use of antimicrobials. Yet, in many African countries, the high burden of infectious diseases creates great dependence on these life-saving medicines. Problematic practices around antimicrobial use are largely the result of fundamental inadequacies of the health care system that limit the treatment choices people have. Enhancing access to high-quality health care would in the long run reduce risks of antimicrobial resistance, and improve people's health and livelihoods."

Dr. Adrian Muwonge, Roslin institute, said: "Antimicrobials are critical for health care delivery and have transformed how we produce proteins of animal origin globally. Therefore, we should do everything it takes to preserve their utility. We must invest in the infrastructure that delivers, preserves and protects the quality and accessibility of medicines, and promote appropriate dispensing, which is informed by diagnostics, as the foundation for good antimicrobial stewardship on the African continent."

Explore further Reducing the use of critically important antimicrobials in pets

More information: Kathrin Loosli et al, Addressing antimicrobial resistance by improving access and quality of careA review of the literature from East Africa, PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases (2021). Journal information: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases Kathrin Loosli et al, Addressing antimicrobial resistance by improving access and quality of careA review of the literature from East Africa,(2021). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009529
UNC Lineberger's William Kim, MD, and colleagues report their research demonstrated that patients with advanced bladder cancers whose tumors have a mutated FGFR3 gene respond to immunotherapy in a manner that is similar to patients without that mutation. This discovery runs counter to previous research that suggested FGFR3-mutated bladder cancers should not be treated with immunotherapy. Credit: UNC LIneberge Comprehensive Cancer Center

A new study has demonstrated that patients with advanced bladder cancers whose tumors have a mutated FGFR3 gene respond to immunotherapy treatment in a manner that is similar to patients without that mutation, a discovery that runs counter to previous assumptions. This research, led by scientists at the University of North Carolina Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, has important implications for patients who have not been offered immunotherapy because of their genetic profiles.

The findings are published in the British Journal of Cancer.

The National Cancer Institute estimates that 83,730 people in the United States will be diagnosed with bladder cancer in 2021, and the disease will cause 17,200 deaths. While the cancer is treatable when diagnosed early, the five-year survival rate is approximately 6 percent in advanced cases where the cancer has spread to other parts of the body. Within that low survival group of patients, about 15 percent of their tumors have mutations in the FGFR3 gene, making the gene overactive and contributing to high mortality for the disease.

"Despite prior work suggesting that FGFR3-mutated bladder cancers should not be treated with immunotherapy, our study demonstrates the opposite, so we believe that immunotherapy should be offered without hesitation," said UNC Lineberger's William Y. Kim, MD, Rush S. Dickson Distinguished Professor of Medicine and professor of Genetics and the paper's corresponding author.

There have been several recent significant treatment advances for bladder cancer. In 2019, the FDA approved a drug, erdafitinib (Balversa), that targets FGFR3 and prolongs survival. Additionally, immune checkpoint blockade drugs, commonly known as immunotherapies, have recently been approved for advanced bladder cancer. Prior to this decade, treatment was primarily limited to systemic, platinum-based chemotherapy.

"Clinical trials have shown that bladder cancers with FGFR3 mutations have fewer immune cells, primarily T cells, than cancers without the mutation. Because tumors with low levels of immune cells tend to respond poorly to immune checkpoint blockades, it has been hypothesized that those patients would have low response rates to immunotherapy," said UNC Lineberger's Tracy Rose, MD, MPH, assistant professor at the UNC School of Medicine and the paper's co-first author.

To test the hypothesis, UNC Lineberger researchers designed a study to compare tumor tissue samples and clinical trials data from 17 patients with FGFR3-mutated bladder cancer to 86 patients whose tumors did not have the mutation. The investigators found that patients with FGFR3 mutations responded to immunotherapy equally as well as those without the mutations. At a cellular level, they also found equivalent diversities of T cell receptors and a similar balance of immune suppression and immune activation signals in tumors with and without FGFR3 mutations. This equivalency, or balance, indicates a similar chance of benefiting from immunotherapy.

"The standard of care for advanced bladder cancer is getting pretty complicated, but having more options is a good thing," Kim said. "Today, most patients will get chemotherapy and then, if needed, FGFR3-altered tumors can be treated with either erdafitinib or immunotherapy."

The researchers hope to establish a clinical trial to test whether patients with FGFR3 alterations benefit more from erdafitinib or immunotherapy.

"Our study does not rule out the possibility that erdafitinib will synergize with immunotherapy," said William Weir, co-first author and an MD-Ph.D. student at UNC-Chapel Hill. "If anything, the fact that FGFR3-altered patients benefit from immunotherapy argues that this may be a reasonable approach."

Explore further Targeted therapy erdafitinib effective for patients with advanced bladder cancer and specific gene mutations

More information: Tracy L. Rose et al, Fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 alterations and response to immune checkpoint inhibition in metastatic urothelial cancer: a real world experience, British Journal of Cancer (2021). Journal information: British Journal of Cancer Tracy L. Rose et al, Fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 alterations and response to immune checkpoint inhibition in metastatic urothelial cancer: a real world experience,(2021). DOI: 10.1038/s41416-021-01488-6
Figure 1. Diabetes Onset Prediction Performance. A Calibration is assessed visually with a calibration curve composed of 20 population bins of equal size. B Precision and recall curves are displayed. The left y-axis corresponds to precision, and the right y-axis to recall. The test area under the receiver operating curve is 80.26. Credit: DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.11315

Artificial intelligence could be used to predict who is at risk of developing type 2 diabetesinformation that could be used to improve the lives of millions of Canadians.

Researchers at the University of Toronto used a machine learning model to analyze health data, collected between 2006 to 2016, of 2.1 million people living in Ontario. They found that they were able to use the model to accurately predict the number of people who would develop type 2 diabetes within a five-year time period. The machine learning model was also able to analyze different factors that would influence whether people were high or low risk to develop the disease.

The results of the study were recently published in the journal JAMA Network Open.

"We know that identifying people who are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes is really important because there are things we can do to prevent the onset of the disease," says senior author Laura Rosella, an associate professor in the University of Toronto's Temerty Faculty of Medicine and the Dalla Lana School of Public Health.

"This machine learning model can help with managing one of the biggest chronic disease challenges in North American society. There is a demonstrated advantage to intervening early when people are at risk of type 2 diabetes."

Rosella, who is the education lead for the Temerty Centre for AI Research and Education in Medicine (T-CAIREM), says the study's findings could help inform larger health system strategies to decrease the number of people who develop type 2 diabetes.

"The model is about 80 percent accurate when it comes to predicting who will develop type 2 diabetes," she says. "By using this information in a proactive way, we can plan health systems better and help prevent what can be a serious, burdensome condition."

The use of a machine learning model is important, says Rosella, because it shows how routinely collected data can be used to address complex health problems in a more effective way.

Preventing type 2 diabetes means looking at larger structural factors like food insecurity and access to primary care physicians, Rosella adds.

"We know diabetes can be prevented or delayed. We know there are effective ways we can prevent the onset of a chronic disease. This study offers a way to start thinking about how to identify who is at risk of type 2 diabetes, and then start implementing strategies to stop the onset of a debilitating, lifelong condition."

Vinyas Harish, an MD-Ph.D. candidate at the Temerty Faculty of Medicine and learner co-lead at T-CAIREM, says the research illuminates how scrutinizing social determinants of health have an important impact on stopping the spread of type 2 diabetes.

"It helps us think about what we can do to get a health system to intervene on larger, more structural factors," he says.

Rosella says medical research that incorporates artificial intelligence requires a team approach.

"You need a multi-disciplinary group of people that include a group of really good computer scientists, people that understand data and how to use it, and people with a health-system perspective and a clinical perspective," she says.

"This is needed to make sure that you're coming up with algorithms that are actually going to be used and have an impact."

Explore further Artificial intelligence could help predict future diabetes cases

More information: Mathieu Ravaut et al, Development and Validation of a Machine Learning Model Using Administrative Health Data to Predict Onset of Type 2 Diabetes, JAMA Network Open (2021). Journal information: JAMA Network Open Mathieu Ravaut et al, Development and Validation of a Machine Learning Model Using Administrative Health Data to Predict Onset of Type 2 Diabetes,(2021). DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.11315
In this July 22, 2021 file photo, a health care worker fills a syringe with the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at the American Museum of Natural History in New York. Most Americans who haven't been vaccinated against COVID-19 say they are unlikely to get the shots and doubt they would work against the aggressive delta variant despite evidence they do, according to a new poll that underscores the challenges facing public health officials amid soaring infections in some states.Credit: AP Photo/Mary Altaffer

Most Americans who haven't been vaccinated against COVID-19 say they are unlikely to get the shots and doubt they would work against the aggressive delta variant despite evidence they do, according to a new poll that underscores the challenges facing public health officials amid soaring infections in some states.

Among American adults who have not yet received a vaccine, 35% say they probably will not, and 45% say they definitely will not, according to a poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. Just 3% say they definitely will get the shots, though another 16% say they probably will.

What's more, 64% of unvaccinated Americans have little to no confidence the shots are effective against variantsincluding the delta variant that officials say is responsible for 83% of new cases in the U.S.despite evidence that they offer strong protection. In contrast, 86% of those who have already been vaccinated have at least some confidence that the vaccines will work.

That means "that there will be more preventable cases, more preventable hospitalizations and more preventable deaths," said Dr. Amesh Adalja, an infectious disease specialist at Johns Hopkins University.

"We always knew some proportion of the population would be difficult to persuade no matter what the data showed, (and) a lot of people are beyond persuasion," Adalja said. He echoed Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Rochelle Walensky in calling the current surge "a pandemic of the unvaccinated" because nearly all hospital admissions and deaths have been among those who weren't immunized.

A new AP-NORC poll finds close to 9 in 10 vaccinated Americans are at least somewhat confident the COVID-19 vaccines will be effective against variants. Only about a third of unvaccinated Americans say the same.

The AP-NORC survey was conducted before several Republicans and conservative cable news personalities this week urged people to get vaccinated after months of stoking hesitancy. That effort comes as COVID-19 cases nearly tripled in the U.S. over the past two weeks.

Nationally, 56.4% of all Americans, including children, have received at least one dose of the vaccine, according to the CDC. And White House officials said Thursday that vaccinations are beginning to increase in some states where rates are lagging behind and COVID-19 cases are rising, including in Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Missouri and Nevada.

Still, just over 40% of Louisiana's population has received at least one dose, and the state reported 5,388 new COVID-19 cases Wednesdaythe third-highest single-day figure since the pandemic began. Hospitalizations also rose steeply in the last month.

The AP-NORC survey found that the majority of Americans54%are at least somewhat concerned that they or someone in their family will be infected, including 27% who are very concerned. That's up slightly from a month ago, but far below the beginning of the year, when about 7 in 10 Americans said they were at least somewhat concerned that they or someone they knew would be infected.

In this July 21, 2021 file photo, a signboard marks the location of a city-run popup COVID-19 vaccine clinic in Brownsville, Texas. Most Americans who haven't been vaccinated against COVID-19 say they are unlikely to get the shots and doubt they would work against the aggressive delta variant despite evidence they do, according to a new poll that underscores the challenges facing public health officials amid soaring infections in some states. Credit: Denise Cathey/The Brownsville Herald via AP

Democrats are far more likely than Republicans to say they're at least somewhat concerned about someone close to them being infected, 70% to 38%.

And overall, Republicans are far more likely than Democrats to say they have not been vaccinated and definitely or probably won't be, 43% to 10%. Views are also divided along age and education lines: Thirty-seven percent of those under age 45 say they haven't and likely won't get the shots, compared with just 16% of those older. And those without college degrees are more likely than those with them to say they aren't and won't be vaccinated, 30% to 18%.

Cody Johansen, who lives near Orlando, Florida, considers himself a conservative Republican, but said that had no bearing on his decision to skip vaccination.

"It hasn't really been that dangerous to people in my demographic, and I have a good immune system," said Johansen, a 26-year-old who installs audio-visual equipment at military bases. "Most of my friends got vaccinated, and they're a little mad at me for not getting it. There is peer pressure because they say it's a civic responsibility."

In this July 22, 2021 file photo, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra holds up a flier promoting the Vax Nevada Days lottery after briefing from officials at the Clark County Fire Department Training Facility in Las Vegas. Most Americans who haven't been vaccinated against COVID-19 say they are unlikely to get the shots and doubt they would work against the aggressive delta variant despite evidence they do, according to a new poll that underscores the challenges facing public health officials amid soaring infections in some states. Credit: Steve Marcus /Las Vegas Sun via AP

He said it's obvious the shots have been effective, though it bothers him a little that they have only emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration.

Johansen said he approves of how President Joe Biden has handled the pandemic response, saying he has exhibited good leadership.

That reflects the poll's findings. A large majority of Americans, 66%, continue to approve of how Biden is handling the pandemichigher than Biden's overall approval rating of 59%.

The difference is fueled largely by Republicans, 32% of whom say they approve of Biden's handling of COVID-19 compared with 15% who approve of him overall. About 9 in 10 Democrats approve of Biden overall and for his handling of the pandemic.

On Friday, White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters that the Biden administration has persuaded "a whole lot of people to change their minds and take action, get a shot, save their lives and the lives of people around them." She noted that more than 5.2 million have received shots in the past 10 days, and said officials would continue their outreach efforts.

In this July 14, 2021 file photo, Lara Geyrozaga, a nurse with Project Vision Hawaii, administers a COVID-19 vaccine dose to Eileen Pelep at a vaccination clinic in Honolulu. Most Americans who haven't been vaccinated against COVID-19 say they are unlikely to get the shots and doubt they would work against the aggressive delta variant despite evidence they do, according to a new poll that underscores the challenges facing public health officials amid soaring infections in some states. Credit: AP Photo/Jennifer Since Kelleher

Jessie McMasters, an aerospace engineer who lives near Rockford, Illinois, said she got her first shot when she was 37 weeks' pregnant after talking with her midwife and reading about how the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines were developed.

"That gave me high confidence that they worked," McMasters said. Her parents both were infected but did not suffer serious illness, and both have since been vaccinated.

She said her friends and family are all over the place when it comes to their views on vaccination and other virus-prevention measuresoften reflecting how such discussions have become partisan. Some who got it are "so far on one end that they may never give up masks because now it's a personal statement," said McMasters, who leans Democratic, just as others won't get the shots because of their political beliefs or misinformation.

Dr. Howard Koh, a professor at the Harvard Chan School of Public Health, said vaccine hesitancy is not new, but the misinformation surrounding COVID-19 and the fast-spreading variant make it imperative to reach people one-on-one to understand their concerns and provide accurate information.

In this July 22, 2021 file photo, Soile Reyes, 12, of Brooklyn, receives the first dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine as her mother Evelyn Pereira looks on at the American Museum of Natural History in New York. Most Americans who haven't been vaccinated against COVID-19 say they are unlikely to get the shots and doubt they would work against the aggressive delta variant despite evidence they do, according to a new poll that underscores the challenges facing public health officials amid soaring infections in some states. Credit: AP Photo/Mary Altaffer

He called the new surge in infections and deaths "just heartbreaking."

"What I learned from my patients is that when a loved one dies, that's a tragedy," said Koh, who was a senior public health official in the Obama administration. "But when a loved one dies and you know it could have been prevented, that tragedy haunts you forever."

 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Thai volunteers with PPE protection suits collect a dead body which was left for hours on a road in Bangkok, Thailand on July 20, 2021. Thailand's already locked down capital on Friday, July 23, 2021 shut down parks and the few remaining public places available to residents, as the country registered a new record high of confirmed COVID-19 infections. The near total restriction on movements in the capital came as the prime minister demanded officials find ways to get the sick into hospitals after people were found dead on the streets of Bangkok. Credit: Patipat Janthong/Voice via AP

Thailand's already locked down capital shut parks and the few remaining public places available to residents Friday, as the country registered a new high of coronavirus infections.

The near-total restriction on movements in the capital came as the prime minister demanded officials find ways to get the sick into hospitals after people with COVID-19 were found dead on the streets of Bangkok.

The Health Ministry reported 14,575 new cases and 114 deaths around the country, bringing deaths since the pandemic began last year to 3,811. Nearly all of the deaths happened since April following a number of spreading events and public holidays.

The biggest concentration of cases and deaths has been in the capital. About 15 million people live in the Bangkok metropolitan area.

Prime Minister Prayuth Cha-o-cha's government has come under increasing fire for its management of a delta variant-fueled surge and slow vaccination program. His government has come under severe criticism after reports that people waiting for treatment died in the streets and in their homes.

"Most importantly, we have to think what we can do to reduce the number of infected cases that are waiting for ambulances at home or on streets," Prayuth said at a meeting on Thursday morning.

A health worker prepares a shot of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine for people at the Central Vaccination Center in Bangkok, Thailand, Thursday, July 22, 2021. Credit: AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit

"This picture must not be seen again. It is the responsibility of every agency, not only the Public Health Ministry. Several involved agencies need to figure out how to bring these patients to field hospitals," he said of the dead.

The number of people found dead from COVID-19 in the capital was increasing daily, said an official with a charity that has been helping pick them up.

Somboon Kwan-on, chief of the Disaster Relief Unit of the Poh Teck Tung Foundation, said in a phone interview that his team has been collecting eight to 10 bodies a day.

Thailand hospitalizes and isolates anyone found positive with the virus, putting a strain on the number of beds available.

Nearly 4,000 COVID-19 patients were in intensive care units Friday, including 900 on ventilators, said Apisamai Srirangsan, deputy spokesperson for the government's COVID-19 Administration Center.

Residents wait on line to receive shots of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine at the Central Vaccination Center in Bangkok, Thailand, Thursday, July 22, 2021. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit) wait on line

Meanwhile, more than 20,000 people in the Bangkok region were waiting on COVID-19 treatment beds, excluding more than 2,500 people who were isolated at home or in community settings. In Bangkok alone, 70 people still waiting on beds were already in critical condition.

Porntep Saeheng, director of Erawan Medical Center, told the AP that it received around 2,000 calls per day from COVID-19 patients and over 3,000 cases that the centers handled still cannot get beds in the pre-admission centers.

Bangkok and its surrounding provinces have been under a lockdown nearly two weeks. Further restrictions on movement and an overnight curfew were implemented this week, closing all malls and stores except supermarkets, convenience stores and pharmacies. On Friday, all public parks, hair salons and barber shops and most public spaces were shut.

Residents wait on line to receive shots of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine at the Central Vaccination Center in Bangkok, Thailand, Thursday, July 22, 2021. Credit: AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit

Residents wait on line to receive shots of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine at the Central Vaccination Center in Bangkok, Thailand, Thursday, July 22, 2021. Credit: AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit

Residents wait on line to receive shots of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine at the Central Vaccination Center in Bangkok, Thailand, Thursday, July 22, 2021. Credit: AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit

Residents wait on line to receive shots of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine at the Central Vaccination Center in Bangkok, Thailand, Thursday, July 22, 2021. Credit: AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit

Thailand's government has also come under fire for its failure to secure significant vaccine supplies.

It has administered around 15.38 million vaccine doses. Around 11.8 million people, or 17.1% of the country's 69 million population, have received at least one dose.

Explore further Thailand sets curfew for capital to combat coronavirus surge

 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
NIAID Director Anthony Fauci. Image: NIAID

With more than two-thirds of American adults vaccinated with at least one dose of an authorized COVID-19 vaccine, the top U.S. health agencies retain the trust of the vast majority of the American public, as does Dr. Anthony Fauci, the public face of U.S. efforts to combat the virus, according to a new survey from the Annenberg Public Policy Center (APPC) of the University of Pennsylvania.

The survey revealed growing public confidence in both the safety and effectiveness of vaccines to prevent COVID-19.

But after months of attacks on Fauci in conservative and social media, the survey found that people who said they rely on conservative and very conservative media rather than other sources were more likely to have less confidence in Fauci's trustworthiness on COVID-19 and more likely to accept misinformation about him and misinformation and conspiracy theories about the authorized COVID-19 vaccines and the novel coronavirus.

The survey also found that a growing number of Americansmore than 1 in 3believes that the coronavirus was created by the Chinese government as a biological weapon.

"Our analysis of the data shows that there is good news and bad news here," said Kathleen Hall Jamieson, director of the Annenberg Public Policy Center. "Those who underestimate the lethality of COVID-19 or the safety of COVID-19 vaccination are less likely to accept a COVID-19 vaccination. The same is true of those who believe COVID-19 conspiracy theories. By contrast, those who trust health authorities are more likely to seek vaccination. Deceptive messages that undermine trust in a health expert such as Dr. Fauci are deeply worrisome."

The latest Annenberg Science Knowledge (ASK) survey was conducted among 1,719 U.S. adult respondents from June 2June 22, 2021. Data were weighted to represent the target U.S. adult population. The margin of error is  3.2 percentage points at the 95% confidence level. The panel survey is a follow-up to an April 2021 ASK survey with 1,941 respondents. (See the Appendix for additional data.)

Confidence in U.S. health authorities

Credit: University of Pennsylvania

The ASK survey found that the most trustworthy source of information for treating and preventing COVID-19 is the doctor or nurse who is an individual's primary health care provider:

Primary health care provider: 83% are confident their primary health care provider is providing trustworthy information about COVID-19;

Food and Drug Administration: 77% are confident that the FDA, which authorized emergency use of the COVID-19 vaccines available in the United States, is providing trustworthy information about treating and preventing COVID-19statistically about the same as the 75% in April and up significantly from 71% in August 2020 in an earlier Annenberg Public Policy Center survey;

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: 76% are confident that the CDC is providing trustworthy information on COVID, about the same as in April (75%) and August 2020 (72%);

Dr. Anthony Fauci: 68% overall are confident that Fauci, director of the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, is providing trustworthy advice on COVID-19, statistically about the same as in April (71%) and August 2020 (68%).

Conservative media and lower confidence

For more than a year, some prominent hosts in the conservative media have attacked Fauci's credibility. Fox News's Laura Ingraham falsely claimed on June 2, 2021, "Much of what Fauci said about this virus, the drugs that could treat it, and the measures that could be taken to slow the spread was untrue. He knew it was untrue."

The survey found that those who indicated that they rely on conservative and very conservative media have less confidence in U.S. health authorities providing trustworthy information about COVID-19especially Fauci.

Among people who said they rely all the time or often on 

Very conservative media sources such as Newsmax, One America News (OAN), Gateway Pundit, Parler, or Telegram: 55% are confident about trustworthiness of the FDA, 52% are confident about the trustworthiness of the CDC, and only 38% are confident in the trustworthiness of Fauci.

Conservative media such as Fox News: Nearly 7 in 10 are confident that the CDC (68%) and FDA (69%) are providing the public with trustworthy information on COVID-19, but just over half (51%) have confidence that Fauci is doing so.

Mainstream broadcast and print news media such as CBS, ABC, and NBC News, the New York Times , the Wall Street Journal news pages, and the Associated Press: 87% are confident in trustworthiness of the CDC and FDA, and 84% in Fauci.

, the Wall Street Journal news pages, and the Associated Press: 87% are confident in trustworthiness of the CDC and FDA, and 84% in Fauci. Social media such as Facebook: 80% are confident that the CDC and FDA are providing the public with trustworthy information on COVID, and 71% have confidence that Fauci is providing trustworthy information.

Confidence in COVID-19 vaccines

In June, a growing majority of the U.S. public said the COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective:

78% of the U.S. public believes it is definitely or probably true that COVID-19 vaccines are effective in preventing COVID-19, up significantly from 74% in April;

Those who say this is definitely true grew to 46%, from 38% in April.

76% of the U.S. public believes it is definitely or probably true that it is safer to get the COVID-19 vaccine than to get COVID-19, about the same as the 75% in April;

Those who say this is definitely true grew to 54%, from 49% in April, a significant change. In the presence of statistical controls, the more ideologically conservative that people described themselves as, the less likely they are to believe that it is true that it is safer to get the COVID-19 vaccine than to get COVID-19.



Conspiracy beliefs

The survey asked respondents about misinformation and conspiracy theories.

Bioweapon conspiracy theory: Over 1 in 3 people (35%) said it was true that the coronavirus was created by the Chinese government as a biological weapon, up slightly from 31% in April. Another 42% said that statement was false and 23% were not sure. (Although the origin of the coronavirus is still uncertain, there currently is no evidence it was created by the Chinese as a bioweapon.)

In the presence of statistical controls, those who say they rely on conservative media such as Fox News or very conservative media such as OAN are more likely to believe this conspiracy theory. Those who say they rely on mainstream media are more likely to reject this theory.

Among the instances in which a conservative media outlet legitimized the Chinese bioweapon theory was Tucker Carlson's Fox News show on June 30, 2021, which featured an interview with a Chinese "coronavirus whistleblower" who claimed that COVID-19 was a "biologically engineered weapon that got out of control " And on June 8, 2021, conservative personality Steve Bannon hosted Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R., Ga.) on his podcast "War Room: Pandemic," where she claimed that Fauci was sending "American tax dollars" to the Chinese lab in Wuhan "to fund this research that was creating  a virus that can spread rapidly among a population, make people sick and kill them [with] these viruses that they experiment with like some sort of Dr. Frankenstein experiments: These are bioweapons."

In addition, while most respondents knew that a vaccine conspiracy theory involving Bill Gates and microchips was false, a worrisome number either thought it was true or were unsure:

Gates/microchip conspiracy theory: 75% correctly said it was false that the vaccine against Covid-19 developed with support from Microsoft founder Bill Gates contains microchips that can track the person who has been vaccinated, but 1 in 4 people either said this conspiracy theory was true (11%) or were not sure (14%). None of the authorized Covid-19 vaccines contain microchips and while the Gates Foundation has a partnership with BioNTech, the foundation says it did not directly invest in either the Pfizer/BioNTech or Moderna Covid-19 vaccines.

In the presence of statistical controls, those who say they rely on conservative media or very conservative media are more likely to believe this claim.

Misinformation

Fauci and vaccines : Asked if it was true that Dr. Anthony Fauci of the NIH "has NO financial stake" in any Covid-19 vaccine, only 37% said it was true  a decline from the 42% who said it was true in April. Another 32% thought it was false to say Fauci had no financial stake in a Covid vaccine, and 30% were not sure. (There is no evidence Fauci has a financial stake in a Covid-19 vaccine.)

: Asked if it was true that Dr. Anthony Fauci of the NIH "has NO financial stake" in any Covid-19 vaccine, only 37% said it was true  a decline from the 42% who said it was true in April. Another 32% thought it was false to say Fauci had no financial stake in a Covid vaccine, and 30% were not sure. (There is no evidence Fauci has a financial stake in a Covid-19 vaccine.) In the presence of statistical controls, those who indicate that they rely on conservative media or very conservative media are more likely to say this is false  in other words, to reject the idea that Fauci has no financial stake in any vaccine. Those who say they rely on mainstream news are more likely to say this is true. Give you Covid-19: 75% correctly said it was false that taking a Covid-19 vaccine can give you Covid-19  it can't  but 1 in 4 people said it was true (14%) or were not sure (11%);

75% correctly said it was false that taking a Covid-19 vaccine can give you Covid-19  it can't  but 1 in 4 people said it was true (14%) or were not sure (11%); Change your DNA: 71% correctly said it was false that the Covid-19 vaccine changes people's DNA  it does not  but nearly 3 in 10 people thought it was true (12%) or were not sure (17%).

The lab leak theory

As scientists search for the origins of SARS-CoV-2, more than half the survey respondents said they believe the virus came from a lab in Wuhan, China  and got out through either a deliberate or an accidental leak. When asked which statement was closest to their view:

20% said the coronavirus was deliberately leaked from a Wuhan, China, laboratory;

33% said the coronavirus accidentally escaped through carelessness or incompetence from the Wuhan lab;

13% said the coronavirus did not originate in a lab in Wuhan, China;

34% said they were not sure.

Vaccination and prevention

Asked about prevention and vaccination, 70% of respondents said they have gotten a Covid-19 vaccine, up from 47% in April. The other 30% (442 people) said they have not been vaccinated.

Of those 442 people who have not been vaccinated,

76% said they had the information they need to decide if they want to get vaccinated, and 24% said they did not have it;

75% said they were not likely to get vaccinated (333 people) and 25% said they were likely to be vaccinated.

Those who were not likely to be vaccinated (333 people) were asked to give their reasons why and select all that applied. Due to multiple responses, the results total over 100%. Their top five reasons:

61% said the vaccines were still too untested or they were waiting to see what happens  which increased significantly from the 48% who gave this reason in April;

44% are worried about allergies and side effects;

43% don't trust the government;

36% don't trust the scientists and companies that make the vaccines;

And 32% are "just not concerned" about coronavirus/Covid-19.

For the survey Appendix containing the methodology and additional data, click here.

Explore further COVID-19 conspiracy beliefs increased among users of conservative and social media
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Research in mice, published today in Science Immunology by researchers at the Babraham Institute, UK and VIB-KU Leuven, Belgium, provides two solutions with potential to overcome a key clinical limitation of immune cell therapies. Regulatory T cells have potential in treating autoimmunity and inflammatory diseases yet they can switch from a protective to damaging function. By identifying the unstable regulatory T cells, and understanding how they can be purged from a cell population, the authors highlight a path forward for regulatory T cell transfer therapy.

Cell therapy is based on purifying cells from a patient, growing them up in cell culture to improve their properties, and then reinfusing them into the patient. Professor Adrian Liston, Immunology group leader at the Babraham Institute, explained their therapeutic potential: "The leading use of cell therapy is to improve T cells so that they can attack and kill a patient's cancer, however the incredible versatility of the immune system means that, in principle, we could treat almost any immune disorder with the right cell type. Regulatory T cells are particularly promising, with their ability to shut down autoimmune disease, inflammatory disease and transplantation rejection. A key limitation in their clinical use, however, comes from the instability of regulatory T cellswe just can't use them in cell therapy until we make ensure that they stay protective".

T cells come in a large variety of types, each with unique functions in our immune system. "While most T cells are inflammatory, ready to attack pathogens or infected cells, regulatory T cells are potent anti-inflammatory mediators", Professor Susan Schlenner, University of Leuven, explains. "Unfortunately this cell type is not entirely stable, and sometimes regulatory T cells convert into inflammatory cells, called effector T cells. Crucially, the converted cells inherit both inflammatory behavior and the ability to identify our own cells, and so pose a significant risk of damage to the system they are meant to protect."

The first key finding of this research shows that once regulatory T cells switch to becoming inflammatory, they are resistant to returning to their useful former state. Therefore, scientists need to find a way to remove the risky cells from any therapeutic cell populations, leaving behind the stable regulatory T cells.

By comparing stable and unstable cells the researchers identified molecular markers that indicate which cells are at risk of switching from regulatory to inflammatory. These markers can be used to purify cell populations before they are used as a treatment.

In addition to this method of cell purification, the researchers found that exposing regulatory T cells to a destabilizing environment purges the unstable cells from the mixture. Under these conditions, the unstable cells are triggered to convert into inflammatory cells, allowing the researchers to purify the stable cells that are left. "The work needs to be translated into human cell therapies, but it suggests that we might be best off treating the cells mean", says Professor Adrian Liston. "Currently, cell culture conditions for cell therapy aim to keep all the cells in optimal conditions, which may actually be masking the unstable cells. By treating the cultures rougher, we may be able to identify and eliminate the unstable cells and create a safer mix of cells for therapeutic transfer."

Dr. Steffie Junius, lead author on the paper who undertook the research as a Ph.D. student at the University of Leuven, commented: "The next stage in the research is to take the lessons learned in mice and translate them into optimal protocols for patients. I hope that our research contributes to the improved design and allows the development of effective regulatory T cell therapy."

Establishing a thorough process to improve cell population stability in mice helps to lay the groundwork for improved immune cell therapies in humans, although the methods described in this work would require validation in humans before they were used in cell therapy trials. Dr. Timothy Newton, CEO of Reflection Therapeutics, a Babraham Research Campus-based company designing cell therapies against neuro-inflammation, who was not involved in this study, commented on the translational potential of the study: "This research makes a significant impact on regulatory T cell therapeutic development by characterising unstable subsets of regulatory T cells that are likely to lose their desirable therapeutic qualities and become pro-inflammatory. The successful identification of these cells is of great importance when designing manufacturing strategies required to turn potential T cell therapeutics into practical treatments for patients of a wide range of inflammatory disorders."

Explore further A promising two-punch therapy for Langerhans cell histiocytosis

More information: S. Junius el al., "Unstable regulatory T cells, enriched for naive and Nrp1neg cells, are purged after fate challenge," Science Immunology (2021). Journal information: Science Immunology S. Junius el al., "Unstable regulatory T cells, enriched for naive and Nrp1neg cells, are purged after fate challenge,"(2021). immunology.sciencemag.org/look  6/sciimmunol.abe4723
Bone marrow aspirate showing acute myeloid leukemia. Several blasts have Auer rods. Credit: Wikipedia

Chemotherapy has helped make acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) one of the most survivable childhood cancers. Now, researchers working in the U.S., Germany and China have shown how chemotherapy drugs called thiopurines can lead to mutations that set patients up for relapse. The work appears today in the journal Nature Cancer.

The research provides the first direct genomic and experimental evidence in pediatric cancer that drug-resistant mutations can be induced by chemotherapy and are not always present at diagnosis.

"The findings offer a paradigm shift in understanding how drug resistance develops," said Jinghui Zhang, Ph.D., Department of Computational Biology chair at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. "The results also suggest possible treatment strategies for ALL patients who relapse, including screening to identify those who should avoid additional thiopurine treatment."

Zhang is co-corresponding author of the study with Bin-Bing Zhou, Ph.D., of Shanghai Children's Medical Center; and Renate Kirschner-Schwabe, M.D., of Charite-Universitaetsmedizin Berlin.

The roots of relapse

While 94% of St. Jude patients with ALL become five-year survivors, relapse remains the leading cause of death worldwide for children and adolescents with ALL.

This study involved ALL samples collected from relapsed pediatric ALL patients in the U.S., China and Germany. Researchers analyzed more than 1,000 samples collected from the patients at different times in treatment, including samples from 181 patients collected at diagnosis, remission and relapse.

From left: Samuel Brady, Ph.D., and Jinghui Zhang, Ph.D., chair, both of Computational Biology, contributed to research that provides the first direct genomic and experimental evidence in pediatric cancer that drug-resistant mutations can be induced by chemotherapy.

Co-first author Samuel Brady, Ph.D., of St. Jude Computational Biology, identified a mutational signature that helped decipher the process. Mutational signatures reflect the history of genetic changes in cells.

Brady and his colleagues linked increased thiopurine-induced mutations to genes such as MSH2 that become mutated in leukemia. The mutations inactivated a DNA repair process called mismatch repair and rendered ALL resistant to thiopurines. The combination fueled a 10-fold increase in ALL mutations, including an alteration in the tumor suppressor gene TP53. The mutation, TP53 R248Q, promoted resistance to multiple chemotherapy drugs, including vincristine, daunorubicin and cytarabine.

Working in two cell lines in the laboratory, Zhou and his colleagues replicated the thiopurine-induced TP53 mutations and chemotherapy resistance. The research provided the first direct genomic and experimental evidence of chemotherapy-induced drug resistance mutations. "This study not only changes our ALL treatment considerations, but also opens the door to study mechanistically how defective repair generates drug-resistant mutations," Zhou said.

Chemotherapy's role in relapse

Researchers estimate that treatment-induced mutations play a role in 25% of pediatric ALL relapse. Eight percent of patients in this study had evidence of the thiopurine-associated mismatch-repair signature.

"In the future, it may be possible to monitor bone marrow during treatment as a way to detect these mutational signatures early enough to help identify at-risk patients who may be candidates for emerging therapies like CAR-T cells," Zhang said. But the researchers stressed that the benefits of thiopurine treatment outweigh the risks, noting that most patients are unaffected by thiopurine-induced mutations.

Explore further Chemotherapy sometimes set the stage for drug-resistant leukemia at relapse

More information: Fan Yang et al, Chemotherapy and mismatch repair deficiency cooperate to fuel TP53 mutagenesis and ALL relapse, Nature Cancer (2021). Journal information: Nature Cancer Fan Yang et al, Chemotherapy and mismatch repair deficiency cooperate to fuel TP53 mutagenesis and ALL relapse,(2021). DOI: 10.1038/s43018-021-00230-8
In this April 1, 2021, file photo, vials of COVID-19 vaccines produced by Chinese Sinopharm are seen in the office of general practitioner Gyorgy Teleki in Taplanszentkereszt, Hungary. A new study suggests that a Sinopharm vaccine offers poor protection from COVID-19 among the elderly, raising questions for dozens of countries that have given the Chinese company's shots to their most vulnerable populations. Credit: Istvan Filep/MTI via AP, File

A new study suggests that a Sinopharm vaccine offers poor protection from COVID-19 among the elderly, raising questions for dozens of countries that have given the Chinese company's shots to their most vulnerable populations.

A survey of blood samples taken from 450 people in Hungary at least two weeks after their second Sinopharm dose found that 90% under 50 years old developed protective antibodies. But the percentage declined with age, and 50% of those over 80 had none.

The study by two Hungarian researchers was posted online this week but not yet reviewed by other scientists. Three outside experts said they had no problems with the methodology of the study of the vaccine developed by Sinopharm's Beijing Institute of Biological Products.

"This is very, very worrying that these people, who are high-risk, have a poor antibody response," said Jin Dong-yan, a Hong Kong University virologist who was not affiliated with the study.

Antibody levels are not a direct measure of how protected a person is from COVID-19, but there is growing evidence that they are a good proxy. One expert cautioned that the choice of test kits could have limited the accuracy of the measurements.

Still, the study's findings have value and are the first public, scientific attempt to analyze the effect of the Sinopharm vaccine in the elderly, said Wang Chenguang, a former professor at Peking Union Medical College and an immunology expert.

China's National Health Commission declined to comment on the study, saying it would only respond to studies by governments or major research institutions.

This is not the first time questions have been raised about the efficacy of the vaccine, which was given a greenlight by the World Health Organization in May and is being used in more than 50 countries, many of which seized upon it when other vaccines were tough to come by.

A spokesperson for the WHO said Wednesday that its experts "are aware of the study and continue to look at all available evidence." The agency's advisers raised questions months ago about whether it provided protection in people 60 and over, but when it was OK'd a WHO expert said that there was no reason to think it would work differently in the elderly.

The vaccine is one of two similar shots developed by Sinopharm. The state-owned Chinese company's research showed that almost all the participants in final-stage clinical trials were under 60and its own researchers said there was insufficient evidence to say whether the vaccines work in the elderly. Overall, the Beijing Institute vaccine was found to be 78% effective.

In Hungary, concern about the shots led many to seek out private antibody tests. Eventually the capital city of Budapest offered free testing to elderly residents as part a bid to ratchet up pressure on the government to conduct its own wider survey and provide booster shots to those who need them.

In this April 1, 2021, file photo, general practitioner Gyorgy Teleki vaccinates an elderly patient with the second dose of COVID-19 vaccine produced by Chinese Sinopharm in Taplanszentkereszt, Hungary. A new study suggests that a Sinopharm vaccine offers poor protection from COVID-19 among the elderly, raising questions for dozens of countries that have given the Chinese company's shots to their most vulnerable populations. Credit: Istvan Filep/MTI via AP, File

After initially rebuffing calls for a government response to efficacy concernsincluding from the antibody study's authors Balazs Sarkadi and Tamas FerenciPrime Minster Viktor Orban finally acquiesced last week in the face of growing public anger. He announced that the government would provide its citizens with an optional third shot.

His office said, though, that all vaccines authorized by Hungary are effective.

The United Arab Emirates and Bahrain both announced in May that they, too, would offer a third dose of Sinopharm amid concerns about an insufficient antibody response. Bahrain recommended that people over 50 and some other vulnerable people receive Pfizer-BioNTech's vaccine as their booster regardless of whether they got Sinopharm initially.

CNBG, the Sinopharm subsidiary that oversees the Beijing Institute, has said a third dose is not part of the company's clinical guidance.

It's not clear how many doses of the Beijing Institute Sinopharm vaccine have been exported. Overall, China exported 500 million vaccines doses in the first half of the year, and the company is one of country's two major COVID vaccine makers, along with privately owned Sinovac.

The Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization recently ordered 550 million doses from the two companies for the U.N.-backed COVAX program.

Both Sinopharm vaccines are also in wide use in China, including in the elderly. The country's National Health Commission said in April that the shots provide some protection, even though it acknowledged that early stages of clinical trials of Sinopharm's vaccines and two others found fewer antibodies in people 60 and over.

In Budapest, Beata Englohner became concerned for her 76-year-old mother after hearing that people who had been vaccinated with Sinopharm were shown to have no antibodies.

Englohner started a Facebook group to press the government to address the issue. She is cautiously optimistic now that Hungary will offer a third dose.

"We're very glad that we achieved our aim and that we were heard," she said. "Though we're a bit afraid that we'll receive what we already got before."

Explore further Hungarian capital offers tests amid vaccine efficacy worries

More information: Tamas Ferenci et al, Virus neutralizing antibody responses after two doses of BBIBP-CorV (Sinopharm, Beijing CNBG) vaccine, (2021). Tamas Ferenci et al, Virus neutralizing antibody responses after two doses of BBIBP-CorV (Sinopharm, Beijing CNBG) vaccine,(2021). DOI: 10.1101/2021.07.15.21260362

 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Credit: Magic mine, Shutterstock

Preliminary results of a clinical trial for Crigler-Najjar syndrome point to gene therapy as a potential alternative treatment for this life-threatening liver disease.

A new clinical trial is offering hope for sufferers of Crigler-Najjar syndrome, a deadly and currently incurable genetic disorder that affects around one in a million newborn babies around the world. With support from the EU-funded CureCN project, the initial results of the trial have shown the treatment to be safe and well tolerated by patients, with promising signs of being able to correct the disease.

Crigler-Najjar syndrome is characterized by the inability to properly remove bilirubin from the body. Bilirubin is a toxic yellowish bile pigment that is made during the natural breakdown of red blood cells. Normally, bilirubin passes through the liver and is excreted out of the body, a process in which the UGT1A1 enzyme plays a part. However, this enzyme is deficient in Crigler-Najjar syndrome patients, which leads to an accumulation of bilirubin, with significant neurological damage and even death as likely results if left untreated. Current treatments involve phototherapy for up to 12 hours a day to keep patients' bilirubin below toxic levels.

Initial treatment results

Dr. Lorenzo D'Antiga of CureCN project partner Azienda Ospedaliera Papa Giovanni XXIII, Italy, presented the trial's preliminary findings at the 2021 International Liver Conference hosted by the European Association for the Study of the Liver. In the four patients undergoing treatment, the candidate drug proved to be safe and well tolerated. The results also indicated the possibility of a dose-response relationship. The patients receiving the lowest dose experienced a temporary therapeutic effect that didn't permit prolonged cessation of phototherapy. In contrast, the patients treated at a higher dose had more promising results. The first patient saw a major reduction in bilirubin levels, which made it possible for her to stop phototherapy. The second patient also experienced a major decrease in bilirubin levels, but her treatment was too recent to determine if phototherapy could be discontinued.

"We are very excited with the results achieved so far in this trial of AAV [adeno-associated virus]-mediated gene therapy for Crigler Najjar syndrome," remarked Dr. D'Antiga, who treated the last two patients in the trial conducted by French gene therapy company and CureCN coordinator Genethon. "The treatment, at appropriate doses, has shown to be safe and able to correct the disease to an extent that allowed the first patient to stop daily phototherapy, eliminating the risk of neurological injury. The degree of improvement of the second patient suggests that soon she might be able to stop phototherapy too. Our work on the immunomodulation protocol is now focused on maintaining a durable effect in the long term," commented Dr. D'Antiga in a press release posted on Genethon's website.

The trialed treatment was developed by Genethon researchers and involves providing the liver cells with a copy of the UGT1A1 gene that encodes an enzyme designed to facilitate bilirubin elimination. Initial observations of the CureCN (Adeno-Associated Virus Vector-Mediated Liver Gene Therapy for Crigler-Najjar Syndrome) trial suggest that gene therapy shows potential as an alternative treatment for this liver disease. "We need to remain cautious, as the trial is ongoing and will allow us to evaluate these initial encouraging results in other patients and over a longer period," concluded Genethon CEO Frederic Revah.

Explore further Preliminary results of clinical trial for Crigler-Najjar syndrome
Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Most people can expect to break close to two bones in their lifetime, but those with osteogenesis imperfectaalso known as brittle bone diseasecan break hundreds of bones before they even hit puberty. And while healthy bones can break from a hard fall or a bad car wreck, there may not be an apparent reason at all with brittle bone disease.

Classified as a rare disease, osteogenesis imperfecta, or OI, affects 6-7 people out of every 100,000 live births and can range in severity depending on the specific mutation. And while there are currently few treatment options and no cure, Meenal Mehrotra, M.D., Ph.D., and her lab recently published promising findings in the journal Stem Cells to address this knowledge gap.

Mehrotra, assistant professor in the department of pathology and laboratory medicine at MUSC Health and principal investigator on the paper, points to a mutation in the collagen gene as the major cause of the weak bones that come with OI. "Collagen is the matrix, or backbone, of our bones," said Mehrotra. "And when it's mutated, our bones become very brittle and break very easily."

In addition to building bones and holding them together, collagen is a protein found in blood vessels, organs, corneas and teeth, which means brittle bone disease can affect a person's eyesight and bone health and can even affect their hearing. Unfortunately, current treatment options focus on the symptoms of OI rather than the cause, and the medications in use can have long-term side effects.

For her study, Mehrotra went back to the beginningshe looked at osteoblasts, the cells that produce collagen. "Mutated osteoblasts produce mutated collagen," she said. But if she can replace the osteoblasts, she can change the collagen produced and thus the bone that stems from it.

Osteoblasts and osteoclasts are critical to bone growth and remodeling. As a dynamic tissue with constant turnover, bone requires consistent communication between its cells. Osteoblasts form new bone, and osteoclasts reabsorb old or damaged bone; both functions are needed to keep bone strong. By replacing damaged or mutated osteoblasts with healthy ones, Mehrotra and her lab offer an option with a therapeutic promise. While current results show effectiveness in animal models, Mehrotra hopes to translate her results to people in the future.

Current dogma points to mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) as the origin for osteoblasts, but MSC transplantation has not resulted in long-term success as a treatment option. Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) usually give rise to blood cells and osteoclasts, but Mehrotra hypothesized that they could give rise to osteoblasts too.

And that idea led her to investigate HSC transplantation in mice with brittle bone disease.

Not all biologists agree that HSCs can give rise to both blood cells and bone cells, so Mehrotra considers her hypothesis controversial. "There have been few studies on this topic in the past," she said. "It's not that people haven't speculated on this before, but so many scientists disagree each time it is discussed that it has not been studied in detail."

Mehrotra spent much of her paper detailing how she confirmed that only HSCs were responsible for the results of her study. Using a clonal population of HSCs from mice that expressed green fluorescent protein (GFP) only in their osteoblasts, Mehrotra and her lab conducted lineage tracing studies. These studies established hematopoietic stems cells as cells that can differentiate into osteoblasts, which then brought about clinical improvements in mice with OI.

This method of clonal HSC transplantation was developed by Mehrotra's mentor Makio Ogawa, M.D., Ph.D., who was a professor in the pathology department at MUSC Health before retiring. His method of ensuring that the clonal population was only of HSCs and did not contain any MSCs allowed Mehrotra to be confident in her results.

To transplant the characterized HSCs, Mehrotra's lab first irradiated the mice to remove their current bone marrow and make room for healthier cells. The new HSCs were then transplanted through an IV into the mice, where they gave rise to collagen-producing osteoblasts. Mehrotra found that this process replaced about 20 to 40% of osteoblasts in the long bones of the mice, which is higher than percentages seen with MSC transplantation and thus shows long-term success.

"We think this has potential as a curative therapy," Mehrotra said. "By replacing the abnormal osteoblasts with normal ones that can then secrete normal collagen, we're aiming for a therapy that could result in an actual cure."

More research is needed before the technique can become a therapeutic option for patients, but Mehrotra says this is a promising start. By replacing osteoblasts, she offers a therapeutic opportunity that is not dependent on a specific mutation but simply on a mutation being present, which means it could potentially be translated to other forms of OI and other bone diseases in the future.

Mehrotra hopes to study HSC transplantation as an auto-transplantation strategy moving forward. There are two significant forms of transplantation: auto-transplantation and allotransplantation. In auto-transplantation, cells or organs are removed from one person and then transplanted back into that same person. In allotransplantation, the cells or organs come from another person, which carries the risk of rejection or graft-versus-host disease. Mehrotra proposes that by using CRISPR-Cas9 technology, scientists can correct the collagen mutation in the OI patient's HSCs, before transplanting these corrected HSCs back into the same patient's system, where they can form normal, collagen-producing osteoblasts.

By performing this study, Mehrotra addresses the controversy surrounding the potential of HSCs giving rise to osteoblasts. She hopes more researchers will consider the promise of hematopoietic stem cells in bone diseases, and she hopes to continue to help patients with such debilitating bone diseases like OI lead a higher quality of life.

Explore further How load stimulates bone formation via the expression of osteocrin
Researchers at the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center demonstrated in a clinical trial in Malawi that a five-drug combination chemotherapy provided curative benefit compared to current standard-of care-therapy in people diagnosed with lymphoma, and now they have determined this option is also cost-effective. The economic finding appeared July 22, 2021, in Lancet Global Health.

The clinical trial results, reported May 19, 2021, in Lancet Global Health involved 37 people with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). The majority of patients were also HIV-positive, which greatly increased their risk of DLBCL; all HIV-positive patients were treated with anti-viral drugs. The trial participants received a standard four-drug chemotherapy combination known as CHOP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisone) along with rituximab, an antibody therapy. After two years of follow-up, 55 percent of the patients were still alive, an outcome that is higher than CHOP alone based on earlier studies.

With the trial results in hand, the researchers wanted to know if either CHOP or CHOP plus rituximab were cost-effective treatments in a resource-limited setting. Demographically, Malawi is a sub-Saharan country in Africa with roughly 19 million residents. The healthcare resources available in the 2017-2018 government budget for Malawi were $170 million dollars (about $9 per person); external donors contribute approximately another $350 million annually to health expenditures.

UNC Lineberger's Matthew Painschab, MD, lead author of the economic analysis and co-lead author of the treatment efficacy study, said cost-effectiveness analyses allow comparisons across diverse diseases so that limited resources can be optimally allocated.

"Without such analyses, relatively expensive upfront costs for cancer medicines will often seem prohibitively costly for a relatively small number of patients compared to other available public health interventions," said Painschab, assistant professor in the Division of Hematology at UNC School of Medicine and a member of UNC-Project Malawi. "We demonstrated that an upfront, time-limited expense followed by decades of healthy life may be a prudent investment, relative to other accepted interventions such as daily, lifelong antiretroviral treatment for HIV."

On a per-patient basis, comparing supportive care (no chemotherapy) to chemotherapy with CHOP, chemotherapy prevented more than seven disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) at a cost of $193 per DALY prevented. One DALY is a year of life lived in perfect health and therefore losses represent both years lost from dying early as well as quality life-years lost to disability. Adding rituximab to CHOP prevented about three DALYs at a cost of $1,145 per DALY.

"Our analysis has important implications for saving lives," said Painschab. "Though precise estimates of cancer incidence are lacking, we estimate it would cost about one million dollars annually to treat all cases of DLBCL in Malawi with CHOP, saving an estimated 252 lives. For two million dollars more annually, we could add rituximab, which costs about $500 a dose in Malawi, and the five-drug regimen could save an additional 100 lives."

In addition to the recently published studies, the researchers are conducting some of the first molecular profiling studies for HIV-associated lymphoma in the world. They hope that greater biologic understanding of DLBCL in Malawi may lead to more targeted, safe and effective treatment strategies. They note there is still much work to be done in this area, both in the U.S. and Malawi.

"Proving that treating DLBCL in Malawi can be cost-effective was not necessarily intuitive, as upfront costs of treating cancer patients often seem daunting for countries facing many competing health priorities," noted Stephen Kimani, MD, a fellow in Hematology/Oncology at UNC-Chapel Hill and research fellow at UNC Project Malawi and first author of the study that found the combination therapy was effective. "Investments in high-quality, potentially curative cancer care may be very prudent when short-term costs result in a normal life expectancy thereafter. These sorts of demonstrations will hopefully spur a treatment access movement for cancer that is analogous to what has occurred for HIV."
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Increased free testing, contact tracing and other steps are needed to fight the COVID-19 Delta variant, now dominant in much of Europe, the World Health Organization and the EU's disease agency warned Friday.

WHO Europe and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) issued a joint appeal for "reinforced efforts" by European countries to check the spread of the highly transmissible Delta variant, first detected in India.

"WHO recommends that countries increase access to free of charge testing, expand sequencing, incentivize quarantine for contacts and isolation for confirmed cases, strengthen contact tracing to break chains of transmission and ensure those most at risk among our populations are vaccinated," the joint statement said.

It said data reported to WHO and the ECDC shows that between 28 June and 11 July the Delta variant was dominant in 19 countries of the 28 countries that reported sufficiently complete genetic sequencing information.

The number of cases surged this week by nine percent worldwide, up 26 percent in Europe and 60 percent in the United States, spurred on by the Delta variant, according to an AFP survey.

The ECDC, which tracks the 27 EU countries and three non-EU countries, said it raised from low to moderate its level of concern for the pandemic in Europe and expressed a high level of concern for four countries: Spain, Portugal, Malta and Cyprus.

Explore further EU disease agency predicts spike in COVID cases by Aug 1

 2021 AFP
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

The fast-spreading Delta variant is believed to be contributing to the recent uptick in COVID-19 cases in certain areas, particularly among those who have not been vaccinated, a UMass Medical School infectious disease expert and member of Gov. Baker's COVID-19 Advisory Group said.

"Most of the cases we see and essentially all of the hospitalized cases we have seen have been in unvaccinated people," said Robert W. Finberg, MD, distinguished professor of medicine.

Nationwide, the Delta variant is responsible for 83 percent of new COVID-19 cases and 97 percent of people hospitalized with COVID-19 are unvaccinated, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Seventy-two percent of Massachusetts residents have received at least one dose of the vaccine and 63 percent were fully vaccinated as of July 18, according to the CDC. Nationally, 57 percent of the population has received at least one dose and 49 percent are fully vaccinated.

A cluster of 132 COVID-19 cases following the Independence Day holiday weekend was reported to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health on July 16 by health officials in Provincetown, a vacation destination where the summer population swells to 60,000 from 3,000 year-round inhabitants. One-third of those positive cases were among people from out of state and 93 percent were male, with an average age of 35, the Cape Cod Times reported. The positive case count leapt to 256 on July 20.

Provincetown officials issued a public health advisory encouraging everyone, whether vaccinated or not, to wear a mask indoors in businesses and public places when social distancing can't be achieved.

Meanwhile, on the West Coast, Los Angeles County recently reinstated an indoor mask mandate for businesses and public places, regardless of vaccination status.

Locally, Worcester Division of Public Health Medical Director Michael P. Hirsh, MD, professor of surgery and pediatrics and assistant vice provost for wellness and health promotion at UMass Medical School, said the city reached a milestone this week with 60 percent of those eligible being fully vaccinated. Among the remainder, one-quarter are children under age 12, who are not yet eligible.

Dr. Hirsh said there has been an increase to 10 to 15 COVID-19 positive cases seen per day, from two to four cases per day a few weeks ago, but health officials believe the trend could be related to holiday group gatherings.

"Certainly, we haven't pushed the panic button," Hirsh said. "We haven't gone to recommending that we have to take a step backward with across-the-board indoor masking or things like that." But he said vaccinated people with compromised immune systems or underlying respiratory conditions should still consider wearing a mask and avoiding tight quarters indoors.

Hirsh pointed to data released last week on breakthrough infections by the state Department of Public Health, which he called "an incredible testament to how effective the vaccines are." Fewer than 4,500 people tested positive for COVID-19, among the 4.3 million in the state who have been vaccinated, a breakthrough infection rate of one-tenth of 1 percent.

"And none of those people are going to the hospital," Hirsh said. "They're all presenting either with cold symptoms and getting checked and finding out they're positive, or through contact tracing or because they wanted to travel and got tested."

"So, breakthrough infections are exceedingly rare, and vaccines are definitely keeping people out of the hospital," said Hirsh. "But the unvaccinated in a sea of Delta variant: Those are the ones who are getting admitted."

Hirsh said city health leaders, the Worcester District Medical Society and UMass Medical School students in the Vaccine Corps, Gold Humanism Society and the Student National Medical Association are working to get vaccines to the 30 percent of eligible residents who are unvaccinated. Among the strategies they are using are incentives such as gift cards and reviving a coalition of barber shops to promote vaccination, as trusted leaders in Black and LatinX communities.

Researchers and public health officials are watching the COVID-19 case trend closely.

"We expect that as in the United Kingdom, where the Delta variant was seen earlier, the disease will reach a peak soon and then will decline," Dr. Finberg said. "We do not expect another surge as we had earlier in the year."

Finberg said, "In the meantime, we urge everyone who is not vaccinated to get the vaccine and avoid close contact with people who are not vaccinated."
(HealthDay)The controversial new Alzheimer's drug Aduhelm is creating something of a civil war in medicine, as health networks, hospitals, insurers and individual doctors weigh impending discussions with patients about whether they should take the medication.

Many doctors believe the U.S. Food and Drug Administration "moved the goalposts" to approve Aduhelm (aducanumab) in early June, and they aren't inclined to recommend its use, said Dr. Ken Lin, a family physician with MedStar Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, D.C.

"I think a lot of primary care physicians are going to be reluctant to prescribe or to refer patients to have this prescribed, because I don't think we believe the quality of the data is there yet," Lin said in a HealthDay Now interview.

But one doctor involved in Aduhelm's clinical trials believes the FDA's move was necessary to pump new energy into Alzheimer's research, which had been stagnating with the repeated failure of countless potential treatments.

"I feel fairly confident that this has reinvigorated interest in Alzheimer's disease. It has brought companies back to exploring options in the field that they had kind of started to abandon because they say there is no path forward," Dr. Anton Porsteinsson, director of the Alzheimer's Disease Care Research and Education Program at the University of Rochester Medical Center in New York, said during the same HealthDay Now interview.

"This isn't a drug for everyone, but we've got to start somewhere, and we've got to move the field forward," said Porsteinsson, who is a paid consultant for Aduhelm's maker, Biogen.

However, the Cleveland Clinic, as well as Mount Sinai in New York City, each announced this month that they will not administer Aduhelm to patients. Other major medical centers and insurance companies are reviewing the drug's use with a wary eye, experts said.

The medicine's disputed effectiveness is the main bone of contention, but its steep price also plays a role in the debate. Biogen has set the list price for Aduhelm at $56,000 a year.

It could cost the federal government $29 billion a year if just one-quarter of patients now receiving Medicare-covered treatments for Alzheimer's are prescribed the drug, according to a recent Kaiser Family Foundation analysis.

To put that number in context, NASA's budget this year is $23 billion and includes plans to return to the moon and eventually set foot on Mars. Total Medicare spending on all Part B prescriptions in 2019 was $37 billion.

Two different trials, two different outcomes

The FDA approved the drug even after an expert advisory panel voted nearly unanimously against it. Ten members voted against and one was uncertain; there were no votes for approval.

The panel's decision and the FDA's approval were both based on data from two nearly identical clinical trials of Aduhelm that were shut down early in 2019 because independent monitors concluded the drug wasn't helping patients.

Later analysis of the final results from the two trials came to dramatically different conclusions, Porsteinsson said.

Both trials showed that the drug did effectively remove beta amyloid from patients' blood. Amyloid is a protein that clumps together in the brain, and amyloid plaques are considered one of the hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease. Still, the jury is still out on whether clearance of these plaques can actually affect the illness.

The two trials split when it came to any benefit to patients in terms of reduced symptoms.

Clearing amyloid from the bloodstream didn't make any difference in patients' brain function in one trial. In the other, a slight slowing of cognitive decline occurred in patients receiving the highest dose of Aduhelm.

"When they had the full data set, they ended up with two studiesone that was convincingly negative, and another one that was convincingly positive and suggested a therapeutic benefit," Porsteinsson said.

Lin noted that the FDA approved the drug based on its ability to clear amyloid, but the clinical trials were aimed at demonstrating whether Aduhelm would actually slow or stop the progression of Alzheimer'shence, his opinion that the agency moved the goalposts.

"You have these studies that were originally designed to focus on clinical outcomes, cognitive preservation or deterioration. When those were inconclusive, they reached for this other outcome," said Lin, who also serves as a deputy editor for the American Academy of Family Physicians' medical journals.

Many other previous experimental Alzheimer's drugs have shown to clear amyloid as well, but their approval floundered because they couldn't prove clinical benefit, Lin noted. The theory that reducing amyloid will slow Alzheimer's progression remains unproven.

FDA stands by approval, but requests independent review

"I was really surprised when the FDA approved the drug," Lin said. "I remember seeing a presentation about a year ago from one of the other site investigators talking about this promising drug and going over the data that the FDA looked at, and I remember coming away from that thinking, that's just too bad this drug doesn't seem to work and has side effects. And then the next year, it gets approved."

The FDA continues to defend Aduhelm's approval, although Acting Commissioner Janet Woodcock has formally requested an inspector general's independent review of the process.

"The agency did not lower its standards," the FDA said in written remarks recently provided to The New York Times, "and at no time considered doing so." The agency added that its decision was "informed by science, medicine, policy and judgment, in accordance with applicable legal and regulatory standards."

Regardless of the controversy, Aduhelm has been approved and patients are certain to be asking about it in the months to come.

Despite skepticism surrounding the drug from major medical centers and medical societies like the American Neurological Associationwhich told its members that "based on the clinical evidence, Aduhelm should not have been approved at this time"Lin and Porsteinsson expect there will be major pressure from patients and their families to give Aduhelm a try.

"I feel that patients are going to look at it and say why not?" Lin said. "Alzheimer's is a terrible disease. If there's something that gives people hope, they're going to grasp for it."

The drug is not for all patients, however, and doctors will have to be clear in explaining this, Porsteinsson said.

"If you look at the studies, it's people with mild cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer's disease or quite mild Alzheimer's disease that make the most sense to treat, where reducing amyloid may bend the curve," Porsteinsson said.

High cost an issue

The drug's cost is another consideration, although Lin considers it a "secondary consideration."

"If I felt the drug was effective, then the cost would be something to think about independently, but I think that just adds insult to injury. On top of not knowing if it works, it's going to cost an arm and a leg, a cost that patients aren't going to be able to afford," Lin said.

Lin compared the situation to the expensive drugs for hepatitis C that came out a few years back, which cost roughly $84,000 for a 12-week course of treatment that actually cured people of the chronic infection.

"The difference with this new drug is there's not really going to be a cutoff line. You may take this drug for years and years, and at some point it probably will stop working, but it's the same situation we find ourselves in with other dementia drugs," Lin said.

"When you try to stop the drug, the family is often reluctant to do that because they feel like that's giving up. I imagine patients will stay on this drug for years and years," Lin continued.

If insurers decide not to cover Aduhelm or require high copays, that will leave the families of Alzheimer's patients with tough financial and medical decisions to make, Lin said.

Families "are going to have to balance that cost with what else could that money do for the patient," Lin said.

"For $56,000 a year, you could hire caregivers, you could enroll someone in cognitive stimulation or exercise programs," Lin said. "There are many other things that could help patients with mild cognitive dysfunction or early dementia that are not drug-related that the money might be better spent on, but that's going to be a difficult judgment to make."

Similar drugs in pipeline

On the other hand, Porsteinsson is hopeful that this approval will break open the field of Alzheimer's treatment and research, ultimately providing patients with more treatment options sooner than otherwise could be expected.

He compared it to the controversial decision in 1993 to approve interferon beta 1b as a treatment for multiple sclerosis (MS) under the same accelerated pathway as Aduhelm.

"It caused a lot of controversy at the time," Porsteinsson said. "Now it's considered bold and prescient, because 20 years later MS is not the same disease as it was. There are over 25 medications that are on the market. Basically they've changed MS as a condition."

The accelerated approval pathway requires Aduhelm to perform another clinical trial to confirm the drug's benefit, but Biogen has until 2030 to complete that study.

"I feel Biogen needs to do a confirmatory study," Porsteinsson said. "There's no question in my mind about it, and they should do it promptly. I think that's what is owed to patients, and it's owed to the field. There is still a controversy."

More light on the role of amyloid clearing in Alzheimer's likely will be shed well before then, however.

Several drugs in the same class as Aduhelm are now being tested in clinical trials and will receive FDA review during the next couple of years, Porsteinsson said.

"That will either give us more confidence or less confidence," Porsteinsson said. "If we have drugs that come to the market that have strong data sets, that maybe lead to an approval based on a clinical benefit, it's likely to have an impact on prescription patterns" for Aduhelm.

More information: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has more on The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has more on Aduhelm

Copyright  2021 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Cowpox was a rare disease, appearing only sporadically in dairy farms. Credit: J. Pass, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

As the roll-out of COVID vaccines proceeds, it's worth looking back on the challenges and successes of the early global spread of smallpox vaccination.

Smallpox (also known by its scientific name, variola) was a horrible, highly infectious disease, with a case fatality-rate of 30%. In 1798, Edward Jenner, an English country doctor, published data on cowpox (or "vaccine," a term derived from the Latin for cow and increasingly preferred by Jenner; modern scientific name vaccinia). His data suggested this pustular disease found on dairy cows protected people from smallpox.

He detailed experiments in which he inoculated children with cowpox (usually by nicking the arm and inserting cowpox pus under the skin), and presented the inoculation of cowpox as a safe and effective way to prevent smallpox.

Jenner's claims were initially met with skepticism. Even in Britain, vaccination was not taken up on any scale until 1800. By this time, though, cowpox samples were being dispatched overseas and attracting great interest as a way to protect people against smallpox. By 1805, at the height of the Napoleonic Wars, people were already being vaccinated all around the world. By 1815, several million people, half of them outside Europe, had been vaccinated.

Sadly, however, the global eradication of smallpox was not achieved until the late 1970s.

The wonder of cowpox

Smallpox was universally feared but people had learned to live with it. It was easy enough to recognize; victims became visibly ill before they became infectious. Crucially, people knew that if they survived the attack, they could be confident of lifelong immunity.

Learning to live with smallpox sometimes involved deliberately exposing children to the disease in the hope of a mild outcome. In Britain, it was found smallpox inoculationthat is, making a light cut in the arm and applying smallpox pus to the woundresulted in far fewer deaths than in cases of naturally acquired smallpox.

It was as a practitioner of smallpox inoculation (which was also known as variolation) that Jenner found evidence people who had been casually infected with cowpox appeared to be immune to smallpox infection.

He put the theory to the test by inoculating a boy with cowpox lymphtaken not from the cow but from a vesicle or blister on a milkmaid's handand demonstrating his resistance to smallpox by variolation.

Jenner's presentation of cowpox as a safe and effective substitute for smallpox found corroboration in trials in London in 1799. It wasn't easy to allay doubts among parents. Still, people were even more scared of smallpox, and recognized smallpox inoculation involved significant risk to the patient and the community. Cowpox was a game-changer.

More diaspora than roll-out

Although hailed as a boon, the new approach got off to a shaky start. Cowpox was rare, appearing only sporadically in dairy farms. The supply of vaccine depended from the outset on its propagation on human bodies. If the vaccine "took" on the child's arm then, nine or ten days later, the ripe pustule was pricked to provide fresh vaccine.

Children of the poor were immunized at no charge and, on returning to clinics for examination, were put arm-to-arm with the next batch of children. Some vaccine was dried, often on cotton threads, as a future supply. Quality control was a major problem. In 1800, a cowpox institute was set up in London to propagate and distribute vaccine and in 1803 the Royal Jenner Society was established to promote the practice.

The spread of the first vaccine was more diaspora than roll-out. Samples of cowpox on cotton threads were sent in the post, in Britain and overseas, rather in the manner of plant seeds.

Many samples proved useless on arrival, but by sending them in some profusion, it proved relatively simple to seed the practice in Europe and North America. Improvements in packaging even made it possible to send vaccine from Vienna to Baghdad, where it was propagated for onward transmission to India in 1802. Viable vaccine was even delivered, after a 154-day voyage, to Sydney in 1804.

The world arm-to-arm

Another approach to conquering the tyranny of distance was to move patients under vaccination. Early in 1802, Tsar Alexander approved an expedition to establish vaccination through Russia in which children vaccinated in one province were escorted to go "arm-to-arm" with children in the next. In 1803, King Carlos of Spain launched an even grander expedition that, by vaccinating a succession of children, delivered live vaccine to Spanish America and then across the Pacific to Manila and Macao.

Vaccination literally brought the world arm-to-arm. The rapid global spread of the vaccine itself owed a lot to the universal dread of smallpox but also to humanitarian enthusiasm and international collaboration.

A range of measures were used to embed the practice. In Berlin, children were given trinkets and medals. Poor mothers in Mexico and India were bribed to have their children vaccinated. In Austria, mothers whose children died of smallpox were named and shamed.

Some states moved rapidly along the road to compulsion. In France, where Napoleon was a great advocate of the practice, vaccination was urged as a civic duty but not made mandatory. In Denmark, a vaccination certificate was rapidly made a requisite for schooling, public employment and even marriage.

Complacency and lack of resolve

Aware of vaccine's global success, Jenner and his colleagues deplored the loss of momentum in Britain itself. In London, the practice was under challenge from a noisy anti-vaccination lobby led by old-style inoculators.

A smallpox epidemic in 1805, while showing the value of vaccination, disclosed some failures arising from poor early practice. In claiming vaccination was for life, Jenner had set the bar too high. To the end of his life in 1823, he was reluctant to concede the need for periodic re-vaccination.

The major problem in Britain and elsewhere was complacency. The early success in suppressing smallpox, and indeed eliminating it in some places, led parents to neglect vaccination.

Outbreaks in the 1830s were a major shock and pushed the British government to fund vaccination in 1840 and to make it mandatory in 1853. Victoriathough not New South Walesfollowed this lead. Although it was controversial and fuelled anti-vaccination sentiment, compulsory vaccination, with some provision for conscientious objection, played a vital role making the practice routine. This kept smallpox at bay, prompted improvements, and helped inspire the development of new vaccines.

From the outset, vaccination was seen as a means of eradicating smallpox. It saved countless lives, kept communities safe for as long as vaccination was maintained, and limited the severity of outbreaks.

The permanent elimination of smallpox required governments to provide the infrastructure and resources, and show the political will to incentivise if not mandate vaccination.

Although the disease was largely brought under control in the West, millions were still dying from smallpox elsewhere in the middle of the twentieth century when the World Health Organization committed itself to the global eradication of smallpox.

Explore further Vaccine rollouts have always had doubtersbut they work in the end

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
In this file photo dated Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2021, three vials of the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine are pictured in a new coronavirus vaccination center at the 'Velodrom' (velodrome-stadium) in Berlin, Germany. The European Medicines Agency has recommended approving Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine for children aged 12 to 17, the first time the shot has been authorized for people under 18. In a decision on Friday, July 23, 2021 the EU drug regulator said research in more than 3,700 children aged 12 to 17 showed that the Moderna vaccinealready given the OK for adults across Europeproduced a comparable antibody response. Credit: AP Photo/Michael Sohn, File

The European Medicines Agency on Friday recommended authorizing Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 12 to 17, the first time the shot has been authorized for people under 18.

The EU drug regulator said research in more than 3,700 children aged 12 to 17 showed that the Moderna vaccinealready given the OK for adults across Europeproduced a comparable antibody response.

Until now, the vaccine made by Pfizer and German partner BioNTech has been the only option for children as young as 12 in North America and Europe.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is currently considering whether to extend the use of the Moderna vaccine to the same age group.

With global vaccine supplies still tight, much of the world is struggling to immunize adults. The World Health Organization and other agencies have urged rich countries to donate their doses to the developing worldwhere fewer than 2% of people have been vaccinatedrather than moving on to inoculate their less vulnerable populations.

Hundreds of millions of Moderna doses already have been administered to adults, and the company says the two-dose vaccine is just as protective for adolescents. In a study of more than 3,700 12- to 17-year-olds, the vaccine triggered the same signs of immune protection, and no COVID-19 diagnoses arose in the vaccinated group compared with four cases among those given dummy shots.

Sore arms, headache and fatigue were the most common side effects in the young vaccine recipients, the same ones as for adults.

U.S. and European regulators caution, however, that both the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines appear linked to an extremely rare reaction in teens and young adultschest pain and heart inflammation.

In the United States, children represent about 14% of the nation's total coronavirus cases to date. And while the young are far less likely than the old to get seriously ill, at least 344 children have died of COVID-19 in the U.S. alone, according to a tally by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

So far in the U.S., just under half the population is fully vaccinatedwith the highest rates, not surprisingly, among older adults. Just a quarter of 12- to 15-year-olds, who got access to Pfizer's vaccine starting in May, have had their second dose, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Among those 16 and 17, about 37% are fully vaccinated.

Both Pfizer and Moderna have begun testing in even younger children, from age 11 down to 6 months old. These studies are more complex: Teens receive the same dose as adults, but researchers are testing smaller doses in younger children. The first results from children of elementary school age are expected in September.

The EU drug regulator said it would continue to monitor the safety and efficacy of the Moderna vaccine in children as it is used in European member countries.

Although some countries have authorized Pfizer-BioNTech's vaccine for children under 18, not all have decided to start using it, citing the minimal risks children face from the coronavirus.

In Britain, for example, regulator cleared Pfizer's vaccine for 12 to 15-year-olds, but health officials have so far declined to recommend the vaccine for anyone under 18 unless they have medical conditions that warrant it.

Explore further EU likely to decide on Moderna COVID shot for kids next week

 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel, looks on, as she holds her annual summer news conference in Berlin, Germany, Thursday, July 22, 2021. Credit: Wolfgang Kumm/dpa via AP

Germany is listing Spain and the Netherlands as "high-incidence areas," meaning that most people arriving from those countries who aren't fully vaccinated will have to go into quarantine from next week.

The national disease control center, the Robert Koch Institute, said Friday that the change will take effect on Tuesday.

The change of status in the middle of the summer travel season will inconvenience some people traveling from Spain, a hugely popular tourist destination for Germans, and likely put off more would-be vacationers.

Spain and the Netherlands were already on a list of "risk areas," the lowest of Germany's three COVID-19 risk categories, but that had barely any practical effect since anyone arriving from such areas can avoid quarantine by proving they have tested negative.

People arriving from "high-incidence areas" can avoid quarantine if they can prove that they are fully vaccinated or have recovered from COVID-19. Others can cut short the 10-day quarantine by testing negative after five days.

Portugal, Cyprus and Britain are already listed as "high-incidence areas."

Germany's infection rate remains very low compared with some other European countries. But it has been rising steadily since it bottomed out at 4.9 new weekly cases per 100,000 residents on July 6. The rise is being fueled by the more contagious delta variant, which is now dominant. On Friday, the infection rate stood at 13.2.

Chancellor Angela Merkel said Thursday that the figures are rising with "worrying momentum" and "we have exponential growth."

After the pace of vaccinations slowed in recent weeks, she appealed to reluctant citizens to get vaccinated and urged compatriots who are more enthusiastic to help persuade others.

As of Thursday, 60.6% of the German population had received at least one shot and 48.5% were fully vaccinated.

Explore further Germany weighs new travel rules amid rise of Delta variant

 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

A new study published today has highlighted a "30-day window" for hospital inpatients to be vaccinated against COVID-19 to help reduce their risk of dying.

A Cardiff University-led team analyzed 2,508 hospital patients across 18 sites during the first wave of the pandemic to assess the impact of being infected with COVID-19 in hospital on risk of death.

They found the risk of dying from COVID-19 was far greater for patients who catch it while already in hospital than it is for those who get the virus in the community, reflecting the vulnerable nature of these individuals.

The findings highlight a month-long window for vaccination between admission to hospital and SARS-CoV-2 infection. The study, the largest of its kind to date, is published today in Thorax.

The early findings were shared with the Welsh Government in January of this yearand helped contribute to a change in vaccination policy in Wales to prioritize some of the most vulnerable patients during the second wave. Prior to this it was not policy to vaccinate COVID-19 negative inpatients.

Dr. Mark Ponsford, a clinician scientist from Cardiff University's School of Medicine and lead author on the paper, said: "During the first wave of the pandemic I was first struck by the high rate of death among individuals who likely caught COVID-19 during their time in hospital, and secondly by how closely this group resembled care and nursing home residents.

"We also found that more than half of patients had been admitted for at least 30 days before they caught COVID-19, highlighting a window for vaccination or other infection control measures that we felt could help to reduce this risk."

Study co-author Professor Stephen Jolles, a consultant immunologist and lead for the Immunodeficiency Centre for Wales, presented the early research findings to the Welsh Government in the Technical Advisory Group (TAG) and Vaccination Clinical Advisory and Prioritisation group (COVID-VCAP) in January and February 2021. This formed part of the evidence used in formulating government policy on enhanced vaccination of inpatients.

The analysis, carried out by specialists in respiratory medicine, immunology and public health from across Wales, also lays bare the high rate of mortality from hospital-acquired COVID-19.

It suggests the risk of death in hospital-acquired COVID-19 is greater than previously suggested in the other published studies.

Professor Ian Humphreys, who leads infection research at Cardiff University's Systems Immunity University Research Institute, said: "It is increasingly clear that in-hospital transmission of COVID-19 can be an important contributor to adverse outcomes. It also highlights how important it is to understand how effective vaccination is within the more vulnerable patient groups. We are now addressing this question."

Senior author Dr. Simon Barry, a consultant respiratory physician from Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, said: "We need to remember that those who are admitted to hospitals are at their most vulnerable and continue to look at ways to help reduce the risk of hospital-acquired infection in general."

The research included patients from Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, Betsi Cadwalladr Health Board, Cardiff and Vale Health Board, Cwm Taf Morgannwg Health Board, Hywel Dda Health Board and Swansea Bay Health Board. It was funded by the Welsh Government, UKRI/NIHR through the UK Coronavirus Immunology Consortium, Cardiff University and the Association of Clinical Pathologists.

The researchers said further work was needed to explore if there were patient groups who might be particularly vulnerable to hospital-acquired COVID-19, and to understand how effective vaccination proves to be in breaking the link between infection and death in this hospital-acquired setting.

Rhys Jefferies, from the Respiratory Health Implementation Group and Swansea University, who coordinated data collection, said: "This really shows the value of a national approach in Wales, enabling us to rapidly collect data from across the country to understand and help address this problem.We continue to respond quickly by supporting the NHS and government during the COVID-19 pandemic."

More information: Mark J Ponsford et al, Burden of nosocomial COVID-19 in Wales: results from a multicentre retrospective observational study of 2508 hospitalised adults, Thorax (2021). Journal information: Thorax Mark J Ponsford et al, Burden of nosocomial COVID-19 in Wales: results from a multicentre retrospective observational study of 2508 hospitalised adults,(2021). DOI: 10.1136/thoraxjnl-2021-216964
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Advanced technologies have been used to solve a long-standing mystery about why some people develop serious illness when they are infected with the malaria parasite, while others carry the infection asymptomatically.

An international team used mass cytometryan in-depth way of characterizing individual cellsand machine learning to discover 'immune signatures' associated with symptomatic or asymptomatic infections in people infected with the Plasmodium vivax parasite. This uncovered an unexpected role for immune T cells in protection against malaria, a finding that could help to improve the development of much-needed malaria vaccines.

The research, which was published in the journal JCI Insight was led by WEHI's Dr. Lisa Ioannidis and Associate Professor Diana Hansen, in collaboration with Professor Ric Price from the Menzies School of Health Research, Darwin, and Dr. Rintis Noviyanti from the Eijkman Institute for Molecular Biology, Indonesia.

Variable immune responses

Malaria is a parasitic disease impacting hundreds of millions of people each year. After infection, people develop immunity to the Plasmodium parasite that causes malariabut this immunity only reduces the disease severity rather than preventing infection altogether. Despite the immense global impact of malaria, there are not yet vaccines in clinical use to prevent this disease.

The immune response to malaria is a 'double-edged sword," Associate Professor Hansen said. "While an immune response to the parasite can prevent severe disease, in some people it is an excessive immune responsedriving severe inflammationthat exacerbates malaria, causing the most severe, and potentially fatal, symptoms," she said.

"Our research has investigated the longstanding question of how immune responses differ between people with symptomatic and asymptomatic malaria infections. We focussed on the Plasmodium vivax form of malaria, which is most common in the Asia-Pacific and Latin America. This species is a particular challenge to control as infected people can carry it for many months in the liver without symptoms."

Using the University of Melbourne's mass cytometry facility, the research team were able to undertake in-depth, multi-dimensional assessments of the immune cells in blood samples provided by people living in a vivax malaria-endemic region of Indonesia. Dr. Ioannidis said the team compared many aspects of immunity in samples from people who were uninfected, asymptomatically infected, or symptomatically infected with P. vivax.

"In collaboration with a WEHI bioinformatics team led by Professor Gordon Smyth, we used machine learning to develop an 'immune signature' that distinguised between these three categories of samples. These signatures could be applied to new blood samples from people infected with malaria, to accurately predict the severity of their infection," Dr. Ioannidis said.

Enhancing malaria control

Dr. Ioannidis said the immune signatures revealed the key components of the immune response that drive immunity to malaria. "Antibodies produced by B cells were one important component, especially in people with high parasite loads and symptomatic disease, but we also discovered that certain types of CD4 T cells were critical to keep infections in check, preventing symptoms," she said.

"This is the first time CD4 T cells have been shown to be important for controlling asymptomatic P. vivax infections."

Associate Professor Hansen said the discovery could lead to better approaches to controllingor even eliminatingmalaria. "Malaria vaccine development has focussed almost entirely on measuring antibody responses as a marker of vaccine success. Our research has revealed the important role of CD4 T cells in controlling malaria infectionsand we think these cells need much more consideration when designing malaria vaccines. Because vivax malaria can persist in asymptomatic people, it is critical that vaccines activate CD4 T cells to control these low-grade infections," Associate Professor Hansen said.

Explore further Natural immunity to malaria provides clues to potential therapies

More information: Lisa J. Ioannidis et al, High-dimensional mass cytometry identifies T cell and B cell signatures predicting reduced risk of Plasmodium vivax malaria, JCI Insight (2021). Lisa J. Ioannidis et al, High-dimensional mass cytometry identifies T cell and B cell signatures predicting reduced risk of Plasmodium vivax malaria,(2021). DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.148086
A colorized scanning electron micrograph of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Credit: NIAID

The Philippines sent millions of children back into lockdown Friday as hospitals prepared for a surge in coronavirus cases fuelled by the highly contagious Delta variant ravaging neighbouring countries.

Nearly half of the 47 cases of the more virulent strain detected so far were locally acquired, the health department said, raising fears of a sharp uptick in infections that have topped 1.5 million since the start of the pandemic.

"The Delta variant is more infectious and deadly," said presidential spokesman Harry Roque as he announced tougher rules for the national capital region and four provinces where cases have spiked.

Along with tighter capacity limits on indoor dining, beauty salons and religious gatherings, children aged five to 17 have been told to stay home.

It comes two weeks after the government lifted a ban on minors going outside that had been in place since March 2020 but often flouted.

The government has previously justified the draconian measure by citing the risk of youngsters catching the virus and infecting their elderly relatives.

Independent research group OCTA, which advises the government on its pandemic response, called Thursday for "localised lockdowns" as well as extended curfews and a stay-at-home order for children.

The group "believes that a surge in its early stages has started in the National Capital Region," OCTA's Ranjit Rye said in a statement, warning it may be driven by the Delta variant.

The health department said checks were underway to ensure hospitals had enough beds, medicine, oxygen tanks and staff to deal with a possible surge in cases.

Record infections earlier this year had threatened to overwhelm health care facilities.

Border restrictions have also been tightened for travellers from Thailand and Malaysia where authorities are battling to contain Delta-fuelled outbreaks.

India, Indonesia and Pakistan are also among the countries on the travel ban list.

It comes as the Philippines struggles to vaccinate its population of 110 million due to tight global supplies and logistical challenges.

Just over five million people are fully vaccinated while 10.5 million have received their first jab.

Explore further Philippines warns virus 'surge' possible after Delta strain detected

 2021 AFP
A double stranded DNA fragment. Credit: Vcpmartin/Wikimedia/ CC BY-SA 4.0

The human body is essentially made up of trillions of living cells. It ages as its cells age, which happens when those cells eventually stop replicating and dividing. Scientists have long known that genes influence how cells age and how long humans live, but how that works exactly remains unclear. Findings from a new study led by researchers at Washington State University have solved a small piece of that puzzle, bringing scientists one step closer to solving the mystery of aging.

A research team headed by Jiyue Zhu, a professor in the College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, recently identified a DNA region known as VNTR2-1 that appears to drive the activity of the telomerase gene, which has been shown to prevent aging in certain types of cells. The study was published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).

The telomerase gene controls the activity of the telomerase enzyme, which helps produce telomeres, the caps at the end of each strand of DNA that protect the chromosomes within our cells. In normal cells, the length of telomeres gets a little bit shorter every time cells duplicate their DNA before they divide. When telomeres get too short, cells can no longer reproduce, causing them to age and die. However, in certain cell typesincluding reproductive cells and cancer cellsthe activity of the telomerase gene ensures that telomeres are reset to the same length when DNA is copied. This is essentially what restarts the aging clock in new offspring but is also the reason why cancer cells can continue to multiply and form tumors.

Knowing how the telomerase gene is regulated and activated and why it is only active in certain types of cells could someday be the key to understanding how humans age, as well as how to stop the spread of cancer. That is why Zhu has focused the past 20 years of his career as a scientist solely on the study of this gene.

Zhu said that his team's latest finding that VNTR2-1 helps to drive the activity of the telomerase gene is especially notable because of the type of DNA sequence it represents.

Jiyue Zhu (second from left) talks to members of his research team inside his laboratory on the WSU Health Sciences Spokane campus, including Ken Porter (far left), Sean Mcgranaghan (center), Fan Zhang (second from right), and Jinlong Zhang (far right). Credit: Cori Kogan, WSU Health Sciences Spokane

"Almost 50% of our genome consists of repetitive DNA that does not code for protein," Zhu said. "These DNA sequences tend to be considered as 'junk DNA' or dark matters in our genome, and they are difficult to study. Our study describes that one of those units actually has a function in that it enhances the activity of the telomerase gene."

Their finding is based on a series of experiments that found that deleting the DNA sequence from cancer cellsboth in a human cell line and in micecaused telomeres to shorten, cells to age, and tumors to stop growing. Subsequently, they conducted a study that looked at the length of the sequence in DNA samples taken from Caucasian and African American centenarians and control participants in the Georgia Centenarian Study, a study that followed a group of people aged 100 or above between 1988 and 2008. The researchers found that the length of the sequence ranged from as short as 53 repeatsor copiesof the DNA to as long as 160 repeats.

"It varies a lot, and our study actually shows that the telomerase gene is more active in people with a longer sequence," Zhu said.

Since very short sequences were found only in African American participants, they looked more closely at that group and found that there were relatively few centenarians with a short VNTR2-1 sequence as compared to control participants. However, Zhu said it was worth noting that having a shorter sequence does not necessarily mean your lifespan will be shorter, because it means the telomerase gene is less active and your telomere length may be shorter, which could make you less likely to develop cancer.

"Our findings are telling us that this VNTR2-1 sequence contributes to the genetic diversity of how we age and how we get cancer," Zhu said. "We know that oncogenesor cancer genesand tumor suppressor genes don't account for all the reasons why we get cancer. Our research shows that the picture is a lot more complicated than a mutation of an oncogene and makes a strong case for expanding our research to look more closely at this so-called junk DNA."

Zhu noted that since African Americans have been in the United States for generations, many of them have Caucasian ancestors from whom they may have inherited some of this sequence. So as a next step, he and his team hope to be able to study the sequence in an African population.

Explore further Traces of immortality in tumor DNA

More information: Tao Xu et al, Polymorphic tandem DNA repeats activate the human telomerase reverse transcriptase gene, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2021). Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Tao Xu et al, Polymorphic tandem DNA repeats activate the human telomerase reverse transcriptase gene,(2021). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2019043118
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Mount Sinai researchers have developed a therapeutic agent that shows high effectiveness in vitro at disrupting a biological pathway that helps cancer survive, according to a paper published in Cancer Discovery, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research, in July.

The therapy is an engineered molecule, named MS21, that causes the degradation of AKT, an enzyme that is overly active in many cancers. This study laid out evidence that pharmacological degradation of AKT is a viable treatment for cancers with mutations in certain genes.

AKT is a cancer gene that encodes an enzyme that is frequently abnormally activated in cancer cells to stimulate tumor growth. Degradation of AKT reverses these processes and inhibits tumor growth.

"Our study lays a solid foundation for the clinical development of an AKT degrader for the treatment of human cancers with certain gene mutations," said Ramon Parsons, MD, Ph.D., Director of The Tisch Cancer Institute and Ward-Coleman Chair in Cancer Research and Chair of Oncological Sciences at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. "Examination of 44,000 human cancers identified that 19 percent of tumors have at least one of these mutations, suggesting that a large population of cancer patients could benefit from therapy with an AKT degrader such as MS21."

MS21 was tested in human cancer-derived cell lines, which are models used in laboratories to study the efficacy of cancer therapies. Mount Sinai is looking to develop MS21 with an industry partner to open clinical trials for patients.

"Translating these findings into effective cancer therapies for patients is a high priority because the mutations and the resulting cancer-driving pathways that we lay out in this study are arguably the most commonly activated pathways in human cancer, but this effort has proven to be particularly challenging," said Jian Jin, Ph.D., Mount Sinai Professor in Therapeutics Discovery and Director of the Mount Sinai Center for Therapeutics Discovery at Icahn Mount Sinai. "We look forward to an opportunity to develop this molecule into a therapy that is ready to be studied in clinical trials."

Explore further Potential therapy discovered for deadly breast cancer that has few treatment options
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

With the highly infectious delta coronavirus variant spreading at an alarming rate, the World Health Organization in late June 2021 urged people to again wear masks indoorseven those who are fully vaccinated. And on July 15, Los Angeles County, California, announced that it would again require masking up in public indoor spaces, regardless of vaccination status. This was followed by a recommendationthough not a mandatefrom seven Bay Area counties for all to again don masks in public indoor settings.

Notably, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has not yet taken a similar stance. On July 12, National Nurses United, the nation's largest professional association for registered nurses, called on the CDC to reconsider in light of the spike in new infections and hospitalizations across the country. The Conversation asked Peter Chin-Hong, a physician who specializes in infectious diseases at the University of California, San Francisco, to help put into context the science behind these seemingly mixed messages.

What's the science behind the WHO recommendation?

There is clear and mounting evidence thatthough rarebreakthrough COVID-19 infections can occur, even in the fully vaccinated. This is particularly true with emerging variants of concern.

The CDC has been following these data closely. By mid-July 2021, nearly 60% of the U.S. population age 18 or older had been fully vaccinated. Infections in those who are fully vaccinated are rare, and serious outcomes from COVID-19 in that population are even rarerthough they do still occur. However, the CDC stopped tracking nonhospitalized cases of COVID-19 for people with and without symptoms among fully vaccinated individuals on May 1, 2021.

The risk of infection leading to serious illness and death, however, differs starkly between vaccinated and unvaccinated people.

Are breakthrough infections more likely with the delta variant?

Maybe. Preliminary data suggests that the rise of variants like delta may increase the chance of breakthrough infections in people who received only their first vaccine dose. For instance, one not-yet peer-reviewed study found that a single dose of the Pfizer vaccine had an effectiveness of just 34% against the delta variant, compared with 51% against the older alpha variant in terms of warding off symptomatic disease.

But the data is more reassuring for those who have been fully vaccinated. After two doses, the Pfizer vaccine still provides strong protection against the delta variant, according to real-world data from Scotland and a variety of other countries; and in preliminary studies out of Canada and England, researchers noted only a "modest" decrease in effectiveness against symptomatic disease from 93% for the alpha variant to 88% for delta.

One recent preliminary report from Israel is sobering, however. Before the delta variant became widespread, from January to April 2021, Israel reported that the Pfizer vaccine was 97% effective in preventing symptomatic disease. However, since June 6, with the delta variant circulating more widely, the Pfizer vaccine has been 64% effective in preventing symptomatic disease, according to preliminary data reported by Israel's Ministry of Health in early July.

And in another new report that is not yet peer-reviewed, researchers compared blood serum antibodies from people vaccinated with Pfizer, Moderna and J&J vaccines and found that the J&J vaccine lent much lower protection against delta, beta and other variants, compared with the mRNA-based vaccines. As a result, the researchers suggest that J&J vaccine recipients would benefit from booster immunizations, ideally with one of the mRNA vaccines. However, this is a limited laboratory study that doesn't look at whether real people got sick, and contradicts a peer-reviewed study that found the J&J vaccine was protective against delta eight months after vaccination.

In all reports and studies, however, vaccine efficacy is still very high against the delta variant in preventing hospitalizations and severe diseasearguably the outcomes we most care about.

All of this emerging data supports the WHO recommendation that even fully vaccinated individuals continue to wear masks. Most of the world still has low vaccination rates, uses a range of vaccines with variable efficacy at preventing infection and has different burdens of circulating SARS-CoV-2 virus. In this context, it makes sense that the WHO would give a conservative recommendation to mask up for all.

Who's actually protected by masking recommendations?

The WHO's latest call for fully vaccinated people to continue wearing masks is primarily intended to protect the unvaccinatedwhich includes kids under age 12 who are not yet eligible for vaccines in the U.S. Unvaccinated people are at a substantially higher risk of getting infected with and transmitting SARS-CoV-2, and of developing complications from COVID-19.

And, again, there is still a low risk of infection for vaccinated people, but this risk differs regionally. In areas of highly circulating virus and poor vaccination rates, and with highly transmissible variants, there is a higher probability of infection in vaccinated individuals compared with people living in areas with lower levels of virus in the community.

Does the US situation warrant masking up (again)?

I suspect the CDC is unlikely to pursue a universal U.S. recommendation to wear masks at this time. With an overall high countrywide vaccination rate and a low overall COVID-19 hospitalization and death burden, the U.S. has a COVID-19 landscape very different from most of the world.

Some experts also worry that sending an official message that the vaccinated should don masks may dissuade unvaccinated individuals from seeking vaccines.

What changes would signal it's time for the US to mask up again?

There are emotional red flags and then there are more realistic red flags that may bring about a nationwide call for masking indoors for fully vaccinated people.

Having more than 100 cases of infection per 100,000 people per week is defined as "high" community transmission, the worst category, by the CDC. Los Angeles County, for example, has already surpassed that mark, with more than 10,000 coronavirus cases per week.

A more pragmatic measure for masking is the number of hospitalizations, because it is directly related to use of health care resources. Some researchers have proposed a threshold of five COVID-19 casesaveraged over several dayshospitalized per 100,000 people, which would potentially be a more ominous signal than infection rates. Los Angeles County has also surpassed that as well.

Surges will likely be a regional phenomenon based on how many people are fully vaccinated in an area. As long as hospitalizations and deaths remain generally manageable nationally, and with hospital capacity intact, the U.S. as a whole may not need to return to masking indoors for the fully immunized.

Explore further How much should the Delta variant worry you?

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

In April 2019, vascular surgeons in the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University at Buffalo organized the first-ever Women's Vascular Summit, with attendees from around the country.

The purpose was to launch a discussion among vascular physicians of how vascular disease, which is disease of blood vessels, such as the arteries and veins, may be different in women than in men and what that means for diagnosis and treatment.

Those discussions proved so productive that conference organizers realized that a book about women's vascular health was a vital next step.

The result is, "Vascular Disease in Women: An Overview of the Literature and Treatment Recommendations" (Elsevier, Aug. 2021). The volume is edited by Linda M. Harris, MD, professor of surgery in the Jacobs School and program director of UB's vascular surgery residency, and Caitlin W. Hicks, MD, associate professor of surgery at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

The book is based in part on the contributions of panelists at the 2019 conference, all of whom were female, and supplemented by additional contributions from other surgeons with an interest in the impact of sex on vascular disease.

The goal of both the conference, which has now been held twice (most recently in April virtually), and the book is to better educate medical providers about the differences in vascular disease presentation and outcomes in women, and to highlight the issues that will help to make diagnosis and appropriate treatment more likely.

"I want clinicians to start thinking about vascular disease in women, to understand that many women do have vascular disease but their presentation is not going to be textbook," said Harris, a vascular surgeon with UBMD Surgery. "I want them to know that if a woman presents with symptoms, they should consider doing some testing because their presentation just won't be classical, as textbook symptoms tend to be based on presentation in men."

For example, among the topics the book explores is the fact that a woman experiencing a stroke may have different symptoms than a man.

"It may not be weakness in an arm or a leg as it might be in a man, but may present differently at first, such as a sudden memory issue, and the clinician may not be expecting that," Harris explained.

In addition, Harris said, sometimes women develop vascular disease at a later age than men typically do, so they are more frail, which also affects their symptoms. She said clinicians need to know, too, that women may experience aneurysms in different parts of their bodies than men, so that they can more immediately make these diagnoses. (Aneurysms are the potentially dangerous bulging of an artery wall.)

"Prevention and screening in women should also be considered," said Harris. "Women who smoke or have a family history of aneurysms should be considered for screening, as per Society for Vascular Surgery recommendations, which hasn't typically been done because vascular disease was incorrectly seen as less common in women."

The book also discusses how race and culture issues, such as unconscious bias, play a role in affecting how vascular disease in women manifests and is diagnosed.

"We know that there is also sex bias in research, whether that's surgical, clinical or even basic research," said Harris. "For example, the cell lines that are studied at a basic science level are almost always male cell lines, so potential hormonal impacts aren't addressed. This isn't conscious bias, it's unconscious bias."

"Everything is awareness," Harris continued. "If we don't know we have a problem, then we're never going to fix it."

Explore further New recommendations for popliteal artery aneurysms
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Drowning is now a leading cause of death for children aged under five in many countries, the World Health Organization said Friday.

Around 2.5 million people died by drowning in the decade to 2019, the WHO said, as it set out a series of simple measures to help reduce the "entirely preventable" toll.

Sunday marks the first World Drowning Prevention Daya timely reminder in the northern hemisphere, as the summer months correlate with a peak in drowning deaths.

The WHO said that around 60 percent of all drowning deaths were among those under the age of 30, with the highest rates among children aged under five.

"This is an entirely preventable cause of death," Doctor David Meddings, from the WHO's Social Determinants of Health department, told reporters in Geneva.

He said the "shocking numbers" included an estimated 236,000 people in 2019 alone who lost their lives due to drowning.

Flood-related mortality, deaths due to water transport accidents and intentional drownings are not included in the overall statistics.

He said the reduction in the death rates of children aged under five from all causes over the past 40 years had masked the residual problem of deaths due to drowning.

"Drowning is now a leading cause of death for children under the age of five, in many, many countries," Meddings said.

He said drowning was the leading cause of death for under-fives in China and the second-biggest in the United States and France.

Meddings said that in Bangladesh in 2016 alone, an estimated 40 children died from drowning every day.

Prevention methods

In Asia, drowning deaths predominantly involve young children.

But recent surveys in Tanzania and Uganda found that 80 percent of drowning deaths were among young adult fishermen, the WHO said.

Drowning rates in low- and middle-income countries are more than three times higher than in high-income nations.

The WHO said drowning disproportionately affected poor and marginalised communities which have the fewest resources to adapt to the risks around them.

Meddings said simple steps could prevent many deaths, such as installing barriers around wells, providing safe places for children to play away from water, and teaching youngsters basic swimming and water safety skills.

Greater training in safe rescue and resuscitation techniques would also help people to assist anyone who is drowning.

Enforcing safe shipping loading and ferry regulations, and improving flood risk management, are two other interventions recommended by the WHO.

Explore further 1999 to 2019 saw drop in rate of unintentional drowning deaths

 2021 AFP
Centers for Disease Control data shows that in Region 8  which includes Montana, Colorado, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming  the delta variant makes up 93.4% of all COVID-19 cases.

"The approach to constraining the delta variant is exactly what we've been asking people to do all along, which is, if you are eligible to be vaccinated, get vaccinated," Barnett said. "The data is showing that with the Delta variant, along with all the variants, the vaccine is effective."

In March of 2021, when variants of concern first became an issue, Montana was sending its samples to a lab in Wyoming. However, the state of Montana is now testing for variants.

"My understanding is that their capacity to process tests as well as conducting various tests has increased significantly over the last several months," Barnett said.

As of Friday morning, 64.7% of Missoula County's eligible population has had at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and 53.0% of the total population has been vaccinated, with the long-term herd immunity goal set at 75%.

Only 48.3% in the 20-29 age range has had at least one dose of the vaccine. As a source of comparison, the 15-19 age range has hit 53.5% for at least one dose, while the number of those 30 years or older is over 67%.
In a ceremony delayed a year by the pandemic, the Jeannette Rankin Peace Center and the Missoula Peace Quilters are set to honor KD Dickinson as the 34th Peacemaker on Sunday.

These are the unsung heroes among us who walk the walk of peace and justice and inspire us with their long-term commitment to a better world, a release about the annual event said.

Dickinson was announced last year as the 2020 Peacemaker, but an in-person event was delayed due to COVID-19.

KD is the founder of Portico Real Estate and her business and personal mission has always centered on people over profits, the release said. That sense of people over profit made her a perfect Peacemaker for 2020 and an even more fitting one for 2021 when housing is such a critical issue and we need to remember our connections to each other.

She also was the only Realtor among the vocal advocates of an open space bond that preserved Mt. Jumbo in 1995.
The Granite Pass Complex, comprised of four fires, held steady at 2,375 acres as of Friday with 1% containment, according to a news release. Most of the activity is on the western side of the BM Hill fire, which had burned 1,994 acres by Friday and was being managed under full suppression. The Shotgun fire had reached 206 acres, while the Lolo Creek and Boulder Creek fires sat at 165 acres and 10 acres respectively.

The Lolo Creek fire near the Lolo Pass Visitor Center is 15% contained, but is still threatening Highway 12.

Earlier this week, the Missoula County Sheriff's Office issued an evacuation warning for Granite and Lolo Hot Springs and homes along and accessed from U.S. Highway 12, spanning from mile marker 10 at Martin Creek to the Idaho border. There is also a reduced speed of 45 mph in place on the highway from Spring Gulch Road to Lolo Pass.

Southwest of Troy, the Burnt Peak fire had grown to 2,200 acres and remained 15% contained Friday, according to a news release. Winds were expected to continue throughout Friday and hotter, drier air is in the forecast for the coming days.
Experts say the delta variant as well as people gathering for the Fourth of July contributed to the trend.

Christ echoed Ducey's assertion that vaccines are the best way to fight the virus. Since March, people who are not fully vaccinated made up 98% of deaths and 94% of hospitalizations. Those not fully vaccinated make up 89% of cases to date, Christ said.

She, however, cautioned against blaming those who have not been vaccinated.

I dont place blame. I think theres a lot of hesitancy and misinformation that scares people about getting the shot, Christ told reporters. I hate to see the numbers increasing when theres a tool out there  thats something were going to continue to work on.

In Arizona, vaccine demand remains sluggish. The portion of the eligible population who has gotten at least partially vaccinated has hovered around 51% for several days. More than 6.7 million vaccine doses have been administered so far. Almost 3.7 million people have gotten at least one dose. Over 3.3 million have been fully vaccinated.

Ducey's administration has been criticized for striking down measures like mask mandates, regular COVID-19 testing for unvaccinated university students and restrictions on businesses.

In his latest statement, Ducey promised, We will not be listening to the lockdown lobby.

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Her order also required homes with occupancy below 80% to create a unit dedicated to residents with the virus. Hospitals had to send recovering COVID-19 patients back to their nursing facilities  if they had a dedicated unit, protective equipment for staff and enough beds  or to regional hub nursing homes.

Republican lawmakers have accused the governor of fueling the spread of the virus in places with vulnerable residents. There is no evidence the policy led to infections, however. Whitmer has said it complied with federal guidance. State officials and the long-term care industry have said outside community spread, including from infected workers, is the strongest predictor of cases inside the facilities.

Whitmer spokesman Bobby Leddy said no nursing home was ever forced to take COVID-positive patients.
The letter ordered Dodson to turn in her state-issued uniform and badge before receiving her final paycheck May 21. State records show she had worked at the prison since at least 2004, starting as a radiological technologist before becoming a registered nurse in 2013. She earned $75,252 in 2020.

Dodson and Council 61 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, a union representing prison staff, appealed her firing earlier this month. The appeal to the Iowa Public Employment Relations Board argues that Dodson was unjustly terminated, and asked that she be reinstated with back pay and held blameless for this incident.

Union spokesman Troy Price said the overdoses happened after the prison abruptly switched from using the Moderna vaccine to the Pfizer version. Pfizer packages its vaccines in vials that contain six doses apiece and must be diluted with saline solution before use. Modernas vaccine does not require dilution.

Price said the nurses were given 90 minutes notice and no training on the change in how the new vaccines were to be prepared and delivered before they were to begin administering shots.

The Department of Corrections has an obligation to ensure proper training of its employees and they should have notified the nurses earlier and provided adequate training, he said.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP)  Vanderbilt University announced the launch Thursday of the James Lawson Institute for the Research and Study of Nonviolent Movements, honoring the influential activist who taught non-violence to protesters during the civil rights struggles last century.

The university said The Rev. Lawson has influenced our collective conscience through his ministry and faith-based nonviolent organizing. The institute will begin operations this fall, hosting workshops, seminars and learning opportunities to train community organizers.

While a divinity student at Vanderbilt University, Lawson was instrumental in training area college students in non-violent methods during the civil rights struggles that drew sit-ins at segregated lunch counters in downtown Nashville.

Lawsons involvement in the rights movement in Nashville and elsewhere resulted in a vote by the executive committee of the Vanderbilt Board of Trust to expel him in 1960. While a compromise plan offered him the opportunity to complete his degree, Lawson enrolled at Boston University.

Lawson has since donated a significant portion of his papers to Vanderbilt University.
SkyWest currently has two daily flights to and from Salt Lake most days arranged through Delta.

SkyWests proposal had major advantages over Boutiques, since it includes daily flights to two major cities for the annual essential air service subsidy. A 2019 survey showed strong support in Butte for flights to Salt Lake.

Boutique has had commuter operations since 2014 but its proposal would have cost the feds nearly twice as much in annual subsidies  between $1.77 million and $1.84 million  and of 36 weekly flights, 12 would go to Seattle and the rest to either Bozeman or Billings.

SkyWest and United had competing proposals for the subsidies in 2019, with SkyWest going to Salt Lake and United going to Denver. The U.S. DOT chose SkyWest that year.

In its order Thursday, the agency noted community support for the SkyWest proposal and cited a May 5 letter from Dave Holman, who chairs the airport board.

SkyWest has provided exceptional air service to our community for the past 30 years, Holman said in the letter. We feel their proposal to offer service to both Salt Lake International Airport (SLC) and Denver International (DEN) will greatly benefit our passengers and strengthen air travel out of Butte.
President Biden signed 72 directives in a series of executive orders to try to rein in corporate abuse and to create a more competitive marketplace. These directives are instructing agencies to investigate anticompetitive practices and to create a more level playing field. One of the directives instructs the Federal Trade Commission to force equipment manufacturers to allow us the right to repair our own equipment. Another directive instructs the USDA to stop corporate monopolies from labeling imported meat with a Product of USA label.

U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, has also introduced the Special Meat Investigator Act that empowers an investigator with subpoena powers to stop meat packers from price gouging consumers and producers. He has also sponsored bills that will create more transparency in the marketplace.

The corporate monopolies were unleashed in the 1980s and have been expanding and taking advantage of the American consumers at an unbridled pace. For example, prior to 1980 the largest four packers only processed about 25% of the beef and pork, and now they process over 84%.
A re-opened box of huckleberries to the re-opening of West Broadway Island , which was closed for nearly two months as it underwent a much-needed cleanup and environmental restoration. The island had become a popular place for illegal camping, but is ill suited for that kind of use. Missoula city and county officials are still working to identify potential alternative locations that would be healthier and safer for those who do not have a home. In the meantime, the West Broadway Island will be patrolled on a regular basis to forestall further illegal activity.

Self-inflated chokecherries to Sen. Jason Ellsworth, a Republican from Hamilton who seems to think state lawmakers are above the laws that regular Montanans are bound to follow. In late January, he was stopped near Helena by a state trooper and released with no ticket after showing his legislative identification and telling the trooper he was running late to a meeting with the governor. Then, he was stopped again in May, and this time cited for speeding in a construction zone and for obstructing a peace officer. The complaint against him alleges that he told the trooper he should be allowed to continue on his way because he is a state legislator and he was headed to Helena to attend a legislative meeting the next morning. He even suggested that the Attorney General be called to back him up. A spokesperson said Ellsworth, who is serving as the Senates president pro tempore, tried to call the trooper to apologize the next day. Ellsworth owes his constituents an apology for setting a poor example of privileged behavior by someone in a position of public trust.
SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (AP)  A couple whose gender reveal ceremony sparked a Southern California wildfire that killed a firefighter last year were charged with involuntary manslaughter, authorities announced Tuesday.

Refugio Manuel Jimenez Jr. and Angela Renee Jimenez pleaded not guilty Monday to charges involving the El Dorado Fire, San Bernardino County District Attorney Jason Anderson announced at a news conference. The charges included one felony count of involuntary manslaughter, along with other felony and misdemeanor counts related to the fire.

The El Dorado Fire erupted on Sept. 5 when the couple and their young children staged a baby gender reveal at El Dorado Ranch Park in Yucaipa, at the foot of the San Bernardino Mountains.

A smoke-generating pyrotechnic device was set off in a field and quickly ignited dry grass on a scorching day. The couple frantically tried to use bottled water to douse the flames and called 911, authorities said.

Strong winds stoked the fire as it ran through wilderness on national forest land, about 75 miles east of Los Angeles.
The Alder Creek Fire west of Wise River and the Trail Creek Fire west of Wisdom remained top priority wildfires Thursday in both the region and nation.

Thats according to a host of criteria weighed by the National Multi-Agency Coordinating Group and the Northern Rockies Multi-Agency Coordinating Group, known as the GMAC Group.

The former considers criteria across major geographic areas, such as the Northern Rockies or the Northwest. The GMAC Group focuses on the Northern Rockies.

Their goal is to look at the fires we have and prioritize them, said Seth Carbonari, a fire management officer for the U.S. Forest Service who has been working the Alder Creek Fire.

Its kind of a complex task, without a doubt, he said.

For now, the Northern Rockies is the highest priority geographic region in the United States based on the number of fires, their complexity and the threats they pose.

The GMAC Groups activation during fire season can be linked to a need to prioritize fires due to competition for scarce resources  which is certainly the case this summer.
THREE FORKS  Missouri Headwaters State Park will host two events remembering the Lewis and Clark Expedition and its time near the headwaters. Both events will feature guest-speaker Larry Epstein.

The first event will be part of the parks Summer Speaker Series and will be held at 7 p.m. Saturday, July 24, in the park campground. Epstein, a Lewis and Clark historian, will talk about their preparation for the trip out to the west coast and the struggles they faced on their journey.

The second event is the parks annual Brown Bag Breakfast held at 8:30 a.m. Sunday, July 25. A Dutch-oven breakfast will be served in the parks picnic grounds, and the program, Remembering Sacagawea and the Lewis and Clark Expedition, will begin at 9 a.m.

This program, also led by Epstein, will include readings from the journals of members of the expedition, focusing on their arrival at the headwaters of the Missouri River on July 27, 1805. Members journals described the beauty and bountiful resources that they enjoyed while at this special place. Epsteins presentation will dive into how things were different, or not so different, when Sacagawea and the Lewis and Clark Expedition made their way to the west coast and back.
A Butte man apologized Thursday for firing a gun at a bartender outside of Danos bar in Butte last year, saying he would handle the situation very differently if he could go back in time.

But District Judge Kurt Krueger said the victim was still affected by the incident and sentenced 30-year-old Andrew Justin Witham to seven years at the Montana State Prison for assault with a weapon.

The victim in this matter was very traumatized and has ongoing problems as a result of this very serious offense, Krueger said. The sentence was technically for 10 years, but three years were suspended.

Prosecutor Kelli Fivey said the bullet missed the victim, thankfully, but he quit his bartending job and has other issues because of the incident.

According to prosecutors, police responded to a disturbance at Danos, 2051 Harrison Ave., shortly before 1 a.m. on June 12, 2020. Witham had already fled the scene in a white Buick.

The bartender told officers he was trying to get patrons to leave the bar when a fight broke out in the parking lot. He said he heard a gunshot, looked in the direction the sound came from and saw Witham pointing a revolver directly at him.
A man who was driving drunk while following a Butte school bus has been sentenced to five years in custody of state prison officials and fined $5,000 for his sixth DUI conviction.

In a separate case, a judge sentenced a Butte man on Thursday to three years in custody of the Montana Department of Corrections following his sixth DUI conviction.

Prosecutors say 60-year-old Ronald Alan Harriman was on probation for a previous DUI on March 9 when he followed a school bus to the bus depot, where he was arrested. Bus video showed him driving dangerously and at one point, he tried to pass the bus and almost caused a wreck.

District Judge Robert Whelan imposed the sentence Wednesday. Harriman appeared via video from a state prison in Shelby, where hes serving time for a previous criminal endangerment conviction in Flathead County. When that is up, the Butte sentence kicks in.

Prosecutors say Harriman followed the bus from the 2400 block of Continental Drive to the bus depot. A breathalyzer showed his blood-alcohol level at .298 percent, more than three times the legal limit of .08.
The case of a missing girl on Montana's Blackfeet Reservation has been escalated to the U.S. Department of Justice for further investigation.

Arden Pepion, who was 3 when she went missing April 22, vanished in the area surrounding Joe Show East off U.S. Highway 89 South.

In the three months since her disappearance, there has been little provided to Ardens family in the way of answers and closure.

Earlier this week, Lydia Lerma, a family advocate, was contacted by Arbana Pepion, Ardens mother, hoping Lermas foundation could connect her with resources to further investigate the case.

The foundation, started and directed by Lerma, works with and advocates for survivors of sexual abuse and families of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons cases.

Following her talk with Arbana, Lerma reached out to Operation Lady Justice, the Presidential Task Force on Missing and Murdered American Indians and Alaska Natives. While the task force itself does not review or investigate cases, it serves as an agency to connect families of Missing and Murdered Indigenous People with federal agents.
Five firefighters were injured battling a wildfire outside of Jordan on Thursday.

All five were assisting federal, state and county resources on the 1,300-acre Devils Creek fire in Garfield County when a shift in the winds blew flames back over their position, according to an announcement Friday from the Bureau of Land Management.

Its unfortunate any time injuries occur  It highlights the fact that were in a serious time of year, and in the middle of a serious drought. People need to be very careful how they act. Even though this fire was caused by lightning, theres a lot burning right now that was caused by humans, said Mark Jacobsen, a public information officer with the BLM.

The five were federal firefighters assigned to the Devils Creek fire to augment crews as they worked their way across the rough badlands south of Fort Peck Reservoir. They were building a defensive fire line on the burns perimeter when erratic winds coming off the lake blew the fire toward them.

Three of the injured firefighters were identified as part of a four-person U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service wildland engine crew from Eastern North Dakota Wetland Management District Complex in North Dakota. The fourth member of the crew was uninjured.
Florence Fourstar, a resident of Wolf Point, has filled her time since retirement with being a grandmother. Part of that includes taking her grandchildren back and forth from dentists as far as Williston, North Dakota, about 100 miles away. She made the nearly 90 minute trip just last month for her granddaughter.

From what she's seen, Fourstar said that IHS dentists will see emergency patients in the morning before accepting those who have an appointment scheduled. Those with no appointment are turned away. While going through the IHS for her dental care since the early 1990s, she went years without getting a front tooth properly treated. As a result, she needed to have her entire top row of teeth pulled in June 2019. She didnt receive dentures for another year.

Im still not satisfied with them, but theyre free, she said.

IHS currently has less than 10 dentists to provide services to over 10,000 people, all of whom are spread out towns across the 3200-square-mile reservation, according to executive board member and tribal Health and Human Services Committee Chairman Dana Buckles.
The Alder Creek Fire, which is burning in the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest near Wise River, is the top-priority fire in the nation.

The state has seen 1,500 fire starts this year and 200,000 acres have burned, with 500 of those starts happening in July.

The state started the fire season with its fire fund full at $105 million, and so far this season suppression costs have reached about $8.9 million, according to the briefing.

Montana is facing a fire season fueled by dry conditions and a heat wave that has killed hundreds around the western U.S. Earlier this month the Associated Press reported that a study done by a team of scientists found the heat wave could not have occurred without human-caused climate change.

In June, Gianforte withdrew Montana from a multi-state climate coalition, saying that he felt innovation and not government mandates was the best way to address climate change. The move was criticized sharply by advocates working to address and adapt to climate change.

A release from the governor's office said Gianforte also met with the Forest Service's regional forester, Leanne Marten, on Wednesday.
The scenery that surrounds Cannes was impossible to ignore from the beautiful hillside filled with French style homes, sun-kissed skin, beautiful fashion, sandy beaches, and rows of restaurants with smells of truffle. During a break in the action Id dig my toes into the sand and chilly water of the Mediterranean Sea. It was dream-like.

Suddenly you are brought back to reality when mopeds and cars zoom down the street with little regard for pedestrian safety. As well as the ongoing pandemic that added a layer of anxiety. Since Im an American, Id have to get a COVID-19 test every day, even though Im vaccinated.

Being smooshed between people on the red carpet with sweat dripping from their elbows onto mine was like being in a political scrum in south Florida, hot and humid until a strong gust of wind relieves the tension around us. Then Im back to yelling, Over here! Over here!

As one of only a few women, Id shove my way back and forth to capture a moment, while wearing all black in 85-degree weather with sweat filling my black disposable mask. After two weeks, I am covered in bruises and blisters from walking and standing, taking bumps from others cameras or elbows into the side of me.

But working with and meeting international and entertainment colleagues was a joy. I had known about the Cannes Film Festival my entire life  the glamor of the red carpet, the celebrities that attended and the outstanding films that premiered  but all of it was mythical to me. I never thought Id be in the South of France. But this year I got to be a part of the lore, fashion, films, red carpets and it was the opportunity of a lifetime that Ill never forget.

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
MUSCATINE  While director of operations and co-owner Josh Sargent acknowledges The Pointy End Picks and Pawn is a pawn shop, he says he only allows customers to pawn items he thinks are cool.

Sitting in the store located at 212 E. Second St., Sargent goes through a variety of channels picking on the very best items to be part of the collection offered in the store. Throughout the two showrooms, the shelves and walls are lined with a variety of collectibles, artworks, vintage products and more modern items, offering something for everyone. By the way, he commented, there are also knives.

We have more Damascus knives than anyone in Iowa, he said. We have forgers from all over the world who help us forge stuff. Everything comes with a handmade leather sheath for your belt.

He described Damascus knives as forever knives, saying they are very strong and hardly ever need sharpening.

Sargent came on board at the store close to a year ago, taking over operations from his father-in-law. He commented at the time he was unemployed due to the COVID-19 health crisis. He had experience in sales and had always enjoyed thrifting and finding bargains. Once he began working in the store, it clicked. He said he cant wait to see what the store is like in five years, as he is not going to go anywhere.
SURFSIDE, Fla. (AP)  Rescue workers now focused on finding remains instead of survivors in the rubble of a Florida condominium collapse vowed Thursday to keep up their search for victims until they cleared all the debris at the site.
The FBI informed Spanish authorities about OConnors alleged involvement in last year's hack, the National Police said in a press release. It said Spanish and U.S. agents took part in his arrest and search of the suspects residence, confiscating two computers and a mobile phone.

The U.S. criminal complaint charged OConnor  who went by the online handle PlugWalkJoe  with crimes including cyberstalking, making extortive and threatening communications and intentionally accessing a computer without authorization.

During the high-profile security breach a year ago, fake tweets were sent from the accounts of Barack Obama, Joe Biden, Mike Bloomberg and a number of tech billionaires including Amazons then-CEO Jeff Bezos, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and Tesla CEO Elon Musk.

The bogus tweets asked followers of high-profile accounts to send Bitcoin payments. OConnor is at least the fourth suspect charged in connection with the hack.

Spain's National Police said Thursday that O'Connor was permanently residing in Marbella, another southern coastal city popular with foreign residents and that he had been on their radar at least since April 2020 as part of an alleged criminal group committing fraud online.

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0
Former state legislator Ashley Hinson returned the northeastern Iowa 1st District to Republican control when she defeated Finkenauer in the 2020 election.

But they don't get to stop people from stepping up from Iowa for Iowa, Finkenauer said. It's why I ran for Congress in the first place. And it's why I'm running for the United States Senate.

We are Iowans who actually care about each other  and have respect for your neighbors (and) don't think you're better than anybody else no matter what you do or where you go. Those are the values that I ran on. Those are the values that I'll be talking about all across the state and they're the values that I believe Iowans have and want to see in Washington, Finkenauer continued.

Im going do everything I can to make sure that they know I'm somebody who's going to do the work and not just tweet out whatever seems to be the hot topic of the week.

Finkenauer joins two more Democrats who want their partys Senate nomination in the statewide race  Manning farmer and cattleman and former county Supervisor Dave Muhlbauer and Glenn Hurst of Minden. Muhlbauer has been actively campaigning since spring.

Grassleys plans
Last weeks deadly riots and looting exposed the incompetence and lack of accountability in South Africas cabinet  especially the crime prevention and security cluster.

President Cyril Ramaphosa acknowledged that the government was poorly prepared to deal with the public violence, destruction, and sabotage in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng.

Ramaphosas words to the nation, however, do not capture the extent of the complete absence of protection of South African citizens and businesses.

The South African Property Owners Association said the looting and vandalism cost the country about R50 billion and put 150,000 jobs at risk.

Two hundred malls were targeted, and 3,000 shops were looted. Two hundred banks and Post Office branches were vandalized.

While the country was burning, police minister Bheki Cele and intelligence chief Ayanda Dlodlo praised the work of their departments.

It illustrated exactly how out of touch the ministers are with their responsibilities and what South Africans expect of the police and state security.

Sasfin Securities deputy chairman David Shapiro said the riots exposed is just how inept, ill-prepared, and inexperienced the ANC is in running the country.

It was not long before the blame game began.

Dlodlo said the State Security Agency (SSA) gave the South African Police Service (SAPS) intelligence which warned of the violent protests.

Cele, however, said he did not receive intelligence warning of the violence in parts of Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal.

He told Parliament he has never seen any intelligence document warning of the failed insurrection, hinting that Dlodlo lied about the information sent to the police.

Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula also made headlines after she said she has no evidence to indicate that the unrest talks to an insurrection or a coup.

What made this statement stand out is that it followed Ramaphosas comments that the violent riots were part of an insurrection.

Acting Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni hit back at Mapisa-Nqakula, saying her statement that there was no evidence of an insurrection or coup attempt is not supported by facts.

DA leader John Steenhuisen has called for the immediate dismissal of Cele and Dlodlo.

He said that South Africa could not afford to have its national security undermined by ministers who failed in their roles to pre-empt this sort of attack and defend its people.

Many other people have also called on Ramaphosa to change his cabinet and replace political cadres with competent technocrats.

South Africa versus the United States

Many experts said the problem with cabinet appointments is that the ANC government uses them as rewards for political loyalty.

Instead of picking the best people for the job, cadre deployment has dominated ministerial appointments over the last two decades.

In advanced economies, like the United States, suitably qualified and experienced people are typically selected to important cabinet positions.

Take the Department of Defence, for example.

In the United States, the Secretary of Defense is typically a former general with decades of experience in the army.

The current Secretary of Defense is retired general Lloyd Austin who spent over 40 years in the military.

The four-star general is highly qualified, having completed three university degrees and numerous military qualifications.

Our minister of defence, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, did not serve in the South African National Defence Force at all before her appointment.

She did receive some military training in Angola and the Soviet Union and served as the head of a commission that investigated desertions of ANC MK members to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Angola in 1984.

This is, however, a far cry for spending decades in the military and working your way through the ranks to become a general.

She is also not particularly qualified  she only completed a teachers diploma and project management qualification.

The infographic below compares the US Secretary of Defense to South Africas Minister of Defence.

Now read: Ramaphosa must fire Cele and Dlodlo for failing to keep South Africans safe
The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has a range of powerful armoured vehicles and aircraft at its disposal.

Following the forces deployment to parts of Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal last week, several videos surfaced on social media in which some of these could be seen transporting soldiers and patrolling roads in looting hotspots.

The main manufacturer of SANDFs weaponry and vehicles, Denel, faces a severe financial crisis threatening its ability to continue supplying armaments to the force.

Fortunately, the military has several tanks, armoured vehicles, jets, and helicopters used and maintained for many years.

Most of these have been aptly named after South African animals, most often based on their appearance or abilities.

Weve assembled a list of some of the most noteworthy armoured and/or weaponised ground and air vehicles used by SANDF.

General-purpose vehicles such as trucks and aeroplanes primarily used for utility have not been added to the list.

Weapon systems that are not self-propelled, such as artillery guns that require towing, were also excluded.

Olifant tank

Purpose: Main battle tank

Quantity: 172

Designer: OMC Engineering

First year of service: Late 1970s

The only true tank in the SANDF armoury is the Olifant, a heavily modified and modernised version of the Centurion tank, which was the main battle tank used by the British forces post-WWII.

The latest version boasts a 105mm L7 cannon, 7.62mm general-purpose co-axial machine gun, and a 7.62mm anti-aircraft machine gun in addition to a hand-held laser rangefinder and image intensifier.

Denel has also developed a main battle tank turret that can be fitted to the Olifant to support a GT8 105mm or 120mm smoothbore gun.

The tank is powered by a V12 turbo diesel engine that provides 900 horsepower and a maximum speed of 58km/h.

Many of the Olifants have been deemed unserviceable, and the fleet is set to be replaced as part of Project Aorta.

Rooikat ARV

Purpose: Armoured reconnaissance vehicle

Quantity: 240

Designer: Denel

First year of service: 1994

Although it boasts an imposing 76mm high-velocity main gun, it does not run on tracks, so the Rooikat is not considered a tank.

Nonetheless, the eight-wheeled armoured reconnaissance vehicle can handle engagements with tanks on the battlefield.

The SANDF now uses it on aggressive search-and-destroy missions and for its anti-tank and fire support capabilities.

These were the vehicles recently spotted on the streets of Durban following the deployment of the SANDF.

Ratel/Honey Badger IFV

Purpose: Infantry fighting vehicle

Quantity: 1,200  534 in inventory, 666 in reserve

Designer: Springfield Bussing

First year of service: 1978

There is a good reason the Ratel is named after what many consider to be one of Africas toughest animals  the honey badger.

It was the first wheeled infantry fighting vehicle to enter service worldwide.

Many variants have been developed, with modifications to weaponry and other features based on the purpose of the vehicle.

In addition to a main turret, missile or mortar launcher, it can support a 7.62 mm Browning M1919 machine gun in a coaxial, rear ring, or turret roof setup.

The Ratel draws its power from a six-cylinder turbocharged diesel engine with 275 horsepower and can hit a top speed of 105km/h.

Badger IFV

Purpose: Modifiable multi-role military vehicle

Quantity: 238 ordered (reduced from 264)

Designer: Patria Land Systems/Denel

First year of service: TBD

The Badger IFV is a variant of the 88 wheeled Patria armoured modular vehicle developed by Finnish company Patria Land Systems.

Denel is currently building it as part of Operation Hoefyster to replace the ageing Ratel fleet.

The Badger will be available in section, command, mortar, missile, and fire support models.

It comes with a modular combat turret (MCT) system, which can integrate weapon modules like the 30mm externally-driven cam-operated cannon, 60mm breech-loading long-range mortar, a 12.7mm machine gun, or an anti-tank missile system.

A Scania DC13 turbocharged diesel engine allows the Badger to reach a maximum speed of 108km/h.

Mamba APC

Purpose: Armoured personnel carrier

Quantity: 444 in service

Designer: Reumech OMC

First year of service: 1990

The four-wheeled Mamba is intended for border protection and internal security purposes and is designed to be mine and blast-proof.

The Mamba has a capacity for up to 10 passengers, excluding the driver.

It comes with a roof hatch that allows a gunner to access the weapon mount, supporting a 12.7 mm machine gun.

Mambas have also been deployed on peacekeeping missions by the United Nations and African Union throughout Africa.

Casspir IMV

Purpose: Mine resistant ambush protected vehicle

Quantity: 370

Designer/manufacturer: CSIR/Henred Fruehauf

First year of service in South Africa: 1980

The four-wheel ambush-protected troop carrier was designed by the Defence Research Unit (DRU) of the CSIR to protect soldiers against landmines during the Border War.

It can withstand a triple mine blast equivalent to the force of a 21 kg TNT explosion under a wheel or a double blast equal to 14 kg of TNT under its V-bottomed armoured hull.

In terms of weapons, it can be fitted with a triple setup of 7.62mm machine guns or a 20mm cannon.

There are also 20 firing ports from which troops in the vehicle can fire.

The infantry mobility vehicle (IMV) proved so effective that several other countries  including the United States  have built or ordered their own.

South Africans often mistake the armoured RG-12 Nyala, commonly used by the South African Police Service during protests, with the Casspir.

G6 Rhino

Purpose: Long-range artillery strikes

Quantity: 43

Designer: Lyttelton Engineering Works

First year of service in South Africa: 1988

The G6 Rhino is a mine-protected self-propelled howitzer that can bombard targets with 155mm G5 rounds at ranges between 3km and 73km.

Its six-wheeled armoured chassis is powered by a 525 horsepower engine that allows it to travel at speeds of up to 90km/h or 70km/h off-road.

Paired with a massive 700-litre tank that can provide a 700km range, the Rhino can quickly move to a new position to avoid retaliation from enemies.

C-130 Hercules

Purpose: Military personnel and cargo carrier

Quantity: 6 in service, maximum 2 at a time

Designer: Lockheed Martin

First year of service in South Africa: 1963

Lockheeds C-130 Hercules is the worlds longest continuously produced military aircraft and perhaps one of the most easily recognisable, as 68 countries currently use it.

More than 2,500 were built as of 2015, of which South Africa has purchased or received at least 15 since 1963.

The plane was originally intended as a personnel and cargo carrier.

Its versatile airframe has allowed it to be adapted to other roles, including as a gunship, scientific research support, weather reconnaissance, mid-air refuelling, and search and rescue missions.

According to the latest data from SANDF, only two of the C-130BZ planes can be operated at any given time by the South African Air Force (SAAF) 28 Squadron.

These planes have been flying back and forth numerous times between Waterkloof Airbase in Pretoria and KwaZulu-Natal to deploy soldiers.

The plane was commonly referred to as the Flossie during the Border War, supposedly after the wife of a flight engineer at the time.

Gripen

Purpose: Advanced light fighter aircraft

Quantity: 26

Designer: Saab AB

First year of service in South Africa: 2010

The Gripen is a single-engine light fighter jet originally developed during the Cold War by Swedish aerospace company Saab AB as a new aircraft that could fight in the air, attack ground and sea-based enemies, and perform reconnaissance missions.

SAAFs hangars hold two distinct models  the single-seater Gripen C and two-seater Gripen D.

The Gripen can carry various armaments, including air-to-air missiles, air-to-ground missiles, and anti-ship missiles.

The single-seater variant also offers a single 27 mm Mauser BK-27 cannon.

The Gripen has a top speed of 2,470km/h, with a combat radius and ferry range of the aircraft of 800km and 3,200km, respectively.

Hawk Mk 120

Purpose: Training

Quantity: 23

Designer: BAE Systems/Denel

First year of service in South Africa: 2006

The Hawk Mk 120 is primarily used as a lead-in fighter trainer plane in the SAAF, replacing the ageing Atlas Impalas, which were used between the late 1960s and early 1990s.

These planes are perhaps best known for their use by the Royal Air Forces Red Arrows display team.

This advanced trainer features a tandem cockpit, a low-mounted cantilever wing, and a single Rolls-Royce Turbomeca Adour turbofan engine.

The Hawk was designed with manoeuvrability front and centre.

It can reach Mach 0.88 in level flight and Mach 1.15 in a dive, which allows trainee pilots to experience transonic flight before progressing to supersonic training.

Oryx

Purpose: Utility helicopter for transporting equipment and soldiers

Quantity: 44

Designer: Atlas Aircraft Corporation (now Denel)

First year of service in South Africa: 1987

The Atlas Oryx is based on the Aerospatiale Puma, a popular helicopter used by the South African Defence Force.

When the need arose to improve the Pumas capabilities, the government could not import new helicopters due to the arms embargo placed on the country for its Apartheid policy.

The Atlas Aircraft Corporation developed upgrades that included a lighter but more rugged airframe which improved performance and operating costs.

Oryx helicopters are typically equipped with a 50m hydraulic hoist for use by up to two personal in rescue operations.

The cargo bay can also support a large metal A-frame from which up to four personnel can rappel or abseil from the aircraft simultaneously.

Rooivalk

Purpose: Attack helicopter

Quantity: 16

Designer: Denel Aviation

First year of service in South Africa: 2011

Bearing a striking resemblance to the renowned US Apache attack helicopter, the two-seater Rooivalks development began in conjunction with the Oryx and was also based on the Puma.

This time around, however, the focus was on attack capabilities rather than utility.

The Rooivalk is typically fitted with a nose-mounted 20mm cannon but can also carry air-to-air missiles and anti-armour missiles, as well as unguided rockets.

It incorporates a stealth-oriented design, electronic countermeasures, and tough armour to defend itself from an attack on the battlefield.

The helicopter is reputed for its aerobatic capabilities and has a top speed of 309km/h.

Now read: Meltdown at Denel
Angels Unawares, is a reference to the Bible verse, Hebrews 13:2. Be welcoming to strangers, many have entertained angels unawares.

I put everything I had into this piece," Schmalz said during a phone interview this week. "It took a solid year, waking up at 4 in the morning and stopping at 5 in the evening.

For more than 25 years Schmalz has been creating commissioned pieces that have been installed throughout the world, including historical churches in Rome and at the Vatican. Though he has created large public monuments for civic entities, most of his work is spiritual in nature, he said.

A Catholic, Schmalz said he embraces the church teachings on immigration, particularly the importance of welcoming the stranger and celebrating the many contributions of migrants and refugees.

The sculptor included angel wings within the sculpture but placed them among the other figures rather than putting them prominently in front of the group, to convey the idea that there could be angels among the people," Schmalz said. "The holy family is very discreetly in the boat with the other figures. You can only tell it is Joseph by his carpenter tools. This is a reminder that the infant Christ lived the experience of a refugee.
When you think of it in terms of the supply chain, first it affects nurseries, where the operator has to pay local and state taxes, she said. The cultivator produces the product and sells it to a wholesaler or retailer, and they have to pay the excise tax. It goes to the manufacturer, and thats another tax. By the time it gets to the consumer, its been taxed 10 or 15 times depending on what jurisdiction youre in.

McGowans platform includes dropping the cultivation tax on cannabis while lowering the excise tax. In addition, cities where a majority of 2016 voters favored the Proposition 64 measure legalizing non-medical cannabis would have one year either to pass a local ballot measure opting out, or to authorize at least one retail outlet for every four liquor stores in its jurisdiction.

In addition, McGowan called for lobbying the federal government for the right to export cannabis to other states, and for all parts of the cannabis plant to be regulated equitably, whether the final projects are marijuana or non-psychoactive hemp.

Conceding the unlikelihood of advancing such an ardently pro-cannabis platform through both houses of the state legislature, McGowan declared she would seek to implement as many of the changes through executive orders as possible.
In a Friday Interview, Gonzales said her experience serving as a police officer in varied roles  and by serving under about a dozen police chiefs  gives her a broad perspective on styles on policing. She said policing is a service industry, in her opinion, and the departments fundamental job is to help care for people and keep them as safe as possible.

"Ive been in policing since I was 18," Gonzales said. "This is what I do."

Gonzales added that the department as a whole is looking forward to reengaging with the community. Over the past year, she said, the department was involved in talks with community members and local advocates about reimagining or reforming policing. It continues to be in the best interest of the department to be at the table and have frank conversations with community members about policing, Gonzales said.

We have to be inclusive and we love being part of those conversations, Gonzales said. "Theyre not always easy to have. And yet theyre vital for us to continue to serve the people in the way they need to be served.

Gonzales also said shed like to continue focus on the wellbeing of police department employees, which she said in turn will benefit the community.
The girls said they were worried about being around unvaccinated people and are still wearing masks.

Rangel said she was initially worried about how the vaccine could affect her kids, but with the delta variant proliferating, she decided to make their appointments.

You hear so many things, you dont know what to think or what to do, she said.

On Thursday, health officers in Contra Costa, Santa Clara and San Francisco counties in the San Francisco Bay Area urged employers to require vaccinations for workers and mask-wearing for those who werent fully vaccinated.

The choice is to either get the vaccine or get COVID, Contra Costa County Health Officer Dr. Chris Farnitano said Thursday. Unvaccinated workers pose a risk not only to themselves but also to their coworkers and the public they interact with.

In that county, an unvaccinated person is over 20 times more likely to get the virus than someone fully vaccinated.

Some vaccinated people have come down with COVID-19, including seven students this week at Stanford University. However, health officials say vaccinations make getting the illness harder and the symptoms less severe.
Thanks to the group who sent their opinion on July 26; it was titled Let's get rid of gas leaf blowers. Well, I couldn't agree more and spec
Turkey discussing with Azerbaijan issue of ensuring security in Kabul

Moscow court announces verdict for murderers of Armenian boxing champion Ashot Bolyan

There are reports that Armenian ecclesiastical complex in Deir ez-Zor is blown up (VIDEO)

Mass media: Russia MOD meets with Armenia acting defense minister in Moscow

Armenia patrol officers apprehend citizen on suspicion of battery, find out he is wanted for complicity in arbitrariness

Azerbaijan, Russia agree on cooperation for seasonal exchange of natural gas

ArmLur.am: Close friend of candidate for Armenia parliamentary speaker to be chief of staff of parliament

Acting chairman of Armenia Supreme Judicial Council receives National Security Service Investigation Department head

Karabakh MFA: Baku is leading a terrorism policy

Baku declares that "Zangezur corridor will become new corridor stretching from fraternal Pakistan to Turkey"

Turkish MPs planning to visit Shushi

Leaders of South Korea and North Korea agree to restore ties

Armenian analyst: Baku's main goal is to have a corridor through Armenia

Digest: Armenian soldier commits suicide, US urges to reconsider visiting Armenia amid COVID-19

Armenia opposition 'I Have Honor' bloc to propose to set up standing parliamentary committee on Karabakh

TALK TIME: Tension in Armenia's Yeraskh may be linked to Turkish factor

Artur Vanetsyan will be leader of opposition 'I Have Honor' bloc's faction of Armenia parliament

Ambassador: As long-time partners, US values Armenia's dynamic, global diaspora

Dollar drops again, euro also falls in Armenia

Armenian serviceman who died from firearm injury was veteran of 44-day war in Karabakh (PHOTO)

Yerevan Brandy Factory initiates restoration works of main building's facade (PHOTOS)

'Armenia' bloc will announce unified candidate for deputy parliamentary speaker after discussions with 'I Have Honor'

Karabakh emergency situations service: Remains of another Armenian serviceman found in Mataghis

Armenia President meets with Japan Bank for International Cooperation Executive Managing Director

Karabakh representative: Armenia government has started solving housing issue for displaced citizens

Armenia acting economy minister to pay two-day visit to Georgia

Armenian MFA: Azerbaijan's idea of opening a corridor completely distorts content and purpose of trilateral statements

Artsakh rescuers conduct search operations near Mataghis

21,900 citizens of Armenia receive Russian citizenship in 6 months

Turkey speaks on recognition of Crimea as part of Russia

US State Department calls on its citizens to reconsider visiting Armenia, as well as not to go to Artsakh

New details on soldier's death case: He committed suicide

One case of COVID-19 confirmed in Artsakh: 130 tests performed in a day

World oil prices are rising

Turkey has no intention to accept new migrants due to situation in Afghanistan

Soldiers death circumstances are being clarified

Coronavirus in Armenia: 7 new deaths reported

US announces resumption of illegal immigrants accelerated deportation

Soldier killed in yet unknown circumstances, Artsakh Defense Army says

Biden, Kadhimi seal agreement to end U.S. combat mission in Iraq

Armenia opposition 'I Have Honor' bloc: Nomination for deputy parliamentary speaker will depend on result of talks

Armenia President appoints new ambassadors to Colombia, Bolivia, Cuba, Turkmenistan and Egypt

Driver's head broken after Azerbaijanis throw stone at his head while he was driving in Armenia's Kut village

Armenia government official registers relatives of missing servicemen to meet with acting PM in turns

Artsakh Ombudsman: Azerbaijan Armed Forces beat resident of Karabakh's Machkalashen, right leg injured (PHOTO)

2.2-magnitude earthquake felt 4 km southeast from Spitak city of Armenia's Lori Province

Alen Simonyan: Armenia's acting Deputy PM and ex-parliamentary speaker will continue to serve on ruling party's board

Alen Simonyan: Armenia parliament to set up committee for probe into 44-day war in Nagorno-Karabakh

Russia MOD, Armenia acting defense minister discuss ensuring of regional security

Civil Contract Party and 'Armenia' bloc take parliamentary mandates, 'I Have Honor' bloc to take them tomorrow

Armenia MOD: Azerbaijan fired at Yeraskh from time to time, but not intensively during the day

Ambassador visits Armenian-Azerbaijani border, says US rejects use of force in the case of demarcation

US Ambassador to Armenia visits Armenian-Azerbaijani border

Digest: Azerbaijanis open fire near Armenia-Azerbaijan border, Armenian captured in Karabakh

Armenia court rejects motion filed by Kajaran mayor's attorneys, they leave courtroom

Bodies of 37-year-old mother and her 9-year-old son found in apartment in Armenia's Gyumri (PHOTO)

Karabakh Defense Army: Relatively stable situation still maintained on line of contact of Artsakh-Azerbaijan forces

Armenia Investigative Committee chairman is on working visit to Syunik Province

Ameriabank. The Largest Taxpayer among Armenian Banks according to the Results of the Second Quarter of 2021

Head of Karabakh's Machkalashen: Resident has been returned from captivity through Russian peacekeepers' mediation

Armenia Supreme Judicial Council rejects motion to subject Ruben Vardazaryan to disciplinary liability

Armenia acting PM in a closed meeting with newly elected MPs of ruling party

Armenian POWs Davit Davtyan and Gevorg Sujyan face up to 15 years in Azerbaijani prison

Session of Armenia's newly elected parliament to be held on Aug. 2, 7 items on agenda

Economic activity index in Armenia grows by 5%

Russia-based Armenian citizen's 15-year-old son dies in car accident in Armenia's Gegharkunik Province (PHOTO)

US: 430 people die in shooting incidents in a week

Over 40 civilians killed by Taliban in Afghanistan

Armenia acting environment minister introduces his newly appointed deputy

Karabakh Ombudsman: 32-year-old resident of Machkalashen village captured

No government official has met with the relatives of missing Armenian servicemen yet

Cicilline and Bilirakis lead Congress campaign to block US drone technology transfers to Turkey

MO: Azerbaijan opens fire on Armenian positions in Gegharkunik and Ararat provinces

Coronavirus in Armenia: 3 new deaths

Bitcoin price nears $ 40,000

Record frosts in Africa

3 people killed in series of shootings in Seattle

Oil is getting cheaper

Armenian wounded soldier regains consciousness, nothing threatens his life

French President calls actions of French protesters cynical

UK national debt tops  2.2 trillion

Clash between Yemeni government forces and Houthis leaves 17 people killed

French Senate approves new measures to fight COVID-19

166 new cases of COVID-19 reported in Armenia per day

Vatican reveals its real estate holdings

Taliban shadow district governor killed in Afghanistan

Armenia Police ban signature campaign demanding Syunik Province community leaders release

One new case of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

ARF Dashnaktsutyun Party delegation meets with Canada special envoy to Armenia

Armenia employers union chair: Many investment projects in progress

Russias Lavrov speaks on situation with declaration against Christianophobia in OSCE

Armenia army General Staff chief receives Bulgaria military attache

Employers union chairman: Migrant workers can now receive same salary in Armenia

Armenia acting PM Pashinyan attends last farewell ceremony for Djivan Gasparyan

Biden permits allocating $100m to help Afghanistan refugees

Djivan Gasparyan's body seen off with applause from Aram Khachaturian Concert Hall in Yerevan

Search for remains of fallen Armenians continues in Artsakh

Armenia employers union chairman: There is business revival in country since this year

Tourist bus crashes in Russia, 2 dead

Armenia President in Japan, attends official reception hosted by Emperor Naruhito
Israel put its close relations with Cyprus and Greece on display, repeatedly and publicly supporting Cypruss side in its dispute with Turkey about northern Cyprus, The Jerusalem Post reported.

The statements came a week after President Isaac Herzog and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held a friendly phone call, amid a decade of tensions between Jerusalem and Ankara.

The Foreign Ministry released a statement on Tuesday that Israel is following with deep concern recent unilateral Turkish actions and statements regarding the status of Varosha. Israel reiterates its solidarity and full support for Cyprus.

On Wednesday, Foreign Minister Yair Lapid met with his Greek counterpart, Nikos Dendias, and discussed the Verosha matter, expressing deep concern about these steps.

The ministry rarely releases statements of the kind it did about Cyprus. However, it also did so last August in dispute with Turkey, which is in a dispute with Greece over their economic rights in the Mediterranean Sea. Israel expressed full support and solidarity with Greece.

Last week, Herzog held a 40-minute phone call with Erdogan, in which they emphasized the importance of Israel-Turkey relations to security and stability in the region, as well as continued trade, according to an Israeli readout of the call.

The presidents saw a great importance in continuing consistent contact and dialogue despite the disagreements, with a goal to promote positive steps towards solving the Israel-Palestinian conflict, which will contribute to improving Israel-Turkey relations, as well, the presidents spokesman said.

An Israeli diplomatic source said that the statement in favor of Cyprus is not connected to the Erdogan-Herzog call.

Various Turkish figures have made statements in recent months that Israel-Turkey relations are on the mend.

But the Israeli diplomatic source said that Turkey has never taken any actions behind its repeated statements that it seeks to repair ties with Israel, but has continued its anti-Israel stance.

The Turkish public overtures could be an attempt to weaken the Israel-Greece-Cyprus axis.

Relations between the Hellenic countries and Israel have flourished in recent years, especially through the energy sector, as well as military cooperation.

Israels relations with Greece and Cyprus, historic rivals of Turkey, also grew closer in a period in which tensions between Israel and Turkey flared.

Lapid and Dendias discussed bilateral relations and Israel-EU ties in their meeting, as well as the energy sector, in which Israel and Greek are working together to build a natural gas pipeline from Israel to Europe.

Relations between Israel and Greece are strong and good, and we plan to continue to develop and reinforce them, Lapid stated.
The area of the statue of Aleksandr Myasnikyan next to Yerevan 2800th Anniversary Park is closed for more than a year. Currently, active construction work is underway inside the area. The five pillars being an integral part of the statue of historical and cultural value, have never been renovated, since their opening in 1980, are in a state of disrepair, and pose a threat to thousands of visitors of the Park. It turned out that the immense and responsible task of restoring and strengthening the monument is not fulfilled by the state, but by the benefactor, in particular, by a well-known businessman and the benefactor Mikayel Vardanyan. It should be reminded that Mikayel Vardanyan was elected a non-party deputy of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia in 2003 and has not been involved in political activities for more than 9 years after leaving the Parliament seat.

Mikayel Vardanyan is actively involved in charity both then and today. Restoration of Myasnikyan statue with the help of a benefactor is not the only program. The direction of the programs is wide. In particular, the benefactor has helped people with disabilities, including children, women with many children, and the families of fallen servicemen, etc. Hundreds of projects have been implemented in the border communities of Tavush Province within the framework of charitable programs financed by Mikayel Vardanyan. Irrigation and drinking water pipelines have been constructed, roads, cultural houses, kindergartens, and schools have been renovated. The problem of gasification and lighting has been solved in several communities. Many communities have been provided with the necessary agricultural equipment, and several other community projects have been implemented. By the way, we clarified that the renovation of the statute will be completed in December 2021.
I wanted to express two things with this Facebook post. First of all, I wanted to describe a reality, which was the following: from Monday to Tuesday night, at 2 o'clock at night, everyone was online, no one was sleeping, everyone was worried in Yerevan, Armenia. French ambassador to Armenia Jonathan Lacote said this in an interview with RFE/RL Armenian Serviceand referring to his Facebook post, "When Yeraskh [(village in Ararat Province of Armenia)] can't sleep, Yerevan stays awake too.

"The second message was the message of solidarity. I wanted to tell the people following me that France is following the border situation. People should rest assured that the French authorities are fully informed at the highest level about what is happening on the Armenia-Azerbaijan border.

Yeraskh is both a symbolic and a strategic place. Strategic, as it is the closest border with Yerevan to Azerbaijan, and symbolic, as this is a place where four countries meet. There is tension there at the moment, but we must hope that in the future Yeraskh can again become the crossroads that it once was," Lacote said.

Referring to cooperation between Armenia and France, the French ambassador noted: "As for cooperation between Armenia and France in the defense sector, we [i.e., France], naturally, will be ready to consider all the petitions addressed to us by the Armenian authorities. Of course, we must take into account some realities; France and Armenia are not members of the same military alliances.

In general, our role is not to prepare for the future war. Our role is to avoid a new conflict and to accompany in the political process, which will enable a final solution to the problematic issues in the region."
During last year's hostilities in Nagorno-Karabakh [(Artsakh)], the role of third parties, including Turkey, exacerbated regional tension. Victoria Nuland, the US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, stated this at the Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearings on Turkey, VOA Armenian Service reported.

She added that Washington had put pressure on Ankara not to get involved in regional conflicts threatening stability.

The chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Bob Menendez, who chaired the hearings, asked whether the Under Secretary of State was aware that Turkey had facilitated the transfer of militants from Syria to Azerbaijan during the 2020 war in Nagorno-Karabakh. Nuland, however, did not respond to this question, proposing to make this a separate subject of discussion.

In his response, Menendez insinuated that he was also awaiting a response from the State Department on whether any Turkish drones used by Azerbaijan had been examined. He stated that these drones include parts made in the USA, and this, according to him, is completely unacceptable.

The regularity of Turkish aggression in the region has become the norm, Menendez said, referring to Ankara's involvement in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. He expects a clear assessment and steps from the current US administration on Turkey's actions in this regard, criticizing Ankara for providing military assistance to Azerbaijan and facilitating the transfer of militants from Syria to Azerbaijan.

Another member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Chris Van Hollen, described Turkey's actions against Armenia as inimical.

And according to Victoria Nuland, in addition to differences over regional conflicts, particularly over Nagorno-Karabakh, the approaches of Washington and Ankara are contradictory on several other matters, too.
YEREVAN.  The COVID-19 pandemic was not the only challenge that our region had to face in the past year. The acting Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia, Armen Grigoryan, noted this in his statement at the recent High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development under the auspices of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). Armenian News-NEWS.am has learned this from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Despite Secretary-Generals appeal for a global ceasefire amid the pandemic and the subsequent Resolution 2532 of the UN Security Council, last autumn Azerbaijan with direct support and involvement of Turkey and foreign terrorist fighters from Syria and Libya launched a large-scale aggression against Nagorno-Karabakh, resulting in thousands of casualties, tens of thousands of injured, displaced, causing loss of livelihood and collapsed infrastructures. A number of regions of Nagorno-Karabakh which were seized as a result of use of force, were ethnically cleansed and their population was a subject to war crimes and mass atrocities.

Azerbaijan used force to suppress the right to self-determination of the people of Artsakh [(Nagorno-Karabakh)] in a violation of the UN Charter, which among others clearly stipulates that all international disputes must be settled by peaceful means.

Throughout the 44 days of the offensive, Azerbaijani army committed flagrant violations of international law, including international human rights law and international humanitarian law, deliberately and systematically targeting civilian infrastructures, particularly schools, hospitals, maternity wards, communication systems, as well as vandalizing and destroying the Armenian cultural and religious heritage. Up to this day, Azerbaijan continues its transgressions, refusing to return the Armenian prisoners of war that it still holds in captivity, making territorial claims and attempting a seizure of sovereign territories of the Republic of Armenia and blocking the entry of international humanitarian efforts to Artsakh.

These provocations must be met with the proper reaction of the international community. The access of humanitarian missions, and especially those of the United Nations to Nagorno-Karabakh must be granted swiftly and unconditionally.

More international efforts are needed to reinvigorate the format of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs and to continue deliberations on a lasting political solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the acting Armenian FM added, in particular.
STEPANAKERT.  The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (Republic of Artsakh) was established 28 years ago, on July 23, 1993. The Artsakh foreign ministry noted this in a statement it released Friday.

The formation of the Foreign Ministry fell on a difficult period, when the people of Artsakh were forced to repulse the armed aggression unleashed by Azerbaijan with the aim of destroying the young state of Artsakh. In the existing situation, it was necessary to institutionalize the negotiation efforts for the cessation of hostilities and the settlement of the Azerbaijan-Karabagh conflict, as well as, in general, the foreign policy activities on defending the national interests. The Foreign Ministry of Artsakh made its significant contribution to the conclusion of the trilateral ceasefire agreement of May 12, 1994, which put an end to the hostilities and created conditions for the peaceful development of the country.

The establishment of the Foreign Ministry was also of key importance in terms of state building in Artsakh, since the ability to conduct an independent foreign policy is one of the signs of an established state. Since its establishment, the Artsakh Republic Foreign Ministry has been pursuing a consistent foreign policy aimed at protecting and promoting the strategic interests of Artsakh and, in particular, the international recognition of its independence, expanding and deepening its international relations, cementing the Armenia-Artsakh-Diaspora trinity, clarifying the position of the Republic's authorities on the Azerbaijan-Karabagh conflict and ways of its settlement, raising awareness about Artsakh and strengthening its positive image abroad, countering disinformation and manipulations by Azerbaijan.

The armed aggression against the Republic of Artsakh, unleashed by Azerbaijan on September 27, 2020 with the direct participation of Turkey and international terrorists, has led to the aggravation of old and the emergence of new security threats. In the face of these challenges, proactive diplomacy is of particular importance. An initiative, pragmatic and balanced foreign policy is the key to successfully ensuring the national security of the Republic of Artsakh, preserving and strengthening its state sovereignty, restoring territorial integrity, increasing the status of the republic as a geopolitical actor, and a comprehensive settlement of the Azerbaijan-Karabagh conflict that would fully meet the interests of the people of Artsakh, also reads the statement of the Artsakh foreign ministry.
In his latest interview, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev in fact acknowledges that the Azerbaijani armed units have infiltrated the territory of the Republic of Armenia. This is stated in the answer of the Department of Media and Public Diplomacy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia to the question of Armenpress news agency. The question and answer read as follows:

Question: In an interview to the AzTV state television, the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev once again voiced territorial claims towards the Republic of Armenia. How would you comment on those statements?

Answer: The President of Azerbaijan made a number of comments in his interview and we will address some of them, which clearly demonstrate the approaches of the Azerbaijani leadership to make the use of force a tool of regional policy.

First, in the above-mentioned interview the President of Azerbaijan in fact acknowledges that the Azerbaijani armed units have infiltrated the territory of the Republic of Armenia, while justifying this action with a claim that Zangezur is the land of our ancestors. This is nothing but a gross violation of international law, as none of the international norms and principles accepts the attempt to occupy the territory of the neighbouring country, under such a historical, and in this case distorted pretext.

It is noteworthy that along with these provocative actions, the President of Azerbaijan circulates the so called Zangezur corridor formulation which stands in full contradiction with the trilateral joint statements of November 9, 2020, and January 11, 2021, particularly the provision on unblocking the existing economic and regional links. While realizing that these claims, which violate the international law, are baseless, the Azerbaijani side tries to bring forward the argument of its readiness to use force to this end.

Second, the President of Azerbaijan clearly indicates that the war unleashed against Artsakh was aimed at wiping out Nagorno-Karabakh from the map of the region and depriving the people of Artsakh of their homeland. Nagorno-Karabakh, as a territorial entity, is recognised in a number of international documents and Azerbaijan has either joined or expressed its consent to the majority of them. Reconsideration of its international commitments by Azerbaijan and the use of force will not lead to the disappearance of Nagorno-Karabakh from the international arena.

This approach obviously pursues the goal of violating the human rights of the people of Artsakh, including the right to self-determination and territorial integrity of Artsakh.

Third, Azerbaijan claims that in the post-war period it was able to impose its agenda on the international community. We do not deny that Azerbaijan has made such attempts and continues to do so, and these attempts are based on the approach of removing the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict from the international agenda through the violation of Armenia's territorial integrity. The fact that the international community - the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship, the Co-Chair countries and many other international actors clearly states that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is not resolved yet, best demonstrates that these attempts of Baku have failed.

Fourth, Azerbaijan pursues the policy of deepening but not overcoming the humanitarian consequences of the war, which is particularly expressed through non-complying with its commitments to exchange prisoners of war, hostages and detained civilians, while persecuting them under trumped-up charges and consistently fueling Armenophobia.

Fifth, the use of force, the threat of use of force cannot create lasting peace - it threatens all the countries and peoples of the region.

Armenia will consistently defend the right of the Armenians of Artsakh to self-determination on the territory of Artsakh and the territorial integrity of the Republic of Armenia, on the basis of international law.
Story Highlights Six-point decline in approval since June

Second-quarter 53% average down from 56% average in first quarter

Biden's second-quarter average better than Trump's, Clinton's

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- President Joe Biden's latest job approval rating of 50% is down from 56% in June. Before this month, his ratings had not shown meaningful variation during his time in office, and the current figure marks the lowest measured for him to date.

Line graph. President Joe Biden's job approval ratings. Since Biden took office in January, his approval rating has ranged between 50%, his current reading (from July 2021), and 57%.

The new rating is from a July 6-21 Gallup poll, which also finds that 45% of U.S. adults disapprove of Biden's performance and 5% do not have an opinion. It comes at a time when U.S. progress in fighting the coronavirus has stalled, with vaccination rates slowing and case levels now rising. The economic recovery continues, with unemployment declining and stock market values near record highs. But consumers are paying higher prices for gas and other goods. Biden has also struggled to deliver on his promise of greater bipartisanship, although negotiations on an infrastructure bill continue in the Senate.

Biden's approval ratings are marked by extreme party polarization, which has become the norm for presidential approval in recent years. Currently, 90% of Democrats, 12% of Republicans and 48% of independents approve of the job Biden is doing. His ratings among Democrats and independents are the lowest to date among those groups. The new poll marks the first time he has less-than majority approval among independents.

Line graph. President Joe Biden's job approval ratings by political party. Currently, 90% of Democrats, 48% of independents and 12% of Republicans approve of the job Biden is doing. His approval rating has not fallen below 90% among Democrats or exceeded 12% among Republicans. His approval rating among independents has ranged from 48% to 61%.

Biden Averages 53.3% Job Approval in Second Quarter

Biden just concluded his second quarter in office, extending from April 20 through July 19. During this three-month period, Biden averaged 53.3% job approval, down slightly from the 56.0% average during his first quarter.

Biden's second-quarter average compares favorably with those of presidents from the past three decades. It is significantly better than the second-quarter averages for Bill Clinton (44.0%) and Donald Trump (38.8%) and slightly lower than George W. Bush's 55.8% average. Barack Obama, at 62.0%, is the only other president during this period to have a significantly higher second-quarter average than Biden.

Presidents who served in the 1950s through the 1980s -- when party ratings of presidents were far less polarized -- had higher averages, with none below 61%. This includes Dwight Eisenhower and John Kennedy, who averaged better than 70% job approval during their second quarters.

Second-Quarter Job Approval Averages of Presidents Elected to Their First Term Dates Average job approval Number of polls % Eisenhower Apr 20-Jul 19, 1953 71.5 2 Kennedy Apr 20-Jul 19, 1961 76.2 5 Nixon Apr 20-Jul 19, 1969 62.0 5 Carter Apr 20-Jul 19, 1977 63.5 6 Reagan Apr 20-Jul 19, 1981 60.8 5 G.H.W. Bush Apr 20-Jul 19, 1989 63.8 4 Clinton Apr 20-Jul 19, 1993 44.0 8 G.W. Bush Apr 20-Jul 19, 2001 55.8 9 Obama Apr20-Jul 19, 2009 62.0 89 Trump Apr 20-Jul 19, 2017 38.8 88 Biden Apr 20-Jul 19, 2021 53.3 3 Gallup

The roughly three-percentage-point drop in Biden's average approval rating between his first and second quarters is typical for recent presidents. It essentially matches the change for Trump and George W. Bush, and is slightly more than the one-point decline in Obama's average. Clinton's approval rating declined nearly 11 points between his first and second quarters.

Average approval for presidents before Clinton mostly held steady between their first and second quarters. The two major exceptions are Carter, whose average approval declined nearly six points, and George H.W. Bush, whose average increased nearly seven points.

Presidents' Approval Usually Declines in the Third Quarter

Looking ahead, presidential approval ratings have been more likely to decline rather than increase during presidents' third quarters in office. Obama had the largest drop, of nearly 10 points, as unemployment climbed and his push for healthcare reform proved controversial. Other presidents had drops of two to four points, including Eisenhower, Nixon, Carter, Reagan and Trump.

There have been exceptions, though, as George H.W. Bush (+5 points) and George W. Bush (+16 points) saw their ratings rise amid rallies related to the easing of the Cold War and the 9/11 terrorist attacks, respectively. Clinton's approval rating started to show improvement (nearly four points higher) after his unusually low second-quarter average, while Kennedy's was largely unchanged.

Bottom Line

Biden's approval rating is showing the first signs of meaningful decline. If the lower ratings persist, it could indicate his "honeymoon" period is over. Because Republicans have been unlikely to support him from the beginning of his presidency, changes in his approval are likely to come from Democrats' and independents' evaluations of him. That is what has occurred now, with both groups slightly less positive toward Biden than they have been to this point. Still, he maintains very high approval among Democrats, and his rating among independents remains higher than his immediate predecessor Trump ever received from that group.

To stay up to date with the latest Gallup News insights and updates, follow us on Twitter.

Explore President Biden's approval ratings and compare them with those of past presidents in the Gallup Presidential Job Approval Center.

Learn more about how the Gallup Poll Social Series works.

View complete question responses and trends (PDF download).
The Office of Faculty Affairs Leadership announced Dr. Nichole Crenshaw as the University of Miamis associate provost for diversity, equity, and inclusion effective July 1, 2021.

Crenshaw is an associate professor of clinical at the School of Nursing and Health Studies (SONHS), and since January 2021 has served as Associate Dean for Undergraduate Nursing Programs at the School.

In her additional role as associate provost within the Office of Faculty Affairs, Crenshaw will be responsible for developing innovative initiatives, systems, and programming to support the recruitment, retention, and career development of underrepresented minorities and women at the University of Miami, explains Dr. Guillermo Willy Prado, vice provost for faculty affairs, Graduate School dean, and professor of Nursing and Health Studies, Public Health Sciences, and Psychology.

At a time where racial justice issues are at the forefront, I am excited to be in a position where I can facilitate genuine and candid dialogue about the issues of diversity and inclusion at the university, said Crenshaw. I look forward to collaborating with others at UM and taking deliberate actions to build a diverse, inclusive, and equitable community, where, as stated in our roadmap, all members of the University community feel valued and can add value.

Crenshaw will work closely with Vice Provost Prado, who recruited her to the position, and with Dr. Tatiana Perrino, associate provost for faculty development.

Nichole is committed to mentoring, diversity and inclusion, and serving the University faculty, said Prado. I came to know Nichole a few years ago in her role as the School of Nursing and Health Studies representative on the Graduate Council, which I chair. I was immediately impressed by her leadership abilities. Nichole was incredibly engaged, thoughtful, and inclusive. She was just a natural choice.

Crenshaw sees her new role as associate provost for diversity, equity, and inclusion as a natural and important extension of her work on the Deans Special Advisory Committee on Faculty Diversity at SONHS.

I am confident that Dr. Crenshaws work will be central to the enhancement of diversity, equity, and inclusion at the University of Miami, and will directly benefit the entire University community, including the SONHS, said Cindy L. Munro, dean and professor at the School of Nursing and Health Studies.

Crenshaw succeeds the positions inaugural appointee Osamudia James, who has pursued opportunities at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. This associate provost role was established as part of a 15-point plan, announced by President Julio Frenk last July, to support racial equality, inclusion, and justice across the University of Miami and in the South Florida community.

Since joining SONHS as a faculty member in 2013, Crenshaw has taught and mentored hundreds of students, nurses, and nurse practitioners, proving to be a leader in advancing simulation-based education to bridge the gap between didactic instruction and clinical practice. She earned bachelors and masters degrees in nursing from Florida International University, followed by her Doctor of Nursing Practice degree and a post-masters certificate at SONHS.

In addition to her academic teaching, research, and leadership roles, Crenshaw practices in Jackson Memorial Hospitals cardiothoracic/surgical intensive care unit. Later this year, she will be inducted as a Fellow of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners. She and her husband, a graduate of Miami Law, have three children, two of whom are students at UM.
Violence is on the uptick against journalists in Latin America and around the world, as is risk to their emotional well-being during coverage of traumatic events, but little is known about how journalists are coping.

Two new University of Miami studies, in collaboration with academic partners in Mexico and Brazil, revealed that journalists respond in ways that may enhance or reduce their professional mission and emotional well-being, depending upon the type of risk and their options for support.

We wanted to understand risks to journalists in their own terms, how do they make sense of their experience and how do they deal with it, said Laura Iesue, a sociology doctoral candidate who began the work with Sallie Hughes while a Distinguished Graduate Fellow at the Universitys Institute for Advanced Study of the Americas (UMIA).

While journalists in Mexico and Brazil face frequent risks of physical and emotional harm, some of their experiences are shared by journalists in the global north. For example, journalists in the United States also experience stress when harassed online and while covering events related to great suffering, such as the Surfside condo collapse. Gender-based violence targeting female and LGBTQ+ journalists has been noted in all three countries, as well.

The studies, called Risk, Victimization and Coping Strategies of Journalists in Mexico and Brazil and Coping with Occupational Stress in Journalism: Professional Identities and Advocacy as Resources were written by Iesue and Hughes, professor in the School of Communication and faculty lead at UMIA.

The two authors were joined by colleagues in Mexico and Brazil. Mexican colleagues were Hilda Fernandez de Ortega and Judith Cruz at The University of the Americas Puebla, and Jose Carlos Lozano from Monterrey Tec. The Brazilian colleagues were Sonia Virginia Moreira from the State University of Rio de Janeiro and Monica Sousa, Moreiras former student and now post-doctoral researcher at the Universidad Veiga de Almeida, also in Rio de Janeiro.

Based upon fieldwork conducted between 2018 and 2019, the studies were recently published in the peer-reviewed journals, Journalism Studies and Sur le Jornalisme/About Journalism. The first study focuses on Puebla state in central Mexico, Tamaulipas state on the U.S. border, and Mexico City, the countrys capital. These three areas were chosen because of the varied risks journalists face. The second study compares the experiences of journalists in Puebla and Tamaulipas with similar states in Brazilthe border state of Acre and the interior state of Minas Gerais. Very few studies of this kind have ever been conducted in Brazil, according to Iesue. While a great deal is known about risk in Mexico, less is known about how Mexican journalists cope with risk.

The studies are based upon anonymous, online questionnaires that were distributed in a snowball sample to journalists via Qualtrics software. Many of the questions were open-ended, so that the journalists could elaborate on their answers based upon their experiences. The research used response data from 35 Mexican journalists in the first study and 21 Mexican and 33 Brazilian journalists in the second.

By far, the most prevalent stressor, according to the studies, had to do with failures to uphold the law.

In areas of high crime governed by criminal organizations, reporters were threatened at gunpoint by armed men who asked them to leave the scene of a story they were covering.

Yet others received verbal threats like I know where you live or I know you have a child, said Iesue. Others were threatened via email and Twitter.

Being a victim of targeted violence or working in dangerous conditions has led journalists to self-censor their work by leaving out sensitive information and avoiding topics about government corruption, abuses of power, and relations with criminal organizations, said the study.

Self-censorship is a big part of their lives, said Iesue.

One respondent said her newsroom in Tamaulipas, Mexico, was attacked by gunmen with grenades and gunfire. Some respondents reported stress at covering the suffering of others or covering tragedies, said Hughes.

One similarity between the two Latin American countries was that journalists outside of major cities and in border regions of both countries are most vulnerable, Hughes noted.

In border areas trafficking and smuggling of all kinds occurs with lack of government capacity to respond or sometimes complicity, she said. In smaller cities within both countries, journalists lack strong constitutional protections and organizational support, compared to those who work in large cities with major news organizations.

Another key stressor affecting journalists are political playerspoliticians and people in social powerwho exert their hold over a newsroom or certain journalists by threatening to pull their advertising if a story is not canceled.

One recurring theme in the studies was the harassment against female reporters. Some of the harassment came from within the womens news organizations, said Hughes.

One woman said she feared being sexually assaulted when an army officer would not let her leave a scene and kept asking for her telephone number. She finally gave him her number and then blocked him.

These stressors are added to the daily ones in journalism where changes in the industry have forced many newsrooms to downsize and, in many cases, require more work from those left behind. Some of the respondents reported an increase in work hours that sometimes were not compensated.

The study asked how journalists coped with daily work stressors. While some coping strategies could be applied to any stressful job, such as exercise or writing poetry, others are unique to journalism.

Self-censorship or moving to a different coverage topic meant that threats did silence important information. Other approaches allowed journalists to continue to report on important but dangerous topics by working in teams or taking greater safety precautions.

In Mexicos Puebla state, journalists banded together to advocate for greater protections, which they described as work that gave them emotional fortitude.

In both countries, many of the respondents derived comfort from talking to other journalists and reminding themselves that their work was important in a democratic society.

Hughes said the project is an example of some of the interdisciplinary work that the Institute for Advanced Study of the Americas, under the leadership of its director Felicia Knaul, has facilitated in recent yearsin this case, involving the School of Communication and the College of Arts and Sciences.

Collaborative, interdisciplinary work provides a much more holistic understanding of social problems, which in turn leads to better recommendations for policymakers and activists, said Hughes. This is the sort of work the institute has supported and continues to facilitate. While the research is based in Latin America, these studies are examples of how research collaborations there provide lessons for the rest of the world.
In an online discussion with the dean of the University of Miami Patti and Allan Herbert Business School on Wednesday, Sara Nelson, currently in her second term as president of the flight attendant union representing some 50,000 industry workers across 20 airlines, shared behind-the-scenes efforts to protect airline industry workers rights and benefits as the pandemic took hold.

The head of the Association of Flights Attendants-CWA, AFL-CIO, told Dean John A. Quelch during the Herbert Half-Hour session that the union is looking at ways to safeguard flight attendants against sexual harassment and the surge in unruly passenger behavior.

Weve never seen anything like this on our planes, said Nelson, referring to the increase in incidents with and between passengers. In some cases, the people who are becoming agitated on the planes are angry with people who are not complying with the mask policies, they feel that they are putting them at risk.

Nelson said she met recently with leaders from the pilots and flight attendants unions seeking to address the situation.

Flight attendants are more eager than anyone to take those masks offwere flying 14-hour days, she said. But what we recognized in our conversation is that the masks are just a symbol, they are not the root of whats going on. Lack of understanding of the policies, an erosion of public trust in government, and mixed messages are fueling the surge in tensions, she added.

Its very difficult, and flight attendants are deescalating or taking the brunt of the aggression from the public every dayits not the job that we recognize, so were hoping to get that tamped down, Nelson said.

Yet it is the work and efforts of collective action, of unions representing the best interests and livelihoods of their workersmade evident most recently during the pandemicthat motivates Nelson and that has earned her the moniker Americas most powerful flight attendant. A rocky takeoff in her own career marked that appreciation.

Following a friends suggestion and lured by the opportunity for pay, pension, and health care benefits offered by the airlines, Nelson explained how she left behind her first teaching job in St. Louis to become a flight attendant with United Airlines in 1996.

When her first paychecks were delayed in payroll and her savings nearly exhausted from a cross-country move, a distraught Nelson wasnt sure where to turn in her new career. Then someone who looked a lot like mea flight attendant and union representativestepped in, wrote her a check for immediate needs, and then helped to resolve the payroll snafu.

It was in that moment that I understood what unions are all aboutthat individual workers dont have a voice and cant fix things in business on their own, Nelson recalled. Through a union, I realized that I had a voice and knew that we were stronger working together.

The 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center and its impact on the airline industry supercharged her, she explained. When she was selected in 2014 to lead the flight attendants union, Nelson was the youngest union president ever elected at a national level.

Asked if the leadership traits to head unions were distinct, Nelson highlighted the commitment to mission and engagement needed with those you lead.

You need to be constantly engaged with the people you represent and the process, and there can be no ego if youre going to be successful, she replied. Youre never going to get anything done unless you have the full faith of those you representand the only way to stay close to that is to be constantly interacting and have your ear to the ground.

Heading into March 2020, the airline industry was cruising at top speed, with some leaders even suggesting that the industry would never lose money again, according to Nelson. Then, as the pandemic began to spread, it became clear that the coronavirus crisis would not be temporary.

Together with other airline leaders, Nelson went to work to craft a plan to save the industry that focused on its workersnearly 80 percent of the industry is unionized.

We knew that if we didnt put forth a plan for labor up front that we would be an after-thought, she said.

A phone call from the CEO of American Airlines alerted her to just that pending reality. The governments proposed Payroll Support Package (PSP) included nothing for the airlines.

Nelson contacted leading legislators and worked closely with them to have grants included for the airlines to cover payroll costs and prevent pay reductions and furloughs. She also helped address other demands to cap executive compensation and ban stock buybacks.

Our union called all the major players and urged them to hold the linewhich they didand thats when the real negotiations happened, Nelson said. We were actually able to have some power in those negotiations at the table.

Nelson said that the airlines union is fully behind green initiatives for the industry.

The Green New Deal is an absolute necessity for the work we do, she said. The incidence of air turbulence is on the rise, and thats a result of climate changeits a very serious occupational threat and safety hazard for us, she added.

We know that if we dont tackle climate change, were not going to have jobs because the industry wont be able to run, Nelson pointed out. We need to be out there promoting the solutions because we want to see good jobs on the other side of this and also want to see more government investment in research and development and scientific improvements that can move us away from the fossil fuel. Were starting to see the airlines industry engage in that conversation as well.
This summer five Mount students are completing Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) programs funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF). Fellowship recipients Thomas Gamble, C22, Jared Hampton, C22, Elaina Perry, C21, Santino Servagno,C22, and Mary Yenca, C22, are participating in active research at REU sites across the country at University of Georgia, University of Massachusetts Amherst, State University of New York (SUNY) Binghamton, Penn State University and University of Tennessee, respectively.

Mount students who were awarded these prestigious fellowships are researching and developing detection methods of the COVID-19 virus, new alternatives for solar power production, improved methods to prepare complex drug molecules like pharmaceuticals and natural products, and the bacteria responsible for tuberculosis. Each REU-Site consists of a group of approximately 10 undergraduates who work in the research programs of the host institution; each student is associated with a specific research project where they work closely with the faculty and other researchers. Fellowships include stipends and funds for housing and travel.

NSF-REU programs provide great opportunities for our students to learn new skills, expand their professional networks and gain valuable experience for their post-Mount careers, said Assistant Professor of Chemistry Patrick Lombardi, Ph.D., who promotes the NSF-REU opportunities in his general chemistry course. The five fellowship recipients applied to REU-Sites at the start of the 2021 spring semester.

Within their applications, students explain how their research will prepare them for their future careers and establish which principal investigators at the funding site they are most interested in working alongside. Once accepted, the students are paired with a principal investigators research group for about 8 to10 weeks during the summer.

The NSF fellowships are competitive, and students will often first spend a summer conducting research at the Mount in order to gain the necessary laboratory experience before applying for external fellowships as rising juniors and seniors, Lombardi added.

Lombardi, who received his Bachelor of Science in chemistry from Yale University and earned his doctoral degree in chemistry from the University of Pennsylvania, is an active advocate for student research opportunities. He serves as principal investigator for a three-year $433,784 National Institutes of Health Academic Research Enhancement Award the Mount received to fund student research.

Elaina Perry // State University of New York (SUNY) Binghamton

Perry first heard about the fellowship in Lombardis class, and later was encouraged by Garth Patterson, Ph.D., chair of the Department of Science, Office of Competitive Fellowships faculty advisor and associate professor of chemistry, to apply her junior year during Christmas break.

The biology major, with minors in chemistry and philosophy, gained research experience when she worked with Lombardi to investigate the binding interactions between ASCC2 and polyubiquitin chainstwo proteins responsible for DNA alkylation damage repair.

I was very excited to receive acceptance for the REU program at Binghamton University, Perry said. Along with her cohort of nine other students, she was chosen from a pool of 2,500 applicants. It is a true honor to be selected and I am grateful for the privilege to participate in the program.

She is currently in Binghamton, New York, and began researching on May 31. Her work on this project will culminate with presentation of her research at an NSF conference on August 6.

What appealed to you about SUNY Binghamton?

Renowned with 23 innovative research facilities, SUNY Binghamton is one of the top research universities in the U.S. With my innate passion for medicine, I have also always been interested in molecular biochemistry. The biomedical engineering NSF-REU at SUNY offered an opportunity compatible with all of my interests.

Tell me about your principal investigator and his research background.

I am working in the lab of Chuan-Jian Zhong. Ph.D. As a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors, he is distinguished with many awards and research focused on sustainable energy production, conversion and storage, environmental sustainability and chemical and biomedical detection.

Describe your research.

We are using interfacial chemistry to develop detection methods of the COVID-19 virus. Using a paper membrane-based surface-enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) platform, we are developing a nanocomposite probe that detects the virus in seconds. Our goal is to achieve an ultrasensitive, rapid and low-cost detection method.

My prospective probe consists of 30nm gold nanoparticles, modified with 4-mercaptobenzoic acid, conjugated with a specific viral detection antibody. This method of SERS detection is applicable to many diseases including cancer biomarker detection.

How will this research prepare you for your future career?

I am 21 years old and still have many questions about what I would like to do with the rest of my life. This experience provides me the opportunity of 10 weeks of strict research. It also exposes me to aspects of the research field that are not apparent in a three-hour course laboratory.

With this exposure, I hope to gain clarity for my future aspirations. At the same time, I am contributing to groundbreaking medical research that has incredible potential to help others.

Jared Hampton // University of Massachusetts Amherst

A chemistry major with minors in mathematics and philosophy, Hampton first heard about the fellowships during his sophomore year from Patterson. Later, Assistant Professor of Chemistry Isaac Mills, Ph.D., also mentioned the opportunity.

Hampton has had two other research experiences during his time at the Mount. I have done research since the spring semester of 2020 with Dr. Mills. We are synthesizing zinc complexes to be used in a dye-sensitized solar cell as another alternative solution for photovoltaic cells, he said.

I was ecstatic when hearing I was able to go to UMass-Amherst. I did have to wait a year, as it was intended for summer 2020 before COVID-19 happened, Hampton explained. I wanted to go somewhere that had research programs that interested me. I wanted to work in a program that focused on photovoltaic devicesand UMass-Amherst had a program that did so.

He began research on May 30 and his 10-week program will end on August 6. Hampton intends to pursue a doctoral degree and considers the REU to be excellent preparation.

Tell me more about your principal investigator and your research.

I am working with my principal investigator, Associate Professor of Chemistry Kevin Kittilstved, Ph.D., who focuses on inorganic chemistry and leads the multifunctional inorganic materials chemistry (MIMC) research group at UMass-Amherst.

My proposed research is creating a new alternative for solar power production called a perovskite solar cell. This research helps me prepare for my future career and graduate school by giving me more research experience.

How arduous was the application process?

My application process included practicing concise scientific writing, two recommendation letters and a resume. I want to thank the Mount St. Marys Science Department for helping me achieve this position. I specifically want to thank Dr. Mills for providing the research experience needed for this project and Dr. Patterson for helping during the application process.

Santino Servagno // Penn State University

I was very excited and shocked when I discovered I had been awarded a place in the program, said the chemistry major with minors in business and mathematics. It boosted my confidence that I can pursue a career in chemistry and go to graduate school and helped sow away my doubt that I had about going into the field.

He conducted research this academic year with Professor of Chemistry Patricia Kreke, Ph.D., and Professor of Chemistry Danny Miles Jr., Ph.D. I examined surfactant morphology on the size and shape of nanoparticles. The synthesized surfactants will be used to assist in production of gold nanoparticles whose size and shape-specific properties enable it to overcome organ-specific barriers and target therapeutics to treat individual cancer sites, he explained. Last summer he worked under the supervision of Patterson to construct a thermal imaging sensor.

Servagno, who is a Mount Fellow, is currently at State College and began his summer research on June 1 and will complete it on August 6.

Why did you choose Penn State University as your REU-Site?

Penn State has a reputation for a very good graduate chemistry program and as an institution that conducts novel research with high-tech instrumentation that will expose me to a graduate school lab environment. On a non-scientific level, as a Pennsylvania resident, State College is known as a nice area to live, and I knew I would enjoy my time at the program (both during work and outside of work) and be relatively close to home so I can see my family and friends throughout the summer.

Tell me more about your principal investigator and your research.

The lab I work in this summer is run by Dr. Eric Nacsa whose background is synthetic organic chemistry. His research interests are to discover new methods to prepare complex drug molecules by deriving novel chemical reagents, reactions and catalysts.

My proposed research is the rapid catalytic addition of vicinal positioned functional groups on olefins in a single step. This rapid formation of vicinal stereoarrays improves chemical methodologies for the more efficient synthesis of complex drug molecules such as pharmaceuticals and natural products.

What are your future plans and how will this experience aid your goals?

I would like to further my education by going to graduate school to get my Ph.D. in organic chemistry. After graduate school, my career goal is to become a synthetic organic chemistry in the pharmaceutical industry.

The NSF-REU fellowship is preparing me for graduate school by exposing me to lab equipment and techniques and training me to work efficiently in a graduate school environment.

Thomas Gamble // University of Georgia

Gamble began his fellowship on May 24 at the University of Georgia. The biology major plans to attend medical school and become a trauma surgeon.

Although molecular biology research has no direct application to medicine and even surgery, I hope that some of the skills and knowledge I gain this summer will aid me in becoming a well-rounded physician, he said.

Gamble first heard about the fellowship from Patterson, who provided feedback and guidance on Gambles statements and application. The application process required a decent amount of work, but it was well worth it, and I was very excited to learn that UGA had chosen me to participate in their REU program, Gamble said.

Please describe your research.

I am studying how effector protein PE17 of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacteria responsible for tuberculosis, interacts with the lipid droplets of host cells. Doing so has involved generating plasmids that encode proteins to which fluorescent markers are attached and then transforming these plasmids into yeast cells, our model system.

We then observe via fluorescence microscopy how these proteins (PE17 and proteins specific to distinct organelles) colocalize at organelles such as lipid droplets and mitochondria. Previous literature has suggested that expression of PE17 results in fragmentation of the mitochondria, and we are interested in investigating this issue further.

What appealed to you about the University of Georgia?

UGA was one of the REU programs I just happened to apply to, so I did not research this university prior to my acceptance. After learning of my acceptance, however, I did research UGA and was thrilled to learn of its beautiful campus, reputation for academics and status as an R1 university.

I am currently working with Dr. Vincent Starai, a professor in the microbiology department at UGA. Dr. Starai is working on several projects, all of which consider how certain intracellular bacteria, such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Wolbachia, secrete effector proteins that facilitate interactions with eukaryotic host cells.

Describe your previous research experience at the Mount.

I have completed research with Associate Professor of Biology Kathryn Dye, Ph.D., for four semesters. During the first two semesters, we studied how disrupting the unfolded protein response via plasmid transfection might affect viral production. We began this project by treating HUVEC cells with thapsigargin, an inducer of Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER) stress, and then measuring ER stress through quantitative detection of spliced X-box binding protein-1 (XBP1) mRNA.

After returning to campus in Fall 2020, we turned our sights toward human coronavirus. We began investigating how treating RAW 264.7 cells with the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 upregulates the expression of TNF-, a proinflammatory cytokine, and have used ELISA and qPCR to measure this expression.

Mary Yenca // University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Yenca says she heard about the NSF-REU program from many of the professors in the Mounts Department of Science. Each professor stressed this opportunity to research at a large institution in a new environment would provide a beneficial learning experience as well as preparation for future endeavorsparticularly graduate school, she noted.

Through their guidance, her application, personal statement and other materials took shape. While each REU-Site location had different requirements, Yenca focused on the University of Tennessee in Knoxville (UTK) because of its emphasis on finding students with a passion for chemistry.

Given its well-established reputation and the fantastic opportunities offered from the NSF-REU program and the UTK Department of Chemistry, I was beyond excited to learn I had been accepted, she reflected. The chemistry and biochemistry double major, and Mount Fellow, began her research on May 24 and will complete the program on July 30. While nervous about being in a different state and working with a new research group, Yenca admitted her anxiety disappeared once she received a warm welcome from both her principal investigator and a next-door neighbor who was also participating in the REU.

Why did you choose UTK?

I was attracted to the REU location there because of the great diversity of research their department has in both their overall chemistry program and in the integration of several fields of chemistry research within distinct groups.

I was also interested in this program because of its emphasis on graduate school preparedness. Their REU is designed to be a training experience for one pursuing a graduate degree, which I intend to do after graduation. This is done through their several workshops and trainings covering a wide variety of useful topics including ethical research conduct and scientific writing and presentations.

Talk about your research group and mentor.

I am working with Dr. Jonathan Brantleys group, an organic chemistry research group which also covers a great range of polymer and inorganic chemistry, so I am learning skills in new areas of chemistry and strengthening those in my familiar areas.

I am working under the mentorship of Alan Fried, one of the graduate students in the Brantley research group. He has trained me on the countless new technique instruments I am using and seamlessly guided me through my transition into this group. He and fellow graduate students Nick Galan and Brenna Wilson are passionate and talented research scientists I am grateful to learn from.

Describe the research youve already completed at the Mount.

I have been a member of Dr. Isaac Mills research group since January 2020 where I have worked on synthesizing pyrylium salt dyes for application in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). I plan on expanding into this research for my senior research project with the synthesis of bipyrylium salts and the effect of their structure on the tenability of the photophysical properties of pyryliums.

Fellow peer collaborators on the pyrylium project include Casey Spiridopoulos and recent graduates and Mount fellows Kerri Czekner, C21, and Nicholas Starvaggi, C21. Other members of our research group are NSF-REU fellowship recipient Jared Hampton, C22, and another recent graduate Bradley Owen, C21.
Education and tech shares drag Hang Seng south

The Hang Seng Index closed down 1.5 percent, and 2.4 percent for the week. Image: Shutterstock

Local stocks headed south on Friday as investors struggled to maintain the previous days rally, with education and tech shares suffering the biggest losses.



The Hang Seng Index had opened the day 17 points higher, after Wall Street edged higher overnight as traders were buoyed by healthy earnings results.



But the local benchmark was unable to hold on to those early gains, dipping 500 points before closing the day down 401 points, or 1.5 percent, at 27,321.



Market turnover was HK$139.6 billion.



For the week, local stocks were down 2.4 percent.



Education stocks took a hit amid rumours that mainland authorities will tighten control over such organisations.



New Oriental, which plunged by 40 percent, triggered the five-minute cooling-off period six times due to price volatility. Koolearn Tech and Scholar Education each plummeted for over 28 percent.



Tech plays also took a beating, with Kuaishou losing around 11 percent.



The worst blue-chip performer was Haidilao Hotpot which shed 5 percent.



Shijiazhuang Pharma Group, meanwhile, bucked the trend and gained 2 percent.



Elsewhere, the Shanghai Composite Index fell 0.7 percent, while the Shenzhen Composite slipped 1.4 percent.



Taiwan stocks were up marginally.



Tokyo gained 0.6 percent, Seoul and Sydney edged higher, while Singapore was down marginally.
Assistant Professor of Sociology and Critical Race and Ethnic Studies Camilla Hawthorne coedited a first-of-its-kind new book called The Black Mediterranean, which examines the African diaspora within the region. Hawthorne and her coeditors are members of the Black Mediterranean Collective, an international coalition of scholars and thought-leaders across Italy, Portugal, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Australia, and the United States.

The group initially formed in around 2016 to shed light on a refugee crisis in Europe. War and political and economic instability across the Middle East, North Africa, and sub-Saharan Africa were driving people to make their way to Europe across the central Mediterranean Sea in one of the largest mass movements in recent history.

The central Mediterranean passage is one of the worlds deadliest migration routes. In a single year, thousands of people can lose their lives at sea. Still, the migration process continues to this day, and political opposition has grown within countries like Italy. The members of the Black Mediterranean Collective saw a critical need to situate the refugee crisis and anti-immigrant sentiment within the context of colonial histories and enduring anti-Black racism. Thats part of what The Black Mediterranean sets out to do.

We were all kind of taken aback by the fact that most of the mainstream media coverage was depicting this as a general humanitarian crisis, and no one was focused on the fact that large numbers of these refugees who were coming into Italy were Black, Hawthorne said. You cant really tell the whole story without talking about anti-Blackness and the way that racism and legacies and reverberations of colonialism are caught up with border regimes.

As a human geographer and citizen of both the United States and Italy, Hawthorne had long been interested in the unique geographies of the Black Mediterranean and how they shape current social and political issues in the region.

When we talk about the Black diaspora in Italy, we're talking about people who are descendants of colonial subjects on the African continent who have undergone traumatic experiences of migration, or their parents or family members have, she said. And they now face restrictive citizenship regimes, as well as the anti-Black racism of the Italian state, and all of those things are connected to each other.

Hawthorne wrote a chapter for The Black Mediterranean that focuses specifically on the racial politics of who and what can be considered Italian. She explores the example of an urban greenery project in Milan that planted banana and palm trees. Members of the far right in Italy quickly decried this as an Africanization of an iconic space, and protests loaded with anti-immigrant sentiment ensued. At counter-protests, demonstrators held up economically important plants brought to Italy from other parts of the world as symbols of support for immigrants. Both efforts revealed deeply problematic thinking about pathways to belonging.

The counter-protests actually perpetuated this idea that the only way that Blackness can become assimilable in Italy is by having some kind of economic value to enhance the nation, Hawthorne said. So whether it's the left or the right, there's still a dehumanization of Blackness that's happening within the normative logics around citizenship.

Hawthorne hopes the perspectives captured in The Black Mediterranean can help advocate for major changes in discourse and policies related to the refugee crisisand racial justice more broadlywithin the region and beyond. In particular, she hopes Americans will recognize the many parallels between the ways in which issues of immigration, racial justice, and colonialism are interconnected in the Mediterranean and also in the United States.

I'm convinced that the Black Mediterranean is not just another part of the world that we can study to see how different it is, but instead, as Americans, we can learn a lot from the way that political struggles are unfolding in the Mediterranean region, she said.
Colorado plague

Clement/Arterra/Universal Images Group via Getty

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment is urging the community to be cautious after a 10-year-old girl died in La Plata, Colorado from the plague  the state's first death from the disease in six years.

State health officials confirmed the death was caused by the plague in a release. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, plague is a disease caused by the bacterium, Yersinia pestis, which can infect humans and other mammals through flea bites. Animals such as prairie dogs, squirrels, chipmunks and other rodents often carry the disease.

"We are so sad for the loss of this young Coloradan and our deepest condolences go to the family," said Jennifer House, deputy state epidemiologist and public health veterinarian of CDPHE, in a statement. "Public health is doing an epidemiological investigation and wants Coloradans to know that while this disease is very rare, it does occur sometimes, and to seek medical care if you have symptoms."

RELATED: Squirrel in Colorado Tests Positive for the Bubonic Plague

The CDC reports that the disease, known for killing millions in Europe in the Middle Ages, can be treated today with antibiotics. Cases are often seen in rural areas in the western United States.

"In Colorado, we expect to have fleas test positive for plague during the summer months. Awareness and precautions can help prevent the disease in people," House added.

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.

San Juan Basin Public Health Director Liane Jollon said the agency is working with the state to ensure there is no larger threat to local residents.

"On behalf of all of us at SJBPH, our hearts go out to the family while we support the state's thorough investigation to keep residents safe," Jollon said in a statement.
Afghan Air Force pilots have run out of laser-guided weaponry due to the sudden loss of support from the United States and NATO after President Joe Biden decided to exit Afghanistan, according to a senior Afghan lawmaker.

They're completely out of stock for the laser munitions, Afghan member of parliament Haji Ajmal Rahmani told the State Department Correspondents' Association in a virtual briefing from Kabul. It's not low  it's actually out of stock.

The logistical difficulty arose as Taliban forces surged across the country in the wake of departing NATO forces, an offensive Afghanistans modest air force has tried to blunt as the number of U.S. strikes has dwindled. Rahmani and his colleagues are appealing Congress for additional support, warning Bidens hasty withdrawal emboldened the Taliban and undermined the embattled Afghan militarys ability to repel the militants.

It was a hasty withdrawal, Rahmani said, explaining Afghan forces were left with the munitions at a time when NATO forces were expected to continue carrying out most of the airstrikes in the country. "When they have made a request [for more munitions], the feedback was, it will take some more time because they have to make the orders and it will take time to produce and ship to Afghanistan, and they are talking up around one year, more or less, till it will reach Afghanistan.

BIDEN AFGHANISTAN ASSESSMENT RINGS HOLLOW TO ALLIES AMID TALIBAN SURGE

That shortage deprives the Afghan military of an arsenal that had a crippling psychological effect on the Taliban, according to the Pentagon.

The bombs are built by Afghan ammunitions specialists and loaded onto Afghan planes by Afghan maintainers, said U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Justin Williams in 2018. This is one example of how the Afghan Air Force is assuming ownership across the board.

Three years later, Afghan pilots are reduced to using less sophisticated bombs to stem a rising tide of Taliban forces.

Story continues

[The planes] have different munitions, and [they are] trying to somehow manage the situation with the different munitions, but this one is much more [effective], Rahmani said. It definitely is somehow impacting the missions and operations, but ... they are having different munitions and trying to manage the situation with that, but it's critical, and it's very important and very important for making sure we don't have civilian casualties.

Biden touted the Afghan Air Force as one of the key bulwarks against a Taliban takeover of the country when he offered a public defense of the U.S. withdrawal.

We provided advanced weaponry, Biden said earlier this month. "And were going to continue to provide funding and equipment. And well ensure they have the capacity to maintain their air force.

Defense Department officials announced a new flurry of airstrikes in support of the Afghan military.

There were enemy forces, enemy personnel targeted, a defense official told the U.S.-backed Voice of America, as well as captured military equipment that the Taliban [were] able to seize from the [Afghan National Defense and Security Forces].

That revelation coincided with a gathering of U.S. and European diplomats in Rome, who released a joint statement calling for a ceasefire and peace talks.

We do not support any government in Afghanistan imposed through military force, the U.S.-Europe communique released Friday. "We intend to maintain our support for Afghan institutions, including defense and security forces, to address the countrys urgent needs.

A sluggish supply chain is just one of the problems threatening to jeopardize the strikes most useful for holding the Taliban in check, as the U.S. contractors who have maintained the warplanes are set to depart the country within months with no clarity about where the Afghan Air Force can find mechanics to work on the aircraft after September, according to the lawmakers.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

As a summary, we need more support for the [air force], in terms of laser-guided munitions, with maintenance, Rahmani said. Almost one-third of the planes are grounded due to maintenance, and especially after September, we are not sure and fear what will happen.

Washington Examiner Videos

Tags: News, Foreign Policy, National Security, War in Afghanistan, Taliban, Air Force

Original Author: Joel Gehrke

Original Location: Afghan Air Force runs out of smart bombs following Biden's 'hasty withdrawal,' lawmaker says
Afghan lawmakers on Friday voiced alarm that their air force was depleted in the face of a Taliban offensive, as they asked the United States to finalize assistance ahead of a troop withdrawal.

In virtual talks this week with the US Congress, an Afghan delegation said it appealed for quick action on aircraft maintenance and munitions supplies as President Joe Biden prepares to end America's longest-ever war by the end of next month.

Biden raised the issue during a phone conversation with his Afghan counterpart Ashraf Ghani on Friday, the White House said in a statement.

The US president affirmed his country's continued military support of Kabul, with spending for Afghanistan prioritized in the 2022 defense budget, currently under negotiation in Congress.

"The security situation is really getting terrible," said senior Afghan MP Haji Ajmal Rahmani, referring to a Taliban offensive during the virtual talks.

Rahmani said one-third of the 150-strong fleet was already grounded due to maintenance issues.

He said the Afghans had also run out of laser-guided munitions, as the United States and NATO allies had handled 80 to 90 percent of the armaments and did not leave a supply during hasty pullouts of air assets.

Laser-guided munitions are critical to pinpointing targets and minimizing civilian casualties, he said.

"The feedback was that it will take some more time because they have to make the orders and it will take time to produce and ship to Afghanistan," he told a roundtable of the State Department Correspondents' Association.

"They are talking of around one year, more or less, until it will reach Afghanistan. This is something very much needed at this critical time."

Mir Haider Afzaly, chairman of the parliamentary defense committee, said planes were grounded due to a lack of spare parts, Covid-19 concerns that kept away US technicians and the aging of the fleet.

He said the air force was conducting 70 to 80 flights a day, "not just targeting the Taliban and terrorists but playing a vital role" in supplying areas cut off by land after insurgents gain ground.

Story continues

The United States has not yet delivered promised Black Hawk helicopters that could help upgrade the air force, Afzaly added.

- Airpower support -

A statement from the White House said the 2022 defense request to Congress included $3.3 billion in military aid for Afghanistan.

Of this, $1 billion is intended for supporting Afghanistan's air force and other missions, and included three newly refurbished Blackhawk helicopters that the White House said have already been delivered to Kabul.

Another $1 billion is intended for the purchase and delivery of key supplies, such as fuel, ammunition and spare parts, while $700 million will go towards Afghan soldiers' salaries.

Washington has invested more than $8 billion in developing Afghanistan's air force, which was virtually non-existent when the 2001 invasion toppled the Taliban after the September 11 attacks.

The Pentagon confirmed Thursday the United States in recent days has again used airpower to support Afghan forces against the Taliban, amid fears the insurgents will make rapid gains or even take over after US troops leave.

Biden argues the United States can accomplish nothing further militarily after two decades and long ago achieved its goal of eliminating the threat in Afghanistan of Al Qaeda extremists.

sct/bfm/sw
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) -South Africa's state-owned firm Transnet said on Friday it had identified and isolated the source of disruption to its IT systems that impacted its container terminals.

The freight logistics firm was hit by a suspected cyber attack, three sources with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters on Thursday.

Transnet, which operates major ports and a huge railway network, said it was prioritising the export of reefer containers, used mainly to transport perishable cargo at a controlled temperature, primarily through the port of Durban as this was the peak of the citrus season.

Miner Barrick Gold said on Friday that it did not ship through Durban and that it was unaffected.

(Reporting by Tanisha Heiberg; additional reporting by Jeff Lewis in TorontoEditing by Promit Mukherjee and Rosalba O'Brien)
Jul. 22An Albert Lea man was sentenced to 11 years in federal prison Friday for his role in a methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy with another man from Worthington.

Ojulu Omot

Ojulu Omot, also known as "Al," 27, of Albert Lea and Quentin L. Guyton, 33, of Worthington were convicted of conspiracy to distribute 500 or more grams of meth.

In addition to the prison term, Omot will serve five years of supervised release as part of his sentence from U.S. District Court Judge Lawrence L. Piersol.

Guyton was sentenced to 10 years in prison and five years of supervised release on Jan. 5.

According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, the convictions stemmed from incidents beginning on an unknown date until about Feb. 4, 2020, in South Dakota, when Guyton and Omot "knowingly and intentionally combined, conspired, confederated, and agreed together with each other, and others known and unknown, to intentionally distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine."

During the course of the conspiracy, Guyton supplied Omot for the purpose of reselling in South Dakota and elsewhere.

The case was investigated by the Sioux Falls Police Department; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; and the Buffalo Ridge Drug Task Force in southwestern Minnesota. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer D. Mammenga prosecuted the case.

Guyton and Omot were immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service following their respective sentencings.
The long and winding divorce of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt was thrown into further delay Friday after a California appeals court handed Jolie a major victory by disqualifying the private judge the couple used to handle the split and their contentious custody dispute.

The 2nd District Court of Appeal agreed with Jolie that Judge John Ouderkirk didn't sufficiently disclose in a timely manner business relationships with Pitt's attorneys, thus raising potential questions about his impartiality.

Judge Ouderkirks ethical breach, considered together with the information disclosed concerning his recent professional relationships with Pitts counsel, might cause an objective person, aware of all the facts, reasonably to entertain a doubt as to the judges ability to be impartial. Disqualification is required, the court ruled.

The decision means that the custody fight over the couple's five minor children, which was nearing an end, could be starting over with a new judge. The couple have six children but the eldest, Maddox, is 19.

Their other children are Pax, 17, Zahara, 16, Shiloh, 15, and twins Vivienne and Knox, 12.

How we got here: Jolie and Pitt's lawyers face off over her bid to dump their private judge in divorce case

Friday's decision means that the custody fight over Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie's five minor children, which was nearing an end, could be starting over.

What happens to custody in the Angelina Jolie/Brad Pitt divorce?

The judge already ruled the pair divorced, but separated the child custody issues. The Friday ruling can be appealed to the state Supreme Court but Pitt would have to be granted permission, which isn't guaranteed.

Pitt's lawyer, Ted Boutrous, said Friday the attempt at disqualification was a stalling tactic by Jolie to keep Ouderkirk's recent tentative custody decision, which is favorable to Pitt, from going into effect.

USA TODAY reached out to Jolie's lawyer, Robert Olson, for comment but did not get an immediate response.

What happens next likely depends on Pitt, according to San Francisco Bay Area divorce lawyer Brent Kaspar. The two sides either have to agree on a new private judge to hear the custody matter or Pitt's lawyers will have to take his case to a public judge in family court.

Story continues

"They pick another private judge and they go back to square one  it's a reset back to what custody was prior to (Ouderkirk's) order," Kaspar told USA TODAY. If Jolie declines to agree to a new judge, "Pitt's recourse is to go to a family law court judge and file a motion to modify custody."

Either way, a final resolution is further delayed, thus possibly allowing at least some of the older kids to age out.

Even with a new judge, public or private, it's not a done deal that Jolie will prevail in her quest to block joint custody, says Los Angeles family law attorney Christopher Melcher.

"There's no guarantee she'll get a different outcome from a new judge," Melcher told USA TODAY, adding that Jolie would have to offer specific evidence that joint custody would not be in the best interests of the kids, which is the standard in custody cases. "So far we have not heard of anything negative about Pitt's parenting in the last five years."

More: Angelina Jolie is covered in bees and calls it 'lovely': See the photo

Why did they hire a private judge?

Like many celebrity couples, Pitt and Jolie opted to hire their own judge to increase their privacy in the divorce proceedings, which began more than four years ago. Ouderkirk was the judge both picked to marry them in 2014.

Ouderkirk declined to disqualify himself when Jolie asked him to in a filing in August. A lower court judge ruled that Jolies request for disqualification came too late. Jolies attorneys then appealed.

The July 9 oral arguments in front of the appeals court focused on whether Ouderkirk had followed ethical rules strictly enough by revealing new business dealings in a timely manner. Private judges in California are usually retired superior court judges who often have professional links to lawyers in the county.

Pitt's lawyer, Boutrous, insisted that Jolie's objection to the judge amounted to "game-playing." He described Jolie as "a sophisticated person with sophisticated lawyers," who had known all along about matters requiring disclosure by Ouderkirk but did not raise objections until she began losing in his court.

If youre going to play the role of a paid private judge you have to play by the rules and the rules are very clear, they require full transparency, Jolie's attorney Olson said at the hearing. Matters that should have been disclosed were not disclosed...If rules have no consequences they are empty."

The panel questioned whether such private judges should be allowed in California at all, but their ruling applies only to Ouderkirk.

The perception of bias (in the courts) is the real concern here," Kaspar said. "The judicial system doesnt work if the public doesnt trust the fact-finders, and this applies to both public and private judges. The appellate court wants to protect the publics view of all judges by ensuring they are making these crucial disclosures.

More: Angelina Jolie criticizes judge's decision to not let children testify in Brad Pitt custody battle

'The facts haven't changed,' says rep for Brad Pitt

A representative for Pitt issued a statement to USA TODAY saying the ruling was based on a procedural issue but the facts of the case have not changed.

"There is an extraordinary amount of factual evidence which led the judge and the many experts who testified to reach their clear conclusion about what is in the childrens best interests," the statement read. "We will continue to do whats necessary legally based on the detailed findings of whats best for the children.

USA TODAY also reached out to a representative for Jolie.

Jolie, 46, and Pitt, 57, were among Hollywoods most prominent couples for 12 years. They had been married for two years when Jolie filed for divorce in 2016.

Ouderkirk declared them divorced in April 2019, after their lawyers asked for a judgment that allowed a married couple to be declared single while other issues remained, including finances and child custody.

In May, Jolie and her attorneys criticized Ouderkirk for not allowing the couple's children to testify in the custody proceedings.

The actress also said the judge has failed to adequately consider a section of the California courts code, which says it is detrimental to the best interest of the child if custody is awarded to a person with a history of domestic violence.

Her filing did not give details about what it was referring to, but her lawyers submitted a document under seal in March that purportedly offers additional information.

In November 2016, after an anonymous complaint was filed with the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services, the agency decided that Pitt did not commit child abuse during a family dispute on a private plane as they traveled back from France to the U.S. in September.

The ruling does not address whether the children should be allowed to testify in the custody case in the future.

More: Watch the first trailer for Chloe Zhao's 'Eternals' with Angelina Jolie, Kumail Nanjiani, Gemma Chan, more

Contributing: The Associated Press

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt judge disqualified: Where does custody stand?
Hollywood stars Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie separated in 2016

Angelina Jolie has clinched a victory in her legal battle with Brad Pitt after a judge they hired was disqualified from their divorce case.

The actors have been locked in court fight for custody of their children since Jolie filed for divorce in 2016.

A private judge, John Ouderkirk, made a ruling that granted Pitt joint custody in May this year.

But on Friday, a California court agreed with Jolie's appeal to remove the judge from the case.

In its ruling, the appeals court said Judge Ouderkirk did not disclose his business relationships with Pitt's lawyers.

This was an "ethical breach" that may cast doubt on "the judge's ability to be impartial", the court said.

The ruling means the legal battle over the couple's five minor children may have to be restarted before a new judge.

Private judges are often hired in the US to mediate disputes between divorcing celebrities for privacy reasons.

A spokesperson for Pitt said the ruling was based on a technical issue.

The "factual evidence" that led Judge Ouderkirk to make his custody ruling in May had not changed, the spokesperson said.

Jolie's representatives are yet to comment on Friday's ruling. But following May's custody ruling, a source told AFP news agency that Jolie believed that she and the children had been "denied a fair trial".

Jolie has criticised Judge Ouderkirk's decision not to allow their children to testify in custody hearings.

The custody dispute concerns the five youngest children of the pair; Pax, 17, Zahara, 16, Shiloh, 15 and 13-year-old twins Vivienne and Knox.

The oldest, 19-year-old Maddox, is not subject to the custody decision.

A custody settlement Jolie and Pitt announced in 2018 appears to have fallen apart.

Affectionately known as "Brangelina" by fans, the Hollywood stars met on the set of action film Mr and Mrs Smith in 2004. They were together for 10 years before they wed in 2014.

Story continues

But the pair separated in September 2016 after two years of marriage, with Jolie citing "irreconcilable differences".

Pitt was investigated for possible child abuse shortly before Jolie filed for divorce, but was later cleared of the allegations. The pair were declared legally single in 2019.

The marriage was Jolie's third, after actors Billy Bob Thornton and Jonny Lee Miller, while Pitt had wed once before to Friends star Jennifer Aniston.

You may also be interested in:

Click here to see the BBC interactive
Jul. 23AUSTIN  Two Austin residents were honored as an "Outstanding Refugee" from the Minnesota Department of Human Services at a ceremony Monday in St. Paul.

Austin resident Maylary Apolo and Austin City Council member Oballa Oballa received the honors for the work they do as community leaders in Austin.

Oballa, who was named an Outstanding Refugee in 2020, was elected president of the Riverland College student senate and later appointed to the Austin Human Rights Council before being elected to the city council in November. He also has worked to help eliminate food insecurity in Austin.

Apolo, who was named an Outstanding Refugee for 2021, works as a legal assistant at the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota.

Winona County asks for input on COVID relief funding

WINONA  With $9.8 million in funding coming to Winona County through the American Rescue Plan Act, Winona County is asking residents how they think that money should be spent.

The funds can be used to support economic stabilization for individuals, businesses and organizations affected by the public health emergency, along with addressing public health and economic disparities. Other acceptable uses include supporting water, sewer and broadband infrastructure, and a portion of the funding will cover government revenue lost because of the pandemic. Funds cannot be used to reduce the county's regular tax revenue.

Engage Winona has developed a Winona County Community Needs Survey in which individuals, businesses and organizations can give their input through Aug. 11. Those who complete the survey at surveymonkey.com/r/winonacommunityneeds will be entered into a drawing to win a $100 gift card to a local business.

The survey will help county staff and board members understand the needs that have arisen in Winona County because of the pandemic.

For more information or to request the survey in another format, visit engagewinona.org/portfolio/your-input-on-winona-countys-pandemic-recovery.

Story continues

Winona Farmers Market to feature bug, water lesson

WINONA  The Winona Farmers Market will feature a learning station with mayflies, scuds and worms beginning at 7:30 a.m. July 31.

Members of the Will Dilg chapter of the Izaak Walton League of America will have these and other indicators of the state of our streams on display until noon. The exhibit will show the partnership between good food and good water.

Hand-held lenses will help shoppers look closely at species of macro invertebrates that illustrate a spectrum of water quality found in regional streams. Volunteers from Save Our Streams  visit them at www.iwla.org/water/stream-monitoring  teams will join chapter members to help visitors learn how to use a secchi tube, why water temperature is important, and what tomatoes and trout have in common.

The market is next to the Mississippi River at Levee Park, at Main and Second streets, Winona.
An Arlington firefighters family believes he was kidnapped and killed at a Mexican resort while he was with his wife celebrating their 10-year anniversary, according to news reports.

KTVT-TV first reported Thursday that Elijah Snow was found dead Monday morning after the couples first night on vacation at a resort in Cancun.

His wife, Jamie Snow, went searching for him Monday morning when he didnt return to their room, and she was told by someone that he had been found dead and had possibly fallen over a wall between resorts, the TV station reported.

Family members did not believe that explanation, and hired a local attorney who obtained crime scene photos, according to KTVT-TV.

Randy Elledge, Snows father-in-law, told the TV station that it appeared that Elijah Snow was beaten and possibly suffocated.

The Arlington Fire Department is devastated by the loss of Apparatus Operator Elijah Snow, said Arlington Fire Chief Don Crowson in a Thursday email to the Star-Telegram. He was an outstanding firefighter as well as a dedicated public servant.

Snow had been an Arlington firefighter for eight years, according to the department.

Snows death occurred at a beachfront hotel thats popular with tourists.

KTVT-TV reported that the couple had a few drinks at the hotel bar and decided to head back to their room, but Elijah Snow stopped and went back to the bar while his wife went to their room and fell asleep.

Jamie Snow woke up at 4 a.m., only to find her husband never returned, KXAS-TV reported. A few hours later, she was told he was dead.

Snow was the son of Arlington firefighter Ronnie Snow, who died in 1985 during a training accident, according to Arlington fire officials.

He was our hero. The best dad and husband imaginable and my absolute best friend, Jamie Snow posted on her fathers Facebook page on Wednesday. There wasnt anything he couldnt do.

To help the Snow family, donations can be made to the Arlington Charitable Fund.

During this time of mourning many have asked about making donations to Elijah Snows family, according to a post on the Arlington Professional Fire Fighters Facebook page. Donations can be made to the Arlington Charitable Fund and if you can place a note that it is for Elijahs Family, the APFF will make sure that the family receives it. If for some reason you can not leave a note, message us and inform us of your donation. Please join us in continuous prayers for the family.
It found that the number of total public chargepoints per head in Yorkshire and the Humber was a quarter of those in the capital. Photo: John Walton/PA via Getty

The UK competition watchdog has said that access to electric vehicle charging stations can be a postcode lottery, with the number of public chargepoints significantly differing across the country.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) revealed on Friday that it is clamping down on a national network of EV chargepoints, ensuring that the system works well now and in the future.

It found that the number of total public chargepoints per head in Yorkshire and the Humber was a quarter of those in the capital.

The CMA added that further action was needed ahead of the 2030 ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars, and if the UK was to meet its net-zero target by 2050.

In response to this, it has now launched competition enforcement action into long-term exclusive arrangement at motorway service stations.

Watch: Tesla to open charging network to other EVs

While some parts of this new sector are developing relatively well  including charging at locations like shopping centres, workplaces and people's private parking (garages and driveways)  the CMA has found that other parts are facing problems which will hinder roll-out, it said.

It raised concern about the choice and availability of chargepoints at motorway service stations, where competition is limited, as well as the roll-out of on-street charging by local authorities being too slow.

The organisation is now looking into arrangements lasting 10 to 15 years between Electric Highway and operators MOTO, Roadchef and Extra. Electric Highway makes up 80% of all points at motorway service stations in Britain, excluding Tesla (TSLA) charge-points.

The CMA said: Rural areas risk being left behind with too few chargepoints due to lack of investment.

Read more: The electric vehicle Gold Rush: A look at EV startups going public

The UK currently has around 25,000 chargepoints and forecasts suggest more than ten times this amount will be needed by 2030. According to recent research, drivers have admitted that charging can sometimes be difficult and frustrating, which may stop them switching to EVs altogether.

Story continues

Some areas of the roll-out are going well and the UK's network is growing - but it's clear that other parts, like charging at motorway service stations and on-street, have much bigger hurdles to overcome, said Andrea Coscelli, chief executive of the CMA.

There needs to be action now to address the postcode lottery in electric vehicle charging as we approach the ban on sales of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030.

"Our recommendations will promote strong competition, encourage more investment, and build people's trust, both now and in the future.

The CMA has revealed four recommendations as part of its market study on EV charging including that the UK government sets out an ambitious National Strategy for rolling out EV charging between now and 2030, and that governments support local authorities to boost roll-out of on-street charging.

It has also urged the government to attach conditions to its 950m ($1.3bn) Rapid Charging Fund, and that it creates an EV charging sector that people can trust and have confidence in.

Watch: Key questions answered on petrol and diesel ban
(Reuters) - The Bank of Canada will allow most of its staff to clock in up to half their hours remotely once public health guidelines allow it to fully reopen offices, a spokesperson for the central bank said on Friday.

The bank expects to bring back many employees to offices after the summer, but it does not see conditions returning to normal until 2022, a Bloomberg News report said. https://bloom.bg/3zrE0TH

Only a limited number of its employees are currently working from their Ottawa offices, according to the report.

The news comes a week after Royal Bank of Canada, the country's largest lender, said it was exploring a flexible and hybrid work arrangement to bring its employees back to the office.

COVID-19 infections in Canada have reduced significantly in recent months and provinces are reopening for business after pandemic-induced lockdowns forced them shut.

More than 62% of the country's population has been vaccinated against COVID-19, according to a Reuters tally, assuming every person needs at least two doses.

Major banks in the United States have also revealed plans of adopting different methods to bring employees back to the office.

(Reporting by Sohini Podder in Bengaluru; Editing by Devika Syamnath)
A man receives a COVID-19 vaccine dose at a vaccination site in the Mission district of San Francisco in February. Bay Area health officials are urging employers to require their workers to get vaccinated. (Haven Daley / Associated Press)

As COVID-19 case rates mount, Bay Area health officials are now asking private employers to take a larger role in countering the spread of the Delta variant by recommending that they begin requiring employees to be vaccinated.

Health officials in Contra Costa, Santa Clara and San Francisco counties at a Thursday briefing implored workplaces to get more involved. Public officials have not made such explicit recommendations before, but said the current outbreak requires aggressive action to boost vaccination rates.

"Unvaccinated workers pose a risk not only to themselves but also to their co-workers and the members of the public they interact with, said Contra Costa County Health Officer Dr. Chris Farnitano. Employers have an obligation to provide safe workplaces for their employees, and employees are also interested in ... working in a place that is safe and is not putting their health at risk.

Vaccines have been available for over seven months, but the rate of vaccinations has stalled, just as the transmissible Delta variant has become the dominant strain of the coronavirus in the country. The nearly 62% of Californians who are vaccinated is not enough, officials say.

Other Bay Area government entities are tightening their COVID-19 requirements, too  Santa Clara County officials said they intended to soon require vaccines among county employees. Starting Monday in San Mateo County, everyone entering county facilities must wear masks, regardless of vaccination status.

The increasing case numbers are a harsh reminder that we are not done with COVID and COVID is not done with us, San Mateo County Manager Mike Callagy said in a statement. Lets all continue to do our part by getting vaccinated and taking common-sense precautions so we can keep all of us safe.

COVID cases are rising predominantly among unvaccinated individuals . While breakthrough infections among vaccinated people do occur, they represent a tiny percentage of overall cases. Studies have shown that most of the vaccinated people who do contract COVID don't have symptoms severe enough to require hospitalization.

Story continues

Still, the new spread of COVID among unvaccinated individuals and soaring case numbers have prompted new stipulations for masking indoors and vaccine requirements across California.

Just a week ago Los Angeles County revived a law requiring masks indoors. Last month, San Francisco announced it would require all of its 35,000 municipal workers to get vaccinated, once one of the three shots available in the U.S.  Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna or Johnson & Johnson  receives full federal approval. Each vaccine is currently being offered through the Food and Drug Administrations emergency use authorization.

The University of California system also announced last week that it would require vaccines for all students, faculty and others for the fall term, and Pasadena soon followed suit for its city employees.

Mandating vaccines would be relatively new legal territory for private businesses. Kevin Troutman, a Houston-based attorney who leads the vaccine workgroup at the national employment law firm Fisher Phillips, told the San Diego Union-Tribune in April that the primary industries to require vaccinations are agriculture and food production, construction and healthcare.

But other industries have stepped up their requirements, too. Last month, Morgan Stanley announced it would prohibit unvaccinated people  including any of its thousands of employees  from visiting the bank's New York offices. Also last month, a federal judge dismissed a lawsuit from several employees at a Houston hospital who sued over a mandatory vaccination policy.

Some have questioned the legality of employers requiring vaccines. Defenders point to a 1905 Supreme Court case, Jacobson vs. Massachusetts, in which the court decided a state law requiring vaccines against smallpox was constitutional. With their recommendation, Bay Area health officials sought to assure business leaders that they are on solid legal footing.

What we really want to do is empower businesses with this recommendation and say that public health is fully behind these type of requirements, San Francisco deputy director of health Naveena Bobba said. Our businesses have suffered a lot over the last year and a half. And I do think that they are looking at how they can really make sure their businesses stay up and open, and that includes employee safety.

Employers have a financial incentive for mandating the vaccine, said Farnitano, the Contra Costa health officer  the fewer employees who get COVID, the less time they're away from work, quarantining.

If companies choose to require vaccines, Farnitano said, limited legal exceptions may be available for workers with certain medical or religious exemptions. He also said employers should collect documented proof of vaccinations, and strongly recommended they require medical-grade masks for unvaccinated people.

We know COVID is not going away, Farnitano said. The choice now is either to get the vaccine or to get COVID and employers can play a big role in helping create COVID safe workplaces by promoting vaccination among their workforce.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Looking for more of the best deals, sales and product recommendations? Sign up for Yahoo Lifestyle Canadas newsletter!

Check back daily to see the latest Back To School deal from Best Buy.

Yahoo Lifestyle Canada is committed to finding you the best products at the best prices. We may receive a share from purchases made via links on this page. Pricing and availability are subject to change.

It may still be the middle of summer  but back. to school season is arriving sooner than you think. And regardless of what back to school will look like this year in your part of the country, it's safe to say that the earlier you stock up on school supplies, the better.

Luckily, Best Buy just launched a new daily deal on back to school must haves. Every day you can score a new deal on must-have electronics and more  but each deal only lasts 24 hours  so if you're looking to snap it up, you need to act fast! Miss a deal? Check back here every day to see the latest offering.

Today's daily deal is perfect for anyone looking to upgrade their wifi setup ahead of the new school year. Right now, you can save $200 on the NETGEAR Orbi 8-Stream Tri-Band AX4200 Whole Home Mesh WiFi 6 System, but only until midnight PST (3 a.m. EST).

NETGEAR Orbi 8-Stream Tri-Band AX4200 Whole Home Mesh WiFi 6 System (RBK753S-100CNS) - 3 Pack

This wifi system comes with a router and two satellites to deliver eight streams of wifi technology for with speeds of up to 4.2Gbps. The device ensures smooth, lag-free streaming of games and 4K/8K UHD videos  plus pristine connection for all your school Zooms and work.

SHOP IT: Best Buy, $400 (originally $600)

Looking for more back to school must haves? Check out our picks below.

Jasmine Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar (S35) - Natural

With a fine details and bold acoustic tones, this guitar delivers amazing sound, no matter your style of music.

SHOP IT: Best Buy, $160

Lenovo Smart Tab M8 8" 32GB Android 9 Tablet with MediaTek Helio A22 4-Core Processor - Iron Grey

Stream videos, play games and more with this Lenovo Smart Tab M8 tablet.

SHOP IT: Best Buy, $180

Story continues

HP Stream 14" Laptop - Intel Celeron N4000, 64GB eMMC Storage, 4GB RAM, Windows 10 - Royal Blue

This lightweight portable notebook, contains 14" diagonal screen, Intel processor 4GB RAM and 64GB eMMC storage.

SHOP IT: Best Buy, $500

Skullcandy Sesh Evo In-Ear Sound Isolating Truly Wireless Headphones - True Black

These affordable in-ear, sound-isolating headphones will power you through commutes, study sessions and workouts. They're ruggedly designed to resist water, dust, and sweat so you can wear them nearly anywhere.

SHOP IT: Best Buy, $80

Let us know what you think by commenting below and tweeting @YahooStyleCA! Follow us on Twitter and Instagram and sign up for our newsletter.
After a promising start to the year, the White House has hit a wall on COVID-19 vaccinations and is looking for culprits to blame for why many remain hesitant to get their shots.

One early target was Facebook and other social media platforms, where information  and misinformation  spread quickly. "They're killing people ... look, the only pandemic we have is among the unvaccinated," Biden told reporters as he departed the White House for a trip to Camp David. "And they're killing people."

The comments triggered a flurry of speculation about new government regulations to slow the sharing of anti-vaccine sentiment on social media. Facebook responded that when it came to vaccination failures, Biden should look in the mirror. "President Biden's goal was for 70% of Americans to be vaccinated by July 4. Facebook is not the reason this goal was missed," a vice president at the company protested in a statement.

Biden quickly moved to clarify his Facebook stance, even as the White Houses position on social media regulation related to COVID-19 remained unclear.

"Facebook isn't killing people  these 12 people are out there giving misinformation. Anyone listening to it is getting hurt by it. It's killing people. It's bad information," Biden said, in an apparent reference to a dozen accounts that have ostensibly been spreading the most misinformation. "My hope is that Facebook, instead of taking it personally, that somehow I'm saying Facebook is killing people, that they would do something about the misinformation, the outrageous misinformation about the vaccine. That's what I meant.

Next up was Fox News, where some popular hosts have made skeptical claims about the safety of the vaccines and the use of government power to mandate them. As was the case with Facebook, there were reports of tense meetings between the White House and the cable news network.

Story continues

After Fox ran some segments encouraging people to get vaccinated, Biden began to mock the organization at a CNN town hall in Ohio. But if you noticed, as they say in that southern part of my state, They've had an altar call,' some of those guys, he said as the mostly friendly audience laughed. All of a sudden, they're out there saying, Let's get vaccinated. Let's get vaccinated.

The president then caught himself. I shouldnt make fun, Biden said. Thats good. Its good.

Although 339 million doses have been delivered and more than two-thirds of adults have received at least one shot, just under half of the public is fully vaccinated. The numbers are higher among at-risk age groups, with 81.3% of those age 65 to 74 fully vaccinated and 77.4% of those age 75 and up.

But stubborn pockets of resistance remain, especially in white rural conservative communities that voted for former President Donald Trump and black communities that vote overwhelmingly Democratic. The vaccine has also yet to be approved for children under 12, and fewer than 11% of people under 18 are fully vaccinated.

The first group has received the most attention as the Biden administration has faced scrutiny over the failure to get over the vaccination hump. Some prominent conservative social media influencers have positioned themselves as vaccine skeptics, and even many on the Right who reject that view opposed White House talk of policing these tech platforms for misinformation based partly on the suppression of the Wuhan lab origins theory.

Even with a real anti-vaxxer presence online, some see scapegoating from the administration. It would help if the FDA would give final approval to it, said Republican strategist John Feehery. I do think Biden will face the same issue as Trump. He is not in complete control of the situation. Many of the decision-makers at the local level are completely unqualified to make decisions, and yet they are the ones who are returning to pandemic panic.

The spread of the highly transmissible delta variant, although with a high-profile breakthrough infection of a vaccinated White House aide and a brief scare following Vice President Kamala Harriss exposure to COVID-19 in a meeting with Texas Democrats, has undercut the perception that the pandemic is winding down. The return of mask mandates is under discussion. If numbers continue to spike, it could interrupt the economic reopening that is producing record growth.

Biden has continued to push vaccines over masks. The promise to manage the pandemic better than Trump was a winning issue for him during the campaign, and he has received high marks on the issue as president. A CBS News/YouGov poll gave him a 66% approval rating on his handling of the coronavirus, including 41% among conservatives.

Washington Examiner Videos

Tags: News, White House, Vaccination, Joe Biden, Facebook, Big Tech, Fake News, Coronavirus, Healthcare

Original Author: W. James Antle III

Original Location: Biden's vaccine blame game
Reuters

(Reuters) -Sixteen-year-old Viktoria Listunova won the womens artistic gymnastics all-around title at both the European and Russian Championships earlier this year. However, despite placing sixth overall in the qualifying round on Sunday, the Russian Olympic Committee athlete will not get the chance to try for another all-around crown at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. There is a long list of athletes who over the years have been left out of Olympic finals because of the two-per-country rule, first introduced at the 1976 Montreal Games for apparatus finals.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with the prime minister of Qatar Thursday to discuss regional crises in Afghanistan, Lebanon, and Yemen.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani backed U.S. calls to promote "peace and security" through a strategic partnership.

The Qatari prime minister pledged to support peace talks in Afghanistan as the Taliban gains in strength.

GEN. MILLEY SAYS TALIBAN APPEAR TO HAVE 'STRATEGIC MOMENTUM'

On Wednesday, U.S. General Mark Milley warned that the Taliban has gained a "strategic momentum" following the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.

But instability in Afghanistan is not the only geopolitical problem in the region.

Yemens civil war has persisted since 2014, resulting in the worlds worst humanitarian crisis, with more than 20 million in need of humanitarian assistance, according to the United Nations Refugee Agency.

Qatar pledged $100 million to Yemen through the World Food Program Thursday.

In addition, bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani said the Arab nation would also provide support to Lebanon, which is experiencing severe economic challenges.

The World Bank has called Lebanon's economic decline since 2019 the worlds worst financial crisis in over 150 years, after the countrys currency dropped in value by 95 percent.

The Qatari prime minister told Blinken they would agree to "in-kind assistance" to the Lebanese Armed Forces to help fund the nations dwindling armed services.

State Department spokesperson Ned Price said Blinken "highlighted the importance of our strategic partnership" and the "shared commitment" the U.S. and Qatar have to promote stability in the region.
BEIJING (Reuters) -China said on Friday that it has imposed counter-sanctions on U.S. individuals including former U.S. commerce secretary Wilbur Ross in response to U.S. sanctions on Chinese officials with Beijing's liaison office in Hong Kong.

The sanctions are the first imposed by China under its new anti-foreign sanction law, passed in June, and come days before U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman is due to visit China amid deeply strained ties.

China also imposed unspecified "reciprocal counter-sanctions" on the current or former heads of a range of organisations, including the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission, National Democratic Institute for International Affairs, International Republican Institute, Human Rights Watch, and on the Washington-based Hong Kong Democracy Council.

(Reporting by Tony Munroe; Editing by Kevin Liffey and Peter Graff)
Those targeted include former US Commerce Secretary, Wilbur Ross

China is imposing sanctions on several US individuals and organisations in response to recent US sanctions on Chinese officials in Hong Kong.

Those targeted include former US Commerce Secretary, Wilbur Ross.

The counter-sanctions come days before US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman is due to visit China.

The US sanctions on Chinese officials in Hong Kong were because of their role in the security crackdown in the territory.

Washington also warned its business community of the growing risks of operating in Hong Kong.

China introduced the National Security Law in Hong Kong last year in response to massive pro-democracy protests. It criminalises secession, subversion and collusion with foreign forces and carries a maximum sentence of life in prison.

China's foreign ministry said on Friday that the recent US sanctions were designed to "groundlessly smear Hong Kong's business environment" and "gravely violate international law and basic norms governing international relations".

It said it would impose sanctions on seven US individuals and entities including Mr Ross.

As commerce secretary under former President Donald Trump, Mr Ross expanded the number of firms that could not trade with American firms without a prior license, including Chinese telecom giants like Huawei and ZTE.

Others sanctioned by China include Sophie Richardson, Human Rights Watch's China director; Carolyn Bartholomew, chair of US-China Economic and Security Review Commission; and Adam King of the International Republican Institute.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters that the US was "undeterred" by China's retaliation.

"These actions are the latest examples of how Beijing punishes private citizens, companies and civil society organisations as a way to send political signals," she said.

The relationship between Beijing and Washington became even more strained under the Trump administration. They remain sour on issues including the origins of Covid-19, human rights and cybersecurity.

Story continues

This weekend, Ms Sherman will travel to China in an effort to address deteriorating ties. It will be the most senior official visit under President Joe Biden.

Mr Ross is just the latest former member of the Trump administration to be hit with sanctions by China. In January, it announced sanctions against outgoing Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and 27 other top Trump officials.

The Biden administration called that move "unproductive and cynical".

You may also be interested in:
The Colorado AFL-CIO will stop donating to the state Democratic Party for at least the next year, according to the union branchs head.

Executive Director Dennis Dougherty claimed Democrats excluded the union from policy discussions and said their prioritization of business input on legislation over workers prompted the decision to withhold campaign contributions until mid-May 2022.

We have  been excluded from caucus discussions about policy creation in favor of bringing business and opposition groups to the table, disregarded as allies and relegated to afterthoughts, Dougherty told fellow union leaders in a letter. Working people are the heart and soul of the economy and the key to a well-functioning society and should be the first group to be consulted as we repair the past, recover from the pandemic and build back stronger.

The states AFL-CIO executive board decided it shall not contribute to the Colorado Democratic Party through the House Majority Project, Democratic Senate Campaign Fund, Pre-Legislative session events, the Colorado Democratic annual event/dinner in April, or any other channels/events until at least mid-May next year, Dougherty wrote.

$3.5 TRILLION RECONCILIATION BILL TO INCLUDE PRO ACT, UNDOING STATE RIGHT-TO-WORK LAWS

There is too much at stake for Colorados union members and working families for us to be excluded from policy discussions  and for us to be an afterthought during the creation and introduction of legislation that affects our members, Dougherty said. We need the Colorado Democratic Party to treat us like authentic partners.

The letter further urged affiliate unions to stand in solidarity and withhold contributions to the Colorado Democratic Party.

Democratic state Senate President Leroy Garcia and House Speaker Alec Garnett said the letter took them by surprise.

If theres areas of improvement, Im willing to talk to anyone about how we can increase collaboration, Garcia said, according to the Colorado Sun.

Story continues

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

Doughertys letter reportedly lacked specific instances of the 130,000-member state union being excluded from policy discussions. The Washington Examiner reached out to Dougherty for further comment on the board's decision.

The national AFL-CIO, which endorsed President Joe Biden in 2020, lobbies for a key target Democratic constituency, representing roughly 12.5 million workers across industries and holding significant political sway.

Efforts by leaders at member unions the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA and the Air Line Pilots Association, which represent in-flight crew members across multiple airlines, helped secure billions of dollars in aid from Congress over the course of the coronavirus pandemic.

Washington Examiner Videos

Tags: News, Labor unions, Unions, Colorado, AFL-CIO, Workers, Democrats

Original Author: Jeremy Beaman

Original Location: Colorado AFL-CIO pausing donations to Democrats after being 'excluded' from policy talks
Eric Clapton performs in London on March 3, 2020. (Gareth Cattermole / Getty Images)

The music people adore when theyre young often crystallizes their identities and unlocks oceanic feelings. Its easy to latch onto certain songs, become defensive about their brilliance and refuse to let go.

For many rock fans  white men especially  a mighty object of youthful adoration is Eric Clapton, the heavily decorated rock musician.

Clapton, who is 76, has been in the news this week  not for rock-goddery but his reckless anti-vax rhetoric. His dangerous stance on vaccines has forced yet another conversation about the importance of separating the music from the man.

Fans have started to argue again that Clapton was such a Michelangelo in music with songs such as Layla, Cocaine and Wonderful Tonight that his grave misconduct can never make them question his work.

Some seem further to have internalized the creed that Clapton is God  apparently without knowing that Clapton himself has suggested that the meme, which was spray-painted all over London in the mid-1960s, was invented by a Yardbirds promoter.

For these believers in Clapton's divinity, you can criticize the man  and there is more than anti-vax politics to object to  but hands off the music.

This misses the point. In Claptons case, the music and the man are one and the same  arrogant performances of iconoclasm that appeal chiefly to young, self-doubting minds eager for outlaw heroes. The Clapton package hit the spot at a certain hormonal stage of life. But then you grow out of it, especially as both the music and persona curdle.

Throughout the pandemic, Clapton has joined in criticism of the COVID-19 lockdown, as if governments were just 1960s priggish parents grounding kids for smoking grass.

He played on an anti-lockdown track by fellow science-denier Van Morrison. Then he started citing nutjobs and YouTube videos as evidence of conspiracies around the pandemic.

But Clapton also chose to get vaccinated. (It's almost as if he didnt want to contract a deadly disease.)

Story continues

After his second shot, he alleged that the vaccine left him with a 10-day flare-up of pain in his hands and feet, possibly he implied  related to the peripheral neuropathy he suffers from. Neuropathy is the result of an injury to the nerves. It can be caused by alcoholism. Clapton has long admitted his alcoholic history.

On Wednesday, Clapton announced that he wont play in venues that require audiences to show proof of vaccination. Clearly old Slowhand is willing to create superspreader events, secure in the knowledge the coronavirus is unlikely to infect him.

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), who, like Clapton, is vaccinated, immediately tweeted his admiration: Bravo, Eric Clapton. Artists should defend individual Liberty.

Here we go. Vaccinated celebrity-types discouraging vaccination for the masses. Worse: making vaccine hesitancy seem heroic, a revolt against tyranny. For art. And just as the Delta variant delivers death around the world.

Nostalgia keeps Clapton the guitar hero from being dismissed as a public health hazard. He should have been pulled off his pedestal long ago.

Nearly from the start, Clapton revealed himself as racist, violent and now anti-science, and you cant separate that from the Clapton is God package.

This is not to say that everyone who likes Claptons music shares his views. Its to say that Clapton the delirious soloist has always been striking the same chords as Clapton the anti-vax preacher.

There are decades of vileness that have been overlooked or rationalized.

There was that time in 1968 that Clapton damned Jimi Hendrix in Rolling Stone, using a casual racist slur and citing vulgar racist nonsense as the source of Hendrixs appeal as a sexual fetish object.

There was the time in 1976 that Clapton announced at a concert, again with racist slurs, that he wanted to keep Britain white and to deport all Black people.

And of course theres the time in 1999 when Clapton told the London Sunday Times that fueled by drugs and alcohol he abused the model and photographer Pattie Boyd in the 1980s, when they were married. I took sex with my wife by force and thought that was my entitlement, he said.

Now Clapton, with his dangerous vaccine ideology, seems to be taking a life-or-death public health matter by force, and thinking its his entitlement.

In the Guardian in 2018, critic Neil Spencer praised Claptons music as dazzling and full of caustic brilliance, cautioning against putting too much stock in his poor behaviour and assorted addictions.

One must trust the art, not the artist, Spencer wrote.

Dazzling and brilliant are generic words of praise, and clearly in the ears of the beholder. But caustic means corrosive. If Claptons music is corrosive, certainly so are his actions and ideologies. Theyre all of a piece.

With Clapton, it seems time to trust both the art and the artist  and both seem to be begging (on their knees) to enter retirement.

@page88

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Each week, we offer you a roundup of our noteworthy coronavirus coverage.

More than 34.2 million people in the United States have tested positive for the coronavirus as of Friday morning, July 23, according to Johns Hopkins University. That includes more than 610,000 people who have died nationwide.

Globally, there have been more than 192.6 million confirmed cases of the highly infectious virus, with more than 4.1 million reported deaths.

More than 162.1 million Americans are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as of July 22  about 49% of the total population, a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention tracker shows. About 60% of adults and 57% of people aged 12 and older are fully vaccinated in the U.S.

Heres what happened between July 16 and July 22.

Do COVID-19 vaccines work against the delta variant?

The delta coronavirus variant, formerly known as B.1.617.2, is sparking outbreaks in vulnerable, mostly unvaccinated regions all over the world. It has emerged as the most dominant version of the virus in the U.S., now making up about 83% of analyzed cases. Nearly two months ago, the delta variant comprised just 6% of sequenced cases.

Doctors and scientists say the publics greatest defense against the virus and its variants is vaccination. But how well do the COVID-19 shots prevent serious disease caused by the delta variant?

Heres the latest data on each of the three vaccines authorized for emergency use in the U.S.

Do COVID vaccines work against the delta variant? What to know as it spreads in US

Vaccinated people can still get COVID-19. What are symptoms?

COVID-19 vaccines are the best way to protect people from getting seriously ill with the virus, as well as stave off extended hospital stays and death. However, no vaccine is 100% effective and, though rare, fully vaccinated people can contract coronavirus.

These cases, known as breakthrough infections, can cause COVID-like symptoms  or no symptoms at all.

Continue reading to find out what are the most common ones.

Story continues

Vaccinated people can still get COVID. Here are the most common symptoms, study says

US is No. 4 in world with most orphaned children due to COVID-19

Before the pandemic stripped the world of millions of people, there were about 140 million orphaned children globally. Now, an additional 1.5 million kids have lost their parents, grandparents or other caregivers to COVID-19, a new study estimates.

Of those children, nearly 114,000 are from the U.S., which ranks fourth with the most kids orphaned by COVID-19 deaths, behind Mexico, Brazil and India.

Other staggering statistics can be found here.

US is No. 4 in the world with most orphaned children by COVID deaths, study finds

Here are nations with the lowest, highest COVID-19 risk levels

Travel plans are back on for many seeking adventures abroad after the pandemic  but experts warn some countries are safer than others when assessing your COVID-19 risk.

An online tool by the CDC offers recommendations, or Travel Health Notices, alerting travelers to health and safety threats across the globe. The 4-level system ranks destinations based on reported COVID-19 data.

Level 1 is the lowest coronavirus risk level, while nations in the Level 4 category have a very high risk of coronavirus, the CDC said.

Traveling abroad? Here are nations with the lowest, highest COVID risk levels, CDC says

All students, staff should wear masks at school, pediatric group says

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommended universal masking during the 2021-2022 school year.

Students over age 2 and staff should wear face masks regardless of coronavirus vaccination status as a significant portion of the student population is not yet eligible for vaccines and because many schools will not have systems in place to monitor the vaccination status of students and staff, the group said in its updated guidance for the upcoming school year.

Children ages 12 and older are eligible to get the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. But that still leaves many school-aged children who cannot be vaccinated, the organization notes.

All students, staff should wear face masks at school, pediatric group says. Heres why

Dying COVID-19 patients beg Alabama doctor for vaccine

An Alabama physician has a stark message for those still resisting COVID-19 vaccinations.

Dr. Brytney Cobia, a physician at Grandview Medical Center in Birmingham, wrote on Facebook that she has recently admitted numerous young healthy people who are severely ill from COVID-19.

One of the last things they do before theyre intubated is beg me for the vaccine, Cobia wrote. I hold their hand and tell them that Im sorry, but its too late.

Dying COVID patients beg Alabama doctor for vaccine, she says. But its too late

Hollywood can require COVID-19 vaccines for actors, crews

A new pact between Hollywood unions and studios allows producers to require that actors and crews on some sets be required to have a COVID-19 vaccination.

The deal comes as cases again begin to spiral upward in Los Angeles and across the nation as the highly contagious delta coronavirus variant spreads.

The agreement, reached between the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers and several Hollywood unions including those representing actors and directors, expires Oct. 1 unless extended.

Hollywood studios can require COVID vaccines for actors, crews under new union pact

Unvaccinated Americans think COVID-19 vaccines are riskier than virus

Many Americans who are not vaccinated against COVID-19 think the vaccines are more dangerous than the virus. A Yahoo News/YouGov poll conducted July 13-15 found more unvaccinated Americans think the COVID-19 vaccines pose the greater risk to their personal health than think the coronavirus poses the greater risk.

Health experts, however, have emphasized that the COVID-19 vaccines are safe.

Heres what else the poll found.

37% of unvaccinated Americans think COVID vaccines are riskier than virus, poll finds

COVID-19 cluster that infected over 130 people linked to July 4

Officials in a Massachusetts town are urging residents to mask up after a COVID-19 outbreak linked to the Fourth of July.

A public health advisory was issued in Provincetown after an uptick in confirmed coronavirus cases  132 in all. Town officials said infections and COVID-like symptoms were reported in both vaccinated and unvaccinated people.

COVID cluster that infected over 130 people linked to July 4, Massachusetts officials say
Ed Rode/Getty

In the five months after Morgan Wallen was caught on film using the N-word, he completed a 30-day stay in rehab, made apologies, and reportedly met with Black music executives and civil rights organizations. But for all his self-professed education, its clear hes learned nothing.

The country music star sat down for his first TV interview after the scandal on Friday with Good Morning Americas Michael Strahan to clear the air after radio stations pulled his music and his record label curtly announced his contract was suspended.

Somehow, despite surely being prepped at length for this interview, which was pre-taped and the result heavily edited, Wallen seemed at best painfully ignorant, and at worst, flat-out faking his sincerity.

Back in February, TMZ published a video of a drunken Wallen stumbling home after a night out in Nashville with a group of friends. He slightly slurs his words as he tells a friend, take care of this pussy-ass motherfucker. take care of this pussy-ass [N-word].

Wallen admitted he sometimes used the slur around that certain group of friends, but denied that he used the N-word frequently. It just happened, he attempted to explain. I was around some of my friends, and we say dumb stuff together. In our minds it's playful, you know? That sounds ignorant, but that's really where it came from. And it's wrong.

Strahan then asks Wallen directly if understands the weight and historical context of the racial epithet, and Wallens response is illuminating.

I heard some stories in the initial conversations that I had after [using the N-word] just about how people are treated even still today, he said. I haven't seen that with my eyes, that pain or that insignificant feeling, whatever it is that makes you feel.

For a 28-year-old man to walk through life, especially after the events of 2020 when America had a reckoning with racial injustice and police brutality against Black people in the wake of the police killing of George Floyd, and to admit that hes only heard some stories about historically documented discrimination against Black people and why the use of the slur is abhorrent, is staggeringly embarrassing.

Story continues

Strahan must have been equally stunned because he then patiently explained to Wallen why the slur is harmful, pointing out it was often used to dehumanize Black people, especially slaves and during the Jim Crow era.

If you dig deeper, [its] a word that a lot of Black people heard before they were terrorized, beaten, or even possibly killed, Strahan said. I've been called it. It makes you mad, makes you angry, doesn't make you feel good at all.

Is Country Music Turning on Racism and QAnon?

Strahan posed the question to Wallen again, asking if now understands why the slur makes Black people so upset.

I don't know how to put myself in their shoes because I'm not, Wallen offered. But I do understand, especially when I say I'm using it playfully or whatever, ignorantly, I understand that that must sound, you know, like, He doesn'the doesn't understand.

Its not the first time Strahan, who is Black, has been put in this sort of awkward position: interviewing a white person who found themselves in hot water over insensitive or offensive racial comments, and who then came looking to him to make a mea culpa.

In March, longtime The Bachelor host Chris Harrison spoke with Strahan after Bachelor contestant Rachael Kirkconnell was pictured at an Antebellum South-themed party. Harrison had blindly and repeatedly defended Kirkconnell, questioning if attending such a party was outright wrong, or only wrong through the lens of 2021. Harrison came on GMA to apologize and profess that he was wrong for perpetuating racism. After the pre-taped interview wrapped up, Strahan summed it up by saying, It felt like I got nothing more than a surface response.

At another point during the seven-minute-long interview, Wallen launched into a story about his personal journey of atonement, saying he went to rehab for 30 days. I spent some time out in San Diego, California, just trying to figure out why am I acting this way, he said. Do I have an alcohol problem? Do I have a deeper issue?

He also said he met with the Black Music Action Coalition (BMAC), and Black music executives, including Eric Hutcherson and Kevin Liles. Wallen said that he took the $500,000 he made from increased music sales and donated the money to several civil rights organizations, including BMAC.

BMAC and the NAACP did not return The Daily Beasts request for comment to confirm if a donation was made to the organization on behalf of Wallen. The ACLU said it did not disclose its donors, nor does it disclose if a person met with organization leaders.

Previously, Wallen blew off a meeting with NAACP Nashville President Sherlyn Guinn after his team reportedly agreed to a sit-down talk in wake of the video.

But perhaps the most illuminating example of Wallens refusal to actually reflect on what he said and learn from his mistakes came when Strahan asked if he believes theres a wider problem within country music and issues when it comes to race.

The question came on the heels of Strahan pointing to the fact that Wallens music streams increased by more than 500 percent as fans rallied around him in a show of support.

Wallen offered that it would seem that way, before quickly adding, I haven't really sat and thought about that.

Its a clear showcase that Wallen has not taken the time to actually reflect and learn how this sort of ignorance plays out in his own industrywhich statistically has very few Black artists, with only 0.5 percent of music played on country radio by artists of color. Country music has long faced wider problems with race. And during the pivotal protests of last summer, there was a noticeable lack of artists in the industry who spoke up to denounce white supremacy.

For Wallen to shrug off the question, after reportedly spending the past five months educating himself, its a sign that he has learned nothing. Instead, he just wants to be back in societys good graces, even if that means offering empty apologies and hollow words.

I'm not ever gonna make, you know, everyone happy, Wallen said at one point. I can only come tell my truth, and that's all I know to do.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

Get our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now!

Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more.
A man who used a fake identity arrives at the Sultan Babullah airport in Ternate, Indonesia. (Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

An Indonesian man who was covid-positive disguised himself as his wife to board a domestic flight but was caught midway, after a flight attendant spotted him changing into his regular clothes.

The man, who went by his initials, wore a full-face veil known as niqab to board, which obscured his face.

He bought the plane ticket with his wifes name and brought the identity card, the PCR test result and the vaccination card with his wifes name. All documents are under his wifes name, Ternate police chief Aditya Laksimada said.

Police said it was not long before a flight attendant aboard a Citilink plane traveling from Jakarta to Ternate in North Maluku province noticed the man change the clothes in the lavatory.

Police told reporters that the man was detained after the plane landed and was tested immediately.

After testing positive for the virus, he was ordered to self-isolate at home.

Police say they will move to prosecute him as soon as his quarantine ends.

The incident comes amid Indonesias devastating wave of coronavirus infections, driven by the Delta variant. Still, the government is already talking about relaxing restrictions enforced earlier this month - a move analysts say is largely dominated by economic considerations.

The healthcare infrastructure in Asias covid-19 epicentre is severely strained as people scramble to find hospital beds, oxygen and medicine for loved ones.

President Joko Widodo is already talking about easing restrictions from as early as next week if cases start to drop.

But health experts have warned the decision is likely premature and potentially dangerous.

The country reported 49,000 cases and 1,566 deaths on Friday.

While cases have falled from more than 56,000 in mid-July, epidemiologists have warned that testing rates also dropped in the same period, making it difficult to determine whether there has been a genuine fall in covid-19 infections.

Includes reporting by AP and Reuters

Read More

Story continues

UK Covid-19 vaccinations: Latest figures

Madagascar famine becomes first in history to be caused solely by climate crisis

South Africa riots: What has caused the violence?
With Delta variant infections spiking across the United States, growing numbers of Republican officials and lawmakers have joined the chorus of support for coronavirus vaccinations, swatting aside conspiracies that have left millions of Americans unprotected.

Covid-19 deaths and hospitalization rates are rising nationwide, with the vast majority of new fatalities and serious cases among the unvaccinated.

With the political rift over pandemic response running deep, conservative messaging about masks, social distancing, vaccines and lockdowns has remained controversial.

And with polls showing that far more Democrats than Republicans are vaccinated, inoculations have become the newest coronavirus battle line.

For months conservatives suspicious of government and adamant about maintaining personal freedoms have held anti-vaccination protests in New Hampshire, California and elsewhere.

The anti-vax positions embraced by many Republicans are particularly curious given it was ex-president Donald Trump himself, still the party flagbearer, who claims credit for launching Operation Warp Speed to develop and distribute the vaccines in record time.

But with distrust of government churning, and stubbornly high vaccine hesitancy in states like Arkansas, Florida and Missouri fueling transmission of the virus, Republican leaders are redoubling efforts to win over skeptics.

On Thursday number two House Republican Steve Scalise joined the chamber's GOP Doctors Caucus, a group of 18 lawmakers who are licensed medical experts, to tell Americans to "get the vaccine."

"I have high confidence in it, I got it myself," he told a press conference.

Scalise had hesitated for months to get vaccinated, but he received a shot this week because "with the Delta variant I felt I wanted that extra level of protection."

Caucus member Mariannette Miller-Meeks has appeared in public service announcements urging people to get vaccinated, and said she has administered the jabs to residents in her Iowa district.

Story continues

"There's not one doctor here that doesn't want people vaccinated," congressman Greg Murphy added about fellow caucus members.

Their comments followed those by higher-profile Republicans including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who made an unusually blunt plea to Americans.

"If there is anybody out there willing to listen, get vaccinated," the Kentucky Republican said Tuesday, urging people to ignore the "demonstrably bad advice" that has been circulating during the pandemic.

That advice -- often based on the premise that the vaccines have only been green-lighted for emergency use and not full authorization, or baseless claims that the vaccines include microchips to track citizens -- has led millions of people to opt out.

- 'Enough people have died' -

Several Republican governors -- including some who have expressed hostility to federal anti-pandemic efforts -- are now urging residents to get vaccinated.

In Arkansas, one of the states leading the country in new Covid cases, Governor Asa Hutchinson launched a seven-city tour begging skeptics to change their minds.

"The vaccine keeps people alive," he tweeted.

Some television commentators in the conservative media landscape have joined the trend, although their messages are often more subtle or nuanced.

On Fox, the top-rated cable station which has been accused of trafficking in vaccine skepticism for months, star anchor Sean Hannity, who once described the virus as a hoax, reversed course Monday.

"I can't say it enough. Enough people have died. We don't need any more death," Hannity said on his broadcast.

"It absolutely makes sense for many Americans to get vaccinated," he added. "I believe in the science of vaccination."

But the messaging is often mixed. Several Republican lawmakers still refuse to say whether they have been vaccinated.

Doctors Caucus congressman Ronny Jackson, Trump's personal physician when he was president, tried and failed to suggest Democrats too were refusing to reveal their status.

When he urged the media to ask Democrats whether they were vaccinated, a reporter matter-of-factly noted that 100 percent of House Democrats have announced they are protected.

"Do we have any evidence of that?" Jackson stumbled.

Other Republicans have expressed open opposition to vaccines, causing headaches for party leaders eager to halt Covid's spread.

Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, fined in May for not wearing a mask on the House floor, was temporarily suspended from Twitter this week for spreading Covid misinformation.

She had tweeted that there have been thousands of "vax related deaths," and that the virus is not dangerous for healthy people under 65.

mlm/bfm
Reuters Videos

The embassy has not said who it thought was responsible and a police source said an investigation was under way, adding that the motives behind the incident were not known.Cuba has been rocked by protests against a deep economic crisis, the government's handling of the coronavirus pandemic and curbs on civil liberties, prompting the Communist-run country to restrict access to social media and messaging platforms.The foreign ministers of the United States and 20 other countries on Monday condemned mass arrests in Cuba and called for full restoration of Internet access.
Senate Democrats are considering including about $10 billion in their $3.5-trillion budget reconciliation package for border security  focused on infrastructure at legal entry points, two sources familiar with their plans tell Axios.

Why it matters: Democrats already planned to include roughly $120 billion for pathways to citizenship for Dreamers, Temporary Protected Status holders and undocumented essential workers. The sources said there will be even more to address immigration  with more direct infrastructure ties.

Get market news worthy of your time with Axios Markets. Subscribe for free.

What we're hearing: Details haven't been finalized, but the funds could be put toward facilities for handling asylum claims; additional staff for higher cross-border traffic areas; expanding immigration courts to address backlogs; alternatives-to-detention programs, and various ports-of-entry repairs, three sources familiar with the negotiations say.

They also expect roughly $10 billion to be allotted for border infrastructure.

The list underscores the border priorities of Democrats and the Biden administration  a clear departure from the previous administration.

President Trump's team, on multiple occasions, stalled budget negotiations over its funding demands for an expanded border wall.

What they're saying: Sen. Ben Ray Lujan (D-N.M), a member of the Senate Budget Committee, would not confirm whether border security was a part of the reconciliation package but said his perspective on infrastructure "includes modernization of ports at our border."

"Ive consistently advocated for making smart, modern investments when it comes to border security, including requiring 100% of screening of passenger vehicles and commercial vehicles that come into the United States."

What to watch: All of this could potentially be a pipe dream.

Although reconciliation would allow Democrats to pass measures with a simple majority, winning approval from the Senate parliamentarian to use it for tackling immigration and border infrastructure could be a problem.

Story continues

Remember: When senators first took a stab at using reconciliation to pass their $1.9-trillion coronavirus relief legislation, the parliamentarian ruled they could not tack on a provision to raise the minimum wage.

According to a statute known as the Byrd Rule, such provisions cannot be "merely incidental" to the government's finances.

State of play: Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) set Wednesday as a deadline for getting all 50 Democrats on board with the general framework for the $3.5 trillion, Democrat-only proposal.

Some moderate Democrats  namely, Sens. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.)  are still skeptical of the steep price tag and certain progressive components, but Schumer says they're on track with his goal of putting the budget resolution on the floor in early August.

His intention is to pass the measure before members break for the summer recess.

Like this article? Get more from Axios and subscribe to Axios Markets for free.
Photos Getty

One day in late June, President Joe Biden and a group of 10 senators from both parties emerged from the Oval Office and declared theyd reached an agreement on a bipartisan, multi-billion dollar infrastructure dealthe foundation of a signature win for a president obsessed with bipartisanship.

Despite that group of senators working furiously to finalize a deal, four weeks later, no deal has materialized. Theres no bill, or even concrete details, for colleagues to consider. And those colleagues are growing impatient.

After four years of infrastructure week, it's time to act, said Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA), referencing the continualand ultimately fruitlessinfrastructure push from the Trump administration. Four weeks ago, they announced a deal, an agreement. How did they announce an agreement four weeks ago and right now, there's no deal today?

With the summer recess looming, and everyone hearing the clock tick down on the most productive period of their control of Washington, Democrats are starting to question the wisdom of waiting for a bipartisan breakthrough when they have the tools to go it alone.

Although five Republicans are part of the core negotiating group in the Senate, five more would need to vote in favor of the bill to clear the 60-vote threshold for passageassuming all 50 Democrats vote yes, which is not a guarantee.

And if Democratic senators are increasingly saying the time to move forward is now, progressives in the House say it was time to move forward yesterday.

Its unacceptable that weve waited this long, Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), the chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, told The Daily Beast. We should have gone ahead, because if Republicans didnt agree three months ago, they didnt agree yesterday, are we really going to get 10 Republicans to agree in a week?

Some Republicans insist thats exactly the case.

Theres no reason to be skeptical, because these guys have worked awfully hard and are pretty darn committed to it, said Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-ND), who is open to supporting a bipartisan deal but was not among the original five Republicans to signal support.

Story continues

Infrastructures a popular deal, we all know that. I think people would like to be part of something positive, he said.

Dem Factions Decide Which Biden to Believe on Infrastructure

As long as Republicans like Cramer are singing that tune, Biden and other bipartisan-minded Democratsnamely the Senates key swing vote, Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV)want to stay at the table. If a narrow package to fund things like roads, bridges, broadband and water systems cant get 60 votes in todays Senate, they argue, then what can?

That question is one many Democrats are asking, particularly the ones whod like to eliminate the filibusteror at least move on with a much larger, Democrat-only reconciliation package that could pass the Senate with just 50 votes and deliver on nearly all of their climate, health care, and economic priorities.

Those Democrats are starting to feel captive to the bipartisan projecteven if they think its just as likely itll go down in flames.

The President wants to explore the bipartisan route, and so do a number of my colleagues, said Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT). I credit them with putting hope over experience.

That skepticism isnt unfounded.

Democrats famously used up a great deal of valuable time negotiating with Republicans over provisions in the Affordable Care Act in 2009 before ultimately getting no GOP support. Many are convinced that Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), who has kept his cards close on the infrastructure deal, would relish running the clock out on infrastructure now.

While the bipartisan group might have little to show for all their late-night negotiating sessions and happy talk in the Senate hallways, most observers concede theyre on track to produce some legislation. The more pressing questions are when, and whether it could get enough support.

Even though nothing is locked down, theres some consensus on what a bipartisan deal would have to look like to get GOP support: a roughly $600 billion package to revitalize transportation systems, strengthen water and energy infrastructure, and expand broadband.

The problem isas is often the case in Washingtonhow does Congress pay for it. So far, negotiators have proposed the equivalent of a Washington junk sale to avoid raising taxes. Among the proposals are selling off government oil reserves, tapping unspent COVID-19 relief cash, and soliciting private investment.

One of those so-called pay-forsgiving the Internal Revenue Service more money to prosecute tax cheats and thus recoup more revenuewas rejected by Republicans, already making the financing of the package even tougher and perhaps endangering the bipartisan deal altogether.

Liberals Agree Not to Crush Bidens Infrastructure Dreams

As he works to keep his caucus together to pass two pieces of Democrats agenda, Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has attempted to prod the bipartisan group. Last week, he vowed to hold a vote to open debate on the dealeven though a bill literally did not existin an attempt to force a put-up-or-shut-up moment.

Ultimately, neither happened. The vote failed on Wednesday, but the bipartisan group bought a little more time, and there are indications that they could produce a bill by early next week.

In a statement after Wednesdays vote, the 22 senators in the bipartisan working groupwhich include centrists like Manchin, Sens. Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), Susan Collins (R-ME), and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)said they have made significant progress and are close to a final agreement.

Democrats are eagerly waiting to see if the other more conservative Republicans in the group will buy into the final product. Meanwhile, Republicans say its on Democrats to produce something they can support.

Its really as much as anything up to Democrats to be reasonable enough to secure 10 Republicans, said Cramer. Id like to get 20 Republicans. But Im not one of them yet.

While that onus may be flawed, and the entire bipartisan gambit may be built on the shaky assumption that there are 10 Republican senators who are willing to hand Biden and Democrats a win on infrastructure, Democrats continue holding out hope.

Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI), a member of Democratic leadership, told The Daily Beast that he fully expects GOP negotiators to bring along enough of their colleagues.

They have to deliver, otherwise its nonsense, right? he said. If they dont bring 10 votes, I dont even know what were talking about, honestly.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

Get our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now!

Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more.
Several law enforcement agencies have joined local authorities in searching for 21-year-old Chadron resident Ian Little Moon, also known as Sage Little Moon, a person of interest in an early Friday morning homicide in Chadron.

Police Chief Rick Hickstein reported at about 2 a.m. that shots were fired in the 300 block of Maple Street. Officers responded to a residence, Hickstein said, and discovered a homicide victim. The scene was secured and additional resources were contacted to try and apprehend Little Moon, who was gone upon arrival.

It was believed Little Moon stole a vehicle, a 2005 blue Ford Freestar van. That vehicle, since reported stolen, has been recovered in the northern part of Sheridan County. Investigation is continuing at this time, though the name of the victim was identified as 72-year-old John Martinez of Chadron.

Charges of first-degree murder and use of a deadly weapon to commit a felony have been filed against Little Moon by Dawes County Attorney Vance Haug.

Little Moon is considered to be considered armed and dangerous, and those who see him are advised to not approach and call local law enforcement immediately.
We are proud to be the first hospital in our region to offer this highly advanced SmartRobotics technology to our patients, said Dr. Lew Papendick, chairman of the Management Committee at Black Hills Surgical Hospital.

The robots arrived at Black Hills Surgical Hospital on June 24. They were chosen after about three years of training and research, Mortimer said. When fully trained and credentialed on the robotics technology, eight surgeons at Black Hills Surgical Hospital will use it.

Dr. Marrs and myself have been very thoughtful about this process, Mortimer said. After a lot of research and training, this does make a difference in terms of patient care and outcomes. The robotics-assisted surgery is not taking the place of surgeons. Its assisting and its another tool for a patient to have a great outcome.

Support Local Journalism Your membership makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}}

The robotics technology has existed for some time, Marrs said, so Black Hills Surgical Hospital could study data about how it benefits patients. Data shows that patients tended to have less pain, spent less time in the hospital, and needed fewer pain-relieving narcotics. For knee replacement surgeries, clinical studies also show that use of the robotics technology reduced the need for inpatient physical therapy and improved patients ability to bend and flex their knees.
Ive never seen this many people so early. Never, she said.

People have been coming up to her booth to buy rally-themed merchandise, but she has had to turn them away because they arent open yet.

She said every year the best part of the rally is getting to meet new people, visiting old friends, and enjoying the nice weather with the Black Hills as a backdrop.

Visiting with people who have bought from us before, old friends and seeing how their life has been for the last year, how many new children and grandchildren, and also new people that you talk to is her favorite, she said.

Isabelle Drumm has worked at the Final Touch booth for the last six years, which is currently situated in front of One Eyed Jacks Saloon with another location outside the Knuckle.

Final Touch has so much merchandise  from traditional Sturgis T-Shirts to leather vests to baby onesies to bandanna-shaped tank tops  they are having trouble fitting it all in the booth.

Support Local Journalism Your membership makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}}

Last year we opened up one week before the start of the rally and last year we did two weeks, and [this year] its already as busy as it was last year. It seems to happen every year, we open up earlier every year, she said.
As he prepares for the 81st Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, the chief of police says he's more concerned about a new open container ordinance than those who will be consuming medical marijuana.

Sturgis Police Chief Geody VanDewater said having open containers within downtown boundaries will be a major learning curve and is more of a concern than medical marijuana.

Well be trying to work with local establishments and educate them that only wine and beer can be in the event cup, Sturgis Police Chief Geody VanDewater said. A lot of it is public education. My focus will be working on educating local establishments and the people serving us.

Those enjoying the rally in Sturgis City will be allowed to carry open containers in certain areas if they have an official souvenir cup that will require an ID to purchase.

Meade County Sheriff Ron Merwin, meanwhile, said open containers may cause more problems than normal, but doesn't "perceive it being a huge deal" although there is a greater potential for more fights or assaults.
Juliana Imperati, a former line cook at Del Posto, said in a statement that the restaurants leadership made employees feel as if it is a rite of passage to be harassed at work.

Messages seeking comment were left for lawyers for Batali and Bastianich. Both mens signatures appeared on the settlement agreement, dated Thursday.

In a statement, James said Batali and Bastianich permitted "shameful behavior in the workplace.

Celebrity and fame does not absolve someone from following the law, James said. Sexual harassment is unacceptable for anyone, anywhere  no matter how powerful the perpetrator.

Batali, known for his orange Crocs and ponytail, stepped down from day-to-day operations at his restaurant empire and left the since-discontinued ABC cooking show The Chew in December 2017 after four women accused him of inappropriate touching.

Batali apologized that month, saying the allegations match up with ways he has acted.

I have made many mistakes and I am so very sorry that I have disappointed my friends, my family, my fans and my team, Batali said in an email newsletter. My behavior was wrong and there are no excuses. I take full responsibility.
The states initial recommendation for the large scale mine permit states, At the time of this recommendation, it is the intention of the [the state] to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the NRC regarding bonding for the entire mine site, subject to approval by the board. . . . the NRC will hold the state's portion of the bond and that the parties to the agreement jointly manage the bond in terms of adjusting it as site conditions change through the mine life. . . The NRCs surety estimates for these subjects were not established by South Dakota. The proposed agreement includes the following covered matters established by the NRC as an initial surety cost estimate for the project: the costs of reclaiming the land; facility decommissioning; groundwater restoration; and certain well plugging. On these issues and several others at the NRCs request the state reviewed the NRCs analysis of the initial cost estimate for a surety. The state provided no comments. South Dakota in its conditional approval on ground water restoration and other issues also asserted, These elements will be regulated by the U.S. EPA and the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
What are the odds?

If South Dakota is one of two states not showing an increase of Delta Variant COVID-19 cases, what are the odds that it is being covered up? If it is happening in 48 of the states, what are the odds that the Sturgis Rally will be the cause of a South Dakota resurgence. With the gambling permissible in this state, I would appreciate an online posting of odds. Not that I would gamble money, just for the incentive to continue isolation and mask protocols in public next month. Months after that will be required as well. Lies and greed people, which is what perpetuates this mess.
Support Local Journalism Your membership makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}}

Farrenkopf, the 2021 MSIP Spotlight Tour Coordinator of Montana, invites the community to the two free performances.

Please know all are welcome to attend these performances, he said. This cultural program is intended to provide unique and interesting opportunities for people in rural settings to experience Shakespeares plays in person.

A Midsummer Nights Dream, one of Shakespeare's most famous and popular plays, will be performed at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, July 27.

A Midsummer Night's Dream, a comedy written by William Shakespeare in 1595 or 1596, is set in Athens and features many subplots revolving around the marriage of Hippolyta and Theseus. One of the subplots explores a conflict between four Athenian lovers, another surrounds a group of six amateur actors rehearsing the play they are going to perform before the aforementioned wedding. Both groups of characters wind up in a forest inhabited by fairies who manipulate the humans and frolic in their own mischievous subplot.

Cymbeline, called a tragedy, comedy, or romance, will be performed at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, July 28.
Retailer Pep Boys has stopped selling auto parts and related items at its Richmond-area stores to concentrate on service repairs and tire sales.

The chain closed the retail part at four of its five area stores but still operates the service centers, often attached to the back or the side of its buildings. The fifth location, on Midlothian Turnpike in Chesterfield County, has always been a service-only center.

The retail portion of the four stores closed earlier this month, employees at those stores said. Signs on two area stores also indicate the retail stores have closed.

Company spokeswoman Arianna Sherlock confirmed the retail stores are closed and are focusing on providing automotive service, including both maintenance and repair for individual customers and the areas fast-growing fleet business.

While these locations "will no longer sell retail parts and accessories as a Pep Boys, it will convert to another retailer, bringing a new level of convenience to our customers," Sherlock said.

She didn't say which retailer would be taking over the space at the local stores.
Recreational marijuana users have no such protections from any employer policies. The change in the law allows people to grow up to four marijuana plants at home for personal use and possess up to an ounce.

That puts employers in a position of having to carefully balance their policies about what employees can do on their own free time versus on work days as well as the impact marijuana use might have on job performance, said Matthew Nieman, a lawyer with Jackson Lewis P.C. specializing in labor and employment law. Nieman advises employers in multiple states about drug policies.

I get asked questions about this five or six times a day, Nieman said.

Tests for THC, the psychoactive chemical in marijuana, can detect whether it has been in the body for days or even weeks after the drug is consumed. Tests are less sensitive for many other drugs such as alcohol that pass through the body much quicker, Nieman said.

So employers can adopt an approach that focuses on whether marijuana use can result in a job performance or safety issue, he said. For the average employer, the focus has been, and always should be, on safety, he said.
She has been told shes on the Inc. 5000 list again this year, but she doesnt know where her business will be ranked. The list is slated to come out next month.

Meanwhile, Jones is one of 40 entrepreneurs at 38 companies who have been named finalists for the annual EY Entrepreneur of the Year awards for the Mid-Atlantic region. The regional award winners will be announced on Aug. 3.

It feels like a dream, Jones said of how her business has grown.

It literally feels like a fairy tale when I walk in the office every day and see everyone doing all of the work, its like, girl how did you get here. I work very much in my business and I enjoy it that way and my hands are into everything. But I dont always recognize the achievements, she said.

Where I put my focus is the joy of the work because that literally makes me happy, she said. My work makes me very, very, very happy, and so I realized how easy it is becoming. But I always want to remain grounded by enjoying the journey. I dont ever want to get too greedy or be like, I should be here by now because Im just happy with where we are and it turns out where we are is totally bad ass.

***
The online sessions are designed for adults and youth. The basic skills modules are available 24/7 and are tuition-optional, with suggested prices but with the bottom line that you pay what you can.

Our goal is to have everybody in the world who wants it to be able to access it, said Calvert, explaining the sliding-scale concept, though also noting the foundation needs some source of revenue. In the end, we have to pay our bills, too.

There also are small group, multi-lesson facilitated modules on a variety of topics.

Now, its a matter of getting the word out, she said, to individuals as well as large groups, such as companies or organizations that could benefit from instruction aimed at cultivating positive relationships and other aspects of mental and emotional health.

Calvert has faith things are going to go really well.

And if it doesnt, my metric for success for myself is to follow what my heart and soul is leading me to do to bring the change to the world that I feel like Im here to nurture and create. Thats my definition of success. Theres nothing more exhilarating than living your purpose every day.

And if it doesnt work out?

Ill go be an au pair for my grandbabies and live in the basement of my kids house, she said with a laugh, and Ill have known that I gave it everything that I could.
Similarly, in Petersburg, Pitre-Martin can earn up to an additional $60,000 a year. According to her contract, the additional salary comes from the Petersburg Executive Leadership Recruitment Incentives and is contingent on the Petersburg School Board receiving the funds. Shes also eligible to receive a yearly retention bonus of $5,000 if she receives a rating of proficient or higher on her annual evaluation.

The Petersburg School Board can also contribute $10,000 annually to her annuity or deferred compensation plan if she receives a rating of proficient or higher on her annual evaluation. Both bonuses are contingent on the board receiving the funds from the Petersburg Executive Leadership Recruitment Incentives funds.

The Hanover School Board provides Gill with a $3,000 yearly bonus, which hes expected to donate to charitable or civil organizations.

In terms of school performance, Henrico had the third-highest on-time graduation rate for the 2019-20 school year at 91%, with the state average coming in at 92.3%. Hanover schools came in first in this category with 96% and Chesterfield second with 91.9%. That same year, Henrico also had the third-highest dropout rate with 6.7%. Petersburg Schools came in second with 6.9% and Richmond at 23.2%. Hanover had a 2.2% dropout rate. The statewide rate was 5.1%.

When looking at how the school systems did in terms of state testing, Hanover schools had the highest passing rate for the 2018-19 English reading exam with an average of 84%, compared to the 78% state average and Henricos 76%. Similarly, Hanover came in first again for the 2018-19 math state exam, with a passing average of 89%, compared to the 82% state average. Henrico came in third in that category with 81% of its students passing.
Virginia Commonwealth University will require students to be vaccinated this fall, but a third of the student body hasnt reported its vaccination status to the university a week after the universitys deadline.

As of Friday, 63% of VCU students reported their vaccine status, according to the schools website. The deadline for submitting vaccine status was July 15. At that time, about 56% of VCU students reported their vaccine status. There are 24,000 students enrolled for the fall 2021 semester.

VCU wont require its employees to get vaccinated but is encouraging staff to do so; 69% of staff have been vaccinated, and 3% have told the university they dont intend to be vaccinated, according to the school website.

Of those who have reported their vaccination status, at least 316 students said they have been approved for an exemption. VCU, like most colleges, is allowing students to claim a religious or health exemption. A person with an immunocompromising health condition could be at a higher risk for complications by taking the vaccine or might see less robust immunization from it.

Those exempt will be required to wear face masks and perform surveillance testing, the university said last month. VCU begins the fall semester Aug. 24.
But mainly hes stressing a return to the organizations roots of voter registration, education and getting out the vote. And you cant do that just during election cycles. Youve got to do that all year.

Reid, in an interview Thursday, said hes impressed with both Davis and his wife, Crusade member Carol Davis.

If the Crusade returns to flexing its muscle, it will be in a nick of time.

Now is just as bad as it was then, Reid said. In fact, it might be worse than it was when we came along, if thats possible.

The emergence of Jim Crow 2.0 can be traced to the U.S. Supreme Courts 2013 Shelby County vs. Holder decision. That ruling gutted the Voting Rights Act  created in response to poll taxes, literacy tests and physical violence against would-be Black voters  by eliminating the requirement that jurisdictions with a history of discrimination pre-clear changes to their voting rules.

Chief Justice John Roberts opined in that ruling that the country had changed enough that the preclearance provision was no longer needed. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg argued in her dissent that the majoritys decision was as logical as throwing away your umbrella in a rainstorm because you are not getting wet.
In response to the concerns, store manager Sam Ali said he didnt understand why residents were concerned with the Six Points Express Mart specifically when all the stores in the area experience similar issues. He said he reports all the illicit behavior he witnesses to the Richmond Police Department, but nothing is done about it, a sentiment shared by others within the community.

Im not the one selling them the drugs, said Ali, whose uncle owns the store.

Angela Lehman, who lives a few blocks over from Jefferson and Evans, knew about the survey and participated. She voted for a community or child care center. Lehman said that Storefront shouldve done more to gain community input and survey participation.

If they want to hear from people in the neighborhood, especially those whove lived here for a long time, they need to work harder, said Lehman, whos lived in her home for three years.

Storefronts executive director, Shawn Balon, said the survey and community engagement was conducted in October, November and December of last year during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. He said because of this, the team couldnt do as much in-person engagement to promote the survey.
The four finalists are preparing their final design proposals. The designs are due in early September as the installation is slated to begin later that month. All finalists will receive $2,000 for their creative time and energy.

Richmond currently has two skate parks: the Carter Jones skate park on Bainbridge Street and the Texas Beach skate park, which was built by volunteers.

Once the final designs are submitted, a selection panel will make a recommendation to the commission, which has the ultimate say on the chosen artist. Then the commission will need to receive a final go-ahead from the Planning Commission.

Finalist Alexis Sablone is a Brooklyn, N.Y., architect and artist  and professional skateboarder. A member of the U.S. Olympic skateboarding team, she is competing in the womens street competition this Saturday during the Tokyo games.

These skateparks are not simply recreational facilities where skateboarders can go to develop their skills  although they are that, too  but, more importantly, as I learned when I was younger, they are a point of access to a culture and a community, she wrote in the initial application.
Page put her name on RRHAs wait list back in 2015. Two years later, 7,998 households were ahead of her on the list. As she waited for her application to inch up the list, her children had to sleep in the living room of her Gilpin Court apartment because of mold issues in one of the bedrooms. It took four months for RRHA to transfer her family into a new unit, according to Pages lawsuit.

They moved to an apartment in Fulton, where, within months, she was dealing with a mice infestation. Earlier this year, a sudden volley of gunshots or fireworks sparked a panic attack in her teenage son. She had to rush him to the hospital.

Her long wait for a voucher was not uncommon. In Richmond and around the state, far more families want the vouchers than are available. Even getting on the wait list locally can be a challenge. RRHA has kept the list closed for years because demand for the vouchers has well outpaced the housing authoritys available supply of them.

When RRHA reopened its wait list last fall, 7,800 people applied for a chance to get one of 5,000 slots. By weeks end, 15,000 people had submitted applications, a spokeswoman said at the time.

For Page, now 36 and the sole provider for her six children who range in age from 1 to 16, the voucher represented a fresh start for her family.
MARIETTA, Ga. (AP)  A convicted sex offender has been arrested more than 30 years after an 8-year-old boy was found dead in the woods of an Atlanta suburb.

James Michael Coates, 56, faces multiple charges, including murder and aggravated child molestation in the 1988 killing of Joshua Harmon, Roswell police announced Friday. He was taken into custody Wednesday after a traffic stop as he rode in an Uber.

Coates, of Woodstock, was arrested after DNA evidence collected from the crime scene linked him to the killing, police said.

Detectives, police officers, scientists and others who worked the case over the years never gave up hope in bringing Joshs killer to justice," Roswell Police Chief James Conroy said at a news conference.

This was a tragedy that no family should endure, Conroy said. The death of Josh and the fact that his killer remained free for such a long time is unimaginable."

When you have something as tragic as the kidnapping and murder of an 8-year-old, that locks into your heart and that's something you don't want to give up," Conroy added.

One of the longtime investigators, former Georgia Bureau of Investigation agent Keith Howard, said that bringing this case together is a miraculous feat.
Fran Bolin, the executive director of Assisting Families of Inmates, said it has been advising state officials as they form plans to restart family visitation in Virginia. Bolins group has long offered shuttle services to the states correctional facilities and recently partnered with the state to launch the live video calls.

Bolin said visitors will need to schedule their time in advance through a new system. She added that they may face more limits on their time than they did in the past, complicating logistics for families who travel hours for visits.

Once at the facility, the department will require all visitors over age 12 to test negative with a rapid antigen test. Only inmates who are fully vaccinated are allowed to receive visitors.

Theres some extra hurdles to visitations, Bolin said. What we then hope to do is to make the changes more understandable and bring ease of access for family and friends.

Adinolfi said a common frustration among families in her group is the lack of information coming from the state. She said that in addition to details about the pilot, many families still dont know how long visits will be, whether children under 12 will be allowed to visit, and what the restrictions on physical contact will be.
An imaginary moment:

Im Judy Woodruff of the PBS NewsHour. Welcome to The Homestead and the first gubernatorial debate of the 2021 campaign. This debate is sponsored by the Virginia Bar Association. Despite what you may have heard, it has nothing to do with Haitian earthquake relief, to which  full disclosure  I gave $250 about a decade ago.

Glenn Youngkin, the Republican nominee, interrupts.

Wait a second! That earthquake fund is a Bill Clinton front. How can you be objective, Judy? If I hadnt agreed to be here, Id take back the $12 million of my own money Ive steered to that charity thats my campaign. I couldve spent the day riding off into the sunset at my tax-sheltered horse farm in Fairfax!

Woodruff seems stunned.

Mr. Youngkin, please, youll have time to say your piece.

Terry McAuliffe, the Democratic nominee, blurts out:

I resemble that remark about my pal Bill Clinton. He wants to help people. His foundation funneled your check, Judy, to the earthquake fund because it wouldnt bounce. After all, youre a network star.

Woodruff stares at McAuliffe.
She doesnt belong in jail. She should be celebrated. Her disclosures were in the public interest and led to significant changes throughout the world as it relates to anti-money laundering, he said in an interview.

Dan Meyer, the former director of the Whistleblowing and Source Protection program at the Office of the Intelligence Community Inspector General, said he was not familiar with Edwards case, but that FinCENs work plays a crucial role in national security by tracking the laundering of drug or other illicitly obtained money that can fund terrorism directed at the U.S.

FinCEN is almost as revered ... as the CIA and NSA. For any whistleblower to come forward from those three agencies, you really need to proceed with caution, said Meyer, now managing partner at the Washington law firm of Tully Rinckey PLLC.

Disclosure of protected material by a federal employee, at an intelligence agency or not, needs to be made through the formal whistleblower process. If it is not, he said, You are at that point a leaker. The difference between leaking and whistleblowing  whistleblowing is a lawful disclosure, leaking is an unlawful communication.
With record-breaking heat and air conditioning blowing full blast, Americans are thirsty to save on their electric bills.

Indeed, whenever electricity is in high demand, consumers become energized about efficient and low-cost power. Competitive market models can bring relief, but theyre under attack, and consumers need the understanding and will to embrace and keep them.

Lets start with basics. Normally, when we want or need something, it helps to shop around. And for most goods, competition among suppliers exerts downward pressures on prices.

When it comes to electricity, some of the most vigorous competition is among wholesale providers of power. Yet traditional utility companies, which have thrived on their monopolies, are trying to block this innovation in supplying electricity.

For example, controversy currently is raging in Virginia over a 2020 law favoring incumbent monopolies such as Dominion Energy, denying households the benefits of competition and forcing them to pay much higher rates for cleaner energy.
Jirnexu, Southeast Asias first full-stack fintech company, today announced that the company has signed strategic partnership agreements with more than five consortia in their bids for a digital banking license. With Jirnexus broad customer base and in-depth understanding of their financial needs through RinggitPlus.com, the digital banking contenders can build a holistic portfolio for their license bid in this selection period.

As a pioneer in fintech, we are excited to see that the country is getting closer to digital banking. We have always believed that fintech would play a more pivotal role as the country progresses. The response that we received from many digital banking consortia since the beginning of the application process has been very overwhelming and we are thrilled to be part of this ecosystem development. The partnerships that we have formed with these applicants are a testament to our scale and capabilities, said Siew Yuen Tuck, Co-founder and CEO of Jirnexu.

Established in 2012, Jirnexu delivers end-to-end digital acquisition platform, digital acquisition technology, alternative credit scoring, lending-as-a-service (LAAS), and digital marketing solutions and services for Financial Services Institutions (FSIs) and service providers in Asia. In Malaysia, Jirnexu also works with all existing major local and international banks in the market.

With the aspiration to improve the nations financial literacy, Jirnexu launched RinggitPlus.com, Malaysias leading financial comparison website, in 2013. The website also empowers Malaysians with simple and easy-to-understand personal finance knowledge. Over the years, RinggitPlus.com has served Malaysians from all walks of life, growing its customer base to over 1 million people  of which more than 70% are underserved customers of the existing banking sector.

What Jirnexu brings to the table is the digital know-how to help traditional banking players digitise and optimise their operations. Meanwhile, our strong customer base that we interact with daily through RinggitPlus.com puts us in a unique position in this emerging digital banking ecosystem, as we have insights to their behaviours, demands, and also creditworthiness. With our capabilities combined, we are confident that we can elevate the digital banking space and create a holistic model with our partners to cater to the needs of the people, especially the B40 and M40 groups, Siew added.

Jirnexu is part of the Bank Negara Malaysias (BNM) Financial Technology Regulatory Sandbox. The company also has established strategic partnerships with multiple players in the fintech space to expand their end-to-end services, including Experian on the credit scoring front to ensure that applicants are aware of their financial health before applying for any products or services. RinggitPlus has developed a Good and Bad credit score system, called X-Score, by using its proprietary data from its digitally sourced credit card and personal loan applications. This scorecard will enable digital banks to source customers confidently to suit their risk appetite accordingly. To date, Jirnexu has successfully facilitated 1.28 million credit card and payment customers through its digital acquisition process.

Beyond the industrial recognition and long-standing expertise, the partners can also leverage Jirnexus massive customer database and digital marketing solutions for a more strategic and targeted marketing approach.

The digital banking arena will require strategic partnerships in order to build a holistic ecosystem that offers the best for the greater community. We are confident that our long-standing expertise and industrial recognition make us a strong partner for both digital banking contenders and existing FSIs and service providers, as our end-to-end offerings would play a pivotal role in transforming the traditional financial landscape, concluded Siew.

Applications to BNM for the digital banking license have closed as of 30 June 2021, and the licenses are expected to be granted in Q1 2022. Until then, Jirnexu and its partners will continue working towards improving the access to financial products and services for the underserved and unserved market segments.

5 2 votes Article Rating

SHARE
New River Health District Director Noelle Bissell said not to read too much into the number of students reporting their vaccination status prior to the deadline.

I used to work at Shiffert Health Center at Virginia Tech, and even before the COVID vaccine, there were lots of other required vaccinations to enroll, she said. Students notoriously wait until the last minute to upload those forms.

Tech is not requiring employees to be vaccinated, although they are highly encouraged to get their shots. About 61% of employees so far have reported they are vaccinated.

Tech President Tim Sands said last month that an employee survey in April showed that nearly 90% of employees were vaccinated or were in the process of being vaccinated. He also said there was a possible legal complication in mandating the vaccine for employees.

We do not think we have the ability from a legal point of view to require the vaccinations for the employees, especially for a sub-population of classified staff who are protected by a different set of rules and regulations, Sands said. We didnt feel we could have one group among the employees have a mandate and the others not.
McAuliffe on Wednesday hosted a roundtable discussion about gun violence prevention, promising that if elected, he would create a state body dedicated solely to the issue.

McAuliffe in the Democratic primary threw his support behind a push to ban the sale of assault-style weapons and high-capacity magazines. The proposal drew fervent criticism from gun control opponents and ultimately failed in the Democrat-controlled Senate in early 2020.

McAuliffes gun control policy plan also proposes banning ghost guns, or guns assembled at the home of the user, which dont have to be registered with the government and are not subject to background checks.

Youngkin has not released details on his policy plans for gun control, public safety or criminal justice. He declined to participate in a debate hosted by the Virginia Bar Association that was scheduled for this coming Saturday. The debate had hosted every candidate for governor from the major parties since 1985.

Youngkin, through his campaign, has said he will participate in three debates. McAuliffe has agreed to participate in five, including the VBA encounter. So far the two campaigns have agreed on one invitation, a Sept. 16 debate organized by the Appalachian School of Law.
WASHINGTON (AP)  Republican politicians are under increasing pressure to speak out to persuade COVID-19 vaccine skeptics to roll up their sleeves and take the shots as a new, more contagious variant sends caseloads soaring. But after months of ignoring  and, in some cases, stoking  misinformation about the virus, new polling suggests it may be too late to change the minds of many who are refusing.

In recent news conferences and statements, some prominent Republicans have been imploring their constituents to lay lingering doubts aside. In Washington, the so-called Doctors Caucus gathered at the Capitol for an event to combat vaccine hesitancy. And in Alabama, Republican Gov. Kay Ivey voiced exasperation as she pleaded with residents to protect themselves.

Folks are supposed to have common sense, she told reporters. Its the unvaccinated folks that are letting us down. ... Ive done all I know how to do. I can encourage you to do something, but I cant make you take care of yourself.
The Virginia Department of Corrections claims that for the last 18 months, everyone in restrictive housing has received more than four hours a day out of their cell, and that the Department no longer operates anything that meets the American Correctional Association definition of restrictive housing.

The organization alleged that numerous people have complained of the departments use of solitary confinement.

A report filed earlier this year by an independent, court-appointed monitor concluded that Fluvanna Correctional Center for Women routinely isolates people with mental illnesses for 23 hours or more a day, the ACLU said.

The ACLU said that earlier this year when lawmakers introduced a bill to end solitary confinement, requiring that every incarcerated person be given four hours out of cell per day with few exceptions, the department claimed it would cost $23 million per year to implement, effectively killing the bills chances of passage.

Last month, a federal court allowed the ACLU to continue its class-action lawsuit against the department over its use of long-term solitary confinement in Virginias Red Onion and Wallens Ridge state prisons. The lengths of stay in solitary confinement of the 12 named plaintiffs in the case range from two to 24 years, the ACLU said.
With some heavy prodding by the Biden Administration, earlier this month, 132 nations agreed to a global minimum tax on corporations, with the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) saying they had backed a proposed minimum corporate tax rate of at least 15%, which could generate about $150 billion in tax revenues a year.

US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen applauded the agreement for sending a message that a "race to the bottom" on tax rates was coming to an end.

"For decades, the US has participated in a self-defeating international tax competition, lowering our corporate tax rates only to watch other nations lower theirs in response, she said.

All G20 countries, including heavyweights such as the U.S., the UK, China, and France backed the agreement.

But now, the global tax package is being threatened, by Ireland, of all places.

Irelands Finance Minister, Paschal Donohoe, told local media that the country will not be part of the agreement, noting that the rate of 12.5% has been a key feature of Ireland's economic policy for decades and that he is committed to retaining this low corporate tax.

Ireland's corporate tax rate has attracted many global businesses. Its attractive, indeed, considering the U.S. rate of 21% and the UKs 19%.

For the past month, Irish authorities have met, on and off, with the European Union and U.S. officials, but so far, Ireland wont budge.

Ireland's business tax system has also made international headlines over the years, including with Apple. The EU ordered the tech giant to pay $17 billion in taxes. Ireland fought against the EU, and won.

The White House now is calling for a revamp of the U.S. tax codes approach to international taxation by increasing the minimum tax on the overseas profits of American companies from 10.5% to 21%.

In late March, Biden proposed increasing the corporate tax rate to 28% to pay for his $2.3-trillion infrastructure plan.

According to the plan, the funding would come from raising the corporate tax rate from 21% to 28%. That would pretty much unwind the lower corporate rate at 10.5% placed by the previous Trump administration. However, it is still less than the 35% it had been prior to the 2017 tax cuts.

Biden also wants to boost IRS funding by $80 billion over the next decade to fight tax evasion by wealthy Americans and corporations.

Due to personnel cuts at the IRS, a Syracuse University report found that tax audits have dropped by 72%, to 11,331 in 2020, from 40,965 in 2012. At the same time, the number of millionaires has nearly doubled since 2012.

During the presidential campaign, Biden laid out his tax plan, which would not only increase taxes for corporations but for wealthy individuals as well.

The administration estimates that stepping up tax enforcement and closing tax loopholes for large corporations that pay zero dollars in taxes, would bring in $700 billion over the next decade.

Many wealthy people, those from the U.S. included, are finding every loophole they can to avoid being taxed. One way is to buy new citizenship.

According to the latest report by investment immigration and relocation provider Astons, the interest of wealthy people in buying secondary citizenship during the pandemic skyrocketed in 2020.

UK-based passport broker Henley & Partners saw a 42% increase in overall citizenship

applications this year. The most popular pandemic passports or permanent residency programs are those of Australia, Antigua, St Kitts, and Nevis, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Austria, Switzerland, Portugal, Cyprus, Malta and Montenegro. All money safe-havens.

The most expensive are the UK, Singapore, and Austria where passports go for up to $23 million.

The cheapest locations in which to buy citizenship are Caribbean nations. Buying second citizenships ranges from $100,000 in the island of Dominica to a minimum of $2.4 million in Cyprus

And there are all those already established tax safe-havens, such as Luxembourg, a tiny state in the European Union that costs the world $28 billion in lost tax every year.

Over the last few years, the Financial Secrecy Index has been ranking the same destinations in the same order in terms of their safe haven lure. However, in the 2020 report, for the first time in 11 years, Switzerland didn't rank at the top of its list.

The top spot this year goes to the Cayman Islands, followed by the United States, which overtook Switzerland in global ranking of financial secrecy hotbeds. The report found that Caymans holds $1.4 trillion in assets managed through 200 banks.
The Santa Barbara Foundation provided a $5,000 grant towards the renovation of Guadalupe's LeRoy Park, the oldest community park in Santa Barbara County. As of mid-May 2021 the campaign had raised $460,000 (approximately 78 percent of the goal) with donations still coming in. The renovations are set to be completed in September 2021.
New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell and Shreveport Mayor Adrian Perkins also told their cities' residents this week that they should mask up indoors, regardless of vaccination status.

We cannot afford to lose one more person, and we cannot afford to go into another shutdown, Perkins said at an event with LSU Health Shreveport to encourage vaccinations.

Dr. John Vanchiere, director of the COVID-19 Strike Team at LSU Health Shreveport, talked about the rising rates of children and adults in the hospital with the coronavirus illness, as he urged people to get the widely available shots.

Despite the myths that are promulgated in some of the social media, our vaccines do not impact fertility. Our vaccines don't have magnets in them or chips in them that are tracking you. And they are safe, he said. Our vaccines have been saving lives every day.

But it was unclear how many would take the masking advice.

Many were going without face coverings Thursday, the day after Cantrell issued a mask advisory, in New Orleans' French Quarter. At Rendezvous Linen and Lace, store owner Kichin Mirpuri was unmasked: Im vaccinated. And I keep clean all the time."
Cuba trades with much of the rest of the world, so the islands problems cant be all, or even mostly, Americas fault.

Should human suffering not include the number of people imprisoned by Castro and his successors? As one might expect, Cuba does not publish information about the number of humans suffering in their prisons, but in 2012, Reuters reported that Cuban authorities acknowledged 57,337 of its 11.2 million population were incarcerated. The Cuban Prisoners Defenders group, based in Madrid, estimates the number is far higher  123,000, which would make it first in the global ranking of prison populations per capita.

For years the Hollywood left, liberal clergy and some American politicians have touted the supposed greatness of Cubas literacy program and free health care.

Steven G. Ullman, a School of Business Administration professor and chair of the Department of Health Sector Management and Policy at the University of Miami, told UM News that while universal health care in Cuba may have been a good idea in theory, in practice it is a failure:
 As Eleventh Circuit works though ACCA "occasions different" mess, Judge Newson flags Apprendi "prior conviction" issues | Main | "Talking Back in Court" 

July 23, 2021

Across political spectrum, insightful folks saying in insightful ways that Prez Biden must do better on criminal justice reform

The news to start this work week that the Biden Justice Department is not disputing the legal opinion that federal prisoners released into home confinement would be returned to prison after the pandemic has likely contributed to the end of this work week bringing a number of effective commentaries rightly asserting that Prez Biden continues to come up short on criminal justice issues. Notably, these commentary are coming from across the political spectrum as evidenced by these pieces:

From Samantha Michaels at Mother Jones, "Biden Said Hed Cut Incarceration in Half. So Far, the Federal Prison Population Is Growing."

From Lars Trautman at The Washington Examiner, "Bidens criminal justice inaction is nothing but malarkey"

I recommend both of these shorter pieces, but I especially want to encourage everyone to read this lengthy Washington Post magazine commentary by Piper Kerman headlined "She accidentally provided the Lose Yo Job soundtrack to Biden victory memes this fall. He could learn a lot from hearing her story." In fact, we can all learn a lot from her story, as brilliantly told and contextualized by Piper Kerman, and her piece is a useful reminder that Vice-President Harris ought not be left out of discussions and criticisms of the tepid criminal justice reform efforts of the Biden Administration to date.

July 23, 2021 at 10:13 AM | Permalink

Comments

Post a comment
SIOUX CITY -- A Sioux City man charged in a fatal shooting has struck a plea deal with prosecutors.

A Woodbury County District Court administrator said that Roderick Banks, 36, reached a plea agreement at 1:30 p.m. Friday. The details of that agreement were not immediately available.

Banks was on trial for first-degree murder and felon in possession of a firearm in connection with the Nov. 1 shooting death of Solomon Blackbird. Jury selection began Tuesday.

Banks is accused of shooting Blackbird once in the chest near Park Place Apartments in the 2600 block of Douglas Street.

Support Local Journalism Your membership makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}}

According to court documents, Blackbird was walking with his girlfriend and her baby when Banks came from inside the apartment complex, approached them and asked Blackbird, "Are you Solomon? Are you the guy who f----d up my money?", pulled out a gun and shot Blackbird.

Blackbird, 33, of Sioux City, died later at MercyOne Siouxland Medical Center.

Blackbird's girlfriend identified Banks as the shooter.
SIOUX CITY -- Dozens of union supporters rallied at the Federal Building in Sioux City Friday to push for a bill stalled in Congress that supporters claim would give the once-formidable labor movement an even playing field when organizing and bargaining with employers.

The union-friendly crowd used the rally to cajole Republican Sens. Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst to reverse their opposition to the so-called Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act.

The House approved the measure on a mostly party-line 225-206 vote in March, but it's been blocked by Republicans in a Senate divided 50-50, where Vice President Kamala Harris' vote gives the Democrats a slim majority.

"There's no reason not to support this," said Charlie Wishman, President of the Iowa Federation of Labor. "Because when we talk about build back better with unions, we're talking about building back out the middle class of this country. We're making progress."

Among the Iowa politicians in the crowd of about 40 Friday were former U.S. Rep. Abby Finkenauer and former Crawford County supervisor Dave Muhlbauer, who are both vying to be the Democratic nominee to challenge Grassley next fall. Finkenauer, who lost her eastern Iowa seat after one-term in last fall's election, announced her Senate bid on Thursday.
SIOUX CITY -- The Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center and Betty Strong Encounter Center closed Friday in remembrance of its executive director Mike McCormick, who died Thursday at age 69 after losing a battle with cancer.

McCormick, a retired Sioux City police sergeant, had led the riverfront attraction, which highlights the Lewis & Clark expedition, since May 2019. He had held several other roles with the center since it opened in 2002.

In 2011, McCormick played a key part in protecting the centers and its contents from from historic flooding on the Missouri River that summer.

Support Local Journalism Your membership makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}}

After joining the Sioux City police force in 1974, McCormick rose to the rank of sergeant before retiring after 39 years of service with the department.

"Mike was an amazing ambassador for not only the police department, but the city of Sioux City," Police Chief Rex Mueller said Friday. "He made his mark on the police department in so many ways. Mike built countless bridges in our community as the first CAST (Community Action Support Team) supervisor. Hid dedication to the citizens of this city and the officers who he supervised left lasting impressions on all of us who had the pleasure to call Mike a friend or mentor."
Suter said he initially aspired to become a physician. However, that changed while he was an undergraduate at Western Kentucky University.

"My first initiative was to go to nurse practitioner school and then to become an MD," he said. "I had an academic advisor who called me into a meeting and asked me, 'Are you sure you want to go this route?' I thought that I was pretty sure. I ended up meeting the CEO of a hospital there and, then, my whole paradigm changed."

Suter graduated from Western Kentucky University with a bachelor's degree in nursing in 2003. He went on to receive a master's in health care administration and a doctorate in health care administration from Vanderbilt University and University of Phoenix in 2005 and 2008.

Support Local Journalism Your membership makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}}

Suter said the transition to electronic medical records and the adoption of an accountable care organization (ACO) model are just a couple of the biggest changes he has witnessed in the industry.

"The way that payers are paying now, they base their payment off of quality of care, which I think is very important when it comes to ACOs and population health," he said.
SIOUX CITY -- What's one of the first things visitors to the Warrior Hotel's new rooftop bar notice when they step outside?

"You have no idea you're eye-level with the clock tower," Lila Plambeck, the Warrior's director of marketing and sales, said of the signature City Hall tower. "That's the craziest thing ever."

The Crown Rooftop Bar, located atop the 10-story historic hotel, offers stunning panoramic views of downtown. Much of the seating in the L-shaped outdoor patio looks toward the south, providing unique glimpses of such landmarks as the Missouri River, the Siouxland Veterans Memorial Bridge and two structures that also rival the Warrior in height -- the Badgerow Building and the Ho-Chunk Centre.

"It's something Sioux City has never seen before," Plambeck said of The Crown, which opened to the public Thursday.

Plambeck spoke as she showed the new space to local media. Work was finished earlier this year. A "soft opening" started July 2, with access limited to hotel guests and dignitaries.

"We wanted to make sure we had everything was done right," Plambeck said. "We wanted to make sure our service was top notch."

Support Local Journalism Your membership makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}}
ATLANTA (AP)  A suburban Atlanta congressman was among nine people arrested Thursday for blocking the door of a Senate office building in Washington while protesting inaction on Democratic voting law proposals.

U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson, a Lithonia Democrat, said in a statement after his arrest that he was protesting "Senate inaction on voting rights legislation & filibuster reform. In the spirit of my dear friend and mentor  the late Congressman John Lewis  I was getting in good trouble.

A number of members of the Congressional Black Caucus had spoken at a rally outside the U.S. Supreme Court urging Congress to change filibuster rules that allow a minority of 41 or more senators to block legislation. They say such changes were needed to pass laws creating nationwide standards to mandate early voting and automatic voter registration, limit gerrymandering and put back in place reviews of voting rules in areas with a history of discrimination. Congressional Republicans oppose the proposals.
Much of the audit focuses on a building, known as 101 Ash Street, that the city bought with plans to use as a consolidated office space for city employees. But the city only used the property for a few weeks after asbestos was found, the Union-Tribune reported.

The audit faults Faulconer's administration for failing to fully inform the City Council and public about the property. City staff told the council the building would need just $10,000 in repairs, but city contractors later estimated the building needed $115 million in repairs and improvements, the audit found.

Faulconer's administration also relied on a real estate expert, Jason Hughes, who was not under contract with the city and collected $9.4 million from the seller of two properties, including Ash Street, after advising the mayor, the Union-Tribune reported. The auditor faulted Faulconer's administration for working with Hughes without signing a city contract that would have revealed his economic interests.

John Burke, a spokesman for Faulconer's campaign, called the execution of the deal flawed" in a Friday statement about the audit but blamed it on Hughes playing both sides of the transaction." He said Faulconer halted payments on the property.
NEW YORK (AP)  A trove of religious artifacts stolen from Jewish synagogues and homes in Europe during the Holocaust are now in the hands of U.S. authorities who plan to return them to their communities of origin.

The authorities announced this week they had recovered 17 funeral scrolls, manuscripts and other historic records that were to go on auction in New York City. The items were traced to Jewish communities in Romania, Hungary, Ukraine and Slovakia that were ransacked during Nazi rule in World War II, federal prosecutors in Brooklyn said in a statement.

Acting U.S. Attorney Jacquelin Kasulis said they contain priceless historical information that belongs to the descendants of families that lived and flourished in Jewish communities before the Holocaust.

The auction house, Kestenbaum & Company, said it had cooperated with authorities. The sale involved a private collector known for trying to rescue and preserve Jewish historical documents that would otherwise have been lost, it said in a statement provided Friday.

When provenance claims were raised, the World Jewish Restitution Organization was consulted, after which we withdrew the property from the proposed auction," the statement added.
The proposed plant would have spanned more than 14 square miles (37 square kilometers) atop the scenic mesa and had an 850 megawatt capacity  roughly one-tenth of Nevada's total capacity and enough to provide daytime energy to 500,000 homes, according to the company.

The stalled project presents a setback for the Western state, which aims to transition to 50% renewable energy by 2030 and currently generates roughly 28% of its utility-scale electricity from renewables.

Gov. Steve Sisolak sent a letter to federal officials in 2020 requesting they fast-track the project.

Although a majority of the state's voters approved an energy transition ballot question last year, large-scale projects like Battle Born Solar have drawn backlash from conservationists, endangered species advocates and local businesses that cater to tourists.

Nevada fulfills most of its energy needs using natural gas plants or through importing power produced elsewhere. But developers have rapidly scaled up their investments in solar and geothermal in the windswept lands north of Las Vegas, where sunshine and open land are abundant.

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0
"I just think that this is a piece of democracy: If you are in statewide office, you should be going to all the people that you represent and giving them a chance to ask you questions," he said.

He fielded questions for about an hour in the muggy heat. He was asked about his audit of the governor's no-bid contract with Utah companies to provide coronavirus testing, whether his office would investigate Reynolds' sending nearly 30 Iowa State Patrol troopers to the Texas-Mexico border, and an upcoming audit of the state's decision to privatize Medicaid.

Sand said having political parties at each other's throats wasn't what the Founding Fathers envisioned. He said adopting open primaries and ranked-choice voting could convince politicians to listen to all sides, bringing "responsiveness" and "dignity" back to the political process.

"When I talk about a lack of responsiveness in the state of Iowa, it's not because it happens to be Republicans controlling it right now, it's because our system is broken," he said. "It doesn't serve people anymore: It serves insiders, it serves politicians, it serves parties. It doesn't serve the public."
Hospital leaders, who cannot themselves issue mandates, will have to build support for the idea with elected leaders and public health officials in order to obtain a second mandate. Officials would almost certainly face intense blowback from some portion of their constituents against any new order, especially after going months without one.

Kansas City

Morgan Said, a spokesperson for Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas, said Thursday that Kansas City Health Department Director Rex Archer had not approached the mayor with a recommendation for a mask mandate.

We continue to monitor the spread of COVID-19 variants and are in regular communication with our local and federal health experts, and will continue to rely on their guidance, Said said in a statement. We cannot emphasize enough the importance of taking the COVID-19 vaccine to protect all in our community  and encourage those who havent yet been vaccinated to make a plan to do so.

On July 16, MARC issued a health advisory on behalf of chief medical officers in Leavenworth, Johnson, Wyandotte, Clay, Cass, Platte and Ray counties urging people to get vaccinations if they havent already done so. Those who dont have a vaccine were recommended to wear masks in indoor places, according to the advisory.
Nebraska needs more nurses  many more. Demand is high in the states metropolitan areas of Omaha and Lincoln, but the shortfall, relative to population, is especially severe in much of rural Nebraska.

Nursing programs at colleges and universities across the state have implemented innovative strategies to address the shortage. Enrollment in recent years has been notably on the rise. Creighton Universitys nursing program, for example, saw a pre-COVID increase of about 35% over three years. And the number of nurses in Nebraska has long been on a significant upswing.

Still, the gains havent been enough to close the gap. The sparsity of nurses in much of rural Nebraska is a particular concern. Eleven rural counties, in recent surveys, reported zero registered nurses; nine counties, no licensed practical nurses; and eight counties, no nurses of either kind. Most of these counties are in the Sandhills.

In all, the latest report from the University of Nebraska Medical Center says, Nebraska needs nearly 4,200 more nurses to meet statewide demand. That shortfall is equivalent to more than 14% of the 28,556 total nursing positions currently filled statewide.

By 2025, UNMC projects the statewide nursing shortfall to stand at 5,436 positions.
Back in March, Olivia Messer, a freelance journalist, placed an order at Joybird for a green, sumptuous-looking velvet couch. Shed just bought a house in Florida, and her parents bought the item as a present for her 30th birthday. The retailer warned, however, that the couch might not arrive for four months. Last week, the delivery finally came. It contained half a couch.

So happy its here Im not even mad they only delivered half the couch  pic.twitter.com/6f0aW0HW2n  Olivia Messer  (@OliviaMesser) July 14, 2021

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Over email, customer service told Messer that Joybird needed three to five days to search a loading dock and find the rest of her order. Messer chalked up the delay, and her bisected couch, to the vagaries of the pandemic. Honestly I think a big part of starting over in a new place and moving, renovating, and buying furnituresome used, some newin this time is just getting a little comfortable with uncertainty, she said over text, adding that this isnt the only recent furniture purchase for which shes had to wait. As of yet, the missing half-couch has not arrived.

It has rarely been so hard to get your hands on a bar cart, love seat, or dining room table. Extended delivery windows for furniture have become common as the global economy has begun to shake off its pandemic sleepies, with kinks emerging up and down the supply chain. A sofa normally would take eight to 10 weeks in regular times. Now theyre taking 25 to 35 weeks for a special order, said Steve Giorgi, who co-owns the Giorgi Brothers Furniture Showroom in San Francisco. It depends on the individual vendor. We carry about 200 vendors, and the furthest one we have is quoting September 2022. Demand for new furniture has boomed during the pandemic, particularly since the third quarter of last year, with people setting up offices and decked-out lounging areas in their homes.

Advertisement

Advertisement

All the while, shortages of various raw materials, transportation issues, and labor shortfalls are leaving many manufacturers and retailers in a pinchand sometimes completely out of luck. La-Z-Boy disclosed in a February earnings call that it lost $30 million in business over the most recent quarter due to disruptions in shipping and manufacturing.* Tim Fiore, who oversees manufacturing business surveys for the Institute for Supply Management, says the furniture industry had the highest rate of backlogs for orders among all the sectors he monitored in June. If I look at whats been happening in the furniture industry over the last couple of months, its probably our hottest industry sector, he said. Its not the largest by any means  but it has the highest new order number. Lots of ordersand a buckling supply.

Advertisement

In terms of materials, foam and lumber shortages are seriously impeding furniture supply chains. In February, freezing winter storms caused widespread power grid outages in Texas and other Southern states. Apart from leaving millions of people without heat and electricity, the inclement weather also knocked out several of the countrys major producers of propylene oxide, a main ingredient in foam. Those factories are still recovering, and foam manufacturers havent been able to provide sufficient materials for mattresses, couches, and chairs. Theres foam rationing occurring, said Giorgi. The foam manufacturers are trying to give people what they can givegive you something versus nothingbut theyre still operating at 60 or 70 percent of what factories need to be running at capacity.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Additional fallout from the February storms has left other factories playing catch-up in churning out domestic supplies of nuts, bolts, fabrics, drawer rails, and brackets for holding together chairs and shelves. This tends to affect more expensive products. On the higher end, custom-made stuff, its the little components that just keep it from being completed, said Jerry Burdick, owner of iDeal Furniture in Las Vegas. For example, you can get a custom leather sectional all cut and sewn, but to complete it you need the little steel components.

Lumber is the other crucial raw material for furniture thats become much pricier and more difficult to come by. As my colleague Henry Grabar reported, a lopsided supply-and-demand dynamic has been playing out in the sector. Theres been a run on wood not only due to the demand for furniture, but also because of a boom in homebuilding and renovations. At the same time, sawmills pared back operations after the Great Recession and now dont have the capacity to ramp up production, even if the timber they want to cut is in plentiful supply. Building more mill infrastructure is expensive and risky, and wood prices are already starting to drop. As Grabar wrote, A new sawmill could take years to be completedand the last lumber price spike, in 2018, came and went in half that time.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Transporting raw materials, components, and finished products has also been an issue for international furniture supply chains. Imports from AsiaChina in particularhave been held up due to the pandemic and are soaring in price. Im expecting it to be a big issue in July, and we really dont expect that to clear up until the end of the year, Fiore said of the shipping delays. On top of that, you dont have the airfreight cargo anymore because youre not flying international flights, which used to fill up the bellies of the planes with high-value goods. The Washington Post reports that fees for shipping from Asia have quadrupled in some cases. Shipping containers are overbooked as many businesses are trying to restock inventories that were running low during the pandemic and logjams are materializing at ports due to COVID outbreaks. In January and February, hundreds of dockworkers contracted the coronavirus in Southern California, severely limiting the countrys capacity to accept imported goods. An outbreak of the delta variant in Guangdong in June has also had a global ripple effect, as the province is a massive shipping hub that handles 24 percent of Chinas exports. Its bad news for the furniture industry, which is especially reliant on imports from Asia. Everything has got something in it from Asia, whether it be a fabric or a metal clip or the whole bedroom settheres nothing thats entirely made here, said Giorgi, who noted that virtually all of the metal clips in U.S. sofas come from China.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Given the global economic forces at play, theres only so much that smaller furniture retailers like Giorgi and Burdick can do to deal with shortages and extended lead times, though theyve been trying to reorient their businesses a bit to adapt to this new landscape. Burdick has been leaning more on domestic manufacturers. My store has changed a little bit. I have product in there thats more American-made stuff, just because theyre not so dependent on some of the foreign pieces and parts so much, he said. I mean, everybody is a little bit, but not to where youre completely handicapped if youre not getting imports. And while Giorgis shop has historically specialized in custom-made products, hes lately been trying to stock up more on pre-made items so that people can purchase things right away if they dont want to deal with the extra-long delivery times.

Despite all the headaches and higher costs, though, both shop owners said that this rush for furniture has ultimately been a net benefit for their businesses. It was one of our best years ever. One of our best years in a long, long time, said Giorgi. Its been a lot of work, but were very fortunate to be this busy. You may have to wait for half a couch or more, but the showrooms are making a killing.
This post contains spoilers for Old and Sandcastle.

M. Night Shyamalans latest feature, Old, is inspired by the 2011 graphic novel Sandcastle. Written by award-winning French documentarian Pierre Oscar Levy and illustrated by Swiss comic artist Frederik Peeters, the book was initially published in France, before being translated into English by Nora Mahony and released in the United States in 2013. While it received critical acclaim, twist master Shyamalan might just be its biggest fan, claiming that from the moment I read this, I was changed.

Advertisement

Its easy to see why Sandcastle appealed so much to the director of The Sixth Sense, as it combines psychological and supernatural horror. The comic revolves around people relaxing at a nameless beach who begin mysteriously and rapidly aging. But where Sandcastle tends to be vague and cryptic, Old gives the whole scenario a stringent setup and explanation, with many new story details filled in by Shyamalan, who wrote the screenplay himself. And of course, Shyamalan makes sure to add a signature twist. Below, weve broken down the biggest differences between Old and its source material.

The Beach

The primary beachfront setting of both Sandcastle and Old differs between book and film. Sandcastle takes place almost entirely on the nameless beach, which is presumably set somewhere in France. (The exceptions are a few short snapshots of car rides en route to the destination.) Old expands on this setting. At the beginning of the movie, we see the main characters heading to a luxury resort with servers and caterers, fancy drinks and food, and comfortable hotel lodgings. The resort manager (Gustaf Hammarsten) recommends the beach to them, and a guide played by Shyamalan himself drives two of the families there. The climax of the movie is set at locations not seen at all in the book: a tunnel of coral and a research lab connected to the resort (more on that later).

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

The beaches in the novel and the movie also look different: Sandcastles beach is larger, with little woodsy nooks and crannies and a grassy field that sits a ways back from the water. Olds beach, however, is smaller and more constricted; the characters cannot go to the hideaways that some of Sandcastles beachgoers explore.

[Read: Is M. Night Shyamalans Old Scary or Just Goofy?]

The Vacationers

Manythough not allof Sandcastles characters make it from page to screen, albeit with significant changes in names, temperaments, and identifications.

Sandcastles first family is the basis for Olds primary family. In Sandcastle, this consists of a bespectacled man named Robert; his wife, Marianne; their daughter, Zoe; their younger son, Felix; and their dog, Elvis. In Old, the family is made up of Guy (Gael Garcia Bernal); his wife, Prisca (Vicky Krieps); their son, Trent (first portrayed by Nolan River); and their daughter, Maddox (first played by Alexa Swinton). Shyamalan expands on the familys backstory significantly: Unlike Robert and Marianne, Guy and Prisca fight often and are on the verge of divorce, and the latter is also later revealed to be both dealing with a tumor and cheating on her husband, neither of which happens in the comic. In the book, both Felix and Zoe start at much younger ages, while at the beginning of Old Trent is 6 and Maddox is 11.

Advertisement

Advertisement

The next family introduced in Sandcastle is British. The patriarch is a racist, aggressive doctor named Charles, there with his mother-in-law; his wife, Nathalie; their daughter, Sophie; and their younger son, Louis. While the family remains British, in Old they are Charles (Rufus Sewell); his mother, Agnes (Kathleen Chalfant); his now much-younger-looking, hypocalcemic wife, Khrystal (Abbey Lee); and a daughter, Kara (first portrayed by Mikaya Fisher). He has no son in Old.

The third family, whom we meet much later in Sandcastle than we do in Old, includes an elderly science-fiction author named Henry Lascaride; his daughter, Florence; and her husband, a nurse named Oliver. Lascaride does not appear in Old, although in the movie some characters do come across the scribbled musings of a sci-fi writer. Instead, theres Patriciaintroduced early on as an epileptic, a detail important to the on-screen plot but mentioned nowhere in the noveland her nurse husband, Jarin (Ken Leung).

Advertisement

In Sandcastle, the very first character to appear is an Algerian Kabyle jeweler whose name we never learn. At the beginning, he emerges from sleep in a rocky cave on the side of the beach when he sees a young woman strip off her clothes to go skinny-dipping. He voyeuristically shifts his vantage point to get another look at her, only to soon see her lifeless body float to the top of the waterall before any of the families get there. Its then implied that he attempts to escape the beach, only to pass out in the field behind it; Robert and Mariannes family stumble upon his unconscious body there as they walk toward the beach. He doesnt speak to the family, but instead sneaks away to a shady enclave, where he discovers he has a nosebleed. Robert claims he didnt like the look of that guy, which prompts his wife to jokingly ask if hes racist. (This dynamic is prominent throughout the book, as he faces racist treatment by Charles as well; this is likely meant to tie into the colonial history of Frances former hold over Algeria.)

Advertisement

Advertisement

In Old, this character is significantly altered, becoming a prominent rapper named Mid-Sized Sedan (Aaron Pierre), whose music one of the beachgoers is familiar with. The skinny-dipping dead woman appears in Old as well, but shes there with Sedan, who says they were making music together before she died. Sedan also gets a nosebleed, but its explained as a chronic medical condition, not an effect of the beach. Though he does face suspicion and hostility, especially from the movies Charles, the European-colonial-Algerian component of the racism is not quite as apparent in Old as it is in Sandcastle.

One new and important character written into the story entirely by Shyamalan is the resort managers nephew, Idlib (Kailen Jude), who befriends Trent at the resort and passes him coded messages. These details later play into Olds twist.

The Story

In both Old and Sandcastle, things immediately start going wrong when the families make it to the beach: The kids and adults start rapidly aging, the skinny-dippers corpse is discovered, and the doctors mother-in-law/mother dies soon after as well. Other shared plot points, with slight differences: A sort of powerful force field keeps the beachgoers trapped in their area, although the specific effects it has on them slightly differ in the movie; two of the growing teens have a baby together, who survives until the very end of Sandcastle, where shes seen as an adult, but who dies immediately after being born in Old; there appears to be a man with a camera watching the families from a distant cliff (though, unlike the novel, the film later confirms exactly who he is).

Advertisement

Advertisement

One of the most significant storytelling differences between the comic and its adaptation is how long the characters survive. In the former, all the major characters hold out until they resign themselves to their fates, either aging into death or killing themselves; in the latter, however, many of the characters get gradually picked off And Then There Were Nonestyle, with some directly murdering other beachgoers and others dying in their attempts to escape the premises. The people of Sandcastle eventually find a level of camaraderie with one another despite the tensions, but the circumstances become too much for many of the people in Old; eventually, the movies only survivors are the family consisting of Guy, Prisca, Trent, and Maddox. The parents then die of old age, which leaves Trent and Maddox to crack the mystery of the beach alone.

The Experiment

Advertisement

In Olds ending, Trent and Maddox reflect on the past few days at the resort and then the beach. Trent remembers that Idlib left him some coded messages, which he translatesleading him to discover a potential escape route through a coral reef in the water. He and Maddox swim out there, though Maddox then gets one of her clothes suck on the coral. This is documented by the man on the cliff, whom we discover is none other than Shyamalans character, whos been keeping tabs on the families and reports back to the resort that though it seems Trent and Maddox almost found their way out, they likely have drowned. Shyamalans character then heads back to the resort, where he walks through a pharmaceutical research lab featuring scientists at work on different experiments. It turns out that the materials on the beach that cause the hyperaccelerated aging process are part of a deliberate experiment to test medicines meant to cure chronic diseases; the aging process is necessary because the pharma companys scientists want to ensure their medicines will last a human lifetime before releasing them for general consumption. For a deeper dive into this zany endingand the revelation of yet another new twist after the big revealmy colleague Karen Han has written a useful breakdown.

In Sandcastle, the possibility of the rapid aging being an experiment conducted on the characters is raised, and that theory is supported by a few minor details, but its never spelled out fully like it is in Old, making for a much more ambiguous read. The book ends with the baby born on the beach, now grown, alone and building a sandcastle.
More than 20 years after the idea was first proposed, only to be struck down by officials who valued corporate profits over the national interest, a federal agency has imposed mandatory cybersecurity requirements on privately owned companies.

The regulation, issued Tuesday by the Transportation Security Administration, in consultation with the Department of Homeland Security, requires owners and operators of critical pipelineschiefly those carrying natural gas and hazardous liquidsto implement a number of urgently needed protections against cyberintrusions.*

The measure, which was prompted by the ransomware attack on Colonial Pipeline in May that created a gas panic in the Southeast, requires all such companies to do the following:

Advertisement

 Develop and implement a contingency and recovery plan for cyberintrusions;

 Compare the plan with DHS standards, identify gaps, develop measures to fill them, and gain approval for them from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, or CISA;*

Advertisement

Advertisement

 Appoint and identify, within seven days, a cyber coordinator (and a backup cyber coordinator) who is available to the DHSs CISA officials 24/7; and

 Report all cyberintrusions to CISA within 12 hours of the incident.

The TSA issued similar pipeline guidelines in 2018, but it stressed, This document is guidance and does not impose requirements on any person or company.

By contrast, the July document states very clearly that it is laying down requirements.

So far, only the pipeline industry is affected, but the National Security Archivea private research group based at George Washington Universitynoted in a report on Friday that the new regulation marks a pivot from the hands-off approach of previous administrations, suggesting that the federal government will no longer shy away from imposing cyber standards on private entities in critical infrastructure sectors.

Advertisement

Back in 2000, Richard A. Clarke, who at the time was President Bill Clintons cybersecurity adviser, drafted a lengthy executive order imposing mandatory regulations. But private companies lobbied strenuously against it, and Clintons chief economic advisers warned that it would erode the efficiency and competitiveness of American IT companies. Clinton never signed it.

As a compromise, Clarke created Information Sharing and Analysis Centers, where federal agencies would provide guidance to corporations on how to improve security against cyberintrusions. Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama went a few steps furtherfor instance, Obama appointed a chief information security officer for the entire federal governmentbut compliance remained voluntary. As with the 2018 guidelines, the executive orders stated explicitly that they were listing recommendations, not requirements.

Advertisement

The new measure changes all that, at least for one important economic sector, potentially for the rest as well.

Over the past 20 years, as cyberattacks have grown in number, certain sectors have responded vigorously to the challenge. Banks and financial firms have ranked highest, mainly because security is at the core of their business: If banks keep getting hacked, customers will withdraw their money. Banks also have the money to hire the best IT technicians. As a result, banks are hacked hundreds or thousands of times a day, but the results are rarely devastating; the intruders are spotted and expelled pretty quickly. However, other firmsfor instance, electrical plants, water works, and pipelineshave done relatively little to patch their vulnerabilities, in part because its expensive to do so, in part because attacks have rarely happened. Until recently. As attacks have grown increasingly routine and financially damaging, even the private companies are showing greater readiness to take action, even at some penalty to their bottom lines.

It remains to be seen how broadly the Biden administration will expand the regulation to other economic sectors, or how strenuously the new law will be enforced if some firms disobey. But this is a first stepridiculously late, but a very big deal.
Since the vaccines for COVID-19 became available, public health authorities, respected medical professionals, some employers, and responsible politicians have been urging, coercing, and bribing us all to get immunized. With the emergence of the more infectious, more virulent, and now dominant delta variant, soaring positive rates have pumped new urgency into these pleas. Yet vaccine uptake rates have slowed to a crawl, and most of those who remain unvaccinated say they dont plan to change their minds. Unless that changes, expect higher mortality rates, breakthrough infections, and potentially a return to the pandemic lockdown state wed all hoped wed left behind.

Advertisement

A constellation of reasons can be cited for ongoing vaccine hesitancy, but one key factor is the prevalence of quack experts willing to misinterpret data, lie about statistics, and just plain make stuff up. Leading the misinformation charge has been Fox Newsand particularly Tucker Carlson. Night after night, Carlson has provided a platform for sowing fear and confusion among his viewers about the efficacy of the vaccine and its side effects. Although the network has recently sounded a more responsible note, that turnabout has by no means been across the entire network and it comes too late for an untold number of people who have been newly sickened or died from the disease, and who might have been saved through immunization. There may actually be some legal remedy, though, for the damage wrought by the network. COVID victims who were taken in by Carlsons vaccination misinformation, or their estates, may be able to sue Fox News under the ancient common law theory of fraud. They would have a reasonably good chance of success, too.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Tort law allows anyone injured by the intentional bad act of another to sue for personal injury, property damage, or economic loss caused by the wrongful activity. The specific claim that relates to harm caused by deliberate misrepresentations is fraud, and, depending on what misinformation someone ingested, and how they reacted to it, its easy to imagine that many viewers would be able to state a good claim. Whats needed to prove a case for fraud is clearly established through centuries of judicial decisions.

Subscribe to the Slatest Newsletter A daily email update of the stories you need to read right now. We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again. Please enable javascript to use form. Email address: Send me updates about Slate special offers. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms Sign Up Thanks for signing up! You can manage your newsletter subscriptions at any time.

First, the plaintiff has to prove that the defendant made a misstatement of fact, knowing that it was false or with reckless disregard as to whether it was true or false. (Reckless disregard means that the defendant did no investigation at all, but just put the statements out there.) Examples of such misstatements on Fox are abundant. Here are a few clips (starting about 50 seconds in) where Carlson and Lara Trump, as a guest on Sean Hannitys show, say that COVID is really about social control, and where Carlson calls the COVID response a scandal. Heres Carlson questioning whether the vaccine works, since those who are vaccinated are still urged to take precautions: Maybe it doesnt work, and theyre simply not telling you that. (This is not how vaccine efficacy works. No immunization is 100 percent effective, so theres always a small chance of infection, a smaller chance of illness, and an infinitesimally small chance of death even among the fully vaccinated.) Heres Carlson giving airtime to Alex Berenson, The Pandemics Wrongest Man, allowing him to spout more nonsense about the vaccines supposed lack of efficacy. Want more? Beyond Carlson, here (starting at about 3:21) are some Fox News personalities misrepresenting the door-to-door effort by the Biden administration to educate people and answer their questions about the vaccine. Its the Taliban! Its a violation of medical privacy! Its to force you to take the vaccine! (No, no, and no. The vaccine educators are from the local community; they dont even work for the government.) These purveyors of misinformation are either lying, or acting in reckless disregard of truth versus falsity by not doing even the most basic research to check out what theyre spewing. And its also considered a misrepresentation to state a half-truth, leaving out vital information needed to place a statement in context. Thats exactly the case with Carlsons mock questioning of the vaccines efficacy; it paints a willfully incomplete picture.

Advertisement

Advertisement

To prevail on a fraud claim, the plaintiff next has to show that the defendant intended that the injured party rely on the misrepresentation (this can be inferred from the fact that Fox holds itself out as a purveyor of news) and that the plaintiff reasonably relied on the misstatement. Each potential plaintiff would have to allege, and then prove, that they had relied on Fox and the experts making the statements that induced them to forgo vaccination. Its impossible to imagine that at least some of the sickened and killed didnt count on Carlson, his guests, and the rest of the Fox misinformers, and it would be hard to hear Fox attorneys claim that no one should reasonably rely on what their news station puts out. (Ironically, the network has successfully made this argument in court before, but in a case that involved statements by Carlson that might reasonably be seen as hyperbole. Its a different story when he puts out informationsome of it from so-called expertsthat makes demonstrably false claims in a case involving hard facts.)

Advertisement

The final requirement for a successful fraud claim is a showing of economic loss, which would be easy enough. Hospital bills not covered by insurance, lost wages, and even lost income from the deceased, in a wrongful death situation, are some ready examples.

Advertisement

But one final hurdle remains. Although such a case would look strong when ticking through the requirements of a fraud case, this situation does not look much like a traditional claim, which typically involves a direct out-of-pocket loss that was itself intended by the fraudulent party. More run-of-the-mill cases would include stock fraud, or selling someone a used car the seller represents as safe, but which has a shoddy transmission of which he had knowledge. Yet even though the misstatements in this case seem designed not so much to bilk viewers out of money directly, it could be argued that Fox News intended to pad its bottom line by catering to a particularly conspiracy-minded market by pushing its anti-vaccine garbage. Even beyond the potential economic gain to Fox, though, at least some courts have been willing to extend fraud claims to situations where the defendants conduct violates a strong public policyeven without demonstrable economic loss. In one tragic situation, for instance, parents adopted a child where the agency had failed to disclose his very disturbing history, which included abuse and the boys subsequent propensity to commit extreme violence. The couple was not only able to rescind the adoption, but also to state a claim for fraud. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court looked to the importance of encouraging people to adopt children, and worried that agency misconduct like this would compromise that goal and relieve bad actors of the duty of trust they owe to families in these emotionally fraught circumstances. Other states have agreed with this approach in adoption cases, citing the capacity of the common law to evolve to meet new challenges. And if successful, the Pennsylvania court noted, plaintiffs would be entitled not only to economic damages, but also damages for their pain and suffering, and even for punitive damagesto deter future such misconduct.

Advertisement

Similar policy arguments apply here; if anything, they are even stronger. In our world of segmented media, Fox News watchers rely heavily on what they hear on the network. They trust Fox to deliver truthful information. No greater breach of that trust can be imagined than relating misinformation designed to keep people away from lifesaving vaccines. An article in the Daily Mail quoted a doctor from Alabamawhere vaccination rates are the lowest in the nationwho works with sick and dying, and young, COVID patients. Heres a heartbreaking excerpt from her Facebook post: One of the last things they do before theyre intubated is beg me for the vaccine. I hold their hand and tell them that Im sorry, but its too late. A few days later when I call time of death, I hug their family members and I tell them the best way to honor their loved one is to go get vaccinated and encourage everyone they know to do the same. They cry. And they tell me they didnt know. They thought it was a hoax.

How many of these people relied on Fox News? Perhaps we will one day find out in court.
In a depressing New York Times piece titled Loneliness Is Breaking America, Michelle Goldberg discusses research that shows that being socially isolated, disconnected, and alone is highly correlated with being a rabid Trumpist, a QAnon believer, and/or a COVID truther. Goldberg quotes Damon Linker writing in the Week about recent studies that show the number of both men and women who claim to have no close friends increasing five-fold over the past 30 years. Its not just that its fundamentally unhealthy to be so lonely. Linker and Goldberg both invoke Hannah Arendt, who argued that loneliness can be a precondition for accepting totalitarian ideologies: The chief characteristic of the mass man is not brutality and backwardness, but his isolation and lack of normal social relationships.

Advertisement

These ideologies also reduce peoples ability to trust, even as they offer them something to believe in.

Americans have, to be sure, been bowling alone for a long time now. But the internet also allows lonely people to band together to seemingly bowl to the death, forging relationships, connection, and meaning in enterprises that are ever more frequently and frighteningly rooted in lies. This revelation surfaces just as the Washington Post publishes a guide to what the Jan. 6 rioters were thinking when they joined a violent lawless siege on the U.S. Capitol. The aggregated defenses of most of the charged rioters paint pictures of lost, broken, fragile meaning-seekers, everyday ordinary Joes, caught up in swirling forces beyond their control, and desperate to be seen and to forge meaning. The sentencing judges, notes the Post, must now struggle with the intractable problem of what to do with the people who led normal lives until Jan. 6, when a vortex of forces compelled them to engage in criminal behavior. (This struggle, one must observe, is seemingly complicated by the fact that most of the rioters were white.)

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Violent Trumpism, white supremacist militias, QAnon lies, and misinformation all prey on people who have been increasingly isolated by decades of sociological, economic, and religious trends and forces, all of which have been amplified in the pandemic. But revisiting Arendt takes it further than that: These ideologies also reduce peoples ability to trust, even as they offer them something to believe in. Whether its the QAnon imperative to mistrust anything you havent researched yourself, or the Trumpist insistence that anyone saying anything you dislike must be a liar, the systematic shredding of realistic touchstones opens the door to believing anything and everything, in order to just be a part of something. As Masha Gessen has written, again of Arendt, she links loneliness to the states of uprootedness and superfluousness: having no place in the world, nothing to give to the world. This, in turn, is linked to the loss of what she calls common sensethe shared reality that allows us to know ourselves, to know where we end and the world begins, and how we are connected to others.

Advertisement

All of this is disturbing on its own, but theres another recent reason dangerous isolation and mistrust of government have been on my mind lately. There is a radical new Texas abortion bill, S.B. 8, that prohibits virtually any abortion after the sixth week of pregnancy, a point at which few women know they are pregnant (and a clear violation of Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey). Much has been written about how S.B. 8 is stranger and darker than other abortion restrictionsin addition to the egregiousness of the six-week ban, it also shifts responsibility for enforcement from state actors onto private citizens. The law, slated to go into effect on Sept. 1, is, by design, nearly impossible to challenge in court, as Steve Vladeck and Laurence Tribe argue here. It would also create a mechanism wherein states can potentially sidestep the protections of any federal rights, as Julia Kaye and Marc Hearron explain here. Like all abortion regulations, the law would fall disproportionately on poor, Black and brown women, and wouldas is also intendedattempt to terrorize abortion providers out of business by forcing them to defend multiple frivolous suits from the Egregiously Offended. And all this is happening as abortion opponents correctly assume that the current Supreme Courts conservative majority intends to passively let reproductive freedom wither away slowly, regardless of the health and welfare of women it used to pretend to cherish.

Advertisement

Advertisement

But what actually strikes me most forcefully about the Texas law is the way that it will intersect with and exacerbate the pathologies highlighted by Arendt, Goldberg, and Linker. The new law directs itself at those very same atomized, mistrustful impulses for self-help and seemingly heroic individualist interventions that are the cornerstone of totalitarianism. By design, again, S.B. 8 conscripts ordinary citizensanywhere, including outside of Texasto sue any person who has performed, aided, and abetted, or intended to aid and abet an abortion in violation of the ban. The rape counselor who advised you, the housemate who drove you to the clinic, the pastor who helped weigh your options are all on the hook. If a stranger in a restaurant merely overhears discussion of getting an abortion, that stranger could take you to court. And the state could then award those people at least $10,000 (plus attorneys fees and court costs, to be paid by the abortion abettor) per illegal abortion if they are successful at trial. As Tribe and Vladeck put it, the law effectively enlists the citizenry to act as an anti-abortion Stasi. There are, to be sure, environmental and whistleblower laws that also encourage citizen enforcement, but in those regimes, the citizens act in tandem with the state, not as a replacement for it. The cash bounty? Thats the cherry on top.

Advertisement

Advertisement

The formal reason state actors are not allowed to enforce the Texas abortion ban is to make it harder for people interested in protecting the right to abortion to sue. But the lingering impact of pitting citizen against citizen is yet more confirmation that as trust in government enforcement wobbles, we are all going to be invited to be our own militia now. This follows a long line of efforts to relocate police authority away from the state to the individual, including new efforts to immunize lawless militias, which, by the way, are proliferating. Since 2005, the ever-expanding stand your ground laws, allowing citizens to use lethal force in self-defense, even if they could have safely retreated, are nothing if not versions of this messagethat if the government cant enforce the law to your liking, you should be permitted to do so yourself. The selfsame Blue Lives Matter crowd didnt hesitate to attack and injure Capitol Police on Jan. 6 once they had convinced themselves they were in the right.

Advertisement

It is frankly terrifying to hear state officials persuading a mistrustful citizenry that they should be deputized as the righteous protectors of the lives of the unborn, at the cost of the safety of the women who are actual citizens. While there are many reasons to believe the law will not stand (among other things, as my colleague Mark Joseph Stern has argued, the law seems to violate the Texas Constitution itself, which bars individuals from suing over conduct that did not injure them personally), it will create a massive train wreck in the Texas courts until it is resolved. But in the decadeslong struggle to stop abortions, from the murder of physicians to the TRAP laws designed to shutter clinics, this law falls heavily on the side of emboldening the most fanatical to act under the color of law.

Advertisement

It is not, then, simply that Americans are dying from loneliness. Its that this toxic loneliness, fueled by movements that feed on anger and lies and extremism, is also enabled by legal regimes that encourage vigilantism and individual enforcement. When Texas pits neighbor against neighbor, asking them to speculate about intimate and complex health care decisions, then remunerates the snitches for turning in imagined enemies of the people, the explicit intent may not be to weaken families, communities, state institutions, and public trust, but that is surely going to be one of the effects. Arendt understood perfectly that lonely, isolated peopleseeking meaning and purpose and communitycrave fictions in place of messy realities. And the strong strain of rugged American individualism only boosts the need to be part of a bold citizen law enforcement regime that answers to no law at all. S.B. 8 may have been borne of a clever litigation strategy that immunizes the state from legal burdens, just as it terrorizes abortion providers out of existence. But make no mistake: It is of a piece with a larger and lethal illiberal worldview in which isolated and disconnected people are encouraged to give up on institutions, truth, and government, in favor of extralegal totalitarian impulses. Conscripting random citizens to enforce the law against one another for fun and profit isnt just a noxious subversion of a long-standing American legal tradition; its yet another step toward lawless self-help dressed up as individualistic and heroic law and order.
In August 2020, the first American child was born after using a new kind of genetic test in hopes of reducing the risk of heart disease. In vitro fertilization offered her father, a physician, the opportunity to use pre-implantation testing to select the embryo that, according to this test from Genomic Prediction, had the lowest risk of developing heart disease and some other conditions. Heart disease doesnt have a single genetic cause, and it also has environmental factors. But this new test uses polygenic risk score, or PRS, models to predict an embryos lifetime risk of diseases and conditions (like heart disease and schizophrenia) that are only partly caused by genetics.

Advertisement

Embryo testing is not new for parents going through IVF, and embryos are often screened for genetic diseases, but parents can now get this kind of genetic test offered by other companies like Genomic Prediction, such as Orchid and MyOme. However, genetics professionals (including me) have concerns about this high-tech solution to have healthy babies, as Orchids tagline puts it.

Advertisement

Advertisement

For many couples, the IVF journey can be long, fraught, and expensive, averaging about $12,000 to $17,000 per cycle (and a pregnancy may take multiple cycles). After fertilization and before implantation, couples can opt to have their less-than-week-old embryo screened with a genetic test. This typically identifies disorders caused by a single gene (like Huntingtons disease) or a whole chromosome (Down syndrome). Now, for approximately $1,100, they can add on a newer and much less understood genetic test: a PRS test.

Advertisement

At its core, a PRS model is fancy statistics applied to basic genetics. Researchers produce the model by comparing genomic data between people with and without some condition (or trait). But they arent comparing genes. Instead, they compare common genetic changes called single-nucleotide polymorphismsSNPs for short, pronounced snips. These SNPs are single-letter differences in the DNA, whereas a gene is between several hundred to more than 2 million letters long. A gene codes for a protein, but SNPs may slightly alter how a gene is translated into a protein, or how the resulting protein functions. When studied in large groups, SNPs show small but significant correlations that suggest they influence inherited conditions. Using advanced statistics, researchers create a model using anywhere from dozens to millions of SNPs that influence the risk of a condition, adding them together for a composite scorethe PRS.

Advertisement

Advertisement

For example, I might use a colorectal cancer PRS test and learn I have a lifetime risk of 5.1 percent, very close to the average Americans lifetime risk of 4.1 percent. But my friend might learn his lifetime risk is 0.4 percent. My genetic risk would be essentially average, while my friends risk would be significantly below average. However, most people will have near-average risks when using a PRS test, perhaps a little higher or lower but not significantly different, as few people have a set of SNPs conferring very high or very low risk. In theory, this risk information can then help make health care decisionsmore frequent colonoscopies, for exampleor screen embryos.

Advertisement

Hype for using PRS models in health care has been building for years. In 2018, researchers created a model using more than 6 million SNPs to stratify risk for coronary artery disease. Although this was an achievement, a follow-up study adding this PRS model to conventional risks (such as age) found that the model failed to predict heart disease any better than conventional risks did alone. This doesnt mean the coronary artery disease PRS didnt work; its more likely that the PRS model didnt capture enough of the genetic risk to make a meaningful difference in the total risk score. Researchers expect to discover more SNPs that influence coronary artery disease in the future, which they can use to improve PRS models. But insufficient knowledge is a problem for essentially all current PRS models.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Another problem? Were not sure why they work, said Peter Kraft, genetic epidemiologist at Harvards T.H. Chan School of Public Health. We dont know what these [SNPs] are doing biologically. Many [SNPs] are pleiotropic, so they have more than one effect. Pick the allele that reduces your risk of breast cancer and maybe thats also increasing your risk of Type 2 diabetes.

Indeed, at least two studies have found higher scores on measures of creativity to be correlated with higher schizophrenia PRS. Though this link isnt definitive, it does raise the question as to whether selecting an embryo for low schizophrenia PRS might limit creative potential. And definitively proving any link between SNPs and a condition is going to be daunting, as the classic genetics approach simply doesnt work at scale.

Advertisement

The typical approach to proving a genetic variation causes a condition is to create an organism or cellular model with the variant in an experiment, then take careful measurements to assess the relationship between the condition and the engineered and original versions of the cell or organism. But how do you experimentally measure a minute risk conferred by dozens, or millions, of SNPs? And what if the risk occurs only in combination with other SNPs, or in the context of certain environmental factors?

Advertisement

With all of these unanswered questions, the usefulness of current PRS models is dubious. Kraft used schizophrenia as an example: The back-of-the-envelope calculations, if you take your average couple and you compare the average risk of their child getting schizophrenia versus screen five embryos and pick the embryo with the lowest risk, youre talking about going from a 1 percent lifetime risk of schizophrenia to a 0.6 percent life risk of schizophrenia. So, rounding up, thats a 1 percent risk of schizophrenia. Even if a parent has schizophrenia, youre talking about going from 2 percent risk to 1.6 percent risk. Put another way, that embryos risk of not getting schizophrenia went from 98 percent to 98.4 percent. Its unclear if, for many parents, thats a huge game changer, he said.

Advertisement

That these tests are already in use worries Hannah Wand, a genetic counselor and director of the preventive genetics program at Stanford University. We have a tendency in genetics to put out tests when theyre technically feasible. She thinks PRS testing is going to lead to a paradigm shift in health care. We have not yet figured out how genetics integrates with routine life and public health. And insurance companiesif everyone has a PRS, is this going to be misinterpreted? In theory, a high PRS could be misinterpreted as a preexisting condition.

Advertisement

Advertisement

And then there are ethical concerns. These tests teeter on the edge of eugenics. Lowering risks for diabetes is good, but without regulatory safeguards, future tests could, in theory, report on traits like predicted intelligence. And there are ethical issues that already exist for todays PRS models. This is an intervention that is never going to be available to everyone, said Leila Jamal, bioethicist and associate director for cancer genomics at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Genetic Counseling Training Program. She meant cost, but also social equity due to a quirk of current PRS models: They are most accurate in people from whom the original model was created. The models mostly account for European populations, she added. So that is who will have the most accurate polygenic risk scores.

Advertisement

A recent report analyzed 733 studies used to create polygenic risk scores from 2008 to 2017 and found 67 percent included participants of only European ancestry, while just 3.8 percent of the studies included people of African, Latino/Hispanic, or Indigenous ancestries. When the researchers applied 25 PRS models derived in mostly European populations to individuals of African ancestry, the scores had lower predictive ability by 68 percent on average. This point was illustrated for 11 conditions in an elegant paper recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Lifetime risk reductions for people of European ancestry were often about two times higher than for those of African ancestry. Genevieve Wojcik, genetic epidemiologist and assistant professor at Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, takes it a step further, saying that PRS models capture societal elements that arent necessarily biological  such as pollution, access to healthy foods, or educationall of which may interact with our biology and influence our risks.

Advertisement

To this point, the genetic testing behemoth Ambry suspended its cancer PRS tests in May due to limited data across ethnic populations. Will companies like Orchid or Genomic Prediction follow suit? Noor Siddiqui, Orchids CEO, told me via email that she couldnt answer questions as the embryo screening product is not available right now, suggesting a pause in its testing not described on its website. When I emailed Jennifer Eccles, head of genetic counseling at Genomic Prediction, she said, We provide results only where we have validated relative risk reduction for that particular population, for that particular disease. She noted the company does provide a PRS for certain conditions in people of African and Asian ancestry. It is a continuous effort of ours to obtain more genetically diverse datasets for this purpose. Translation: Genomic Prediction has parents of non-European ancestries in mind, but they will have to wait for the same level of information as people of European backgrounds.

Advertisement

These tests arent necessarily bad or inaccurate. Rather, the science is incompletea puzzle with many missing pieces. Beyond a companys pictures of parents smiling at chubby babies, whats important to understand is that current PRS tests are of limited use, and most babies are born healthy despite risks for many conditions. Before using a PRS test for embryo screening, Jamal urges prospective parents to ask themselves: What are my goals, and what problem am I trying to solve by learning this information? What am I worried about that this will help me prevent? Is this [test] the right tool for that job? Correlation has never been causation; a crystal ball this is not.

Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society.
Protesters attempted to enter parliament, police intervened with tear gas (updated)

Protests are linked to the expected vote on new vaccination-based Covid measures.

Hundreds of people protested in front of parliament on Friday, July 23, due to the expected vote on new anti-Covid measures.

Amid chants like "gestapo", "give over the parliament" or "high treason", the protesters, who reject Covid vaccination, object to the proposed amendment that will allow the government to draft different measures for people who have been vaccinated against Covid and the unvaccinated. Inside the parliament, MPs held an extraordinary session on July 23 to deal with the amendment.

The Health Ministry proposes using the EU Digital Covid Pass as an alternative in the national Covid automat alert system. This means that vaccinated people will be able to use it as an alternative to a negative PCR test when entering certain premises, including restaurants.

One police officer injured

The protesters blocked the building's entrance and demanded to be let in. Many of them were not wearing any masks or face coverings.

A special anti-conflict police team has been deployed to the site where hundreds of people are blocking the entrance to the parliament. The police used tear gas when the crowd attempted to enter the parliament, the Sme daily reported.

One police officer has been injured, the Dennik N daily wrote, but she did not need to be transported to the hospital. The paramedics treated her on the spot.

The police are continuing to monitor the situation.

Leader of the far-right LSNS Marian Kotleba, another far-right MP Tomas Taraba and Smer MP Lubos Blaha addressed the protesters with words of support.

Lubos Blaha of Smer (l) and Marian Kotleba of LSNS (r) came to talk to the protesters. (Source: TASR)

Kollar blames the police

Parliament's Speaker Boris Kollar, whose party Sme Rodina has been against dividing people based on their vaccination status, labelled the situation a "fatal failure" of the police and its president, Peter Kovarik. If the police provided barriers and the protest took place at least 50 metres from the parliament, the situation would not have escalated, he said, as reported by Sme.

"Those people, obviously, are fighting against something. That does not mean we should beat them with batons or spray them with water cannons or with tear gas," Kollar said as quoted by Sme.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/iU-8aDdwBUQ

He confirmed the parliament will hold the session as planned. The MPs will debate the amendment to the law on public health protection, which would enable the Public Health Authority to take the EU Digital Covid Certificate into account when designing the anti-pandemic measures.

Kovarik meanwhile tasked the inspection service to check the actions of the Bratislava regional police at the protest, the TASR newswire reported.

PM Heger: Protests should be calm

PM Eduard Heger (OLaNO) said that the right to express ones opinion is part of democracy, but it is important that the demonstrations are calm.

I understand people are tired of the pandemic and nobody likes the measures, he said, as quoted by TASR. But we adopt them to protect the lives of all people in Slovakia, including the protesters.

video //www.youtube.com/embed/RNcUeWcR3f4

The Ordinary People and Independent Personalities (OLaNO) party has criticised the opposition politicians for supporting the protests and for trying to win political points from the fight for the health and lives of people, as the party wrote on Facebook.

Juraj Seliga of Za Ludi said that although people have the right to protest, this can be done in a calm and non-violent way. He added that the party will support the law that gives vaccinated people some benefits.

Organisers did not adhere to the rules

The Old Town borough said that the organisers of the protest did not meet the conditions for public gatherings. The protest was to be held in front of the castle wall, farther from the parliament building, the boroughs spokesperson Matej Stevove told Sme.

Gatherings cannot be held within 50 metres of the parliamentary building.

23. Jul 2021 at 10:07 (modified at 23. Jul 2021 at 13:02) | Compiled by Spectator staff
Jeffery P made an easy lead from post seven and jogged home from there, extending his winning streak to five in Thursdays (July 22) $17,600 Open Handicap Trot at The Meadows.

Once Dave Palone gave Jeffery P a :29.3 second-quarter breather, the race for win was effectively over. The six-year-old Full Count-Betty Jean gelding scored in 1:53.3, two lengths better than the pocket-sitting Icanflylikeanangel, while Stickler Hanover shot the Lightning Lane for show. The fourth-place finish of In Secret was noteworthy, as his cheque sent him over $900,000 in career earnings.

Ron Burke trains Jeffery P, who lifted his lifetime bankroll to $292,303, for Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi LLC and Phillip Collura.

Chris Shaw, Mike Wilder and Palone each fashioned a three-bagger on the 13-race card.

Live racing at The Meadows continues Friday (July 23), when the program features a pair of stakes for three-year-old colt and gelding trotters: a $147,706 Pennsylvania Sire Stakes and a $40,000 Pennsylvania Stallion Series event. First post is 12:45 p.m.

(Meadows Standardbred Owners Association)
Two-year-old trotting fillies clashed in a set of $20,000 divisions in Thursdays opening round of the Pure Ivory Trotting Series at Woodbine Mohawk Park, and as often is the case with young trotters  the favourites faltered.

Dabra Day posted a 17-1 upset thanks to her 1:57.1 triumph in the opening split for driver Louis-Philippe Roy and trainer Meg Crone.

Roy brushed to the top early with Dabra Day who chopped out the opening quarter in :28.1 before being overtaken in the backstretch by the pocket-sitting favourite, Angelonia. The new leader proceeded to cruised through middle splits of :59.1 and 1:28.3, but she weakened late. Dabra Day swept out in the lane and kicked home in :28.2 to win by 2-3/4 lengths over Pencils Down. Angelonia faded to finish third.

The daughter of Kadabra-Day Lily, who was a $62,000 purchase from last years Lexington Selected Yearling Sale, is owned by W Donovan of Monument Beach, MA and Purnel And Libby LLC of Delray Beach, FL.

Clockwork Orange was treated to a ground-saving trip in the second division by driver Jody Jamieson, and she turned it into a 1:57.3 triumph.

An early break by odds-on favourite Elegant Mermaid made it a wide-open affair. Moneyworth shot to the lead and hung up an opening quarter in :28.4, but she made a break going to half and left the lead in the lap of Ladies First. The new leader hit the half in :59.1 and she was still in charge at the three-quarter pole in 1:28.4. Clockwork Orange popped out of the pocket coming out of the final turn and then kicked home in :28.3 to win by four lengths over Criquette Hall. Ladies First took home the show dough.

Trainer Blake MacIntosh shares ownership on the daughter of Resolve-Too Good For You with 30 Plus Stable of Trenton, ON. The career winner of $15,712 was a $45,000 purchase from last years Lexington Selected Yearling Sale.

The Millard Farms Trotting Series also kicked off with a set of $20,000 divisions Thursday evening, with victories earned by World At War Deo and Delgado.

World At War Deo marched to the lead for driver Jody Jamieson and never looked back en route to the 1:57 decision.

The Dave Menary trainee, who won his debut in 1:57.1 at Mohawk Park on June 24, marched to the lead and successfully sliced out splits of :28.4, 1:00 and 1:29.2 before rocketing home in :27.3 to win by 1-1/2 lengths over Twin B Archie. Mr Fritter took home the show dough.

Sent off as the 3-5 favourite, the son of Chapter Seven-Yalta Hanover is now two-for-two for partners Steve Heimbecker, Blue Chip Bloodstock, Michael Guerriero and Menary Racing Inc. The colt was a $70,000 purchase from last years Lexington Selected Yearling Sale.

Delgado took advantage of a ground-saving trip en route to posting a 7-1 upset score in the second division for Team Young.

Driver Scott Young got away fifth while Magical Major rolled to the top and supplied the field with an opening quarter clocked in :28.3. Race favourite HP Maestro blasted to the lead in the backstretch, and he had the field chasing him past the mid-way point in :59.2. Mr Zuanetti came first over late in the mike, and Young slipped out to catch cover with Delgado.

HP Maestro was still in command at the three-quarter pole in 1:29.1, but Delgado fired off cover and kicked home in :28.2 to win by three-quarters of a length over Devereux Seelster in 1:58. HP Maestro weakened late and settled for third prize.

Trainer Bob Young co-owns the gelding with Russell Pickup of Hamilton, ON. The partners purchased the son of Trixton-Ruling Class for $25,000 from last years Lexington Selected Yearling Sale. He now boasts a 1-0-1 record in his first two outings.

To view results for Thursday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Thursday Results  Woodbine Mohawk Park.
Catalogues for the Goshen Yearling Sale are now available for download or online viewing.

The sale will be held at the Mark Ford Training Center in Middletown, N.Y., on Monday, Sept. 13.

The downloadable PDF includes the complete pedigree for all horses. Printed catalogues will be available within the next week and will be mailed as soon as they arrive. Requests can be made by filling out the link on the website or by contacting Mark Ford directly at 973-568-3253 or at [email protected].

Prospective buyers can also pick up copies of the catalog at most race tracks in New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey, training facilities, at the Hambletonian at the Meadowlands, and New York County Fair tracks racing through the end of August.

Tomorrows champions may be entered in this year's sale, which is offering 130 top yearling prospects.

The sales facility is located at 90 Slaughter Road, Middletown, NY, which is within a 90-minute drive of many major race tracks and training centres in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, making it a very convenient location.

Everything you need to know about the 2021 Goshen Yearling Sale is available on their website at www.goshenyearlingsale.com.

(Goshen Standardbred Sales Co.)
With a growing carryover that is approaching $200,000, a mandatory payout will be put in place on Saturday night's (July 24) Hi-5 wager at Hawthorne Race Course.

As the Jackpot Hi-5 wager at Hawthorne has not been won by a single winner in over a month, the carryover has grown to $189,900. The mandatory payout on the Hi-5 will take place in Hawthornes final race on Saturday night, race 11.

Race 11 on Saturday is a very evenly matched 12-horse pace for fillies and mares with an anticipated post of 11:10 p.m. Central time. The Hi-5 at Hawthorne is a $.20 base minimum wager. Past performances for race 11 will be available for free on the United States Trotting Association website at www.ustrotting.com. Past performances can be found on the website in the Handicapping section under the Strategic Wagering Program tab.

With the large carryover in the Hi-5, the pool for the wager is expected to exceed $500,000.

Hawthorne Race Course's summer Suburban Downs harness meet began Friday, May 7 and races every Friday-Sunday until Sept. 26. For information about Hawthorne Race Course, visit the track's website.

(Hawthorne)
Eldorado Scioto Downs will play host to multiple Ohio Sires Stakes divisions both Friday (July 23) and Saturday evening (July 24), featuring three-year-old colt trotters on Friday and two-year-old pacing colts and fillies on Saturday.

On Friday, the undefeated Winning Ticket goes postward in the first of two $50,000 OHSS divisions for sophomore trotting males, leaving from post 6 for driver Aaron Merriman and trainer Chris Beaver. The winner of $206,047 lifetime from 10 wins in 14 starts captured both previous OHSS legs, with his lifetime best mark of 1:54 taken on June 5 at MGM Northfield Park. The son of Triumphant Caviar is six-for-six thus far this year with $111,000 in seasonal earnings.

On Saturday night, four $40,000 divisions for two-year-old pacing fillies will line up behind the Scioto starting gate with Leg one winner Dragons Revenge starting from post three in the first division (race one). Trained by Christi Noble, the filly by Fear The Dragon won leg one in 1:54.1 on July 10 at Northfield and now has $38,000 in her coffers. Danny Noble drives.

Leg one winner Cape Cod Hanover start from post four in the second division (race three) with Chris Page driving for trainer Ron Burke. The bay filly by Downbytheseaside captured leg one in 1:53.3 and will be trying for her third lifetime win. To date, she has earnings of $23,400.

The third OHSS division (race 10) for freshmen pacing fillies finds Secret Side Piece leaving from post six for driver Todd Luther and trainer Trevor Smith. This bay daughter of Downbytheseaside captured leg one in 1:53.3 and has $57,500 in earnings from a win and a second in two lifetime starts.

Finally, in the fourth OHSS filly division (Race 11), first-leg winners Cold Hearted Gypsy (post six) and Sea Silk (post seven) square off. Cold Hearted Gypsy captured her first leg in 1:53.1, winning by 12-1/4 lengths for driver Chris Lems and trainer Herman Hagerman, while Sea Silk won her event in nearly the same fashion, scoring in 1:53.3 for driver Chris Page and trainer Ron Burke, winning by 7-1/2 lengths. Sea Silk is the richer of the two, with $95,000 earned in two starts, while Cold Hearted Gypsy has $20,000 in earnings from that lone OHSS triumph.

Freshmen pacing colts face off in a trio of $40,000 OHSS events, carded as races two, six and eight. In the first division, Buckeye Seaside will be trying for his second straight victory, having captured Leg one in 1:53.4 for driver Kayne Kauffman and trainer Mike Polhamus. This son of Downbytheseaside has $22,000 in his coffers and will start from post seven.

Gulf Shores headlines the second pacing colt divisions, leaving from post five with Ronnie Wrenn Jr., driving for trainer Brian Brown. This bay son of Downbytheseaside won his first OHSS leg in 1:52.4 and will be trying for his second career victory for these same connections.

Christi Noble will harness Sling Shock in the third and final OHSS division for pacing colts from post eight. This leg one winner was clocked in 1:52 and is now two-for-two lifetime, with $95,000 in career earnings. He is another son by Downbytheseaside, who appears to be one of the most prolific stallions in Ohio, in regard to OHSS starters.

(OSDF)
The finest young trotters and pacers on Canadas Eastern Seaboard will come to Red Shores at the Summerside Raceway for the first leg of a revamped P.E.I. Colt Stakes on Sunday afternoon (July 25).

The 15-dash Sunday presentation starts at 1 p.m. ADT, featuring the P.E.I. Colt Stakes for two-year-old pacers and two- and three-year-old trotters.

The action starts off in race 1 with a $12,000 Gold division for two-year-old pacing fillies as Boo Yaya looks for her third straight win for driver Marc Campbell, trainer Robert MacLeod and owners Hugh and and Ali MacEachern. The 1:57.2 winning daughter of Stonebridge Terror was bred on P.E.I. by Wade Peconi.

The other $12,000 Gold division for fillies lines up in race 9, as Woodmere Jazz will put her perfect record to the test with Gilles Barrieau at the controls for trainer Kevin MacLean and owner Reg MacPherson. The Rollwithitharry filly comes from Bruce Woods Woodmere Farms.

A trio of $6,000 Grassroots divisions of the P.E.I. Colt Stakes for two-year-old fillies line up in races 3, 11 and 14.

The first $12,200 Gold division for rookie colt pacers is in race 7, with the impeccable Fern Hill General heavily favoured from post 4 for the team of driver Brodie MacPhee, trainer Earl Smith, and owners Peter Smith and Gerald Morrissey. A winner in 1:55.1 his last start at Truro Raceway, the son of Malicious was bred by Brian MacLeod .

St Charles Fireball is top choice in the other $12,200 Gold colt division in race 13 for trainer-driver Campbell and owners Ryan and Everett MacLeod after finishing second to Fern Hill General his last start. Jamie MacKinley raised the son of Tobago Cays.

The P.E.I. Colt Stakes Grassroots divisions hit the track in races 5, 8 and 15, carrying $6,000 purses in each.

The P.E.I Colt Stakes will also be split by sex on the trotting side, with $7,000 two-year-old colt trot divisions in races 2 and 6, and a $7,000 freshman filly trot in race 4.

The top three-year-old colt trotters will again meet in race 10 with $9,200 at stake. Mr Finlay Ridge has the rail for trainer-driver Clare MacDonald while Dusty Lane Milo (Adam Merner) has post 4 and A Little Go Go (Campbell) has post 5.

The three-year-old trotting fillies hit the track in race 12 in their $9,200 P.E.I. Colt Stakes division.

For live video and more, go to Redshores.ca and wager online at HPIBet.com.

To view Sunday's complete entries, click the following link: Sunday Entries  Red Shores Summerside.

(Red Shores)
The area median home price of $368,000 equates to an income of $81,700 needed to meet that 30 percent threshold, but for people working locally, their household income is more like $64,900, the study found. Earning gaps locally to cover reasonable housing cost range from $11,000 to $22,000.

Households are very burdened with housing costs, Hopewell said.

He noted affordable housing demand in Culpeper will continue to increase with a need for 500-plus units over the next five years for those earning below the median income. A tiny home village in Culpeper could help, according to town staff.

A motel room addresses immediate homelessness with a typical four to five-month stay while tiny homes can do the same but with a year-long stay or more, Hopewell said.

Support Local Journalism Your subscription makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}}

A tiny home is slightly larger, around 160-340-square-feet, than a motel room and include kitchen and bathroom facilities.

Tiny home villages have been built in Eugene, Oregon and Detroit, Hopewell used as examples in his recent presentation. They provide a greater sense of empowerment than a motel room, he said, noting it can be transitional housing for homeless with stays of up to two years.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP)  At a time when labor unions are struggling across the United States, California on Friday signed a first-time contract with 40,000 childcare providers under a new collective bargaining agreement.

With his signature, Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom ratified the contact with Child Care Providers United, increased wage rates and began phasing in 200,000 subsidized childcare slots that the governor and advocates said are crucial to reopening a state economy pummeled by the pandemic, by allowing more parents to go back to work.

At the end of the day, this is about economic development, Newsom said. "This is about fundamental infrastructure  the human capital  thats as important as roads and bridges."

The bargaining agreement also empowers caregivers who are primarily women, many of them women of color, he said.

Now 40,000 strong, this hasnt happened in the country, Newsom said during an online signing ceremony. This is one of the most significant and important organization efforts that has occurred in years and years in the United States of America.
CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP)  Desperado Depot owner Devon Von Krosigk expects this years Cheyenne Frontier Days fashion to go above and beyond, as patrons look to make up for time lost last year with the first-ever CFD cancellation.

While the traditional rodeo-goers will dust off their cowboy boots, jeans and button-down shirts, a number of red hot trends and eye-catching accessories are sure to turn some heads this year.

My customers are doing the Go big or go home type of thing, Von Krosigk said. Since no one got to show up and dress up last year, Ive been telling everyone, Why not go all out?

That notion looks different for everyone, but a host of shops in town have items for everyones CFD fashion needs. Boot Barn in the old Wrangler building certainly has all the classics, whether you need a new pair of cowboy boots, a traditional western hat, or an eye-catching belt with fringe, rhinestones and studs.

For those with a more feminine style wanting to step outside the confines of traditional rodeo gear, Desperado Depot and Just Dandy are two places downtown to check out.
This week, Gov. Brian Kemp of Georgia announced the appointment of Judge Verda Colvin to the Supreme Court of Georgia. Colvin, who served as a judge in Bibb County, became a sensation in 2016 from a video of her lecture to teens who were participating in the Bibb County Sheriffs Offices Consider the Consequences program.

The video, which went viral, begins with Colvin standing in a courtroom filled with teenagers who had had run-ins with the law. She shakes out a white body bag and tells them: You can have the ultimate experience to be in this body bag. The only way someone would know this was you was the tag. What do you want to do? The way you are going, you will go to jail, or you will end up in this body bag.

Her audience was divided by gender -- females on the left and males on the right. While walking toward the females, Colvin challenged them, Young ladies, no matter what anyone has ever told you, you are special and uniquely made. Stop acting like trash and putting pictures of yourself on the internet. Colvins advice was to care about your future. Be somebody, anyone can be nothing ... care about yourselves.
Burak Hezar, 20, was arrested for capital murder in connection to the deaths of his mother and sister.
You must be logged in to react.

Click any reaction to login.

Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0
It used to be that after finishing the elections in an even-numbered year, it would be followed by a year with just municipal elections. That made for an easier year where we regrouped a bit, Galliher said. Now its just one election after another, and it never stops.

But theres never been a time where I didnt enjoy my job, she added. Theres been times where it was a little more frustrating than others, but Ive always enjoyed it.

Galliher also has presided over Iredell County elections in a time of rapid and unprecedented growth and there are few better places than election results that better illustrate the kind of growth the board has had to prepare for during each cycle. For example, during the 2004 presidential election, just 56,958 ballots were cast. Compare that to the 2020 election, which saw a record turnout of 102,371 votes cast in the county.

The election cycle that culminated last November also was the hardest that Galliher had to deal with during her time as director. In the lead-up, the record number of requests for mail-in ballots, as well as the extended early voting period due to the COVID-19 pandemic was enough of a challenge. However, following the conclusion of the election, the board became inundated with public records requests for people who wanted to see and tabulate the results themselves.
Typically, Carter said, nonbinary or transgender students (or their parents) approach administration to address this matter in advance. Not all student needs are the same. Students and families are strongly encouraged to work with school administrators in advance, rather than use a facility without first working with administration regarding their needs. Unisex or single stall facilities will be available to any and all students who wish to use them for whatever reason and without the need to ask for authorization.

Smyth County Schools protocol, Carter said, is for transgender students to use the restroom appropriate to their gender at birth or use an individual restroom if needed. This is usually worked out at the start of the school year between the school and the student and parents.

The division maintains strong policies aimed at protecting all students against harassment and discrimination, and establishing a strong code of student conduct, Carter said in his statement. We always expect all students to respect the privacy and honor the personal space of other students. The division is working very hard to address the concerns of all members of the school community while also complying with the constantly evolving legal landscape implicated by state and federal law.
Five bands have been signed by the Washington Bluegrass Association to perform at the groups annual Mount St. Helens Bluegrass Festival set for Aug. 13-15 at the Kemp Olson Memorial Park in Toledo.

The festival normally takes place at Toledo High School, but because of ongoing construction to replace the high school, the venue was moved. Last years festival was canceled for the first time since its 1984 debut because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The high school wont be available until 2022, Washington Bluegrass Association president General Cothren is quoted in a press release from the association. We talked about the outdoor stage area at Hedwall Park in Chehalis or maybe Cowlitz Prairie Park in Mossyrock before deciding on Kemp Olson Park, which is closer to restaurants and stores and keeps us in Toledo, he said.

The park is adjacent to Toledo Elementary School. It has a covered kitchen, barbecue pit, tent camping, 12 RV sites with power and water hookups, wifi access and a restroom/shower area with a coin-operated shower.
Andrew Parkhill Parkhill, 39, works for a septic and land development company and grew up in Kelso. After moving to Kalama two years ago, Parkhill said he heard concerns from residents about growth, increasing taxes, safety and traffic problems.

Im not happy with a lot of the way things are going outside our community as well, but felt like change has got to start in my own community, he said. I would like to see some positive changes the people of Kalama would like to see happen.

Parkhill said some growth is necessary, but he doesnt want Kalamas small-town feel to go away. While he is not a business owner, Parkhill said hed like to talk with business owners and the council about how to support local. He said he would like to see more events to bring in tourism to support local businesses.

It seems like people feel like their voices are not being heard about things going on in the city, Parkhill said. While the City Council is appointed to make decisions, they should be for what the people want not what each individual wants, he said.

Parkhill said there is time for council members to research each agenda topic before the meeting, so there should be time for the public to have their voices heard.
Yang was stationed at the Joint Base Lewis-McChord, located southwest of Tacoma.

1st Lt. Yang touched the lives of so many within our organization and will be sorely missed, said Lt. Col. Alan Fowler in a statement from the base. Brian was an exceptional soldier and leader, but an even better man. His absence has left us all devastated and our sincerest condolences go out to the family, friends and soldiers affected by this tragedy.

Support Local Journalism Your membership makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}}

Safety

Yang was discovered on Mount Whittier, an area Brightbill said can be a pretty dangerous, with loose rocks.

President of the Longview-based Mount St. Helens Hiking Club Bruce McCredie described the Mount Whittier trail as a narrow trail that goes on a steep hill.

I was on that trail about 10 years ago, and I would never do it again, he said.

McCredie said the club has safety rules to prevent accidents during the organizations roughly two regional hikes a week throughout the year.
Algeria on Thursday expressed "deep concern" following press reports that it may have been the target of the Israeli-made Pegasus spyware as it launched a probe. The foreign ministry denounced what it termed an "inadmissible, systematic attack on human rights and fundamental freedoms" and singled out neighbouring Morocco for "spying on Algerian officials and citizens". Morocco and Algeria have repeatedly sparred over the disputed region of Western Sahara, which Morocco considers an integral part of its territory while Algeria backs the pro-independence Polisario movement.

Relations between the two neighbours soured again on Sunday after Algeria recalled its ambassador in Morocco for consultations after Morocco's envoy to the United Nations expressed support for self-determination for Algeria's restless Kabylie region. News outlets, including Le Monde and the Washington Post, had reported on Sunday that the software, developed by Israeli firm NSO Group, had been used by governments to spy on activists, journalists, lawyers, and politicians around the world.

The bombshell claims were based on a document leaked to Forbidden Stories, a Paris-based media nonprofit, and Amnesty International. It contained 50,000 telephone numbers of people identified as potential targets via Pegasus between 2016 and June 2021. Many numbers on the list were clustered in 10 countries including Morocco.

Morocco said on Monday it "categorically rejects" claims its intelligence services used Pegasus to monitor critics at home and abroad.

It also filed a defamation claim against Amnesty International and the French NGO, due to allegations its intelligence services used Pegasus against dozens of French journalists.
French President Emmanuel Macron has changed his mobile phone and phone number in light of the Pegasus spyware case, a presidency official said on Thursday, in one of the first concrete actions announced in relation to the scandal. "He's got several phone numbers. This does not mean he has been spied on. It's just additional security," the official told Reuters. Government spokesman Gabriel Attal said the president's security protocols were being adapted in light of the incident. A global outcry was triggered when several international media organisations reported that the Pegasus spyware was used in hacking smartphones belonging to journalists, human rights activists and government officials in several countries.

In Israel, home of Pegasus developer NSO Group, a senior lawmaker said a parliamentary panel may look into spyware export restrictions. NSO says its software is used to fight crime and terrorism and has denied any wrongdoing "Obviously we're taking (this) very seriously," Attal told reporters hours after an emergency cabinet meeting focused on the Pegasus allegations. Le Monde newspaper and Radio France broadcaster reported on Tuesday that Macron's phone was on a list of potential targets for surveillance by Morocco. The two media said that they did not have access to Macron's phone and could not verify if his phone had indeed been spied on. Morocco has rejected these allegations.

A French lawyer for Morocco, Olivier Baratelli, said the government planned to lodge defamation lawsuits in Paris against nongovernmental organisations Amnesty International and Forbidden Stories, according to French news outlet franceinfo on Thursday. The two groups participated in the Pegasus probe and alleged Morocco had targeted French officials for surveillance with the spyware.

Amid mounting EU concern, German Chancellor Angela Merkel told reporters in Berlin that spyware should be denied to countries where there is no judicial oversight. Hungarian prosecutors on Thursday launched an investigation into multiple complaints received in the wake of the reports.

Israel has appointed an inter-ministerial team to assess reports based on an investigation by 17 media organisations that said Pegasus had been used in attempted or successful hacks of smartphones using malware that enables the extraction of messages, records calls and secretly activates microphones.

Checks

NSO has rejected the reporting by the media partners as "full of wrong assumptions and uncorroborated theories." Reuters has not independently verified the reporting.

"We certainly have to look anew at this whole subject of licences granted by DECA," Ram Ben-Barak, head of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee, told Israel's Army Radio, referring to the government-run Defence Export Controls Agency.

The Israeli government team "will conduct its checks, and we will be sure to look into the findings and see if we need to fix things here", said Ben-Barak. A former deputy chief of Mossad, he said proper use of Pegasus had "helped a great many people".

DECA is within Israel's Defence Ministry and oversees NSO exports. Both the ministry and the firm have said that Pegasus is meant to be used to track only terrorists or criminals, and that all foreign clients are vetted governments.

NSO says it does not know the specific identities of people against whom clients use Pegasus. If it receives a complaint of Pegasus having been misused by a client, NSO can retroactively acquire the target lists and, should the complaint prove true, unilaterally shut down that client's software, the company says.

Other world leaders among those whose phone numbers the news organisations said were on a list of possible targets include Pakistani Prime Minister Imram Khan and Morocco's King Mohammed VI.
It doesn't take a rock scientist to figure out that a laptop is a necessity for working and studying from home nowadays. However, laptops can be quite expensive if compared with a phone and not everyone can afford them. That said, HP Malaysia just released the HP Chromebook x360 11 G3 at the price of RM1299 for a limited time (RRP RM1499).

Designed in mind for teachers and students to stay connected during the pandemic, this Chromebook runs on Chrome OS by Google which they can utilize the entire Google ecosystem. Powered by an Intel Celeron multi-core processor, it also has a damage-resistant touchscreen and the optional active HP Wacom EMR pen.

Equipped with a 360-degree hinge, it allows the students to have to learn in interactive and personalised ways. This includes them to flip and fold the device to create, edit, write and draw in four modes: laptop, tablet, tent, or stand. To attend online classes, there is an integrated HD camera and an optional 5MP webcam.

On top of that, it was also designed to survive a fall off a desk as well as accidental water splashes. Teachers will be able to take control and manage student interactions with HP Classroom Manager and finally, for connectivity, HP integrated an Extended Range Wireless LAN if there are multiple people working and learning from home, or together at school.
In this Wednesday, May 29, 2019 file photo, a woman looks at the Grindr app on her mobile phone in Beirut, Lebanon. With few rules in the U.S. guiding what companies can do with the vast amount of information they collect about what web pages people visit, the apps they use and where they carry their devices, there's little stopping similar spying activity targeting politicians, celebrities and just about anyone that's a target of another person's curiosity. Credit: AP Photo/Hassan Ammar, File

When a religious publication used smartphone app data to deduce the sexual orientation of a high-ranking Roman Catholic official, it exposed a problem that goes far beyond a debate over church doctrine and priestly celibacy.

With few U.S. restrictions on what companies can do with the vast amount of data they collect from web page visits, apps and location tracking built into phones, there's not much to stop similar spying on politicians, celebrities and just about anyone that's a target of another person's curiosityor malice.

Citing allegations of "possible improper behavior," the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops on Tuesday announced the resignation of its top administrative official, Monsignor Jeffrey Burrill, ahead of a report by the Catholic news outlet The Pillar that probed his private romantic life.

The Pillar said it obtained "commercially available" location data from a vendor it didn't name that it "correlated" to Burrill's phone to determine that he had visited gay bars and private residences while using Grindr, a dating app popular with gay people.

"Cases like this are only going to multiply," said Alvaro Bedoya, director of the Center for Privacy and Technology at Georgetown Law School.

Privacy activists have long agitated for laws that would prevent such abuses, although in the U.S. they only exist in a few states, and then in varying forms. Bedoya said the firing of Burrill should drive home the danger of this situation, and should finally spur Congress and the Federal Trade Commission to act.

Privacy concerns are often construed in abstract terms, he said, "when it's really, 'Can you explore your sexuality without your employer firing you? Can you live in peace after an abusive relationship without fear?'" Many abuse victims take great care to ensure that their abuser can't find them again.

As a congressional staffer in 2012, Bedoya worked on legislation that would have banned apps that let abusers secretly track their victims' locations through smartphone data. But it was never passed.

"No one can claim this is a surprise," Bedoya said. "No one can claim that they weren't warned."

Privacy advocates have been warning for years that location and personal data collected by advertisers and amassed and sold by brokers can be used to identify individuals, isn't secured as well as it should be and is not regulated by laws that require the clear consent of the person being tracked. Both legal and technical protections are necessary so that smartphone users can push back, they say.

The Pillar alleged "serial sexual misconduct" by Burrillhomosexual activity is considered sinful under Catholic doctrine, and priests are expected to remain celibate. The online publication's website describes it as focused on investigative journalism that "can help the Church to better serve its sacred mission, the salvation of souls."

Its editors didn't respond to requests for comment Thursday about how they obtained the data. The report said only that the data came from one of the data brokers that aggregate and sell app signal data, and that the publication also contracted an independent data consulting firm to authenticate it.

There are brokers that charge thousands of dollars a month for huge volumes of location data, some of which is marketed not just to advertisers but to landlords, bail bondsmen and bounty hunters, said John Davisson, senior counsel at the Electronic Privacy Information Center. He said someone looking to "reverse engineer" a particular person's data from that bulk package could potentially get it from any of the many customers in the data chain.

"It is surprisingly and disturbingly cheap to obtain location data derived from mobile phones," Davisson said. "It's easy enough that a determined party can do it."

U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, an Oregon Democrat, said the incident confirms yet again the dishonesty of an industry that falsely claims to safeguard the privacy of phone users.

"Experts have warned for years that data collected by advertising companies from Americans' phones could be used to track them and reveal the most personal details of their lives. Unfortunately, they were right," he said in a statement. "Data brokers and advertising companies have lied to the public, assuring them that the information they collected was anonymous. As this awful episode demonstrates, those claims were bogusindividuals can be tracked and identified."

Wyden and other lawmakers asked the FTC last year to investigate the industry. It needs "to step up and protect Americans from these outrageous privacy violations, and Congress needs to pass comprehensive federal privacy legislation," he added.

Norway's data privacy watchdog concluded earlier this year that Grindr shared personal user data with a number of third parties without legal basis and said it would impose a fine of $11.7 million (100 million Norwegian krone), equal to 10% of the California company's global revenue.

The data leaked to advertising technology companies for targeted ads included GPS location, user profile information as well as the simple fact that particular individuals were using Grindr, which could indicate their sexual orientation.

Sharing such information could put someone at risk of being targeted, the Norwegian Data Protection Authority said. It argued that the way Grindr asked users for permission to use their information violated European Union requirements for "valid consent." Users weren't given the chance to opt out of sharing data with third parties and were forced to accept Grindr's privacy policy in its entirety, it said, adding that users weren't properly informed about the data sharing.

The advertising partners that Grindr shared data with included Twitter, AT&T's Xandr service, and other ad-tech companies OpenX, AdColony and Smaato, the Norwegian watchdog said. Its investigation followed a complaint by a Norwegian consumer group that found similar data leakage problems at other popular dating apps such as OkCupid and Tinder.

In a statement, Grindr called The Pillar's report an "unethical, homophobic witch hunt" and said it does "not believe" it was the source of the data used. The company said it has policies and systems in place to protect personal data, although it didn't say when those were implemented. The Pillar said the app data it obtained about Burrill covered parts of 2018, 2019 and 2020.

Explore further Norway to fine dating app Grindr $11.7M over privacy breach

 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
In this July 3, 2021 photo, a sign that reads: "Coop Forum supermarket in Vastberga is closed due to IT disturbances, no prognosis as to when we will open again", on a closed Coop supermarket store in the suburb of Vastberga, Stockholm, Sweden. The Biden administration will offer rewards up to $10 million for information leading to the identification of foreign state-sanctioned malicious cyber activity against critical U.S. infrastructure, including ransomware attacks. The administration is launching the website stopransomware.gov to offer the public resources for countering the threat. Credit: Jonas Ekstromer/TT via AP, File

The Florida company whose software was exploited in the devastating Fourth of July weekend ransomware attack, Kaseya, has received a universal key that will decrypt all of the more than 1,000 businesses and public organizations crippled in the global incident.

Kaseya spokeswoman Dana Liedholm would not say Thursday how the key was obtained or whether a ransom was paid. She said only that it came from a "trusted third party" and that Kaseya was distributing it to all victims. The cybersecurity firm Emsisoft confirmed that the key worked and was providing support.

Ransomware analysts offered multiple possible explanations for why the master key, which can unlock the scrambled data of all the attack's victims, has now appeared. They include: Kaseya paid; a government paid; a number of victims pooled funds; the Kremlin seized the key from the criminals and handed it over through intermediariesor perhaps the main attacker didn't get paid by the gang whose ransomware was used.

The Russia-linked criminal syndicate that supplied the malware, REvil, disappeared from the internet on July 13. That likely deprived whoever carried out the attack of income because such affiliates split ransoms with the syndicates that lease them the ransomware. In the Kaseya attack, the syndicate was believed overwhelmed by more ransom negotiations than it could manage, and decided to ask $50 million to $70 million for a master key that would unlock all infections.

In this July 3, 2021 photo, a closed Coop supermarket store in the suburb of Vastberga, Stockholm. Cybersecurity teams worked feverishly Sunday July 4, 2021, to stem the impact of the single biggest global ransomware attack on record, with some details emerging about how the Russia-linked gang responsible breached the company whose software was the conduit. The Swedish grocery chain Coop said most of its 800 stores would be closed for a second day Sunday because their cash register software supplier was crippled. Credit: Jonas Ekstromer/TT via AP, File

In this July 3, 2021 file photo, a sign reads: " Temporarily Closed. We have an IT-disturbance and our systems are not functioning", posted in the window of a closed Coop supermarket store in Stockholm, Sweden. The Biden administration will offer rewards up to $10 million for information leading to the identification of foreign state-sanctioned malicious cyber activity against critical U.S. infrastructure, including ransomware attacks. The administration is launching the website stopransomware.gov to offer the public resources for countering the threat. Credit: Ali Lorestani/TT via AP, File

This Feb 23, 2019, file photo shows the inside of a computer. The Biden administration will offer rewards up to $10 million for information leading to the identification of foreign state-sanctioned malicious cyber activity against critical U.S. infrastructure, including ransomware attacks. The administration is launching the website stopransomware.gov to offer the public resources for countering the threat. Credit: AP Photo/Jenny Kane, File

This Feb 23, 2019, file photo shows the inside of a computer in Jersey City, N.J. The Biden administration will offer rewards up to $10 million for information leading to the identification of foreign state-sanctioned malicious cyber activity against critical U.S. infrastructure, including ransomware attacks. The administration is launching the website stopransomware.gov to offer the public resources for countering the threat. Credit: AP Photo/Jenny Kane, File

By now, many victims will have rebuilt their networks or restored them from backups.

It's a mixed bag, Liedholm said, because some "have been in complete lockdown." She had no estimate of the cost of the damage and would not comment on whether any lawsuits may have been filed against Kaseya. It is not clear how many victims may have paid ransoms before REvil went dark.

The so-called supply-chain attack of Kaseya was the worst ransomware attack to date because it spread through software that companies known as managed service providers use to administer multiple customer networks, delivering software updates and security patches.

President Joe Biden called his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, afterward to press him to stop providing safe haven for cybercriminals whose costly attacks the U.S. government deems a national security threat. He has threatened to make Russia pay a price for failing to crack down, but has not specified what measures the U.S. may take.

If the universal decryptor for the Kaseya attack was turned over without payment, it would not be the first time ransomware criminals have done that. It happened after the Conti gang hobbled Ireland's national health care service in May and the Russian Embassy in Dublin offered "to help with the investigation."

Explore further Number of victims in major ransomware attack still unclear

 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Credit: Zoomik/Shutterstock

The world's most sophisticated commercially available spyware may be being abused, according to an investigation by 17 media organizations in ten countries. Intelligence leaks and forensic phone analysis suggests the surveillance software, called Pegasus, has been used to target and spy on the phones of human rights activists, investigative journalists, politicians, researchers and academics.

NSO Group, the Israeli cyber intelligence firm behind Pegasus, insists that it only licenses its spyware to vetted government clients in the name of combating transnational crime and terrorism. It has labeled reports from investigative journalists a "vicious and slanderous campaign" upon which it will no longer comment.

Yet the founder and chief executive of NSO Group previously admitted that "in some circumstances our customers might misuse the system." Given that the group has sold its spyware to a reported 40 countries, including some with poor records of corruption and human rights violations, it's alleged that Pegasus has been significantly misused, undermining the freedom of the press, freedom of thought and free and open democracies.

These revelations are the latest indication that the spyware industry is out of control, with licensed customers free to spy on political and civilian targets as well as suspected criminals. We may be heading to a world in which no phone is safe from such attacks.

How Pegasus works

Pegasus is regarded as the most advanced spyware on the market. It can infiltrate victims' devices without their even having to click a malicious linka so-called "zero-click attack". Once inside, the power Pegasus possesses to transform a phone into a surveillance beacon is astounding.

It immediately sets to work copying messages, pictures, videos and downloaded content to send to the attacker. As if that's not insidious enough, Pegasus can record calls and track a target's location while independently and secretly activating a phone's camera and microphone. With this capability, an infected phone acts like a fly on the wall, seeing, hearing and reporting back the intimate and sensitive conversations that it watches continuously.

There's previous evidence of Pegasus misuse. It was implicated in the alleged hacking of Jeff Bezos' phone by the crown prince of Saudi Arabia in 2018. The following year, it was revealed that several Indian lawyers and activists had been targeted by a Pegasus attack via WhatsApp.

The new revelations suggest that Pegasus was used to watch Mexico's president Andres Manuel Lopez and 50 members of his inner circleincluding friends, family, doctors, and aideswhen he was an opposition politician. Pegasus has also been linked to the surveillance of Rahul Gandhi, the current political rival to Indian prime minister Narendra Modi.

A Pegasus infiltration has also now been found among phones belonging to the family and friends of murdered journalist Jamal Khashoggi, and there are indications that Pegasus may also have been used by a Mexican NSO client to target the Mexican journalist Cecilio Pineda Birto, who was murdered in 2017.

Spyware industry

Although the power of Pegasus is shocking, spyware in its various forms is far from a new phenomenon. Basic spyware can be traced back to the early 1990s. Now it's a booming industry with thousands of eager buyers.

At the base of the spyware industry are the lesser snooping tools, sold for as little as $70 (51) on the dark web, which can remotely access webcams, log computer keystrokes and harvest location data. The use of such spyware by stalkers and abusive partners is a growing, concerning issue.

Then of course there's the global surveillance estate that Edward Snowden lifted the curtain on in 2013. His leaks revealed how surveillance tools were being used to amass a volume of citizens' personal data that seemed to go well beyond the brief of the intelligence agencies using them.

In 2017, we also learned how a secret team of elite programmers at the US National Security Agency had developed an advanced cyber-espionage weapon called Eternal Blue, only for it to be stolen by the hacker collective Shadow Brokers and sold on the dark web. It was this spyware that would later be used as the backbone of the infamous 2017 Wannacry ransomware attack, which targeted the NHS and hundreds of other organizations.

Why Pegasus is different

When the Snowden leaks were published, many were shocked to learn of the scale of surveillance that digital technologies had enabled. But this mass spying was at least developed and conducted within state intelligence agencies, who had some legitimacy as agents of espionage.

We're no longer debating the right of the state to violate our own rights to privacy. The Pegasus revelations show we've arrived in a new, uncomfortable reality where highly sophisticated spyware tools are sold on an open market. To be under no illusion, we're referring here to an industry of for-profit malware developers creating and selling the same types of toolsand sometimes the very same toolsused by "bad hackers" to bring businesses and government organizations to their knees.

In the wake of the Pegasus revelations, Edward Snowden has called for an international spyware ban, stating that we're moving towards a world where no device is safe. That will certainly be the case if Pegasus meets the same fate as Eternal Blue, with its source code finding its way onto the dark web for use by criminal hackers.

We've only just begun to fully contemplate the full implications of Pegasus on our collective privacy and democracy. Without transparency, we have no sense of how and under what circumstances Pegasus is licensed, who has authorisation to use Pegasus once it's licensed, under what circumstances a license may be revoked, or what international regulations are in place to police against its abuse. Evidence suggests that Pegasus has been misused and greater accountability and oversight is needed. We must also seek to rekindle important debates around enforceable controls on the creation and sale of corporate spyware. Without this, the threat that Pegasus and future spyware tools pose to privacy will not be limited to the high-profile targets that have so far been revealed, but will be a threat to us all.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Support Local Journalism Your subscription makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}}

But the Longhorns and Sooners could get admitted to the SEC without adhering to the traditional politics within the conference.

Loftin said when he was A&Ms president, the SEC had an unwritten gentlemans agreement that if a school from the state of an existing member wanted to join the conference, the existing member had full veto power, in spite of the leagues by-laws stating a vote of three-quarters of the members could get a new school added. Although Loftin said it was clear A&M would have had the power to stop Texas from entering the SEC 10 years ago, that might not be true anymore.

Certainly thats what [former SEC Commissioner] Mike Slive said to me, but hes not with us anyone, Loftin said. Hes not commissioner, and hes not alive anymore, so I dont know what the current thinking is because most of the current leaders in the SEC are new since my time.

Loftin said he could imagine the leagues four most western schools  A&M, Arkansas, LSU and Missouri  questioning the benefits adding Texas and Oklahoma would give them, particularly in recruiting.
Support Local Journalism Your subscription makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}}

The situation there has gotten tremendously awful with not enough food, not gas, not medicines, Murano said. Lots of things are missing, and people utilizing social media are letting things out and people are finally learning whats been going on there in Cuba to the point that, as you probably saw in the news, they started to shut down the internet.

Multiple national news outlets have reported Cuban-Americans have asked President Joe Biden to help provide internet to the island, so the people can remain connected with the rest of the world.

Though Murano has not been back to Cuba since leaving in 1961, she said her parents, especially her mom, often told her stories about the country and its culture.

You have to feel for these folks and say, If it wasnt for my parents leaving, that could be me in there, she said. That would be me in there. Thanks to [my parents] and their sacrifice, I had tremendous opportunities, and so we need to give back and show them our support. At the very least, show them our support.

Murano served as the undersecretary for food safety under President George W. Bush and became the first woman and first Hispanic president of Texas A&M.
In 1955, as plans for a federal interstate system took shape, a preliminary route was proposed that would have wiped out some white-owned and -operated businesses, according to the Tennessee State Library and Archives.

In 1967, after the route was changed to its current course, Love Sr. and other residents sued, alleging racial discrimination meant to harm North Nashville, its Black businesses and higher education institutions. The case made its way to the U.S. Supreme Court, which declined to hear it.

Some 128 businesses were demolished or relocated, making up almost 80% of Nashvilles African American proprietorships, the state library says.

Love Sr. and his wife had moved nearby after living for years on Scovel Street, one block away from Jefferson, and the demolition plans caught them by surprise.

Our homeplace was 2109 Scovel St., so I know that personally we never received any advance notice of a public hearing, Love Sr. testified in 1967, saying they were near the last to be notified of the interstate route.

The idea of capping the interstate came up but never caught on, stalled by community distrust of the federal government, said Faye DiMassimo, Coopers senior transportation adviser.
Rollins contended that the grenade and the pipe bomb were items Robertson used to give training to other police officers, and that no issues had been raised regarding those items when federal authorities first searched his home and seized guns in January.

Aloi said that what the devices were used for didnt matter, as by possessing them Robertson was in violation of his bond conditions. What we have here is a defendant who just thinks he is above the law, she said.

Aloi additionally contended that Robertsons purchase of 34 firearms, which were shipped to a gun dealership in Roanoke, also violated the bond conditions. Rollins argued that paperwork requirements guaranteed that Robertson could not legally take physical possession of those guns, thus making violation of the bond order impossible.

At the end of the hearing, Cooper said he would need to weigh Hunter Robertsons testimony and the evidence presented about the gun purchase paperwork before making a ruling, which will come in the form of a written order.
MARTINSVILLE - After a year of review and discussion, the State Board of Virginias Community Colleges has determined a new name for Patrick Henry Community College by a vote of the body Thursday.

The two-year school in Martinsville will now be known as Patrick & Henry Community College.

How did we get here?

Last July, the State Board of Community Colleges directed all community colleges in Virginia to review their names for appropriateness.

After a year of review and discussion, Patrick Henry Community Colleges local board presented a letter to the state board suggesting that the college should continue to be named after the counties it serves.

The local board offered to insert a hyphen (-) or ampersand (&) to more clearly delineate the names geographic connotations.

Without punctuation, the name Patrick Henry could stand for the Revolutionary War hero who owned slaves.

At the last meeting of the state board, the board members considered adding a hyphen to the name -which is the way that the colleges name first appeared when it was founded.
AFTON  When Shipman resident Wisteria Johnson took to the stage July 10, she led the crowd in spelling: V-I-C-T-O-R-Y.

What do we have? Johnson asked. The crowd exclaimed in response: Victory!

More than 100 opponents of the now-canceled Atlantic Coast Pipeline gathered July 10 at the Rockfish Valley Community Center in Afton for a celebration one year in the making, the COVID-19 pandemic having delayed the festivities.

Dozens were grouped under white tents with overlapping chatter and music filling the air. The area was decorated with anti-pipeline paraphernalia, and many wore blue No Pipeline T-shirts.

Im sure you all remember what it felt like when you heard the news that the pipeline was canceled, Joyce Burton, with Friends of Nelson, said as she clutched a copy of the Nelson County Times with the headline that read, Atlantic Coast Pipeline canceled.

I just remember the disbelief; I had bruises on my arm from pinching myself. Im really excited that now, after a year, were finally able to reconnect with that feeling of relief we had back then, Burton said.
Northam, who leaves office in January, said his proposal would move up his 10-year goal for achieving universal internet access in Virginia from 2028 to 2024. He likened the impact of universal broadband to the profound effect of rural electrification in the 1930s.

This is personal for me, Northam added. He noted that his family has a small farm on the Eastern Shore, 5 miles outside of the Accomack County town of Onancock. The farm does not have access to broadband.

It has been a commitment of our administration since I started to make sure that everybody  no matter who you are, no matter where you are in Virginia  has access to broadband, Northam said.

BroadbandNow reported in June that Virginia, with a population of 8.6 million, is 15th among the states in broadband internet access. It said that while 91% of residents have access to wired broadband internet speeds of at least 25 megabits per second, about 697,000 Virginians dont have access to wired connections at such speed. It added that 608,000 Virginians have access to only one internet service provider and 306,000 Virginians dont have any access to wired internet options.
Meanwhile Brooks and Manns  cast by prosecutors as the two most culpable defendants  had been poised to face a Franklin County jury next week.

Support Local Journalism Your subscription makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}}

Brooks plea, however, effectively tightens and sharpens the prosecutorial focus on Manns.

In a written summary of evidence, Assistant Commonwealths Attorney Sandra Workman has said that her office believes Mann is the defendant who killed Justin Prillaman. Workman and chief prosecutor A.J. Dudley claim that Manns organized the robbery, that he alone knew the Prillaman brothers, and that he was the only member of the group who had been to their home on Salthouse Branch Road before that night.

The plea agreement Brooks struck includes a crucial stipulation: that several additional charges he faces  murder, using a gun to commit that crime, armed burglary and larceny  will be put on hold until after Manns case is resolved. In the meantime, Brooks has agreed to cooperate with the investigation and testify at all future trials as a prosecution witness.
Some more context: While Virginia was putting up $1 million for rural broadband, Minnesota  then a state with a Republican legislature  was putting up $35 million. Our effort looked pretty puny then, and maybe politics had nothing to do with that, just priorities.

The reality is that rural broadband has been the rare issue that has garnered bipartisan support; some of the most creative legislation about how to extend broadband into rural Virginia has come from Del. Israel OQuinn, R-Washington.

He sponsored legislation that allows telecoms to piggyback on work being done by Dominion Energy and Appalachian Power Co. He says the pilot test of that program in Grayson County will turn that county from one of the least-connected counties in the state to one of the best-connected.

By the 2017 governors race, both candidates pledged to expand that program, and the winner  Northam  has. Since he took office, the state has spent $124 million on broadband, so despite a slow start, we have made up a lot of ground.

Now were looking at $700 million  5.6 times as much. Or, 700 times as much as the General Assembly initially appropriated that first year back under McAuliffe. Thats some powerful context.
The CNN reporter asked, How do you feel after doing this for 60 years? The elderly man said, I feel like I am talking to a wall.

Do you ever feel like you are talking to a wall? Do you ever feel like quitting after doing something for a long time? It is hard to persevere for many years. Lots of people start something and only do it for a short time, then quit. Some things we should quit when they dont work out.

There are some things worth staying at for a long time. The things the man at the Wailing Wall prayed for are big things worthy of years of prayer. We all need to keep praying for peace in the Middle East, especially when things flare up.

What other things are worth years of work and prayer? A marriage certainly is. Praying for the safety of children is worth great prayer. There are people on my prayer list I have been praying about for forty years or more. Praying for people to put their trust in Christ is worth many years of prayer, even if nothing seems to happen.

How can we keep hanging on? How do we keep on keeping on? Most of us are like Larry the Cable Guy, we just want to get r done! Many things dont work out that way. What things can we keep in mind to help us when we feel like we are talking to a wall?
Antoine Johnson of Lincoln was sentenced Wednesday to at least 35 years in prison for the May 2020 shooting of Gary Zierke III at Grand Island.

On May 18, a Hall County District Court jury found Johnson guilty on six of eight charges

District Judge John Marsh sentenced Johnson to 20 to 30 years for criminal attempt of murder in the second degree. He also was given 10 to 20 years for both first-degree assault and discharge of a firearm near a vehicle or building. Johnson also was sentenced to five to 10 years for each of three counts of use of a firearm to commit a felony.

Some of the charges will run concurrently and some consecutively.

Zierke, also of Lincoln, was found with a single gunshot wound to his head near the intersection of Sycamore and Oklahoma streets at 12:20 a.m. May 28, 2020.

Zierke, 31 at the time, survived the shooting. The Nebraska State Patrol arrested Johnson following an 18-hour search between Aurora and Henderson.

Johnson, 35, was given credit for 423 days served.

He will serve at least 26-1/2 years in prison before hes eligible for parole, given mandatory minimum terms and credit for time served.
Support Local Journalism Your subscription makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}}

Vivian got the iron down from a shelf in the laundry room, plugged it in and away we went, said her grandmother.

That was typical of Vivian. Shes also been known to vacuum on her own.

The judge wrote on Vivians certificate that the pillow was so simple but so creative. The judge also wrote that Vivian did a nice job and love the fabric.

Vivian said she will keep the cozy pillow on her bed.

Vivian and her three siblings are in 4-H this year for the first time. Her siblings are Owen, 9, Isaac, 11, and Eli, 14.

Owen likes to build, said his father, Tim, who was in 4-H himself. Chelle, the mother of the four kids, was also on hand.

This year, Connie Carroll and the kids other grandmother, Rosanna Mayer of Bertrand, have taken turns homeschooling the Carroll clan.

Jaycee and Jaxon Smith showed off their rabbit named Rocky. The Smith family, which also includes Jordan, have won a lot of honors for their rabbits this year.

Other participants were Castlett Langholz, who showed off a pillow, and Jaylee Hatt.
Republika Srpska rejects this, genocide did not happen, Serbs must never accept this, he said.

Dodik has repeatedly criticized the OHR and the West as biased against Serbs in Bosnia. The U.N. Security Council on Thursday rejected a resolution put forward by Serb allies Russia and China that would have immediately stripped the powers of the OHR in Bosnia.

Both Bosnian Serbs and Serbia, which backed the Bosnian Serbs during the war, have called the massacre a crime, refusing to acknowledge it was genocide.

Bosnian Serbs also have honored their wartime leader Radovan Karadzic and military commander Ratko Mladic as heroes, although both have been convicted of genocide and sentenced to life imprisonment by Hague-based tribunal. Murals featuring Mladic and Karadzic can be seen in many towns in Republika Srpska, which is the name for the Serb entity in Bosnia.

Inzko said his decision was not aimed at nations but individuals. Recognizing the guilt of individuals allows people to unburden themselves from the weight of the past, and move on towards a more promising future, he insisted.

In Sarajevo, the Bosnian capital, the prosecutors office said it would monitor any statements by individuals or groups and act in accordance with the legal changes.
Cubans risked their lives fleeing to Miami through the Florida Straits with a Cuban population in the United States today of more than 1 million. The U.S. instituted a trade embargo without stopping Cubas trade with other nations.

Americans who kind of like the communist regime have submitted to propaganda through written articles or visits to Cuba with strict rules amounting to blindfolds. They speak of constantly improving living conditions; the Cuban refugees, who know the truth, speak of political imprisonment, hunger and oppression around every curve. President Barack Obama eased the embargo to the joy of a benefited military and rich power mongers, while President Donald Trump undid the deal that improved nothing for the poor.

The U.S.-Cuba history has been a fairly long one, with Teddy Roosevelt leading a charge with his Rough Riders up Cubas San Juan Hill in 1898 in the Spanish-American War. We won the war and freed the Cubans from Spain. We are for freedom now, surely one reason many of the protesters are wearing American flags. Even though Cubas president has already sent out gun-wielding police to make things worse and blames us for the bad conditions of the moment, we exported more than $175 million worth of goods, including medicine and food, to Cuba in 2020.

The question is where to go now and the heart of the answer is that we must care for these people as peacefully as possible, not with sanctions that will harm them, not with handouts to the powerful, but with serious challenges to the leadership. There are foul practices that must finally be stopped, such as political imprisonment that President Joe Biden wants eliminated. And there are steps that could lead to a robust, thriving land where people are allowed to live lives of inalienable rights. Some progressives seem more than a little hesitant about all of this, but Biden has also indicated we might open up the internet the Cuban government has cut off. He should act as quickly as technological know-how permits.

Jay Ambrose is an op-ed columnist for Tribune News Service. Readers may email him at speaktojay@aol.com.
CARBONDALE  Police are investigating after a man suspected of posing as a Mediacom representative tried to enter a resident's home earlier this week.

Carbondale police responded just before 9:30 a.m. Tuesday to the 1700 block of Colonial Drive to a report of a suspicious solicitation, according to a news release.

Officers said learned that the night before, at about 6 p.m. a male, described as white, in his 20s, and with dark hair, arrived at the residents front porch.

"The suspicious male advised he was a representative of a company that could help the resident lower Mediacom service bills," police said.

The man also asked to enter the victims home to inspect the Mediacom service equipment, police said.

Officers learned during the investigation there were no active solicitation permits issued by the Carbondale City Clerk matching the suspicious male or the company he claimed to represent.

The police department encouraged residents to be aware of the city's code concerning solicitations.
Union County reported 46 positive cases last week with a positivity rate of 5.3%. In Pulaski County, 9.8% of individuals tested had positive results, with 11 cases.

Franklin-Williamson Bi-County Health Department reported 39 new cases in Williamson County and 23 in Franklin County.

Statewide, the seven-day rolling positivity average is 3.3%.

The number of people contracting COVID-19 is still on the rise and now we are beginning to see the impacts in our area hospitals, said Nathan Ryder, outreach coordinator for Southern Sevens contact tracing team. More people are getting sick with COVID and requiring hospitalization but it doesnt have to be this way.

Paula Clark, COVID-19 operations section chief with the Jackson County Health Department said there were just 42 positive cases in the county during June, but 257 positive cases so far in July. She said a nationally, a majority  more than 80% of the cases  are the new Delta variant.

I think we could say the same thing here, she said.

Predominately, we are seeing the positive cases come from unvaccinated people. We do have a few where vaccinated individuals are having mild cases, Clark added.
Reillys other ordinance would ban all pedicabs citywide from having amplified music.

Were having these illegal street curb parties hiring the pedicab driver to be their DJ for the evening. So, they sit there and crank their music while these guys are sitting there drinking and smoking dope on the curb in front of bars and restaurants, creating chaos and mayhem, Reilly said. Weve had these large groups hanging out, drinking, doing drugs, listening to the pedicab music and then they see rivals doing the same thing across the street and they get into fights. That also has become an issue for cops.

Reilly said the city has a pretty strict noise ordinance on the books that should apply to pedicabs too. The veteran alderman stressed the pedicabs would be allowed to operate in that section of River North before 6 p.m. and in all other areas of the city at all times, with the exception of the existing bans on Michigan and State streets.

Asked if the pedicab popularity and street congestion has been driven at all by the fewer number of cabs and ride-shares available post-pandemic to take revelers home, Reilly scoffed and called the pedicabs a rolling violation, with passengers often illegally smoking marijuana on the public right of way.
Prosecutors said the note did not contain the words of a repentant man.

"Even contemplating his own suicide, Brue continued to plot how to hide money from his victims. Brue directed his wife to use his school district-funded retirement money as soon as possible so that the school districts could not get it. ... These are words of cold calculation. Far from wanting to make his victims whole, Brue wanted to ensure that his wife spent the money, so his victims could not recover it," the government's sentencing report said.

U.S. District Judge Colin S. Bruce said during this week's hearing that Brue's scheme was not simple and that Brue took great efforts to conceal the thefts while using his position of trust. His actions, the judge said, would have a long-term detrimental impact on school districts that already were struggling.

"School superintendents and other public servants serve as leaders and role models to students and the community at large. When they abuse the public trust, prosecution serves to restore the trust and reminds us all that public misconduct will not be tolerated," acting U.S. Attorney Douglas J. Quivey said.
The weapons were found on the window sill of Casteel's 12th floor hotel room with a view of Ohio Street Beach and Navy Pier, a major tourist attraction.

"Why didn't you leave your firearms at home?" a responding officer asks Casteel in police footage.

Casteel replies that he forgot to remove all the firearms from his gun range bag because he packed in a rush after his son was injured and hospitalized the night before he left with his girlfriend and children for Chicago.

He said he removed the guns and ammunition from the bag and left them in the hotel room so that he could use the bag at the beach.

"I didn't expect anything to happen. I just left them there for the day. Went to the beach. Came back. Went shopping," Casteel tells officers, also adding that he planned to propose to his girlfriend.

"It's my fault. I didn't mean to startle anyone. I understand 100% why I'm here. But like I said, it's an honest to God accident," Casteel said.

Casteel was released on $10,000 bond after a judge reminded him that gun laws in Chicago are different than in Iowa. Once he was released from the police station, he proposed.

Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0
Violent crime in Chicago is a terrible tragedy, said Garland, who grew up in north suburban Lincolnwood and graduated from Niles West High School in Skokie. The federal government has to do everything we can in cooperation with our state and local partners.

Garlands Friday remarks were from a conference room inside Dirksen. Reporters were only allowed to listen to his remarks, which lasted only about a minute and a half, before being ushered out of the room.

After that, Garland was to privately discuss the nuts and bolts of the Chicago strike force with several top Chicago-area law enforcement officials including Brown, his second-in-command First Deputy Superintendent Eric Carter, U.S. Attorney John Lausch, Illinois State Police Director Brendan Kelly, Chief Leo Schmitz of the Cook County Sheriffs Police Department, the heads of the Chicago offices for the FBI, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and others.

When Garland arrived Thursday, he toured one of the Chicago polices strategic decision support centers on the West Side. These centers are equipped with big TV screens that show surveillance camera footage, maps and information about crimes in a given area to help police commanders determine where to deploy officers. The centers are also equipped with ShotSpotter gun detection technology.
Local

editor's pick alert top story

South Carolina State University

South Carolina State University chairman: Trustees can refuse payments; institutions across state also provide reimbursements

South Carolina State Universitys trustees can choose not to be reimbursed for attending meetings, the board chairman says.

S.C. State trustees voted 10-3 last month to begin providing per diem and mileage reimbursements for their service on the board.

Board Chairman Rodney Jenkins said the decision was made with a new, full board in mind.

Its just what the state allows. This is nothing new. In 2015 when the temporary board came on, they didnt utilize the per diem and travel piece. When we came on in 2018, when they went back to the full board, we also didnt utilize that. We agreed not to take per diem and travel, he said.

S.C. State acting president optimistic with goals of increasing enrollment, engaging lawmakers Three days after being named acting president of South Carolina State University, retired U.S. Army Col. Alexander Conyers said increasing the enrollment and retention of students will be his top goal.

The chairman continued, Now that weve got another board, we put it back on the table so everybody would get an opportunity to make a decision. So we decided that thats an option for each board member. Each board member doesnt have to take it. That just depends on the individual. It is an allowable expense for board members of universities.

Voting in favor of the reimbursements were trustees Starlee Allen, Jameel Allen, Louvetta Dicks, Ronald Friday, Douglass Gantt, William Oden, Donnie Shell, Macie Smith, Daniel Varat and Rodney Jenkins. Voting in opposition were trustees Dr. Doris Helms, Monica Scott and Wilbur Shuler.

S.C. State to forgive $9.8 million in student debt In his first major executive decision, South Carolina State Acting President Alexander Conyers announced Thursday that the university will clear account balances of more than 2,500 continuing students.

The states General Appropriations Act provides mileage reimbursements at a rate of 56 cents per mile. Under state law, a per diem allowance for all boards, commissions and committees is also allowed at $35 per day.

Sam Watson, the universitys public information officer, said the trustees would receive the $35 per diem and be paid at the universitys current mileage reimbursement rate of 52.5 cents per mile.

In 2015, the state General Assembly appointed a temporary, seven-member board tasked with restoring the university's fiscal health. A newly constituted board began serving July 1, 2018.

Acting president says new chapter begins at S.C. State A day after being named acting president of South Carolina State, retired U.S. Army Col. Alexander Conyers issued an open letter saying a new chapter has begun at the university.

S.C. States trustees had not received any compensation for sitting on the board for at least the past three years as the university continued to recover financially.

The boards newest members came on in October 2020, and Jenkins said the per diem and mileage reimbursement payments were an allowable option that the board had the right to consider.

Trustees oust Clark as S.C. State president South Carolina State trustees voted 10-3 Tuesday to remove James Clark as university president.

We never did settle that issue, to let them vote on whether they were going to do it or not. We deferred it a couple of times. I wanted to get it off the table, that we would be able to have those board members have an opportunity to vote on whether they wanted have the option to receive it or not, and right now they do, Jenkins said.

The chairman said the universitys financial outlook is improving.

S.C. State plans campus improvements South Carolina State University has set aside at least $8 million for facility and campus improvements during the 2021-2022 school year, according to President James Clark.

Our financial position has changed somewhat. I want to believe to the better. Were in the black now. We were in the red then (in 2015). Once we got back to what we considered a regular board - the board that has been by statute, which is a 13-member board with the four or five ex-officio members - I thought it was proper that each board had an opportunity to make that decision (on per diem and mileage), Jenkins said.

Thats why it came back up. They agreed that they would have the opportunity to receive per diem and mileage. Whether each person takes it, its an individual piece, he said.

The chairman continued, There will be some that will take it, and some wont take it. Its not just for board members. Other public servants throughout the state have that option.  So I wouldnt even want to even try to think about who didnt take the option to receive the per diem during the time when we were in the red.

At this point, were not in the red, and things are moving in a direction that we want to see things go. So, again, it goes back to each board having the opportunity to make a decision for itself. But thats not for South Carolina State University only. Thats a statewide thing, thats a statewide allowable expense. So its not isolated to South Carolina State. If people dont understand that, I want them to understand that.

Legislators speak

Rep. Jerry Govan, D-Orangeburg, said he has no issue with the university board receiving per diem and mileage reimbursements.

This is the normal practice for all the state boards and commissions in terms of reimbursement or per diem and travel as long as the amounts are within  and I understand they clearly are  the state guidelines. Its nothing exorbitant about the amounts being collected. Im fine with it, he said.

Govan noted that the S.C. State trustee board needs to be treated just like any other board.

I think what we need to be more focused on is how these individuals are working to bring funds to the university, or write checks in terms of being in support of the institution, or other ways that they can contribute through their contracts and affiliations to help the university. These are the things that I think that we need to focus on, Govan said.

The legislator added, Im not at all upset about them receiving the miniscule amount of travel and per diem, which the state doesnt pay that much anyway. So I think we need to focus on the bigger picture in terms of recruitment of students and trying to build the enrollment back to where it needs to be for the school to be successful and ensure we have the leadership in place that can get that done.

Govan said the board has been doing what its supposed to do.

I think theyve been transparent, and I think its important that we as a community get behind the institution and try to move it forward because it plays a vital role and link in the economic development of Orangeburg, he said.

Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter, D-Orangeburg, said "Members of boards and commissions are allowed to receive per diem for attending meetings. It speaks volumes that the old board had chosen not to receive compensation because of fiscal constraints.

I assume because the university is now on sound financial footing that the current board no longer has that concern."

Sen. Vernon Stephens, D-Bowman said, South Carolina State University has had some turbulent financial situations. There appears to be some stability coming back to the university as far as finances is concerned.

Stephens said he has no problem with the board receiving per diem and mileage reimbursements for attending meetings.

With their strategic plan to get the institution well academically and financially, its going to involve board members being at the institutions and meetings whether or not its strategic planning, or whether or not its simple board meetings. ... When youre traveling the distance, I think there should some type of compensation for that. With the many meetings, there should be some stipends, he said.

There are some institutions in the state that never actually stopped giving their board or commission members stipends. So I think its time that they do receive this. Im of the opinion that there may be a number of them that opt not to take it. I say thank you to them, as well as the board members who will be receiving it. I believe there is a sense of how we need to do this right and get it right, and I think that is coming, Stephens said.

Other institutions

Rusty Monhollon, executive director of the S.C. Commission on Higher Education, said I know its permitted in state law. We reimburse our commissioners as part of our board. They get both per diem and mileage reimbursement for attending meetings.

The payment of per diem and mileage reimbursement payments varies among other public colleges and universities.

Dr. Walt Tobin, president of Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College, said the OCtech Area Commission receives a $35 meeting stipend and a mileage reimbursement of 56 cents per mile.

Kevin Whitt, chairman of the Denmark Technical College Area Commission, said, We just dont do it. We probably could if we asked for it, but thats just not something were interested in pursuing at the moment.

John Sweeney, vice president of communications at Francis Marion University, said trustees receive a $35 per diem and mileage reimbursements at a rate of 56 cents per mile.

About half of the board does not accept the mileage or the per diem. They decline it as part of their service to the board, Sweeney said.

Lander University trustees receive a $35 per diem and mileage reimbursements at 52 cents per mile.

Nikasha N. Dicks, director of marketing and public relations at Aiken Technical College, said the colleges commission members do not receive per diem payments, but are reimbursed at a rate of 56 cents per mile for travel.

Kimberly Faust, secretary to the board of trustees at Winthrop University, said trustees have decided not request mileage and per diem reimbursement while on board business for at least 18 years.

TheTandD.com: Full access for 3 months for just $1 Support local journalism by becoming a member at www.TheTandD.com The editor's limited time offer is full access to all the website has to offer for just $1 for three months. https://go.thetandd.com/june3

Winthrop does provide a room at a local hotel if the trustees have to stay overnight, and we provide a meal if they are on campus all day, but we do not reimburse any travel or food for them, Faust said.

Commission members at Midlands Technical College and Trident Technical College both receive a $35 per diem payment and are reimbursed at 56 cents per mile for travel on board business.
Cunningham said the facilities and technology at RMC are impressive.

The mobile unit, it goes into the community, it goes to where people are, and weve seen as a result of COVID-19, and even before, people may be reluctant or hesitant to go into a hospital or seek medical care. And sometimes you have to go to them, and I think thats one of the purposes of the medical unit, Cunningham said.

The Da Vinci machine is an incredible piece of technology thats being used and saving money, as well. The fact that somebodys able to have a hysterectomy and be out of the hospital the same day saves us a lot of money because its more efficient, makes it safer. So, really interesting, cutting-edge stuff, Cunningham said.

Cunningham said the hospital can be an example of how rural health care can be provided.

These are all things weve been talking about along the campaign trail as we do our 46-county tour. Understanding the differences that may exist from county to county, but also theres a common thread here, as well. And one of those is that our rural health care has been lacking, but there are certain hospitals and practices that are leading the way, and I think this is one of them, Cunningham said.

Contact the writer: bharris@timesanddemocrat.com or 803-596-6530.

Love 8 Funny 3 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0

Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy.
A Turkish-based company plans to invest about $4.3 million and create more than 300 new jobs in Orangeburg County over the next five years.

BRN Sleep Products -- a supplier of online mattresses, box spring beds, covers and ready-made brands -- is looking to invest about $70,000 in land and building and $3.64 million in machinery and equipment.

Orangeburg is the company's flagship manufacturing plant in the United States.

As the industry leader in innovative bedding solutions, we are beyond excited for the opportunity to invest in both South Carolina and the United States," BRN Sleep Products Owner Berna Gozbas said in a press release. "We look forward to growing with Orangeburg and the surrounding communities.

The company will locate at 3771 Cameron Road (U.S. Highway 33) near Exit 149. It is housed in the former Utica Tool building.

"We have chosen this area for all it has to offer and believe that together we will do great things in helping the surrounding communities grow and prosper," BRN USA Sleep Products General Manager Fikret Kamer said. "Added value will come by way of the many new employment opportunities we will be offering.
Sam Watson, the universitys public information officer, said the trustees would receive the $35 per diem and be paid at the universitys current mileage reimbursement rate of 52.5 cents per mile.

In 2015, the state General Assembly appointed a temporary, seven-member board tasked with restoring the university's fiscal health. A newly constituted board began serving July 1, 2018.

S.C. States trustees had not received any compensation for sitting on the board for at least the past three years as the university continued to recover financially.

The boards newest members came on in October 2020, and Jenkins said the per diem and mileage reimbursement payments were an allowable option that the board had the right to consider.

We never did settle that issue, to let them vote on whether they were going to do it or not. We deferred it a couple of times. I wanted to get it off the table, that we would be able to have those board members have an opportunity to vote on whether they wanted have the option to receive it or not, and right now they do, Jenkins said.

The chairman said the universitys financial outlook is improving.
The girls said they were worried about being around unvaccinated people and are still wearing masks.

Rangel said she was initially worried about how the vaccine could affect her kids, but with the delta variant proliferating, she decided to make their appointments.

You hear so many things, you dont know what to think or what to do, she said.

At UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento, there were fewer than 10 COVID-19 patients on any given day during June, the hospital said Thursday. This week, its ranged from 18 to 25 patients daily, and officials expect that number to keep rising.

Were all thinking that another surge is likely, said Christian Sandrock, the facility's director of critical care. It is frightening. I dont think well go back to the worst weve seen, due to the vaccine, but its hard to tell.

The surge in Los Angeles County resembles one last summer, Ferrer said. The difference, she said, is that now there's the built-in protection of vaccines. Nearly 70% of county residents 12 and older have gotten at least one shot, according to health department data.
Many locally know of Eutaw Springs battlefield and its importance in the Revolutionary War for American independence. What transpired in the Southern colonies and in particular in South Carolina cannot be underestimated in importance. More Americans need to know about these chapters in our history.

From DiscoverSouthCarolina.com: South Carolina's role in the Revolutionary War may not get the recognition of states like Massachusetts (Bunker Hill), Virginia (Yorktown) or Pennsylvania (Valley Forge). But upward of 200 battles and skirmishes -- more than any U.S. state -- took place here.

Several are indelibly etched into the fabric of the state. Among the most acclaimed is the 1776 Battle of Sullivan's Island. Fort Sullivan survived the Royal Navy's cannon strikes because the balls bounced off the soft wood of palmetto logs used to construct the patriot fortification. It's why the palmetto tree adorns the state flag today.

The years 1780-81 were especially successful for the Southern campaign with several battles that helped save the patriot cause, including the American victory at the Battle of Cowpens -- called "the best-planned battle of the entire war" by some historians -- and the Battle of Kings Mountain, considered the turning point of the revolution in the South.
COLUMBIA -- Barnwell PV 1, LLC, a solar solutions company, announced plans Thursday to establish operations in Barnwell County. The company is investing $75 million into the project.

We look forward to developing the 60 MW solar farm in Barnwell County for renewable energy production, and we appreciate the support of Barnwell County, SouthernCarolina Alliance and the S.C. Department of Commerce in making this project a reality, said Barnwell PV1 Director John Gorman. Our $75 million investment in this community will not only produce clean electricity to power homes, it is also part of the global movement toward more efficient sources of power.

Barnwell PV 1, LLCs investment will expand and diversify our rapidly growing renewable energy portfolio, creating a brighter and cleaner future for all South Carolinians, said Governor Henry McMaster.

SC Secretary of Commerce Harry M. Lightsey II, said, Today, we celebrate the announcement that Barnwell PV 1, LLC is investing $75 million into a new solar farm in Barnwell County. This investment will not only provide a boost to South Carolina, but more importantly, it is an investment that will improve sustainability.
Job Title: Medical Officer Special Grade (Intensive Care or Internal Medicine)

(10 Job Opportunities)

Organisation: Ministry Of Health

Duty Station: Kampala, Uganda

Salary Scale: U2 (MED  1)

Reports to: Consultant ( Intensive Care or Internal Medicine)

About US:

Uganda has graduated into the second wave of COVID-19 with a sharp increase in the number of asymptomatic, severe and critical cases as well as a significant change in the disease profile. This requires adequate resources both human and financial to contain the spread and to save lives. The HDU and ICU capacity in the entire country needs to be stepped up immediately.

The Ministry of Health with support from USAID, therefore, invites applications from suitably qualified applicants to fill existing posts tenable on Non-gratuitable Local Contract Terms in COVID-19 Treatment Centre (CTUs) under Ministry of Health to support the National Response against COVID-19.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

To participate in ensuring efficient and effective management of COVID 19 patients.

To supervise Medical Officers and other Health workers under him/her.

To participate in the training Programmes related to COVID 19.

To ensure the safety of patients and health workers in the CTU.

To ensure that discipline and the Ethical Code of conduct are observed by the staff under him/her.

To provide technical and Professionals advice in his/her area of specialty in the management of COVID 19.

To ensure proper management of resources under their care.

To carry out other duties as may be assigned by the higher authorities.









Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

MBChB degree or its equivalent from a recognized University or Institution.

Master of Medicine Degree in Intensive Care, Internal Medicine or its equivalent in a relevant specialty, from a recognized University or Institution.

Exposure of a Fellowship in Intensive Care with a reputable Institution shall be an added advantage

Applicants should have a working experience of not less than (3) years at specialist level.

A proven record of research and publications will be an added advantage.

Applicants should be eligible for Registration with the Uganda Medical and Practitioners Council.

Should have potential for leadership and be of high integrity.

How to Apply:

All Applicants should submit written expression of interest accompanied with detailed curriculum vitae, certified copies of certificates and testimonials and three referees addressed to the Permanent secretary, Ministry of Health, P.O. Box 7272, Kampala, Uganda and should be delivered to the tent in the compound of Ministry of Health between 8:00 am and 5:00pm Monday to Friday.

Relevant Documents:

Online applications should include a cover letter, CV, National ID and Annual Practicing License sent as one PDF document. Candidates invited for interviews will be required to bring the following documents:

Academic and professional certificates (UCE, UACE, Professional Certificates, Diplomas, Degrees, Fellowships).

Evidence of training in specialized areas where applicable.

Letters of appointment, confirmation, and promotion where applicable.

Registration certificates and valid practicing licenses for health workers from relevant Professional Councils.

National and current Institutional Identity Cards.

Emphasis:

It is emphasized that:

The applications should be submitted online.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Shortlisted candidates shall be required to bring their original certificates, letters of appointment, Registration Certificates and Valid Practicing Licenses, and evidence of active service, or any other relevant documents at the interviews.

Candidates who will present forged certificates shall be handed over to the Police for appropriate action.

Candidates who wish to apply online should submit their applications to

UHSS-HRH@uhss.co.ug.

Deadline: 26th July 2021

For more of the latest jobs, please visit https://www.theugandanjobline.com or find us on our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/UgandanJobline
Job Title: Human Resources Administrative Assistant

Organisation: United States US Embassy, US Mission in Uganda

Duty Station: Kampala, Uganda

About US:

The United States Embassy in Kampala, Uganda has enjoyed diplomatic relations with Uganda for over 30 years. Ambassador Natalie E. Brown currently heads the U.S Mission to Uganda. The Mission is composed of several offices and organizations all working under the auspices of the Embassy and at the direction of the Ambassador.

Among the offices operating under the U.S Mission to Uganda are:

United States Agency for International Development (USAID)

Centers for Disease Control (CDC)

Peace Corps

Job Summary: The Human Resources Administrative Assistant is responsible for all the sections filling ,scanning and storage (both electronic and hardcopy) of official documentation for American and LE Staff personnel records including personnel action cables, individual subject matter letters, assignment notification cables, travel orders, and any other personnel information as needed following guidance included on 3 FAH-1 H-2350. In coordination with HRO and HRS, organizes the electronic HR shared folder files and deletes old information so that documentation can be retrieved promptly. Incumbent creates subject files for reports such as LCPs, salary surveys, policies, E&L statements, classification reports and shreds as required. Is responsible for managing the HR archives by creating and maintaining databases with titles and properly kept HR correspondences for easy future access. Carries out file weeding, maintenance and updates including file census. Retires files as is required by regulations.

Is responsible for tracking and filing of performance evaluation reports and work development plans for all LE Staff according to the Performance Management Policy. Files evaluation reports for family members and sends original and a copy to AF Bureau EFM Coordinator for processing.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

Clerical Support of Recruitment: 30%

In coordination with the HR Specialist, the incumbent daily monitors the application inbox and empties it; it including saving applications in the relevant folders. Prepares folders with the original vacancy announcement, screened applications plus tracker for the PRC to shortlist. Coordinates interview dates and conference rooms. Enters visitors access requests so that applicants can access the building. Assist to proctor tests given to candidates considered for employment.

Creates new personnel files as new employees are hired, to include one for performance management.

Follows up with medical unit and RSO on status of clearances when delays occur.

Prepares a welcome pack for the new LE staff and organises the new employees OPF ready for boarding.

Administrative support: 20%

Maintains and updates HR forms and makes sure they are available to all staff either electronically or hard copies as may be needed including Request for Work Permits, Change of address, Designation of beneficiary forms, etc.

Coordinates HR sections requests for supplies, motor pool, and procurement of adverts in newspapers.

Collects interoffice mail and drop offs as needed, prepares official outgoing pouch and DHL documents to be sent to Washington or other locations.

May be required to provide backup to the HR Assistants during lunch breaks, illnesses, vacations and other absences from the office. Performs any other duties as assigned.









Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

The ideal applicant for the United States US Embassy Human Resources Administrative Assistant job must hold a Diploma studies in Human Resources, Public Administration, Management or Administration

Two years of clerical or administrative work in a busy office is required.

Must have good working knowledge of general office procedures and knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite programs such as Excel, Word, Power Point, and Outlook. Knowledge of general HR Regulations and policies , Records management and procedures

Level IV English ability is required. Level III (good working knowledge) in Luganda, Lusoga, Acholi or Lunyakitara is required. This may be tested.

Must have strong computer skills. Ability to use personal computers and other office equipment such as scanners, shredders, and copy machines is required. This may be tested.

How to Apply:

All suitably qualified and interested candidates should apply online at the link below.

Click Here

Deadline: 3rd August 2021

For more of the latest jobs, please visit https://www.theugandanjobline.com or find us on our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/UgandanJobline
This subscription will allow existing subscribers of The World to access all of our online content, including the E-Editions area.

NOTE: To claim your access to the site, you will need to enter the Last Name and First Name that is tied to your subscription in this format: SMITH, JOHN

If you need help with exactly how your specific name needs be entered, please email us at admin@countrymedia.net or call us at 1-541 266 6047.
Today

Partly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 69F. Winds light and variable.

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 69F. Winds light and variable.

Tomorrow

A mainly sunny sky. Hot and humid. High 93F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph.
Today

Partly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 69F. Winds light and variable.

Tonight

Partly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 69F. Winds light and variable.

Tomorrow

Mainly sunny. Hot and humid. High 93F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph.
Nearly 6,000 people in the Casper area work in health care or a related field. If one of those professionals had an innovative idea to improve a procedure, would they have the resources to turn that idea into a product?

Local economic development agency Advance Casper wants to make sure the answer to that question is always yes. The organization is hosting a biosciences innovation summit in August to advertise what the community and the state can offer that industry.

If youre busy being a doctor and doing your doctor thing, but you have an idea that could possibly you know help you do your doctor thing, but you dont certainly have the the time to develop that, our goal is to develop a network in which we can develop your idea along others and have all the resources here available, explained Advance Casper president Justin Farley.

A partnership of Advance Casper, the University of Wyoming, Ridefor8 Venture Capital, Banner Health and the Wyoming Business Council is hosting the event, dubbed the WyoBio Innovation Summit. It promises appearances from the congressional delegation, the national futurist Edie Weiner, and international entrepreneur Penelope Shihab, as well as a handful of local and regional experts.
Krogmans task during the mission was to fly with another spotter plane in search ahead of other tactical jet fighter planes and mark potential targets with smoke rockets, according to an earlier article in the Northern Wyoming Daily News by Don Hall published in 1988. But his aircraft was struck by enemy fire and crashed. His wingman reported that he did not see a parachute.

At the time, with his body not recovered, Krogman was reported as missing in action. That changed a few days later and his status was changed to killed in action. For his efforts, Krogman was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross Award for warning his wingman to take evasive action before he was shot down, as well as a Purple Heart.

Fifty-two years later, Hall stated a scientific recovery expert was working on a crash site in Ban Kok Mak, Laos, in February 2019 and reported the recovery of possible remains and material evidence to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency. The remains were consolidated and identified as Krogmans. While having tried to research the name on the bracelet, Roberts said she didnt know much about Krogman until she started reading the news story. Quickly, the bracelet took on even more meaning.

I had always cared, Roberts said. (But) it was more real. It was so sudden. It was time for closure.
The colleges suit hinges on accusations against Spence for using the Trial Lawyers College name, logo  a red cloud with a lightning bolt  and email lists after he was off the board.

According to a lawsuit filed by Spence last year in Wyoming, Spence himself painted the logo for Thunderhead Ranch, and the college reportedly trademarked it in 2012 without his permission. TLC also trademarked the name Trial Lawyers College at the same time.

Spence and the other defendants in the case deny using confidential email lists in their response to the suit, stating that alumni contact information is readily available in a directory.

In court filings, college leadership says the divide began in December 2019 when the board voted not to spend millions of dollars building a library in Spences honor on Thunderhead Ranch, since the land is leased from the Spence Foundation and not owned by the school.

One of the defendants in the case, former board member and Lancaster, California mayor Rex Parris, said the board had been planning that building for nearly a decade, and had voted to move forward with the plan at least four times previously.

Support Local Journalism Your membership makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}}
Our endorsers have served the people of Wyoming with true passion and they know what kind of representation Wyoming deserves in Washington, Gray said in a statement to the Star-Tribune.

Support Local Journalism Your membership makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}}

Of the current legislators who endorsed Gray, only Rodriguez-Williams and Jennings responded to request for comment.

These eight representatives are all outspoken conservatives. A number of them also successfully ran anti-establishment campaigns for their seat. In their positions, they have, for the most part, been uncompromising on legislation, which strays from the old-guard Republicans in the House who more frequently bend on legislation to get it through.

Of the eight, Jennings, who is also deeply conservative in ways similar to Gray, has served in the legislature the longest, representing Sheridan since 2015. Gray and Jennings served on the Joint Judiciary Committee together, and left Judiciary at the same time and both moved to the Joint Revenue Committee in 2021.

I believe Gray is the most qualified person in the race. He is high integrity, high energy and focused on helping the people of Wyoming, Jennings told the Star-Tribune.

While 10 endorsements from lawmakers is a significant chunk, none of them have ever held leadership positions in the House.
The Development Bank of Latin America, also known as CAF, yesterday announced that it had approved a US$175 million ($1.19 billion) loan to Trinidad and Tobago to modernise the countrys transportation infrastructure.

In announcing the approval of the loan, CAF said the modernisation of T&Ts transportation infrastructure would be done through actions related to the development of plans, regulatory and strategic changes, initiatives to modernise processes and investments in the sector.
Captain Caveman, The Flintstones, Tom & Jerry and The Smurfs are all among the flood of happy childhood images that have been rushing through the creative mind of ailing musician Rennie Ramnarine.

Ramnarine, the eldest member of the famous family crossover chutney band Dil-E-Nadan, was diagnosed with end-stage kidney failure in 2019. He currently undergoes dialysis three times a week at the Acropolis Medical Centre in San Fernando.
A 41-year-old woman who has been detained following the killing of the chairman of Maritime General and Fidelity Finance, 74-year-old John Henry Smith, has been sent for psychiatric evaluation.

The woman, the Express was told, had been observed making questionable utterances and after consultation with their legal team, a decision was made by the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) to send the woman to the St Anns Hospital for evaluation.
The master artist is gone.

LeRoy Clarke, who was also an author and poet, died at his home at Legacy House, Cascade around 6 a.m. yesterday.

He was 82 years old and was said to have been ailing in recent months.

Born in Belmont, Clarke emerged as one Trinidads great visual artists and became an icon of contemporary black culture.
ITS the screams. The screams I will never forget.

These were the words of one man while speaking to the Express on the roadway off Rookery Nook #1, Maraval, yesterday morning near the smouldering home in which three children had died.
Do you have a news tip?

Want to share good news story, or do you have information that should see the light of day? Then we want to hear from you.

More here
When Sheila moved to Tucson, we were very excited because she was an East Coast activist, and we were getting the benefit of her experience, said Hughes, who was an active member of the local chapter of the National Organization for Women at the time. Tobias and Hughes remained friends up until Tobias passing, often attending the symphony, eating dinner together and always sharing stimulating conversation.

She was an amazing scholar, said Hughes, who described her old friend as trusting, spirited and incisive. Sheila had that amazing talent of being able to shape words into something really meaningful for women who were struggling with equality issues.

Born in New York in 1935, Tobias earned bachelors degrees in history and literature from Radcliffe College in 1957. She worked as a journalist for a few years before attending graduate school at Columbia University, where she eventually earned two masters degrees in history. During that time, she followed her partner to Cornell University, where she became an academic administrator by the late 1960s and entrenched herself in the gender equality movement of the era.
Drivers traveling from Benson to St. David and Tombstone are having to take a 20-mile detour because of a road closure on Arizona 80 about 5 miles south of Interstate 10.

The closure, which began Monday afternoon, is to allow Arizona Department of Transportation work crews to repair soil erosion under the roadway, the Arizona Department of Transportation said.

The closed section is between Mileposts 298 and 299. Drivers heading south on 80 toward St. David must now detour by first taking Arizona 90 south of Benson and then Arizona 82 east from 90 to 80 north of Tombstone.

The Cochise County Sheriffs Department said it had been advised of road fissures and sinkholes along Arizona 80 in the area of Apache Powder Road.

The transportation department pinned the blame for the erosion on a clogged drainage pipe that allowed extra water from storm runoff to enter the roadway, leading to soft spots under it.

ADOT maintenance crews have been working since Monday to replace the storm drain and complete pavement repairs. The work is expected to continue for several days.
The body of a woman found in a burning house Sunday that was the start of a shooting rampage on Tucsons south side has been confirmed as the girlfriend of the alleged gunman, Tucson police say.

Jennifer A. Fells, 36, a mother of three, was presumed to have been killed in the attack that also left two paramedics wounded, a helpful neighbor dead and firefighters seeking cover from bullets as they tried to put out the blaze.

The alleged gunman was eventually gravely wounded in a gunfight with police. He died Wednesday.

Fells was positively identified by the countys Office of the Medical Examiner, police said Thursday.

An autopsy showed Fells had been shot.

Fells was known for her smile.

Her coworkers at a Tucson McDonalds remember Fells always laughing.

When she laughed it was infectious, said Michael Higgs, the general manager at the McDonalds where she worked. She was always having fun and made everyone laugh.

Higgs said he related to Fells on a personal level since they were similar in ages. He described her as caring and a dependable, hardworking employee.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP)  A conservative talk radio host from Tennessee who had been a vaccine skeptic until he was hospitalized from COVID-19 now says his listeners should get vaccinated.

Phil Valentine's brother, Mark Valentine, spoke at length on WWTN-FM in Nashville on Thursday about his brother's condition, saying he is in a critical care unit on supplemental oxygen, but not on a ventilator. Phil Valentine has had an afternoon talk radio show on the station for years.

First of all, he's regretful that he wasn't a more vocal advocate of the vaccination, Mark Valentine said of his brother. For those listening, I know if he were able to tell you this, he would tell you, Go get vaccinated. Quit worrying about the politics. Quit worrying about all the conspiracy theories."

Mark Valentine took exception to the idea that Phil Valentine was anti-vaccination, labeling him pro-information and pro-choice on the vaccine but adding, he got this one wrong."

After Phil Valentine tested positive for COVID-19 but prior to his hospitalization, he told his listeners to consider, If I get this COVID thing, do I have a chance of dying from it? If so, he advised them to get vaccinated. He said he made the decision not to get vaccinated because he thought he probably wouldn't die.
LOS ANGELES (AP)  The chair of former President Donald Trumps inaugural committee was ordered freed Friday on $250 million bail to face charges he secretly worked as an agent for the the United Arab Emirates to influence Trumps foreign policy.

Tom Barrack, 74, will be subject to electronic monitoring and largely confined to his residence after he is arraigned Monday in a New York courtroom. He was arrested Tuesday in Los Angeles near his home.

Barrack is expected to plead not guilty to conspiring to influence U.S. policy on the UAEs behalf during Trumps 2016 campaign and while Trump was president. Barrack, the founder of private equity firm Colony Capital, was among three men charged in the case.

Prosecutors said Barrack used his long personal friendship with Trump to benefit the UAE without disclosing his ties to the U.S. government.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Patricia Donahue in Los Angeles ordered strict conditions for Barrack's release. He must surrender his passport, wear a GPS-monitor to track his whereabouts, limit travel between Southern California and New York City and obey a curfew.
Agents said they believe Tang sought refuge at the Chinese consulate in San Francisco after they interviewed her at her home in Davis, and they accused the consulate of harboring a known fugitive. She was taken into custody after emerging from the consulate for a doctor's appointment, the Bee reported.

Tang's attorneys had argued that the doctor was not a member of the Chinese military but had worked as a civilian at a Chinese military facility. They said the charge of lying on her visa application likely would have resulted in a six-month sentence, less than the 10 months she has already spent in jail and under house arrest.

U.S. District Judge John A. Mendez previously dismissed a separate count charging Tang with lying to the FBI because agents violated her Miranda rights by not advising her that she did not have to answer their questions.

Tang never was able to begin her cancer research at UC Davis because the coronavirus pandemic shut down the lab where she was to work.

In Beijing on Friday, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian accused the U.S. of arresting its citizens studying in the country under fabricated charges, violating legitimate rights and interests of Chinese nationals."

We again urge the U.S. to ... immediately release the person involved and earnestly guarantee the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese nationals in the U.S.," Zhao said at a daily briefing.

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP)  Palestinian health officials on Friday said a 17-year-old youth was shot and killed by Israeli troops during a clash in the occupied West Bank.

The shooting occurred in Nebi Saleh, a village where residents have held numerous demonstrations over the years against the expansion of a nearby Israeli settlement on what they say is their land.

The official Palestinian news agency Wafa identified the teen as Mohammed Tamimi, a member of a large extended family that lives in the village.

Bilal Tamimi, a resident and relative of the teen, said he was shot in the back during a clash that erupted after Israeli troops entered the village. Further details were not immediately available, and the Israeli military said it was investigating.

A large protest also took place Friday in Beita - a village in the northern West Bank where Palestinians have held weeks of protests against an unauthorized Israeli settlement outpost they say was built on their land. Under a deal in June between the Israeli government and the settlers of the Eviatar outpost, the settlers left the area but its buildings were left intact under army guard.
OPINION: "Are these the 'factions' that were of grave concern to James Madison in the famous Federalist 10? He argued that without a system of governance that achieved compromise on the great issues, civil unrest would rage across the land," writes our guest columnist Terry Bracy.
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP)  All five of Oklahoma's military installations will remain viable and are poised to grow under the latest annual federal defense appropriation bill, U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe's office said Thursday.

Inhofe, the top Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, praised the National Defense Authorization Act that passed out of the panel on a bipartisan 23-3 vote and now heads to the full Senate.

In a statement, Inhofe said the bill ensures all of our installations and the surrounding communities are fully resourced to invest in the important research our bases need to continue to keep their cutting-edge advantage."

The bill ensures there will be no round of federal base closures or realignments in the upcoming fiscal year. Inhofe says the bill also ensures missions are maintained at the state's five military installations: Altus Air Force Base, Fort Sill near Lawton, Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma City, Vance Air Force Base in Enid and the McAlester Army Ammunition Plant.

Inhofe said the bill also includes funding for national defense research and development projects at the University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University and the University of Tulsa.

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP)  The man wanted in the shooting of two Arkansas men on Interstate 40 in eastern Oklahoma and a carjacking in Oklahoma City has been arrested in Dallas, according to Oklahoma City police.

Lee King, 27, was arrested Thursday by U.S. marshals who, with Oklahoma City police, had traced him to a location in Dallas, police Sgt. Gary Knight said.

The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation has said King was wanted in the shooting of Arkansans John Derek Riggs and Jake Myers on Saturday near Vian, about 140 miles (225 kilometers) east of Oklahoma City.

The OSBI said Riggs and Myers had picked up King, who apparently ran out of gas, and taken him to a Vian convenience store, where a gas can and gas were purchased for him.

Riggs and Myers were found wounded from gunshots along the interstate and survived, the OSBI said.

King fled in a vehicle he is suspected of carjacking earlier in Oklahoma City, the OSBI said, and escaped police who pursued him near Antlers in southeastern Oklahoma, about 130 miles southwest (209 kilometers) of Vian.

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP)  Officials from the Nebraska State Patrol defended their state-funded mission to the U.S.-Mexican border on Thursday, arguing that they were answering a call for help from fellow law enforcement officers in Texas amid a surge in illegal border crossings.

Patrol officials described the situation in Del Rio, Texas, as a humanitarian crisis and said many locals welcomed them, despite criticism that the agency agreed not to seek repayment for the services it provided at Nebraska taxpayers' expense. The last of the 25 troopers who were deployed are expected to return Friday.

When our law enforcement partners ask for help, other agencies respond, Col. John Bolduc, the patrol's superintendent, said at a news conference with his boss, Gov. Pete Ricketts. "Thats what our team did here. Hopefully Nebraska is never in a situation where we need to make a similar request, but if we are, we know there will be others willing and able to step up and help out.
By now, many victims will have rebuilt their networks or restored them from backups.

It's a mixed bag, Liedholm said, because some "have been in complete lockdown. She had no estimate of the cost of the damage and would not comment on whether any lawsuits may have been filed against Kaseya. It is not clear how many victims may have paid ransoms before REvil went dark.

The so-called supply-chain attack of Kaseya was the worst ransomware attack to date because it spread through software that companies known as managed service providers use to administer multiple customer networks, delivering software updates and security patches.

President Joe Biden called his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, afterward to press him to stop providing safe haven for cybercriminals whose costly attacks the U.S. government deems a national security threat. He has threatened to make Russia pay a price for failing to crack down, but has not specified what measures the U.S. may take.

If the universal decryptor for the Kaseya attack was turned over without payment, it would not be the first time ransomware criminals have done that. It happened after the Conti gang hobbled Ireland's national health care service in May and the Russian Embassy in Dublin offered to help with the investigation.

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

Subscribe to Daily Headlines Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy.
Howell never envisioned  remember, he picked up a guitar only because he has an idea for a movie  that he would be embarking on a tour with a guitar, but its happening. He said it was not an accidental decision that the tour is starting in Tulsa. He has been connected to the city since The Outsiders. He has friends here and has always felt supported here.

There are just a lot of really cool people there, he said. I could see myself living in Tulsa one day, happily. And genuinely I say that because I really do love it there. There is history there. I look forward to playing Cains Ballroom one day. I havent spoken to them, but thats a real personal bucket list item for me because of the history there. Im a big Bob Wills fan and Im a big history buff for country music. I really want to go play there.

Howell is appreciative of the opportunity to perform at the Venue Shrine and at the Outsiders House, where he and his greaser brothers lived during the making of the Francis Ford Coppola film. The Outsiders was based on a book of the same name by Tulsa author S.E. Hinton. Howell played Ponyboy Curtis in the film.
Fry talked about College Park, a collaboration between OSU-Tulsa and TCC that kicks off in August with its first two cohorts of business students.

Located on the OSU-Tulsa campus, courses will be taught by TCC and OSU-Tulsa faculty with a student earning an associate degree from TCC followed by a bachelors degree from OSU-Tulsa.

A very important part of the cohort model is peer support, Fry said. Research clearly supports how important it is that students, no matter what their age, have peers who help them along the way.

Rice talked about a new transfer partnership involving RSU, TCC and OU-Tulsa.

We call it two plus two plus two  two years at TCC, two years at Rogers to finish your bachelors, and you go seamlessly right into a masters at OU-Tulsa, he said.

Rice praised the consortium and the idea behind it.

Business and industry want us to work together. The taxpayer wants us to work together. It just makes sense that we are all pulling the same direction and delivering what business and industry want for our communities, he said.
So they have been really helpful in those ways, he said. And then on top of that, I think the accessibility to our ever-growing Hispanic population is certainly something to consider in bringing it to Tulsa, Oklahoma, to help with passport issues or ID issues or anything else that needs a consulate involved.  Having it here would really help Tulsa.

Ruiz is president and founder of the Council for Safe Neighborhoods as well as president of the Council of Hispanic Organizations. He said Thursday that the petition was sent to Mexicos secretary of exterior relations in mid-April and that he received a response about three weeks ago.

They are looking into it really closely, and everything looks positive up to this point, Ruiz said. Pretty soon they will make a decision.

Tulsa is not the only Oklahoma city vying for a Mexican consulate. Ruiz said a group of Hispanic leaders in Oklahoma City is working to get the consulate placed there.

Ruiz said he plans to meet with that group in early August to try to coordinate efforts.
The suspect in a Sequoyah County double shooting that left two men in critical condition, as well as in a separate carjacking and shooting in Oklahoma City, has been apprehended, the Antlers Police Department announced Thursday.

U.S. marshals told Antlers police that Lee King was apprehended in Dallas, according to an Antlers Police Department Facebook post. The Oklahoma City Police Department also posted on Facebook, saying King was arrested after they relayed information about Kings location in Dallas to the U.S. Marshals Service.

The marshals arrested King in Dallas about 4 p.m. Thursday, Oklahoma City police said.

King was identified as the suspect in the shootings of two Arkansas men who may have helped him after he ran out of gas Saturday, the OSBI said in a news release Monday.

The Sequoyah County Sheriffs Office was notified about 8:30 p.m. Saturday that two men were lying in the roadway on Interstate 40 near Vian. Both men had been shot, the OSBI said.
Beall had no direct answer to that but noted that Oklahoma City is already divided among three districts  the 3rd, 4th and 5th.

But some of CD 5 almost certainly must move into CD 2, which actually lost population over the past 10 years and needs to gain about 45,000 people.

The simplest fix would appear to be to move Seminole Countys 25,000 residents, and perhaps some of Pottawatomies 72,000, from CD 5 to CD 2.

But those two counties supplied Republican Congresswoman Stephanie Bices narrow margin of victory in 2020, and so the pressure may be on to find some other way to reconfigure the district.

After the 1990 Census, a Democrat-controlled Legislature drew downtown Oklahoma City into what was then rural western Oklahomas 6th District to help Democratic Congressman Glenn English.

Lawmakers and staff emphasize steps taken to minimize party politics in the redrawing of legislative boundaries. Political data were excluded from the Maptitude computer software used to redraw those maps, with such things as compactness and municipal and school district boundaries taking priority.
Or, some students may have anxiety about what could happen.

Every kid has had a different experience and reaction, Andrews said. Some may need extra help that their classroom teacher cant do.

Kids brains are resilient. Kids are resilient. But their bodies and brains are constantly changing, and we have to supply our youth with support services to help them deal with that sometimes.

Not all mental health services are long-term or intensive. Think of mental health as a spectrum, Andrews said.

One end may need a one-time intervention, like a pre-teen navigating a changing friendship. The other end may require more if a child is suffering through a series of traumatic events.

A lot of kids fall in between.

Someone who might need support right now may not need it a year from now or even in a couple of months, Andrews said. This is about allowing for the opportunity for all students to get the type of services they need.

Even with these new counselors, its not even close to enough. Every mental health inventory of Oklahoma looks grim.
The U.S. Supreme Court opinion in McGirt v. Oklahoma begins thusly: "On the far end of the Trail of Tears was a promise."

The court held the Muscogee reservation was never disestablished and noted Oklahoma overstepped its authority in Indian Country by prosecuting Native Americans in state court.

For its part, Oklahoma argued unsuccessfully that Congress ended the Muscogee reservation during the allotment era; Congress intruded into the Mucsogee's promise of self-governance, including abolishing its tribal courts; historical practice and demographics are enough to prove disestablishment; Congress never established a Muscogee reservation.

The court acknowledged the potential for cost and conflict around jurisdictional boundaries as a result of its ruling.

It observed Oklahoma and its tribes have proven time and time again that they can work successfully together as partners.

Rather than working together as suggested to solve the complexities and multiple issues, Oklahoma's Gov. Kevin Stitt has chosen inflammatory rhetoric and behavior as his approach.
The office will support activities related to the companys commitment to fostering economic growth and accelerating the future of energy in Vietnam with its partners in the country.

AES is investing in infrastructure projects in the province, including the 2.2 GW Son My 2 combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) power plant and Son My LNG terminal.

The total investment in the 2.2 GW Son My 2 CCGT power plant and Son My LNG terminal will be approximately US$3.2 billion and is expected to significantly enhance the local economy in Binh Thuan.

The construction of the plant and the terminal will generate more than 4,500 jobs, as well as improve the livelihoods of the local community.

Our new office will play an important role in developing AES LNG projects in Binh Thuan Province on the timeline agreed to with the government of Vietnam, said David Stone, president of AES Vietnam.

Our work in Vietnam creates not only jobs but also opportunities for valuable technology and knowledge transfer.

These activities will make lasting differences in the energy industry of the country.

The LNG projects we are developing in Vietnam, which will be served by our new office, demonstrate our commitment to the countrys energy sector and our support for Vietnams energy transition and future economic growth.

The new office will also play a key role in innovation activities, including the exploration of renewable and battery storage opportunities for AES in southern Vietnam.

AES Vietnams social impact programs will be supported through this office with the goal of ensuring a long-lasting impact in improving the lives of people in the communities AES serves.

Since 2020, these programs have included initiatives such as providing scholarships to 100 students from disadvantaged families and giving Tet gifts to 100 households in Ham Tan Ward and Son My Commune.

The new representative office is located at Unit 402, 4th Floor, Vietcombank Tower, 50 Nguyen Tat Thanh Street, Phan Thiet City, Binh Thuan Province, Vietnam.

The office opening coincided with the introduction of the companys new brand in Binh Thuan Province.

The launch reflects AES commitment to accelerating the future of energy while addressing the ever-increasing energy needs of its customers for today and tomorrow.

As a leader in clean growth and innovation, AES has been leading the energy industry with cutting-edge technologies in LNG to power, renewables, digital innovation, and battery energy storage, while creating greener, smarter energy solutions the world needs.

The new representative office is located at Unit 402, 4th Floor, Vietcombank Tower, 50 Nguyen Tat Thanh Street, Phan Thiet City, Binh Thuan Province, Vietnam.

AES Vietnam is a leading sustainable power company in the Southeast Asian country that provides safe, reliable, and affordable energy.

On September 30, 2019, the firm was officially granted approval by the government of Vietnam to develop the 2.2 GW Son My 2 CCGT power plant.

The Son My 2 plant will have a 20-year contract with the Vietnamese government.

The Son My LNG terminal has an installed capacity of 450 TBtu, representing a total investment of about $1.4 billion.

The terminal will play an important role in supporting Vietnams energy transition and economic growth.

AES, through its subsidiary, AES Mong Duong Power Company Limited, successfully developed and arranged financing for the Mong Duong 2 Power Project of 1,242 MW with the total investment of approximately $2.1 billion.

The AES Corporation (NYSE: AES) is a Fortune 500 global energy company that works to spur the future of energy.
A rice ATM and charity groups offering free meals have emerged recently in Long Xuyen City in the Mekong Delta province of An Giang to give support to people in need.

On July 13, the rice ATM at My Binh Ward, Long Xuyen City was relaunched after a brief pause, giving free rice to households, ticket vendors, and hawkers, who lost their jobs because of the COVID-19.

The Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee in My Binh Ward has enlisted needy households eligible to receive free rice and given them rice tickets.

When coming to get the free rice, the locals would submit the ticket, sign their name, and then 'withdraw' 3.5 kilograms of rice each time.

Tran Thi Kim Dung, 61, a resident with an adult son who has lost his working ability in Binh Long 2 Hamlet, My Binh Ward, was furloughed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, rice, among other food items, is the most necessary for her.

I work as a garbage collector, but I had to stay home during the period of social distance, Dung said, crying.

"We can temporarily overcome the suffering now thanks to the rice portion.

"While others can get free rice once each week, I can get two times due to our poverty-stricken situation.

"I am so thrilled."

A woman waits while another is getting her free rice at a 'rice ATM' in My Binh Ward, Long Xuyen City, An Giang Province, Vietnam. Photo: Dang Tuyet / Tuoi Tre

According to Nguyen Hoang Tu, vice-president of the Vietnam Fatherland Front in My Binh Ward, local authorities distribute 227 tickets of free rice weekly.

The poor can go to get free rice every Tuesday and Thursday. They intend to expand the list in the hope of supporting more impoverished people.

There are around 9,000 households that have been supported with 17 tons of rice since the rice ATM in My Binh Ward was launched, said Tu.

The rice ATM was financed by the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee in the ward and some donors."

Apart from the 'rice ATM,' a restaurant offering free meals at a cost of just VND2,000 (nine U.S. cents) apiece has been open for more than one week on the street of Thoai Ngoc Hau, My Long Ward.

A restaurant that serves vegetarian food at a cost of VND2,000 has offered over 300 meals each day in An Giang Province, Vietnam since July 8, 2021. Photo: Dang Tuyet / Tuoi Tre

This is an initiative launched by donors in Long Xuyen City, arranging for volunteers to deliver meals directly to the pandemic-affected people.

There were so many people rushing to obtain meals that the restaurant had to temporarily shut down. Until they could eventually maintain social distancing properly, they could not continue to receive the meals.

According to the restaurants owner Le Hong Hoa, they have delivered over 1,000 meals since July 8.

Many poor people come to the restaurant to get their VND2,000 meals during the COVID-19 pandemic. Photo: Dang Tuyet / Tuoi Tre

On the opening day, the restaurant served 200 meals at the same cost of VND2,000 for both vegetarian food and food with meat.

Each person can buy a maximum of two meals.

We serve on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, from 10:00 am to 12:00 am. We plan to serve every day when we have enough staff, Hong Hoa told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper.

We hope that this can share a little bit with the poor during the social distancing period."

An old man gives VND2,000 to a young man at the restaurant to get his meal during the COVID-19 pandemic in July 2021. Photo: Dang Tuyet / Tuoi Tre

On July 13, the charity group of Lang Thang An Giang, which is also based in the Mekong Delta province, brought seven cash gifts with various values to visual-impaired individuals. The gifts, fetching VND4-6 million (US$174-261) were delivered depending on everyones specific situation.

On top of the cash gifts, the recipients were supplied with rice and necessities previously because of their massage parlors shutdown.

Duong Thu Dong (center) and two women prepare vegetables to make vegetarian food meals to support the poor living in Long Xuyen City, An Giang Province, Vietnam during the COVID-19 pandemic. Photo: Dang Tuyet / Tuoi Tre

Since July 19, along with 18 other provinces and cities in southern Vietnam, An Giang has been placed under Directive No. 16, a COVID-19 prevention measure that requires people to remain home except for buying necessities, such as medicine and food.

Before the directive, various restrictions implemented to prevent the respiratory disease had left many people unemployed.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
What you need to know today in Vietnam!

Politics

-- State President Nguyen Xuan Phuc on Thursday sent a greetings letter to Japanese Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide on the occasion of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and Paralympics, according to the Vietnam News Agency.

COVID-19 Updates

--Vietnam's Ministry of Health confirmed 3,898 local coronavirus cases nationwide on Friday morning, including 3,302 in Ho Chi Minh City. The country has recorded 74,570 locally-infected patients since April 27, when the fourth virus wave erupted.

-- The military will disinfect the entirety of Ho Chi Minh City for seven days from Friday, as the city is battling the worst virus outbreak since it first hit Vietnam early last year. The city has logged 48,863 cases since April 27.

-- The Ho Chi Minh City administration is asking the prime minister for over 7,000 health workers as support for its combat against COVID-19.

-- Authorities are tracing contacts of a newly-detected coronavirus case on Phu Quoc Island, administered by Kien Giang Province in southern Vietnam.

Society

-- A tropical low-pressure areas is forecast to cause heavy rain in northern Vietnam on Friday and Saturday.

-- Police are hunting for a suspect who robbed a convenience store in District 8, Ho Chi Minh City at knifepoint on Wednesday, a source told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper the same day.

Sports

-- "Brazil striker Richarlison struck a stunning hat-trick inside 30 minutes as the defending Olympic champions beat Germany 4-2 in their opening Group D game in the mens tournament at the International Stadium on Thursday," Reuters reported.

World News

-- "Belgian authorities raised the death toll on Thursday from last week's burst rivers and flash floods to 37, with a further six people missing," Reuters reported.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
A group of 29 individuals recently traveled 1,400km on motorbikes from southern Binh Duong Province to north-central Nghe An Province to escape the worsening situation of COVID-19 in southern Vietnam.

As air transport and passenger bus services between Nghe An and southern localities have been suspended, motorbikes have become the option available to individuals stranded in the southern provinces that wish to return home in the north.

Between Tuesday and Thursday, 29 returnees arrived on motorbikes in Ky Son District, Nghe An from Binh Duong, currently the second hardest-hit locality in the southern region with over 5,400 local infections.

They had prepared food and water in advance and not stopped at any street-side eateries or motels for meals or rest.

Local medical authorities have collected samples from the returnees for COVID-19 testing and taken them to centralized quarantine facilities as per regulations, according to Ky Sons chairman Nguyen Huu Minh.

Not only Ky Son District, authorities in 16 other districts, three towns, and Vinh City in Nghe An have rolled out plans for receiving returnees from the southern region, following orders from the provincial COVID-19 prevention committee.

The Ministry of Health on Friday morning confirmed 3,898 new local COVID-19 cases, taking the countrys tally to 78,269, including 13,421 recoveries, as recorded since early 2020.

Of the latest cases, 11 were detected in Nghe An, 37 in Binh Duong, and 3,302 in Ho Chi Minh City, which has been topping the country in daily new infections, with thousands of patients confirmed per day.

Since April 27, when the pandemics fourth wave appeared in Vietnam, Binh Duong and Ho Chi Minh City have accounted for over 5,400 and 48,800 cases, respectively, in the countrys total of 74,570 domestic infections, while Nghe Ans caseload has reached 182.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
Ho Chi Minh City needs an addition of more than 7,000 health workers to deal with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, according to chairman Nguyen Thanh Phong.

Chairman Phong has sent a petition to the prime minister to ask for more support in terms of health personnel, as the city continues to struggle with the worst-ever outbreak.

In the document, the official stated that the Ministry of Health had sent 1,936 doctors and nurses from multiple localities to Ho Chi Minh City to assist in COVID-19 treatment efforts.

About 1,600 medical lecturers and students were also mobilized to take part in contact tracing and test sample collection in the metropolis.

To continue supporting the health sector in Ho Chi Minh City, the municipal Peoples Committee asked for the provision of an additional 7,064 health workers.

They include 927 doctors and 4,037 nurses for COVID-19 treatment, 100 laboratory and X-ray technicians, and 2,000 medical professionals for the collection of test samples.

Vietnam had documented 78,269 COVID-19 cases as of Friday afternoon, with 13,421 recoveries and 370 deaths, according to the Ministry of Health.

The country has recorded 74,570 local infections in 62 provinces and cities since the fourth transmission wave began on April 27.

Ho Chi Minh City is the hardest-hit locality with 48,863 cases.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
Police in Ho Chi Minh City have arrested and charged a local man for posting fake and misleading information claiming a connection between COVID-19 control measures and a photo of a man setting himself on fire.

Binh Thanh District police officers on Wednesday announced that they had detained a 60-year-old man on charges of abusing democratic freedoms to infringe upon the interests of the State, lawful rights, and interests of organizations and/or citizens, as prescribed in Article 331 of the Vietnamese Penal Code.

The man, Phan Huu Diep Anh, will be temporarily jailed for two months pending prosecution for his offense, police said.

On Monday, the man posted a photo on Facebook of a middle-aged individual burning himself on road No. 2 in Truong Tho Ward, Thu Duc City under Ho Chi Minh City.

Captions posted alongside the image claimed Ho Chi Minh Citys regulations regarding COVID-19 prevention and control were the reason for the man in the photo deciding to torch himself.

Anh also posted a comment that read, An inhabitant under resentfulness has felt constrained has burnt himself.

After identifying Anh as the man behind the post, police summoned him for an interrogation, during which he pleaded guilty.

In reality, the man who burned himself is a 46-year-old local resident who was diagnosed with mental and neurological disorders, according to his family.

The fire he set to himself was stamped down with the help of a funeral procession that happened to be traveling down the road.

The man was then taken to Cho Ray Hospital for emergency treatment, said local authorities.

During their investigation into the case, police found that Anh had registered a Facebook account under the name Phan Anh Huu in May 2021, which he used to share posts and images opposing the Party and the government.

Local police reminded people not to share or comment on any unverified information found on social media.

Strict social distancing rules are being enforced in Ho Chi Minh City, which has logged 48,863 coronavirus cases since April 27, when the fourth and worst wave first hit Vietnam.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
A total of 1,228,500 shots of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, part of a 30-million-dose contract, arrived in Vietnam on Friday morning.

The vaccine batch landed at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City, according to Vietnam Vaccine JSC (VNVC).

This is part of the 30 million jabs that VNVC has purchased from AstraZeneca with the support from the Ministry of Health.

AstraZeneca has so far sent more than 3.1 million doses out of the 30 million shots to the Southeast Asian country in five shipments.

The previous four batches arrived on February 24, May 25, July 9, and July 15.

According to Nitin Kapoor, chairman and general director of AstraZeneca Vietnam, nearly 8.6 million doses of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine have been delivered to Vietnam through purchase, the COVAX mechanism, and support from other countries.

The Southeast Asian country has also received 500,000 doses of Sinopharm vaccine donated by China, two million doses of Moderna provided by the U.S. via the COVAX scheme, 1,000 shots of Sputnik V gifted by Russia, and nearly 200,000 doses of Pfizer through purchase.

The Ministry of Health has approved six COVID-19 vaccines for emergency use, including AstraZeneca, Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna, Russias Sputnik V, Chinas Sinopharm, and Johnson & Johnson's Janssen.

A total of 4,411,659 doses have been administered since inoculation was rolled out on March 8, with 334,560 people having completed the two-dose regimen.

Vietnam had documented 78,269 COVID-19 cases as of Friday afternoon, with 13,421 recoveries and 370 deaths, according to the Ministry of Health.

The country has recorded 74,570 local infections in 62 provinces and cities since the fourth transmission wave began on April 27.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
Authorities on Phu Quoc Island off the southern Vietnamese province of Kien Giang are searching for direct contacts of the islands first COVID-19 case during the current outbreak.

The patient is N.T.D., a 27-year-old trucker from the Mekong Delta province of Vinh Long, the Phu Quoc steering committee for COVID-19 prevention and control confirmed on Thursday evening.

D. transported asphalt from Ha Tien ferry dock, located in the namesake city in Kien Giang, to Kim Thuy Lam ferry dock on Phu Quoc on July 22.

He then headed to S.O.S Phu Quoc Clinic, where he took a rapid COVID-19 test.

After the result came back positive, D. was asked to undergo a confirmatory test at Phu Quoc Medical Center. The retest also returned positive.

D. is the first local coronavirus infection to be recorded on Phu Quoc Island since the fourth transmission wave hit the country on April 27.

The S.O.S Phu Quoc Clinic has been temporarily locked down and all staff members have been quarantined.

The Phu Quoc steering committee for COVID-19 prevention and control is now looking for individuals who traveled on the same ferry as the patient.

They are required to contact the nearest medical center for further guidance on pandemic preventive measures.

Vietnam had documented 78,269 cases as of Friday morning, with 13,421 recoveries and 370 deaths, according to the Ministry of Health.

The country has recorded 74,570 local infections in 62 provinces and cities, including 109 cases in Kien Giang Province, since April 27.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
The Ministry of Health confirmed almost 7,300 domestic COVID-19 cases along with more than 2,000 recoveries in Vietnam on Friday.

Thirty-seven provinces and cities recorded 7,295 local infections while another 12 were imported from abroad, the health ministry said.

A total of 1,274 cases were detected in the community whereas the remainder were found in centralized quarantine facilities or isolated areas.

Ho Chi Minh City logged 4,913 of the latest domestic infections, Binh Duong Province 608, Long An Province 602, Dong Nai Province 217, and Tay Ninh Province 212.

Todays locally-acquired infection jump is the sharpest so far, after a record was set at 6,164 patients on Thursday.

Since the fourth COVID-19 wave began in Vietnam on April 27, Vietnam has registered 77,967 domestic cases in 62 out of 63 provinces and cities.

Ho Chi Minh City is taking the lead with 50,474 patients, followed by Binh Duong Province with 5,976, Bac Giang Province with 5,735, Long An Province with 1,964, Dong Thap Province with 1,794, and Dong Nai Province with 1,742.

By comparison, Vietnam confirmed 106 community cases in the first wave from January 23 to April 16, 2020, 554 in the second from July 25 to December 1, 2020, and 910 in the third from January 28 to March 25, 2021.

The health ministry reported 2,115 recoveries on Friday, taking the total to 15,536 recovered patients. The death toll remains at 370.

The nation has overall recorded 79,537 domestic and 2,141 imported cases since the COVID-19 pandemic first hit it on January 23, 2020.

More than 4.4 million vaccine shots have been administered to medical workers, teachers, factory workers, and other frontline staff since Vietnam rolled out inoculation on March 8.

About 334,000 people have been fully vaccinated.

The Vietnamese government expects to obtain 175 million shots of various vaccines, including 51 million Pfizer-BioNTech jabs, by early 2022.

It set a target of immunizing two-thirds of a population of nearly 98 million people against COVID-19 by the first quarter of next year.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
Two Vietnamese entries to the International Federation of Photographic Arts (FIAP) 29th Color Biennial earned a combined three honorable mentions by the panel of judges, the Vietnam Association of Photographic Artists (VAPA) recently announced.

FIAP is an international umbrella organization for 91 national photography associations, including the VAPA.

This year, the VAPA has obtained two honorable awards at the FIAP Color Biennal for Traditional Crafts and Vietnam Viewed from Above,' two photography collections that the Vietnamese institution curated from a body of works submitted by its active members.

Traditional Crafts, a collection of 10 photos, ranked sixth out of 36 entries in the print photography category, while Vietnam Viewed from Above, a collection of 20 photos, earned fifth place out of 42 entries the digital category.

In terms of individual recognition, Vietnamese photographer Dzung Nguyen won an honorable mention for Phoi Chieu Coi (Drying Sedge Mat), a photo in the VAPAs Traditional Crafts collection.

Phoi Chieu Coi (Drying Sedge Mat). Photo: Dzung Nguyen / VAPA

Biennial photo contests are some of FIAPs most well-known events, with color photography biennials being held every other year on odd years and black and white and nature biennials being organized every other year on even years. The events rotate between FIAP-member countries.

According to a statement released on FIAPs website, judges at biennials not only consider the quality of the individual work, but also the coherence of each collection, with inspiration, conception, execution, and presentation all evaluated.

The 29th FIAP Color Biennial 2021 was held in France. Each member federation was responsible for compiling and naming its own collections.

Print collections were limited to 10 photographs while digital color images were restricted to 20 pieces.

The UK was named the winner in the print category, thanks to its collection Minimalistic Landscapes while Russia triumphed in the digital section with a collection titled On the Nature of Female Beauty.

A photograph from the collection Vietnam Viewed from Above. Photo courtesy of VAPA

A photograph from the collection Vietnam Viewed from Above. Photo courtesy of VAPA

A photograph from the collection Vietnam Viewed from Above. Photo courtesy of VAPA

A photograph from the collection Vietnam Viewed from Above. Photo courtesy of VAPA

A photograph from the collection Traditional Crafts. Photo courtesy of VAPA

A photograph from the collection Traditional Crafts. Photo courtesy of VAPA

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
The Block returns for an impressive 17th season on Sunday August 8 on Nine, set to go head to head with The Voice.

A Fans v Faves season sees three couples face to face with two experienced returning teams in its very first season set in a suburban cul-de-sac in Hampton, south east of Melbourne.

Scott Cam said: Expect the unexpected. This build was extremely tough to plan and work out where things would go for many of our contestants because of this new twist. The plans have been thrown out the window and it leads to plenty of stuff-ups!

The Fans have everything to gain and the Faves have reputations to uphold. This will be a dramatic showdown like we have never seen before.

Executive producer and Block co-creator Julian Cress said, Putting Block Fans up against experienced all-star Faves could have gone in any direction. On the very first day of filming this series, these Blockheads started to argue with each other in a way we had never seen before.

The competitive spirit of both the Fans and the Faves in this high-pressure build with no plans takes things to a new level week after week and I cant wait for audiences to see that.

Architect Julian Brenchley added, It was a real challenge for me this year. Some got it, some didnt, and that will become pretty obvious early on.

In another big Block shakeup, for the first time there will be no house plans for contestants to work off  were tearing them up. This year, Blockheads must not only renovate the mammoth project, theyll also have to design the layout and inclusions of their houses themselves from scratch.

The Faves returning this year are Perths Ronnie (45) and Georgia (38) from the 2017 Elsternwick series, and Sydney couple Mitch (58) and Mark (59) from the 2019 Oslo series  both renovation powerhouses who dont plan on letting any newbies show them up.

If you werent already seeing double, irresistibly charismatic identical twins from Sydney Josh and Luke (27), who made their television debut on Love Island Australia in 2019, will join two other newbie couples  Melbourne parents Tanya (39) and Vito (45), and country music kids Kirsty (33) and Jesse (32), hailing from Wangi Wangi just south of Newcastle.

In a season packed with firsts, this one will literally dig deeper than ever, with each property having an underground excavation for contestants to create a basement in their homes.

Joining Scott Cam again this season will be his Block co-host, Shelley Craft, site foremen Keith and Dan, and Australias three favourite renovation judges, Neale Whitaker, Shaynna Blaze and Darren Palmer.

For the uninitiated, at stake is $100,000 for the winner of The Block, plus whatever profits their home can make on the critical auction day. All thats standing in the way is five dilapidated houses and three fierce judges who will score the room reveals as theyre delivered each week.

7pm Sunday August 8 on Nine.
Seven has pre-released the opener to its broadcast of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 ahead of the Opening Ceremony tonight.

Legendary broadcaster Bruce McAvaney says: We talk about courage, Olympian courage  to continue when it seems impossible to go on. Well, here we are, the world determined to come together to unite against the odds.

So take your marks Australia as we look forward to an Olympic Games like no other. This will be 17 unforgettable days that reunite the world.

Sevens opener has been a closely-guarded secret in previous years, revealed only on the Olympic Games opening night. But for this, the most anticipated Games ever, Seven has broken with tradition, with the opener now showing on @7Olympics and 7plus.

Fronted by Australias most loved and respected sport broadcaster Bruce McAvaney, Sevens Tokyo 2020 opener looks forward to an unprecedented Games, wherein the global struggles of the past 18 months mean just getting to the starting line is a victory in itself.

As iconic footage of Cathy Freeman, Dawn Fraser and Kieren Perkins plays, we dare to dream the likes of Kyle Chalmers, Ariarne Titmus, Emma McKeon, Kaylee McKeown, Jessica Fox, Sam Kerr, Patty Mills and Ash Barty can join them in the pantheon of Olympic greats during Tokyo 2020.

Tonight, McAvaney will lead Sevens coverage of the Tokyo 2020 Opening Ceremony from 8.30pm AEST on Channel 7 and 7plus. He will be joined by fan favourites Johanna Griggs, Hamish McLachlan and Abbey Gelmi, and Australian broadcaster Kumi Taguchi, who currently hosts Insight on SBS.

Over the 17 days of the Olympic Games, fans can look forward to the countrys biggest-ever broadcast and digital event. For the first time in Australian free-to-air television history, there will be more than 40 dedicated Olympic Games channels across Seven and 7plus, all live, free and in HD.
If you are sick with COVID-19 or suspect you are infected with the virus that causes COVID-19, follow the steps below to help prevent the disease from spreading to people in your home and community.
Texas House Democrats trying to block GOP voting bill get dose of D.C. reality

Alex Brandon/AP File Photo Vice President Kamala Harris meets July 13 with Texas House Democrats at the American Federation of Teachers in Washington, D.C.

WASHINGTON  Texas Democrats slipped out of the state 10 days ago because they were out of options back home, powerless to stop the Republican majority in the Legislature from passing its priority voting bill. With Gov. Greg Abbott committing to call more special sessions until the legislation is passed, Democrats have said theyre pinning their hopes on Congress to take action to block attempts to restrict voting access.

Now in their second week hunkered down in the nations capital, the primetime TV interviews are slowing down and the meetings with members of Congress are spacing out. Democrats are getting a crash course in Washington dysfunction and confronting the reality that their issues are not immune to legislative paralysis.

We are astute about Texas politics and the way Texas government works, but its been a learning curve to understand how things work in Washington, said Democratic state Rep. Gina Hinojosa of Austin.

The options ahead are fairly grim.

To state the obvious, Senate action on an elections bill would require some sort of waiver of the filibuster rule, wrote Rich Cohen, the chief author of the Almanac of American Politics and a longtime Congressional observer, in an email. In itself, that likely will take additional time. With the Senate seemingly focused on infrastructure legislation for at least the next couple of weeks  and even with the prospect of some legislative work days in August  its hard to see that Democrats would come together on limiting the filibuster without pursuing extended internal discussions.

Last month, Republicans blocked the For the People Act, a sweeping overhaul of the nations elections in the Democrat-controlled Senate by thanks to a Republican filibuster.

With a 50-50 split in the Senate, Democrats need to agree on a bill and then net 10 Republicans to sign on to it in order to break a filibuster and get a bill on the floor for a vote.

The challenge for the Texas Democrats is they will need to convince at least U.S. Sens. Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona  and possibly other Democrats who have been less public about their position  to do away with or change the filibuster that requires the 60 vote threshold to get a bill to the floor.

Manchin pushed back on a recent proposal from the Texas Democrats to carve out an exception within the filibuster rule for voting rights legislation, and Sinema recently wrote in a Washington Post opinion piece that its no secret shes opposed to eliminating the filibuster in its current form. And just this week, Biden warned on CNN that getting rid of the filibuster would throw the entire Congress into chaos.

Even so, the Texans say they are optimistic.

I dont claim to be an expert on the Senate, and we have met with the vice president, who I know is working on this, said state Rep. Rafael Anchia of Dallas, adding that the Texans have also met with Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin. Its clear everybody cares deeply about voting rights.

Im not in the camp that anyone who can craft a solution here is taking this moment lightly, he added. I think our presence has helped heighten awareness of whats at stake.

Over the past few days, the Texas Democrats have met with nearly all of the most powerful Democrats in Washington, save for President Joe Biden. Texas Democrats say they believe a meeting with Biden is likely.

They did, however, meet with one of the presidents closest allies on Capitol Hill, U.S. Rep. James Clyburn of South Carolina. Clyburn is the third-ranking Democratic member of the U.S. House and the most powerful Black member of Congress.

We had a really good conversation with Congressman Clyburn, where he stressed to us that absolutely there is a way to get this done, Hinojosa said. What we have learned is that Congress and the U.S. Senate dont get anything done until theyre up against the deadline.

For now, that deadline is Aug. 6, when members of Congress are expected to return to their home districts for the summer recess that will last until after Labor Day. Thats also the last scheduled day of Texas special Legislative session, after which Texas Democrats are planning to end their exodus.

These meetings serve as both a time for the Texans to make their case for the need of a voting rights bill and for Congressional leaders to advise them how to best lobby in a political arena for which they are not familiar.

Texas Democrats have been lobbying for the revival of the For the People Act, which was something of a Democratic wish list to address efforts to change voting being pushed nationwide by Republican legislatures. The bill addresses everything from a campaign finance overhaul to instituting independent commissions to oversee redistricting; and it would expand automatic and same-day voter registration, voting by mail and early voting and would limit removing voters from the voter rolls.

It is also a bill that Congressional Democrats generally viewed as an opening bid for negotiations and few realistically expected it to pass in its current form. Moreover, most of the federal legislative activity since the Texans arrived here has been focused on moving an infrastructure bill.

The hope within the state legislative delegation in Washington is that a scaled-down version of the For the People Act might be able to move through the Senate. One idea floating is that another bill, the John Lewis Voting Rights Act could be incorporated into the larger bill and gain passage.

The John Lewis Voting Rights Act, which was named for the civil rights icon and late member of Congress, aims to address a 2013 U.S. Supreme Court decision that gutted a provision of the 1965 Voting Rights Act that forced states with a racist history to submit their redistricting maps to the Department of Justice for approval.

But Congressional insiders say the most likely scenario for passage is to move the John Lewis bill alone through in the fall.

The Texans lobbying campaign has had both its successes and setbacks. Around the Capitol, Democratic senators have been eager to meet with the Texans and are inclined to be seen with the Texas delegation.

But at least six of the Texas Democrats have been sidelined with COVID-19 diagnoses and are quarantining in their hotel rooms. There are still zoom meetings and television appearances through their laptops. .

These meetings, however, are with friendly audiences who mostly did not need convincing. On Thursday, the Texans were on track to meet with the staffs of two Republican lawmakers, U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania, according to a Texas Democratic source whos familiar with the daily schedules of the delegation.

The most consequential meetings they have had so far are with Manchin, the West Virginia Democrat who has been outspoken in his support of keeping the filibuster.

Over the summer, Texas Democrats sat down several times with Manchin and his staff members, and the Texans say they have walked away from those meetings encouraged with his interest in their cause, even if he remained noncommittal to the current federal bills up for consideration.

The latest meeting occurred on Thursday. But a day later, as the Texans were in Washington, D.C., in order to avoid arrest, Manchin traveled to Texas to raise money among mostly Republican donors. The move sparked online outrage among liberals.

Hinojosa downplayed that development.

Its not uncommon for U.S. Senators to raise money in Texas, she said. It does not diminish our hope accomplishing anything here.

U.S. Rep. Marc Veasey of Fort Worth has emerged as an ally to the House Democrats on voting issues, as both a senior Democrat in the Texas Congressional delegation and a former state representative who has been through these wars before.

He is also a Black member of Congress whose 33rd district was drawn last decade with the provisions in the 1965 Voting Rights Act that the John Lewis Voting Rights Act aims to address.

He remains hopeful something will pass, but he also points out that there is a victory in the amount of attention the Texans have garnered for their cause.

He compared the Texas Democratic tactics to the civil rights protests in the 1950s and early 1960s to bring northerners attention to voter suppression tactics like poll taxes. In that work, he argued, activists did not see any immediate legal returns but the activism laid the groundwork for the 1965 Voting Rights Act.

It goes back to were shining a light on it, and thats important...Something, thank God, finally happened, or I wouldnt be here today, he said.
The University of North Georgia's (UNG) Starlight Celebration and Fireworks event offers another tangible reminder of UNG's return to normal operations this fall. After a one-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 22nd installment of Starlight is set for Aug. 28 at UNG's Gainesville Campus.

Northeast Georgia Health System is the event's presenting sponsor. All proceeds benefit UNG students.

Gates will open at 6:30 p.m. at the G.W. Bailey Amphitheater at 3820 Mundy Mill Road in Oakwood, Georgia, and the fireworks begin at dark.

"Starlight is a longstanding community tradition at UNG's Gainesville Campus, and we are excited about bringing back this family-friendly event for students and community members this fall," UNG President Bonita C. Jacobs said.

Starlight is part of UNG's Weeks of Welcome, a variety of social activities and educational programs for students during the first two weeks of the semester.

"What a great time to bring everybody together after the year and a half we've had," Dr. Richard Oates, interim vice president of UNG's Gainesville Campus, said. "We look forward to reconnecting with our community."

The cost is $10 per car or $20 per bus, van or larger vehicle. UNG students enter for free with a valid UNG student ID card.
Iran officially inaugurated its new $2 billion exports terminal by loading 300,000 barrels on an oil tanker off the Sea of Oman, enabling the sanction-hit country to bypass the Strait of Hormuz for oil exports, S&P Global Platts writes.

"For the first time in the over 110 year history of Iran's oil, crude oil export operations start from Mokran shores in the Sea of Oman," the oil minister Bijan Zanganeh said in the televised ceremony. "The 1,000 km, 42-inch pipeline can carry heavy and medium crude oil from Goureh in the Bushehr province to Jask in the Hormozgan province," Zanganeh said. Zanganeh said the current capacity of the Goureh-Jask pipeline was 300,000 b/d and will be completed to reach 1 million b/d phase by phase. "Because of the sanctions, the impossibility of provision of electro-pumps and... pipes brought the project to a dead end. But with help of domestic manufacturers, we could remove this problem and locally build them for the first time in the country," Zanganeh said.

Iran had accelerated construction of the pipeline in order to secure its oil shipments amid a heightening of tensions in the Persian Gulf with regional rivals Saudi Arabia and Israel, which oppose the US' willingness to reinstate the Iran nuclear deal and relax sanctions. The route allows Iran to bypass the Strait of Hormuz, a key chokepoint for oil and gas tankers traversing the Persian Gulf, which is a source of military tensions between the US and Iran and has seen several attacks on oil vessels in the last few years.

President Hassan Rouhani congratulated the "historic day, when Iran could rid of dependence on the single oil terminal which was Kharg." "Today, whenever Iran sees it necessary, it will carry out oil exports from the Sea of Oman," the president said. "It will take a longer time at Kharg oil terminal for loading. The Persian Gulf has its own issues and problems. But time and strategic issues are important for us," Rouhani added. "When the enemy wanted to wage an economic war against us, they basically started it in two fields. One in the oil sector, exports of oil and the second in the field of banking and money transfer ... these were among those with highest impacts and they had counted on them." "They assumed when they disrupt the oil industry which is the engine of Iran's economy and fully block oil exports and reduce it to zero, Iran will not be able to use the petrodollars to provide its requirements," Rouhani said in his inauguration speech.

The Goureh-Jask project had seen 82% progress, Zanganeh said, adding that Pars Oil and Gas Co. was in charge of loading and exporting crude oil from Jask. "The operations will be completely handed over to the state-run Iranian Oil Terminals Co.," Zanganeh said. An Aframax vessel was loading crude off the Jask port, managing director of POGC Mohammad Meshkinfam said, quoted by oil ministry-run news service Shana. "The 100,000 mt or 700 barrel vessel is connected to SPM and so far has loaded 50,000 mt of crude oil or 300,000 barrels and it will sail towards exports destination," Meshkinfam said.
At a Friday webinar on Russias foreign policy, Sergey Lavrov, the nations top diplomat, revealed that the West had set its sights on setting up a "belt of instability" around Russia, swallowing up territories around it through economic and military means.

"They are attempting to build a belt of instability around us, forcing our nearest neighbors and our fraternal populations to make a choice - either youre with the West or youre with the Russian Federation. They want to absorb the territories around our country through various means - both military and economic ones, - and surround us with a buffer zone, additionally profiting from the fact that the West will have a decisive influence on the development of our neighboring countries," he explained.

"This line was thoroughly seen in Ukraine. Over the recent months, they tried to test out color revolution methods in Belarus as well. [In addition], the Americans and Europeans started a geopolitical battle for Moldova, not even shying away from open propaganda during the election campaign, directly meddling in the internal affairs of a seemingly sovereign state. And now our Western colleagues are attempting to expand their presence, with their militaries as well, along the perimeter of our borders, including both Central Asia and Transcaucasia," TASS cited the top diplomat as saying.

The foreign minister stressed that Russia was ready to ensure its interests both in the post-Soviet space and in other parts of the world.
Korean archer An San scored 680 out of a possible 720 points to top womens individual qualification at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and break an Olympic record that has stood since 1996.

She was the first of four archers to deliver scores above the previous Olympic record.

The 20-year-old topped Lina Herasimenkos score of 673, shot in Atlanta, by seven.

An Sans compatriots Jang Minhee (677) and Kang Chae Young (675) came in second and third. Alejandra Valencia of Mexico, the fourth-place individual finisher at the last Olympics, was fourth with 674.
Georgia will receive 500,000 doses of Pfizer donated by the United States this Saturday, July 24.

The Biden-Harris administration unveiled the strategy for global vaccine sharing in service of ending the pandemic in early June.

The US Embassy to Georgia has tweeted: "Individuals over 16 are eligible to receive the Pfizer vaccine in Georgia following the Georgian health minister's recent order."

Georgia received 29,250 doses of Pfizer vaccine in late March via the COVAX platform.

The delivery of one million doses of the Pfizer vaccines has already begun in Georgia as 28,000 doses of the vaccine arrived in Georgia on July 13.

Noting that the Government has done everything to import vaccines, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili has calls on citizens to engage in the process of vaccination, Agenda.ge reported.
One of the servicemen of the Azerbaijani Army was martyred on July 23, the Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense reported on Friday.

"At about 16:00 (GMT+4) on July 23, units of the Armenian Armed Forces from positions in the Basarkecher region fired at the positions of the Azerbaijani Army on the territory of the Kalbajar district of the Armenian-Azerbaijani state border," the statement reads.

"As a result of a sniper shot from the opposite side, a serviceman of the Azerbaijani Army, junior officer Farman Yagublu, became a martyr. The leadership of the Ministry of Defense expresses deep condolences to the families and friends of the martyr!" the ministry added.

At present, the units of the Azerbaijani Army deployed in the direction are taking retaliatory actions.

"By resorting to such provocations, the Armenian side aims to aggravate the situation on the state border of the two countries. All responsibility for this provocation lies with Armenia," the defense ministry stressed.
The United States will not relinquish any restrictive and other similar tools in relation to Nord Stream 2, despite the deal with Germany, State Department spokesman Ned Price said.

"And so, to be very clear, we are not relinquishing any tools available to us. And, in fact, we are adding several more to our arsenal," he said.

"And we came to the conclusion, based on the available information, not all of which is public, that sanctions would not halt the pipelines construction," Price stressed. "We are going to continue to follow the law. We are going to do that."
The ruling Georgian Dream party will decide who is responsible for the violent events of July 5, Georgian Interior Minister Vakhtang Gomelauri said on TV channel Rustavi 2, responding to recent demands for his resignation from the opposition, journalists and NGOs.

Gomelauri noted that it is the ruling partys responsibility to punish all who committed violence against journalists at the Tbilisi rally.

"If the team (ruling party) decides that I should resign, of course, I will obey that decision, said Gomelauri.

He condemned the violence against media on that day and said that free media and free journalists are the achievements of an independent Georgia, stating that the violence which took place at the counter rally was unprecedented, Agenda.ge reported.

Interior Minister Gomelauri expressed his condolences for deceased TV Pirveli cameraman Lekso Lashkarava, who was violently attacked by right-wing protesters on July 5 and found dead at home later on July 11.

Opposition parties, representatives of media and NGOs have been demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Garibashvili and Interior Minister Gomelauri since the death of Lekso Lashkarava.
The Italian government has signed off on an extension to the country's state of emergency, keeping it in place until at the end of 2021.

With a return to a steadily rising rate of coronavirus cases after weeks of decline, Italy has prolonged the national state of emergency once more.

The latest extension was included in a new decree announced on Thursday evening, which also contains new risk parameters for Italys regions and amendments to the green pass scheme.

The state of emergency has already been in place for 18 months. It was first introduced on January 31st 2020, shortly after the first cases of coronavirus were detected in tourists visiting Rome.

Initially, it had a timescale of six months but it has been rolled over several times in accordance with the continuing emergency Covid-19 situation, The Local reported.
Russia is open for the European Unions proposals on talks on the mutual recognition of COVID-19 vaccines and certificates, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Friday.

"Most recently, the European Commission said: "lets hold talks with Russia on the mutual recognition of vaccines, on mutual recognition of certificates." We will be open for this," Lavrov told a webinar on Russias foreign policy.

Meanwhile, Western countries have not requested the registration of their vaccines in Russia so far. "As for the Western vaccines and on whether we will register and launch them in Russia, its up to our sanitary authorities to decide," Lavrov said. "However, I havent heard about this, in my view, there hasnt been any case when Western states asked us to register and certify their vaccines," he stated.
By now, the positions of the parties to the resolved Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict on the post-war settlement have become completely clear: Azerbaijan wants Armenia to sign a peace treaty that would forever resolve any differences and "controversial moments" on the coexistence of the two states, while Armenia, despite its surrender, seeks to consolidate the current status quo and maintain a "no peace, no war" regime. What is the position of the mediator - Russia?



Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday during Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev's working visit to Moscow that Russia is striving to establish a full-fledged peace between Baku and Yerevan. At the same time, Putin emphasized that Russia and Azerbaijan are primarily striving to move along this path to peace in the South Caucasus, and Baku demonstrates its readiness to negotiate and make compromises, which is very important for achieving the goal.



"A settlement in the region remains one of the most important issues. I know that you certainly pay a lot of attention to this important matter, and I would like to thank you for finding compromise solutions in this area. They are always the most complicated ones, but if we want a settlement  and we all want it  we must follow this path. Up to now, we have managed to do this, and I would like to thank you for this," the Russian leader said.

According to the Azerbaijani leader, during his visit to Moscow on Tuesday, he discussed the situation in the region with Russian President Vladimir Putin. "We discussed the post-war situation in the region, including the Zangezur Corridor and the post-conflict period. We do not have disagreements in terms of approaches. We, Russia and Azerbaijan, believe that the war is over, the conflict is over," Aliyev told the Azerbaijani state television on Thursday.



"As for the Zangezur corridor, I informed Mr. Putin that Armenia is again insincere on the issue. At a press conference with Mr. Charles Michel (President of the EU Council), I stated that all communications in the region should be opened simultaneously and no selective approach should be applied in the matter. But we see that Armenia once again wants to play some kind of game here," the Azerbaijani president noted.

According to him, the Zangezur corridor should be opened as set forth in Paragraph 9 of the trilateral agreement of November 10, 2020.

Touching upon the bilateral relations with the Russian Federation, Aliyev called Azerbaijan and Russia "strategic partners". "We are maintaining strong friendly ties and personally I have very close relations with Mr. Putin, we are politicians who trust each other," Aliyev said.

"We have sent a note to Armenia, a [draft] peace agreement  I have repeatedly said that we are ready and let us start the talks. Is the war over? Over! Do you want peace, Armenia? It seems that yes! Then why would not you like to sign a peace agreement! Recognize our territorial integrity, sign a peace agreement and settle the border delimitation issue. In this regard, our agenda is in line with the EU, Turkish and Russian agenda," Ilham Aliyev concluded.
Negotiations on the increase of natural gas transit through the Ukrainian gas transport system can only be commercial, press secretary of the Russian President Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Friday.

"Negotiations can only be purely commercial. These are talks pertaining to the economic substance, economic feasibility," the Kremlins spokesman said.

Chief Executive Officer of Gazprom Alexei Miller welcomed the participation of German representatives in such talks "because negotiations of transit, transit continuation after 2024 are largely related to decarbonization processes in Europe and to European demand processes," Peskov said.

"Actually, German consumers are the largest gas consumers in Europe and the volume will depend in many aspects exactly on their demand," he noted.

"The topic of transit via Ukraine and the topic of the Nord Stream were discussed during the conversation" between Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Peskov said.

Gazprom "has once again confirmed its readiness for gas transit over the territory of Ukraine after 2024 also, provided that this is economically feasible and the Ukrainian gas transport system is in the normal state of operation," the presidents spokesman added.
Tajikistan is preparing to take in up to 100,000 refugees from neighbouring Afghanistan where fighting has escalated as United States-led troops withdraw, a senior Tajik official said on Friday.

Taliban insurgents are gaining control of more and more territory in Afghanistan, which the Pentagon estimates now extends to over half of Afghanistan's district centres.

Imomali Ibrohimzoda, deputy head of Tajikistan's emergencies committee, told a briefing on Friday the former Soviet republic was already building two large warehouses to store supplies for refugees in the Khatlon and Gorno-Badakhshan provinces adjacent to the border, Reuters reported.

A few hundred Afghan civilians fled to Tajikistan this month but the Dushanbe government says they have already returned to Afghanistan.
Ukraine has many questions on how a deal between the United States and Germany can mitigate the security threat posed by the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said.

Kuleba said it was unclear whether Russia would honour its obligations, adding: We would like the U.S.-German statement regarding security to be stronger.

There is a fundamental problem, Kuleba told a briefing. It is connected with the fact that it is still unclear to us whether Russia is ready to fulfil its obligations and its part properly when it comes to the energy security of Ukraine and the preservation of Ukraines role as a transit state.

Washington and Berlin unveiled an agreement on Wednesday to map out the consequences for Russia if Moscow uses the pipeline to harm Ukraine and other eastern European countries.

Ukraine, which bitterly opposes the $11 billion project, signalled its displeasure by formally initiating consultations with the European Union and Germany.
The Uzbek government on July 23 officially launched the campaign for the presidential election, which is scheduled for October 24, 2021.

Usually, at the presidential election in Uzbekistan, in addition to the main candidate, the leaders of other parties also nominate their own candidates. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in the December 2016 elections became the candidate of the Liberal Democratic Party.

In early June, the leader of the Milliy Tiklanish party (Uzbekistan National Revival Democratic Party), Alisher Kadyrov announced that he was planning to announce his candidacy for the presidency.

In addition, chairman of the Adolat SDP (Justice Social Democratic Party) Bakhrom Abdukhalimov, chairman of the People's Democratic Party Ulugbek Inoyatov, and chairman of the Ecological Party are also expected to become candidates in the autumn elections.

Also, on July 23, the official opening of the CEC (Central Election Commission) press center will take place. In turn, the international press club will also take an active part in covering the event.
The vaccination management platform is the first national technology platform shared by ministries, branches, local authorities and relevant parties to join forces to fight Covid-19.

MIC Deputy Minister Nguyen Huy Dung

The Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) on July 20, together with Ministry of Health (MOH) and Viettel Group, organized a nationwide training course for using the Covid-19 vaccination management platform. More than 600 medical workers from 63 cities/provinces attended the online training course.

MIC has recently mobilized different resources to build technological platforms for the prevention and control of Covid-19. To date, six platforms have been deployed, including health declaration and entry/exit management with QR Codes, vaccination management, sample taking and testing result management, tracing support, quarantine supervision, and data analysis platform to help managers.

According to the platform developer, the vaccination management platform has four systems, including electronic health book application, Covid-19 vaccination information portal, national immunization support system, and response center (MCC).

The database of the platform is centrally managed, meeting the requirements on information synchronization and transparency, from people to management agencies.

MIC Deputy Minister Nguyen Huy Dung said the platform is designed to control the whole process of vaccination, from vaccine warehouse entry/exist, distribution and transportation to immunization. It manages every dose, every batch and every type of vaccine at each immunization facility.

Technology will allow us to carry out immunization more quickly and conveniently, thus helping obtain the goals set by the vaccination campaign, Dung said.

The vaccination management system will operate in a 5-step process to ensure the effective management, from vaccination registration to post-immunization control.

After people register for vaccination through the electronic health book and Covid-19 vaccination information portal, local health departments will approve and allocate doses of vaccines to district medical centers.

The medical centers will set up plans and dispense vaccines to immunization facilities, where the immunization will be implemented in accordance with the 4-step process as instructed by MOH.

After the injection, people can check results and vaccination certificates through the electronic health book and vaccination information portal.

Vietnam has launched the largest ever immunization campaign in history, under which at least 50 percent of people aged 18 or higher will be vaccinated in 2021 and over 70 percent of population will be vaccinated by the end of Q1 2022. About 150 million injections will be implemented.

Do Truong Duy, Deputy Director of the Preventive Medicine Department under MOH, affirmed that localities play a very important role in deploying the vaccination management platform. They need to enter data into the system to serve management.

Vietnam is trying to speed up digital transformation in the healthcare sector, under which each person will have a QR Code and healthcare record.

Duy Vu
Twelve funds at the central governmental level are under procedures to be dissolved, are under consideration for dissolution, or are being restructured.

In a report reviewing thrift and anti-waste in 2020 submitted to the National Assembly (NA), the Government mentioned the current status of state finance funds not using the state budget.

Ministries and central agencies have assessed the operational efficiency of the funds under their control, and built a process to restructure funds, merge, stop operation or dissolve ineffective funds.

The 12 funds include: the fund for diplomatic activities to serve the economy; fund for support and mobilization of overseas Vietnamese community; central road maintenance fund; fund to support HIV/AIDS patients; fund to support business arrangement and development; environmental protection fund; National Foundation for Science and Technology Development; National Technology Innovation Fund; petroleum price stabilization fund; cooperative development fund; farmer support fund; and the fund to support poor women.

The report pointed out that four funds have spending coinciding with the state budget, namely the Vietnam Forest Protection and Development Fund; Overseas Employment Support Fund; Vietnam Tobacco Control Fund; and the fund for protection of citizens and legal persons abroad.

There are two funds which have been relying on funding from the State budget as they dont have other sources of revenue, including the National Technology Innovaiton Fund and National foundation for Science and Technology.

Some funds have been operating ineffectively, including the landmine relief fund. The source of revenue is low. It cannot operate independently, but has to cooperate with the standing agency or the association for mine remediation support to implement tasks; the fund for supporting HIV/AIDS people (the source of income is inconsiderable); and the central gratitude fund.

Meanwhile, the operation model of The National Fund For Vietnamese Children causes difficulties during operation. The Government has requested MOLISA to check legal documents related to the establishment, operation and management of the fund to adjust its organization and operation model to upgrade its effectiveness.

The National Fund of Employment doesnt have an accountancy unit and operation mechanism, such as a source of capital for lending managed by the Bank for Social Policies and providing loans as per the states regulations.

As of the end of 2020, there were 24 funds under the management of 15 ministries and central agencies. Sixteen funds were established in accordance with laws and ordinances, two funds in accordance with Governments decrees, three established under PM decisions and two under the PMs instructions.

L. Bang
Nguyen Phuong Tra, Deputy Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the United Nations, has called on parties in Lebanon to take prompt action to form a government to help the country avoid collapsing.

Children at Bab al-Tabbaneh, Tripoli city, Lebanon

Speaking at a meeting of the UN Security Council (UNSC) on July 22, Tra expressed her concern over violations and no progress in the implementation of Resolution 1701.

She appealed to concerned parties to seriously observe the resolution, respect the freedom of movement of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), and create conditions for the mission to fully occupy positions as required in a timely manner.

Tra also called on the parties to respect sovereignty and territorial integrity of Lebanon, stop violations of Lebanese airspace, withdraw from occupied areas in the north of the Blue Line, coordinate with the UNIFIL and refrain from acts and statements that would increase tensions.

Vietnam backs the UNIFILs operations and stands ready for discussions at the UNSC to extend the mandate of the force in the time ahead, she affirmed.

At the meeting, Vietnam and other UNSC member countries expressed their concerns over challenges facing Lebanon in all spheres, and spoke highly of the operations of the UNIFIL in the country.

UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon Joanna Wronecka, Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix, and UNIFIL Force Commander Stefano Del Col briefed the council on the situation in Lebanon, the UNIFILs operations and the implementation of Resolution 1701.

Adopted in August 2006, the resolution calls for the full cessation of hostilities, the deployment of Lebanese forces to Southern Lebanon, parallel withdrawal of Israeli forces behind the Blue Line, strengthening the UNIFIL to facilitate the entry of Lebanese forces in the region and the establishment of a demilitarised zone between the Blue Line and the Litani River. /.

Source: VNA
We hope other employers show the same respect as Pilgrims, Reyes said.

Reyes, from Dallas, said late Thursday afternoon he did not know the exact vote breakdown, but like others, described the margin as overwhelming. He said earlier Thursday he thought the union, Pilgrims or both would issue a press release, but none had been received by late Thursday.

He said he spent much of the day traveling between Waco and Dallas, ferrying people to the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. He said representatives from the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union traveled to Waco to observe proceedings. He said the Pilgrims vote in Waco could set the tone for efforts to organize beef facilities and other poultry facilities in Texas.

The pandemic showed those working in these processing plants are essential employees, and should be paid and treated as such, Reyes said.
Fulton officials did not meet their obligation to retain chain-of-custody control over all voting materials and equipment, and cyber security consultants say theres no way to ensure tampering did not occur, the State Department said.

In allowing a third party near-unlimited access to the equipment during an informal review, they have created a situation where neither the county, nor the voting-system vendor, nor the Department of State can say with certainty that the system has not been compromised, the statement read.

Rep. Jesse Topper, R-Fulton, said Friday he hopes Degraffenreid will reconsider and allow county officials to make their case that the voting machines can be used again. He called decertifying the machines unnecessary and costly.

The county commissioners here in Fulton County undertook what they thought was best for this area, for their county, as they could see what they needed to do in future elections to continue the great job theyve been doing, Topper said.

Topper said county officials had been unaware that the Department of State had a list of vendors who are certified to test voting machines, and that the department should have made that information known to counties. The software firm that conducted the assessment was not among those vendors.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP)  Gov. Laura Kelly on Thursday pinned Kansas' hopes of keeping the COVID-19 delta variant in check on more people getting inoculated because it is spreading rapidly among the unvaccinated.

Kelly acknowledged that there's not enough time before K-12 schools resume classes in mid-August to get all students ages 12 and older fully vaccinated, but she said the state will focus on giving at least the first of two Pfizer shots to as many of them as possible. No COVID-19 vaccines have been approved for younger children.

Speaking to reporters after a Statehouse event, Kelly brushed aside a question about whether the delta variant's spread means schools should require students to wear masks indoors. The American Academy of Pediatrics this week recommended universal masking in schools, even for those who are vaccinated, though the White House said Thursday that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will decide whether to change the guidance on that issue.
ATLANTA (AP)  Federal workplace safety officials are proposing nearly $1 million in fines against four companies following a January liquid nitrogen leak that killed six workers at a Georgia poultry processing plant.

U.S. Labor Secretary Marty Walsh announced citations and fines by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration on Friday.

Make no mistake, this was a very preventable tragedy, Walsh told reporters.

He said the penalties imposed in the case were relatively large but that is not enough. He said many companies simply write off OSHA fines as the cost of doing business and called on Congress to increase them.

These employers were putting profit over safety, Walsh said.

Foundation Food Group owns the plant in Gainesville, northeast of Atlanta. It was cited for 26 violations with a proposed fine of $595,474. Packers Sanitation Services Ltd., which provided cleaning services, was cited for 19 violations with a proposed fine of $286,720. Messer LLC, which made the freezer system, was cited for six violations and faces a proposed fine of $74,118. FS Group Inc, which helped build the line, was cited for eight violations with a proposed fine of $42,325.
But Barnes said he is hopeful the new attention on the boarding schools will prompt national leaders to make the resources available to seriously address their painful legacy.

Let's use this moment, not to just genuflect toward the cause of good and right, let's really do something, he said We know Shawnee children died at that mission. We want those kids' names. Someone wrote them down somewhere. Who has the record? Where did they go? What more can they do to find out?

Barnes said a part of him hopes no graves are found at the site but if they are, the tribe would hold private conversations about how to honor the children.

I'm not sure I could bear it if we were to find them," he said. I don't know how we could make it right. But I have an obligation to the families, as the descendants' leader, to demand that we look."



This story has been corrected to reflect the Trail of Tears occurred in the 1800s and that the Shawnee Indian Methodist Manual Labor School was started at its present site in 1839.

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0
Like others possibly in the field, Noem has downplayed the prospect. When asked publicly about any White House ambitions, she has said her focus is on her 2022 gubernatorial reelection campaign.

But other actions  such as registering a federal political action committee and hopscotching through the early-voting states  suggest otherwise as Noem tries to carve out her niche among an early crowd of possible GOP rivals for the White House.

Noem, 49, has recently visited both Iowa and New Hampshire, as have Haley, Pence and former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Along with Pompeo, Florida Gov. Rick DeSantis and former President Donald Trump, she spoke at this year's Conservative Political Action Conference, where she critiqued fellow Republican governors for pandemic policies such as mask mandates.
WASHINGTON (AP)  The United States and Russia will hold the first round of strategic and arms control talks of the Biden administration next week in Switzerland, the two countries announced on Friday.
Even from those who believe the election might have been stolen, theyre not so sure Trump should be the standard-bearer in 2024 for fear he would not win again, he said. Thats where Im seeing people being open to other candidates.

Gary Ehrle, a city councilman from Moravia, is among those who could be up for grabs.

I actually liked Trump. He came out and said, Im not a pastor, Im not a religious person, Im not a politician  Im a businessman. And he was right on target, said Ehrle, 74. But the problem was he said and did things that didnt really didnt sit right with us. But he seemed to me ... that he accomplished what he wanted to do.

Ehrle said hed probably vote for Trump again but held out the possibility hed back someone else who could fill his shoes.

Trump, for his part, continues to stoke speculation about his 2024 plans, stopping just short of announcing a bid.

I cant reveal it yet. But I absolutely know my answer, he said on Fox News last week, when asked if hed run again. And were going to do very well. And people are going to be very happy.


Quarterly Activities Report

Sydney, July 23, 2021 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Genex Power Limited ( ASX:GNX ) is pleased to provide the following update on the Company's activities and performance for the quarter ending 30 June 2021 (Q4 FY2021 or the Period), a period during which the Company reached financial close and commenced construction at its flagship Kidston Pumped Storage Hydro Project (K2-Hydro).HIGHLIGHTS- Financial close for K2-Hydro was reached during the Period, signalling the satisfaction of all conditions precedent associated with the financing of the project;- Construction at the K2-Hydro site at Kidston commenced, including upgrade work for the accommodation village, key infrastructure and fresh water supply;- During the Period, Practical Completion at the Jemalong Solar Project (JSP) was claimed by the EPC Contractor, Beon, and the project is now fully operational;- During the Period, the Kidston Solar Project (KS1) generated 26,133MWh of renewable energy. In addition to this, the JSP generated 12,518MWh of renewable energy delivering total revenue for the Period of $4.2M;- Genex finished the Period with a strong cash position, with cash at bank of $49.3M as at 30 June 2021;- Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) of Genex's shareholders approved the issue of 106,990,005 fully paid ordinary shares in the Company at an issue price of $0.2337 per share to J-POWER under the Share Subscription Agreement, raising a total of $25M; and- Following completion of the Share Subscription Agreement by J-POWER, Mr Kenichi Seshimo was appointed as a Director of the Company effective 18 May 2021Commenting on the Q4 FY2021 performance, Genex CEO, James Harding said:"The quarter was a landmark period for Genex, with the Company reaching financial close for the Kidston Pumped Storage Hydro Project. Genex has been working towards this milestone for over 5 years and I would like to thank all of our stakeholders for their continued support, and the team at Genex for their tireless work in reaching this significant event. The construction of the Kidston Pumped Hydro project is now fully funded through to completion, and site preparation and initial construction activities are underway. We will continue to work closely with our team of project delivery partners, notably John Holland, McConnell Dowell and Andritz, to deliver the project and provide a large-scale energy storage project for the National Electricity Market.I would like to welcome Mr Kenichi Seshimo to the Board of Directors at Genex, and thank J-POWER for their significant investment in, and ongoing support of, the Company. We look forward to working closely with J-POWER through the construction of the Kidston Pumped Storage Hydro Project, the ongoing development of the Kidston Wind project, and future renewable energy and storage project opportunities.We continue to progress our portfolio of renewable energy and storage growth projects and I look forward to updating the market in the coming period on the progress of our Bouldercombe Battery project and Kidston Wind project.Genex remains focussed on delivering a diverse portfolio of renewable energy and storage projects in the Australian market, positioning ourselves as Australia's leading listed renewable energy company."To view the full quarterly report, please visit:About Genex Power Ltd

Genex Power Limited (ASX:GNX) is focused on developing a portfolio of renewable energy generation and storage projects across Australia. The Company's flagship Kidston Clean Energy Hub, located in north Queensland, will integrate large-scale solar generation with pumped storage hydro. The Kidston Clean Energy Hub is comprised of the operating 50MW stage 1 Solar Project (KS1) and the 250MW Kidston Pumped Storage Hydro Project (K2-Hydro) with potential for further multi-stage wind and solar projects. The 50MW Jemalong Solar Project (JSP) is located in NSW and provides geographical diversification to the Genex Power Limited portfolio. JSP was energised in early December 2020 and commissioning is now underway. Genex is further developing its energy storage portfolio via the early stage development of a 50MW/75MWh standalone battery energy storage system at Bouldercombe in Queensland. With over 400MW of renewable energy and storage projects in development, Genex is well placed as Australia's leading renewable energy and storage company.


Enters Binding Agreement with Vonex

Sydney, July 23, 2021 AEST (ABN Newswire) - MNF Group Limited ( ASX:MNF ) ( FRA:M2S ) today announced that it has entered a binding agreement with Vonex (VN8.AX) for the sale of part of its Direct business.The Company announced it had signed a conditional term sheet with Vonex on 7 June 2021, to sell part of its Direct Business for $31 million. All conditions have been satisfied, including detailed due diligence and the Company has now signed a binding agreement with completion set for early August.The divestment of these direct businesses is in line with MNF's strategy to simplify the business and drive growth in its CPaas and UCaas voice services. Funds from the sale will be reinvested into the growing wholesale business and expansion offshore.Reaffirmation of GuidanceThe company would like to take this opportunity to re-affirm earnings guidance of EBITDA for the 2021 financial year which is expected to be within the top half of the range provided of $40.0 million to $43.0 million.About MNF Group Ltd

MNF Group Limited (ASX:MNF) is one of Asia-Pacific's fastest growing technology companies. Listed on the ASX since 2006, it is now capitalised at around $380m, and twice winner of the Forbes Asia-Pacific "Best under a Billion" award. Headquartered in Sydney, Australia, the company has over 500 people located across Asia-Pacific, Europe and North America. MNF develops and operates a global communications network and software suite enabling some of the world's leading innovators to deliver new-generation communications solutions.



As the world moves to IP, MNF Group is building the brands, services, network and technology to lead the way. For further information about MNF Group Limited please visit: http://mnfgroup.limited/
.......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ..........

Escape on a culinary outdoor adventure tour in Taos.

The new tour offered by Heritage Inspirations will begin with a rafting excursion on the Rio Grande and end at Vivac Winery with a gourmet lunch prepared by Chef Josh Willette.

Everybody gets the same kind of appetizers served as they arrive at the winery, Willette said. And what we do is we are doing a watermelon salad that has radishes, red onions, cotija cheese and a balsamic glaze and arugula. So its a light, refreshing first course as everybody gets off the river and everybodys kind of hot in the sun all day.

ADVERTISEMENTSkip



................................................................

Guests can select from three main course offerings. The grilled New Mexico beef sirloin is served with blue corn onion rings, New Mexico chile calabacitas and peppercorn butter sauce. The suggested pairing is Vivacs Refosco.

The grilled chile-dusted ruby trout with cilantro lime creme fraiche is accompanied by New Mexico red chile calabacitas and a suggested pairing of rose or cabernet sauvignon. The vegetarian tacos are made up of blackened tofu, apple and jicama slaw and charred jalapeno crema with a suggested pairing of petit verdot. For guests who prefer poultry, grilled organic chicken can be substituted.

For the culinary outdoor adventure tour, Heritage Inspirations has teamed up with New Mexico River Adventures and Vivac Winery to create the thrill-seeking experience. The tour will be offered daily through the fall. Reservations are required and can be made at heritageinspirations.com/tours/taos. The tour is $299 per person, plus tax, for a party of two or $249 per person for a party of three. The tour includes a raft, paddle, wetsuit, life jacket, professional guides and lunch with wine paring. Guests are encouraged to bring a backpack with water and clothes.

Participants will meet at 7:45 a.m. at the Heritage Inspirations Headquarters & Travel Hub at El Monte Sagrado Resort in Taos and return to the same location at 2:30 p.m.

The rafting portion of the tour travels through a canyon surrounded by quartzite and basalt lava cliffs that is home to bighorn sheep, coyotes and otters. Green sage, Apache plume and prickly pear cactus blanket some of the peach- and orange-colored rock, according to Heritage Inspirations.

The rafters will be able to enjoy a gourmet lunch created by Willette, a Taos native.

We suggest wine pairings at the (Vivac) Winery, or you can do a wine tasting if thats more up your alley, Willette said. Everything is served with wine, and then also everything is cooked in front of the guests.  I build an open fire, usually using either a local pinon, or sometimes I will use hickory or mesquite, depending if I get my hands on it. And everythings cooked in front of them on an open fire.

Willette, who has been cooking for about 14 years, has worked at Medley in Taos as well as restaurants in Napa, California, and Seattle.

I started at the very bottom, Willette said. And theres very nice fine-dining restaurants in Seattle. It was right on the marina, on the bay. Its called Palisade. And I started at the bottom and worked my way up, all the way up the rankings there, and then worked my way around. Its a big restaurant group, so I worked for a couple of their restaurants, and then from there, moved to Bellingham (California) and kind of ran a couple restaurants as head chef, and then that led me into working in Napa.

His time in Napa sharpened his wine knowledge.

Bringing that all back to my hometown that I grew up in and being able to cook with local flavors, the red chiles, you know, things like that, and also the calabacitas, he said, has personal meaning to him.
.......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ..........

Gilberto Romero is one with nature.

Its been that way since he was a child.

My inspiration comes from Mother Nature, he says. My family and I spent a lot of time out in the mountains. I came from a family that loves hunting and fishing. I would see these shapes in nature. I see the strength needed to adapt to survive.

ADVERTISEMENTSkip



................................................................

The native New Mexican is one of dozens of artists who will participate in Contemporary Hispanic Market on Saturday, July 24, and Sunday, July 25, in Santa Fe.

Santa Fe is just on fire right now with the art scene, he says. Im looking forward to seeing what this years market will bring.

Last years event was canceled due to the pandemic. Romero, like many other artists, looked for ways to sustain himself.

Romero used the time to create two structural pieces that are the biggest hes worked on.

I enjoy challenging myself, he says. My studio is located on my property in La Cienega, so when I get inspired, I can walk over to my studio and get the idea down.

Romero works primarily with metal  specifically, bronze.

He fabricates all the twists and turns that appear in each piece of work and works with his team.

I dont do it alone, Romero says. My son has worked with me through the summers while he was at UNM. I have a few other employees that have been with me for three years. They are wonderful to work with on these projects.

Romero has been part of the market for 18 years, although when he started his journey in art, he was working with retablos and carving bultos.

I started in seventh grade, he says. When I was a senior in high school, I took a job out at Shidoni. At the foundry, I discovered bronze and fell in love with it. It was easier to express myself in bronze. It was a great feeling, and there were times I thought about maybe being an artist for a living. It helped me express myself in different ways.

Recently, one of his pieces was installed at Winterowd Fine Art, on Canyon Road in Santa Fe.

Romero says he would never go back to retablos and bultos because he was never good at it.

He also used to work with driftwood and antlers.

My work today is a little bit more contemporary and not abstract, he says. Its still making sense of the shape and how they are tied into something.

Romero and his team fabricate about 95% of the work.

The only thing I cast in bronze are the wildlife that is on the piece, he says. Everything else we do with sheets of bronze. For me, the beauty is that I get to do each piece from start to finish. Its important to me. Its a great way to express myself.

Contemporary Hispanic Market

WHEN: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, July 24, and Sunday, July 25

WHERE: Along Lincoln Avenue in downtown Santa Fe

HOW MUCH: Free to attend
.......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ..........

DENVER  The husband of Denver District Attorney Beth McCann has pleaded guilty to attempted arson after he left slash piles burning unattended in northern Colorado last year.

The Denver Post reports 69-year-old Christopher Linsmayer was charged after he left several slash piles burning near his property outside Kremmling in October. He pleaded guilty Thursday.

Defense attorney Jack DiCola says Linsmayer takes full responsibility and has agreed not to have any future open fires on his property for as long as he owns the land. McCann declined to comment through a spokeswoman Thursday.

DiCola says Linsmayer started the fires when there was about a foot (30 centimeters) of snow on the ground, and they appeared to be extinguished the following day. But Grand County sheriffs deputies soon discovered the burning slash piles after someone called to report a possible fire.

Firefighters used hand tools and shovels to put out the fires, and investigators later discovered that Linsmayer had left that morning. No property was damaged, and no one was injured.

Linsmayer was previously suspected of unintentionally starting a 10-acre (4 hectare) wildfire near Kremmling in 2016 that forced the evacuation of about a dozen homes.

ADVERTISEMENTSkip



................................................................
.......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ..........

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.  Toast for breakfast doesnt have to be dry.

Curious Toast Cafe opened mid-July at the former NEDA Business Consultants office at 718 Central SW in Downtown Albuquerque. The cafe features a medley of primarily toast-centric offerings made from local ingredients and items from local food producers, alongside a coffee menu. Items range from $3 to $13.

Co-owner and executive chef David Ruiz said that when crafting the restaurant concept he was looking to create something approachable but that Albuquerque didnt yet have. He landed on a restaurant focused on toast since he thought the concept was unique, sustainable and able to be executed without drastically altering the near 120-year-old building.

ADVERTISEMENTSkip



................................................................

We didnt want to be like this sleek and modern sort of coffee house restaurant, Ruiz said. We wanted to be more eclectic.

Customers can opt for a parfait toast complete with Greek yogurt, local granola and seasonal berries, or a more savory option like the Van Dame on Mushroom, a toast with seasonal wild mushrooms, pickled tomatoes, lemon aioli and arugula.

In addition to functioning as a coffee shop and restaurant on the first floor of the building, the basement and second floor have been converted into office spaces for occupational therapists and creative professionals.

Majority owner Victoria Van Dame said the building is currently housing a group of DJs, several artists, a nonprofit and occupational therapists with several offices still available. But the art isnt limited to adjacent floors  artwork from several of the resident artists hangs for sale on the cafe walls.

Both Ruiz and Van Dame said they hope Curious Toast Cafe is a part of the revitalization of Downtown Albuquerque.

Ive lived down here since 2015 and we both love Downtown and we just want to see the revitalization of this area of town, Ruiz said. Ruiz pointed to several businesses that have opened or will open in the new future and monthly events like the Art Walk as signs that life is coming back to Downtown.

Van Dame, who owns Downtowns nonprofit OT Circus and manages the historic Kress Building, said she is working to bring art back into the neighborhood and make sure that previously empty buildings have life once more. Its time for Albuquerque to stay the same, but I think it is time for us to kind of evolve to be known more as a culture corridor, Van Dame said.

Curious Toast Cafe is open 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday.

For more information visit curioustoastcafe.com or call 408-613-9672.
.......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ..........

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.  If it were a Perry Mason mystery, perhaps it would be The Case of the Distinctive Gait.

In reality, the FBI says an Artesia bank manager noticed the same walk and mannerisms as one of their regular customers displayed by a man who robbed the Washington Federal Bank on July 15, ultimately leading authorities to Roman Poulsen, 39, and his girlfriend, Lori Crapo, 40, both of Artesia, who have now been charged in connection with the case.

According to the affidavit with the criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Roswell, around 9:20 a.m., a man walked into the bank at 602 West Texas  his face was covered with a cloth mask, sunglasses and a hoodie  and handed a teller a note that said, This is a robbery, open up your till and give me everything you have. Dont trigger no alarms and dont tell anyone. Everyone can go back to family safe.

The bandit was given money, including bait money used to identify cash taken during a robbery. An immediate audit showed $1,899 was missing.

ADVERTISEMENTSkip



................................................................

An Artesia police detective investigating the robbery learned from the bank manager that as she observed the suspect walking out, he had the same walk and mannerisms as one of their regular customers  Poulsen.

Artesia officers tracked Poulsen to the Legacy Inn, where he was living with his girlfriend, and learned that a female, later identified as Lori Crapo had just quit her job and left with her boyfriend, Roman Poulsen. Officers also learned that Poulsen had arrived earlier and was sweating and appeared to be in a hurry.

Poulsen allegedly burned something in the dumpster behind the motel before leaving  items police said were clothing and shoes.

Officers later found Poulsens car at Fenns Country Market on West Main Street and detained Poulsen outside, while Crapo was found inside the grocery store. Police said store security camera video showed she had put something on to a shelf before being taken into custody.

This area in and around the area where Crapo was observed was searched by Artesia officers and a large quality of U.S. currency was located hidden behind a box of ice cream cones, the affidavit reads, adding that it included bait money that had been given to the bank robber.

The Legacy Inn manager told Artesia Police that Poulsen had arrived that morning and paid the money he owed, or $560, and that the hotel room Poulsen and Crapo had been staying in was still full of items after they left in a hurry.

After search warrants were served, Artesia Police said $560 was recovered from the safe at the Legacy Inn, $1,289 from Fenns, including $60 in bait money, and $31.28 from inside Crapos purse. Police said she also spent $20 on cigarettes there, too. The money totaled $1,900.28, or almost the exact amount missing from the bank.

Poulsen has been charged with bank robbery. Crapo is charged with being an accessory after the fact. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years, while she faces up to 10, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office.
.......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ..........

TUCSON, Ariz.  A convicted felon accused of fatally shooting at least one person and wounding four others, including firefighters and paramedics, during a house fire in Tucson last weekend has died at a hospital, police said Thursday.

Leslie Stephen Scarlett, 35, had been in extremely critical condition at a local hospital since being wounded in an exchange of gunfire with a police officer Sunday.

Scarlett died from his injuries Wednesday, police said.

ADVERTISEMENTSkip



................................................................

A motive for the attack apparently remains unclear, but police confirmed that a badly burned body found inside the home was Scarletts girlfriend.

The body was identified as 36-year-old Jennifer Fells, and an autopsy showed she suffered gunshot trauma, police announced Thursday.

Per investigators, we can confirm that Scarlett and Fells were in a domestic relationship, said Officer Francisco Magos, a police spokesman. The investigation is still ongoing.

Fells lived at the home with her three children, but its not immediately known if Scarlett was the biological father to any of the kids.

We have not confirmed that with family, Magos said.

Scarlett drove up to the house fire and fired shots at an ambulance crew that was on standby for another incident, according to police.

The ambulance driver, a 20-year-old man, was shot in the head, and a paramedic in the passenger seat, a 21-year-old woman, was shot in the chest and arm, police said.

The suspect then opened fire on firefighters and neighbors trying to douse the flames.

A neighbor  identified as 44-year-old Cory Michael Saunders  was fatally shot, a firefighter was shot in the arm, and another bullet grazed another neighbors head.

A responding police officer encountered the suspect a couple of blocks away. Police said the man rammed his SUV into the officers vehicle and opened fire.

The officer was uninjured and returned fire, critically wounding Scarlett.

According to the Arizona Department of Corrections, Scarlett had a criminal history that included a 2007 conviction for an attempted armed robbery. He was sentenced to six years in prison and released in 2013.
.......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ..........

Problems getting online are not isolated in rural communities or on remote tribal land. The thousands of urban Indians living in Albuquerque and cities throughout New Mexico face another, often-overlooked barrier: cost.

Native peoples, even in cities, have been left behind in a world that overnight became dependent on the internet to work, communicate and see a doctor. That must change.

According to the National Urban Indian Family Coalition, 70% of Native Americans live in urban centers  whether by choice or the result of government relocation programs initiated in the 1950s to terminate tribes.

Of those 3.7 million Americans, 25% live below the poverty level and one in five say internet is too expensive. As a result, Native Americans have the lowest connectivity and computer ownership rates of any ethnic group in the country. Yet internet access could be a lifeline for urban Indians, helping them reconnect with family, culture, language and tribal government.

I am glad President Biden is prioritizing closing the digital divide. We have a historic opportunity to get urban Indians connected. To do that we must address cost barriers by creating a permanent federal broadband subsidy. Thats a long-term solution to ensure everyone can afford broadband internet.

While there are currently federal programs meant to address broadband affordability, theyre not enough. The FCCs Lifeline offers $9.25 vouchers to qualifying low-income families to help pay for broadband. The National Urban Leagues Lewis Latimer Plan for Digital Equity noted theres broad consensus that Lifeline is deeply flawed, with too small a subsidy, ineffective distribution and reliance on a regressive and unsustainable model. And while the COVID relief package passed late last year expanded the benefit to $50, it is only temporary and most helpful for keeping households online rather than getting urban Indian families connected for the first time.

ADVERTISEMENTSkip



................................................................

Americans for Indian Opportunity partnered with 20 Native-led organizations in Albuquerque  the Native Leaders Collective  to provide direct aid to our fellow urban Indians during the COVID-19 public health crisis. AIO provided laptops and free internet access for Native students facing connectivity challenges. We learned of the great need in our community.

We also learned that when an economically challenged family gets internet access and necessary hardware, positive change happens  kids do better in school, parents take advantage of employment opportunities and further their education and the family can begin to move out of poverty.

We need to do more at the federal level to get millions of urban Indians online. We need a federal subsidy that is permanent, easy to access and administer so urban Indians, too, are not held back from accessing all that the internet has to offer.

As difficult as the last year has been, the challenges that have been illuminated created a sense of urgency and an opportunity for progress. This administration, and leaders in Congress, including Sen. Ben Ray Lujan and Rep. Theresa Leger Fernandez, can make a meaningful impact on economic and racial equity. New Mexico is fortunate to have elected leaders on key committees who know the challenges urban Natives face and can be counted on to do the right thing. On behalf of this nations urban Indian population, we urge our representatives to support an infrastructure plan that prioritizes bringing urban Indians online.
.......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ..........

The Eddy Lea Energy Alliance (ELEA), in cooperation with Holtec International, is proposing an interim storage facility for spent nuclear fuel shipped from U.S. commercial nuclear reactors. The facility is proposed to be built in Lea County, N.M. The safety and environmental reviews of the facility are being performed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission with input from the Bureau of Land Management and the N.M. Environmental Department. The reviews will be formalized in a safety evaluation report and an environmental impact statement. These public documents have been in process for over four years and are nearing completion. This op-ed focuses on mineral extraction in the vicinity of the facility  specifically oil and gas.

The facility is planned to reside on Section 13 of Township 20 South, Range 32 East, N.M.P.M. This section is within the Department of the Interiors Designated Potash Area. Interior established controls over a designated potash area of about 497,000 acres of public and non-public lands to coordinate co-development of oil, gas and potash deposits. The controls are promulgated in Interiors Order No. 3324 dated Dec. 3, 2012, and maximize the efficiency of oil, gas and potash extraction while protecting the safety of the men and women working in potash mines.

Section 13 has been designated Development Area (DA) Eggroll and is serviced by the Tetris Drill Islands (DIs). The DIs were established in Section 24 along Section 13s southern boundary. The development area and drill islands were designated by the Bureau of Land Management and coordinated with the companies owning the oil, gas, and potash leases in the area. Coordination was crucial to optimize oil, gas, and potash extraction.

Vertical oil and gas wells would be drilled on the drill islands, allowing the extraction of oil and gas in the development area.

Extraction will utilize horizontal drilling to the north through the oil and gas formations. Extraction can be done at any depth, with the shallowest oil and gas formation in the area at about 3,000 feet. The facility extends only 25 feet below the surface and the safety analysis will show that horizontal drilling and fracking may occur directly beneath the facility. The facilitys robustness will not be challenged. Note that Order 3324 was signed long before the facility was proposed, is totally independent of the facility and will not be affected by the facility.

ADVERTISEMENTSkip



................................................................

ELEA and Holtec International recognize the oil and gas industry contributed $2.1 billion to the N.M. state budget in fiscal 2020, and it currently employs thousands of hard-working Americans. ELEA and Holtec would not jeopardize a source of funding for critical state programs, or the way of life provided to fellow Americans. ELEA and Holtec propose this facility because it provides an interim solution to a national problem, it provides well-paying jobs, it diversifies the economy in southeast New Mexico, and it will not harm the oil and gas industry just as it will not harm the public and environment.

Building the facility will not change the controls or methodology used by the oil and gas industry. ELEA and Holtec will be adding to the economy, not limiting it.
.......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ..........

To pull the rug out from under the feet of immigrants like Aailinn Martinez, 20, of Albuquerque would be unconscionable.

Martinez was brought to the United States when she was just 9 months old. She grew up in Albuquerque and now works for the city of Albuquerque as a financial navigator under a work permit she obtained through the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. Shes taking her shot at the American Dream, starting as a civil servant. Im working and studying to be able to give back to this country, but its really difficult when so many obstacles are put in place, she told the Journal.

A federal judges ruling last week is giving Martinez and other DACA recipients concerns. U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen ruled DACA was an illegally implemented program under the Obama administration. Hanen barred the government from approving any new DACA applications but left the program intact for existing recipients like Martinez.

Martinez is understandably worried about what will happen when she is required to renew her DACA application next year. DACA provides a renewable two-year period of deferred action from deportation, but not a pathway for citizenship. Martinez knows there are no guarantees. Were contributing to the economy. We deserve better, she said.

ADVERTISEMENTSkip



................................................................

Shes right, she does deserve better. Martinez and all of New Mexicos other 13,000 DACA recipients deserve to know theyll be able to call the United States their home. And not just for a two-year period.

And thats not going to happen by one person or one political party issuing a declaration.

Former President Barack Obama announced the DACA policy on June 15, 2012, without any congressional authority whatsoever, and after Obama repeatedly said he lacked the authority to implement such an immigration policy on his own. Nonetheless, Obama in November 2014 announced his intention to expand DACA to cover additional undocumented immigrants. But multiple states sued and a divided U.S. Supreme Court blocked the expansion.

The Trump administration announced it was ending the DACA program in September 2017, but the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2020 that his administration hadnt ended the program properly, leaving it on life support.

The bottom line is that a permanent solution for Dreamers must come through Congress.

Many of the 650,000 DACA recipients have only known the United States as their home. Deporting them at this point is simply wrong.

But  as a separate issue  no single country can absorb the worlds children, not even the U.S.

Border officials encountered 188,829 migrants at the Mexican border in June, with record numbers of children traveling by themselves, in many cases protected only by greedy gangsters doing the dirty work of criminal transnational enterprises.

Border agents made 180,000 apprehensions at the southern border in May, 178,000 in April, 172,000 in March, each month a subsequent 20-year high. So far this year, more than a million migrants have been apprehended at our southern border, overwhelming detention facilities and immigration courts while the pandemic still rages.

Few would argue such a disorderly immigration process properly serves our nation or fairly serves those seeking to experience the American Dream through immigration.

Meanwhile, Congress has approved unprecedented spending for child tax credits with the goal of attacking childhood poverty. Its a laudable goal and one that will never be realized with unfettered immigration. We cannot have both new programs and open borders. The math simply does not add up.

Immigrants brought to the U.S. as children deserve a nation to call home. Congress needs to pass bipartisan legislation to fix DACA and protect the young people here.

Separately, our nation needs to establish a reasonable, workable immigration system that benefits both our nation and is fair to those seeking better lives here.

This editorial first appeared in the Albuquerque Journal. It was written by members of the editorial board and is unsigned as it represents the opinion of the newspaper rather than the writers.
.......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ..........

Copyright  2021 Albuquerque Journal

New Mexico temperatures will likely continue to climb over the next 50 years, state geologist Nelia Dunbar said this week  a change with major consequences for regional water supplies and landscapes.

Dunbar, the New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources director, serves on the eight-member advisory panel crafting a leap-ahead climate analysis for the Interstate Stream Commission of what water supplies could look like in 2070.

ADVERTISEMENTSkip



................................................................

The question is not so much will (temperatures) increase, but by how much, Dunbar said during a video update on the states long-term water plan.

New Mexico models show that annual average statewide temperatures could rise between 5 and 7 degrees Fahrenheit over the next 50 years. Models considered two different rising-emissions scenarios.

A warmer climate could impact nearly every aspect of New Mexicos water and land.

Dunbar listed likely impacts, including:

 Decreased aquifer recharge, more common and hotter drought periods, earlier winter runoff, greater groundwater demands and stress on plant life.

 Dry vegetation and catastrophic wildfires that could affect runoff and floodplain ecosystems.

 Warmer streams and rivers that could mean changing oxygen levels, which can disturb fish habitat.

Likely the dominant impact on water quality going forward is going to be related to temperature increase, Dunbar said.

State law requires that the Office of the State Engineer update a water plan every five years.

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham tasked the agency with creating a 50-year water plan with proposed adaptation strategies.

The advisory panel compiled climate and water data and projections into an 11-chapter report that is under review by other New Mexico and Arizona scientists.

Dunbar said the science-based foundation will help inform the water plan, and should be publicly available by the end of August.

The team found precipitation changes more difficult to predict than temperature, but concluded that New Mexico could see gradual declines in streamflow and snowpack as the state becomes more arid.

Temperature changes may not be uniform across the Land of Enchantment.

The bottom line is that the northwest part of the state in the San Juan Basin area may experience the highest temperature increases over the next 50 years, whereas the Bootheel, the southwest part of the state, will experience some of the lower temperature increases, Dunbar said.

New Mexico water planners can learn from tribes, acequia communities and municipalities that have adapted over the past 20 years of drought, said ISC Director Rolf Schmidt-Petersen.

Theyve experienced lots of disturbance without losing their essential character or becoming something else, Schmidt-Petersen said.

The ISC estimates the 50-year water plan will be finalized by April 2022.

Water policy proposals will include local, state and federal recommendations.

This is not a regulatory document, nor is it a water budget for the state, Schmidt-Petersen said. It is conveying information about what people should expect for continuing increasing temperatures within New Mexico.

A $1 million Rio Grande Basin Study by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District will help inform the long-term plan.

Theresa Davis is a Report for America corps member covering water and the environment for the Albuquerque Journal.
.......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ..........

Copyright  2021 Albuquerque Journal

A Corrales lawmaker has asked for an investigation into the attorney generals handling of a now-settled case that alleged unfair trade practices by a massive solar company.

State Rep. Daymon Ely, a Democrat, has asked the Office of the State Auditor to look into why Attorney General Hector Balderas agreed to seal all documents in a case against Vivint Solar Inc., and why the AG didnt pursue any specific restitution for thousands of consumers in a settlement it reached with Vivint last fall.

Ely says Balderas agreed to a protective order requested by Vivint that apparently bars public access to more than 1 million documents in the case. The order, approved in August 2020 by 2nd Judicial District Court Judge Clay Campbell, obstructs the ability of consumers to gather critical evidence when pursuing individual complaints against Vivint, and it may violate the states Inspection of Public Records Act, according to Ely and attorneys seeking restitution for clients.

ADVERTISEMENTSkip



................................................................

Ely asked State Auditor Brian Colon to investigate the AGs handling of the case, requesting in particular that Colon examine why no relief was included in the settlement agreement for roughly 2,300 New Mexicans who were allegedly defrauded by Vivint, and why the AG didnt oppose Vivints request to seal most documents produced during discovery in the case.

The AGs office appears to be complicit in hiding from public scrutiny what could be a million documents, including critical documents on the allegedly abusive practices employed by Vivint, Ely said in a June 21 letter to Colon.  An investigation into why the AG did not oppose sealing these documents will help me understand if the Legislature needs to review current IPRA statutes to close what appears to be an unacceptable, gaping loophole to our philosophy of open public records.

Stephanie Telles, spokesperson for the State Auditor, said Colons staff is looking into Elys request.

An examination was opened as a result of receiving the letter, Telles told the Journal.

Background

Balderas initially filed the case against Vivint in 2018, accusing the solar installation firm of deceptive marketing practices that resulted in consumer fraud and racketeering involving thousands of homeowners in central New Mexico. The lawsuit said Vivint applied high pressure and illegal door-to-door sales tactics to ensnare uninformed consumers into binding 20-year power-purchase agreements that ended up costing homeowners more for the electricity they consume over time than they previously paid Public Service Company of New Mexico.

Although Vivint denied the allegations, it finalized a settlement with the AG in December agreeing to modify its marketing practices to ensure all prospective future customers are fully informed about the details of contracts. It also agreed to a $1.95 million settlement payment, including about $1.24 million for the AGs office and $709,000 in legal expenses and attorney fees for a private law firm that represented the AG in the case.

Vivint was acquired by national firm SunRun last fall, but the legal agreements bind the new owners as well.

No restitution

The settlement, however, included no restitution for individual consumers impacted by Vivints previous marketing practices. The original lawsuit did ask the court to declare all Vivints prior agreements with homeowners as voidable if affected customers choose to cancel them, plus monetary compensation for customers lured into contracts under false premises.

But those items werent included in the final settlement.

Balderas told the Journal in May that the case outcome can help shield potential solar customers from deceptive marketing going forward, and that settlement funds will be reinvested in future AG consumer protection efforts. In addition, the outcome may strengthen individual claims by Vivint customers who pursue restitution on their own with private lawyers, Balderas added.

Those comments  included in Journal stories published in May  encouraged Ely to look deeper into the Vivint case. And that, in turn, raised concerns about the settlement, which provides no direct relief for victims, the legislator said.

It seems clear to me this is not a good settlement, Ely told the Journal. It doesnt appear to benefit consumers.

Balderas said individual consumers can achieve better results on their own than the AG can.

Private parties can potentially secure three times more in damages than the state could, Balderas told the Journal on Thursday. Its more advantageous for consumers to pursue their own claims.

Shielded from scrutiny?

Nevertheless, the protective court order shielding most case documents from public scrutiny makes it harder for individuals to seek relief.

Vivint produced more than 1 million documents in the case, and theyre all sealed, Ely said.  They should be public record, and I dont get why theyre not. By not opposing Vivints request to make all those documents confidential, the AG has basically agreed to a broad exception to IPRA, and the Legislature needs to look at that.

Balderas said his office agreed to the confidentiality order because it protects private information about individuals gathered during discovery.

My priority is to protect the privacy of victims, Balderas told the Journal. I dont oppose disclosure as long as theres consent from the victims. Our interest was to protect their privacy until they provide that consent.

Threat to IPRA?

But lawyers representing individual consumers said the protective order has impeded efforts to gather evidence.

Consumer protection attorney Nicholas Mattison, for example, was unable to access case documents last year when representing a married couple suing Vivint over a solar contract the couple signed under allegedly false promises by Vivint.

Mattison filed a court brief opposing Vivints confidentiality request before Judge Campbell signed the order, but to no avail. Mattisons brief  which accused Vivint of hiding information under the guise of trade secrets  said the order sets a dangerous precedent for IPRA.

If information could be shielded from IPRA by a private agreement between a public body (the AG) and the party providing the information (Vivint), the IPRA would be severely weakened, Mattison wrote in his brief.  More troubling still, it seems likely that Vivints express intent was to evade IPRA.

Patrick Griebel of Mars Griebel Law Ltd. has also been unable to access most documents in cases hes pursuing.

Its my belief that information and evidence gathered by the AG when investigating a case belongs to the people of New Mexico, Griebel told the Journal. The victims in this case should have the tools to pick up where the AG left off. The AGs investigation was done on taxpayers money, and if the settlement agreement means everyone is on their own to pursue restitution, then we should have access to the fruits of that investigation.
.......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ..........

Copyright  2021 Albuquerque Journal

SANTA FE  With a recent surge in absentee voting, ballot drop boxes are set to become a permanent part of New Mexicos electoral landscape, under rules proposed by Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Olivers office.

The drop boxes, also known as secured containers, sparked a GOP court challenge after being implemented on a limited scale during the 2020 election cycle and have gotten a wary reception from many New Mexicans who have submitted comments on the proposed rules.

ADVERTISEMENTSkip



................................................................

But state Bureau of Elections Director Kari Fresquez said the drop boxes are a safe and convenient way for voters to cast their absentee ballots and should be in place in time for local elections this fall.

They provide a way for voters to return their absentee ballot without it being exposed to anyone except elections officials, Fresquez told the Journal when asked about vote fraud concerns.

She also said security requirements  including mandatory video surveillance cameras, bolting drop boxes to the ground and keeping them locked at all times  are included in the proposed rules to deter any potential voting shenanigans.

A public hearing on the proposed rules was held Thursday at the Roundhouse, drawing about a dozen people to offer comment. About 90 public comments had already been submitted in advance of the meeting.

Opponents include the state Republican Party.

In a written statement Thursday, Tina Dziuk, a member of the partys Election Integrity Committee, questioned the legality of the proposed rules and whether the drop boxes would be properly monitored.

Expanding the use of drop boxes, she said, creates more opportunity for fraud.

It is unlikely that video surveillance for these drop boxes will be adequately monitored as county clerks lack the resources for 24-hour monitoring of video cameras, Dziuk said.

Under a 2019 state law, ballot drop boxes can be installed outside traditional polling places, although county clerks are required to publicly disclose such locations in advance and adhere to strict security guidelines.

However, the rules necessary to implement the law have taken two years to craft, in large part because the Legislature did not immediately appropriate funds necessary to obtain the ballot boxes and surveillance cameras, Fresquez said.

With a mix of federal and state dollars now in place, she said the Secretary of States Office would pay for the equipment to ensure a uniform statewide system.

These boxes are going to be the same whether youre in a northern county or a southern county, Fresquez said.

The proposed rules direct county clerks to provide a minimum number of secured drop boxes based on a voter population formula set by the Secretary of States Office but do not feature an in-person monitoring requirement.

In addition, only county clerks or full-time deputy county clerks would be allowed to retrieve ballots from the drop boxes.

During last years election that was conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic, the secretary of state urged county clerks to offer absentee ballot drop boxes to voters but the ballot containers were required to be continually supervised under temporary guidelines.

That prompted a New Mexico Republican Party lawsuit that argued ballot drop boxes in two largely Democratic counties had either been left unattended or not properly monitored by poll workers.

The suit was eventually dismissed after county clerks in the two counties  Taos and Guadalupe  agreed to make changes.

While not providing any proof of it actually happening, the Republican Party said such practices leave open the possibility of ballots being stolen, damaged or destroyed  or that large amounts of improperly harvested ballots could be dropped off undetected.

Since 2006, New Mexico has used a paper ballot system that requires most voters  but not those voting via absentee ballot  to manually mark ballots and feed them into electronic vote tabulating machines.

State law also requires voters to submit their own ballot, though direct family members and legal guardians are also authorized to do so.

Of the roughly 928,000 voters who cast ballots in the November 2020 general election, a total of 328,792 voters  or roughly 35.4%  cast absentee ballots. That represented a much higher proportion than in past election cycles, though its unclear how many of those ballots were deposited in drop boxes.

Dan McKay of the Journal Capitol Bureau contributed to this article.
.......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ..........

PHOENIX  An injured hiker has been rescued off a Phoenix mountain after being unable to call for help for about 24 hours, authorities said.

The 34-year-old man, whose name hasnt been released, was forced to stay on the mountain overnight Wednesday.

The man was hiking on the Shaw Butte Trail and was about three-quarters of the way up the mountain when he suffered a lower leg injury.

The hiker said he was too injured to leave the area and couldnt call for help since noon Wednesday.

He was spotted by a Phoenix police helicopter Thursday morning.

Rescue crews hoisted him off the mountain because of the steep terrain and took him to a nearby hospital.

ADVERTISEMENTSkip



................................................................
.......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ..........

CAP-HAITIEN, Haiti  The funeral for slain Haitian President Jovenel Moise was briefly interrupted Friday by nearby gunfire and tear gas as well as agitated supporters that caused U.S. and U.N. officials to leave before his widow spoke publicly for the first time since the attack.

Hundreds of protesters gathered outside the private compound where Moises funeral was held as some mourners inside shouted, Justice for Jovenel! and cheered when Martine Moise, who was seriously injured in the July 7 attack at the couples private home, rose to the podium at the end of the ceremony.

Theyre watching us, waiting for us to be afraid, she said. We dont want vengeance or violence. Were not going to be scared.

ADVERTISEMENTSkip



................................................................

Smoke and ash from burning barricades that demonstrators set up around the compound, along with tear gas fired by police, blew through the ceremony as Martine Moise and others spoke.

Her soft voice grew stronger through the 15-minute speech as she thanked the crowd for their support and said those responsible would not assassinate Jovenel Moises vision, ideas or dreams for Haiti.

We lost a fight, but we did not lose the war, she said as she condemned the countrys oligarchs and suggested that Moise was killed in his pursuit to provide electricity, build roads and make a better life for poor people. She later addressed his killers: They are here looking at us. They are not even hiding.

The funeral was held amid heavy security following violent protests and fears of political volatility in the Caribbean nation.

Before the funeral began, cries of Assassin! filled the air at the arrival of Haitis National Police Chief Leon Charles. Haitians clad in somber suits, shiny shoes and black and white formal dresses shouted and pointed fingers at the neighboring seating platforms where Haitian officials and foreign dignitaries sat above at least a dozen men with high-powered weapons.

You didnt take any measures to save Jovenel! You contributed to his killing! one woman yelled.

On the grounds below, one Moise supporter threatened Charles: You need to leave now or were going to get you after the funeral!

Yves Paul Leandre, spokesman for Haitis Communications Ministry, told The Associated Press that the U.S. and United Nations delegations left about 10 to 15 minutes after arriving due to hostile words that Moise supporters inside the compound hurled at everyone arriving.

Two U.S. officials confirmed there was an incident at the event and that the U.S. delegation left early. All members of the U.S. delegation were safe and accounted for and it does not appear they were targeted, according to the officials, who were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

Shortly before the funeral began, Martine Moise arrived to cries of Justice! Justice! as she headed straight to her husbands casket, climbing the stairs and stopping in front of it. With her right arm in a sling, she lay her left arm on the casket draped with a large Haitian flag and then brought it to her heart as she stood there in silence. Her eyes filled with tears as her three children joined her.

Minutes later, a group of supporters grabbed a large portrait of Moise and paraded with it as the police band began to play the national anthem over loud wails.

White T-shirts and caps emblazoned with Moises picture were distributed to supporters the day before the final ceremony to honor Moise.

This is something that will be engraved in our memory, said Pedro Guilloume, a Cap-Haitien resident. Let all Haitians channel solidarity.

Before the funeral began, a man wrapped himself in a large Haitian flag and approached the casket, crying out, We need to fight and get justice for Jovenel! Next to him, a man carrying a T-shirt commemorating Moise joined in as he yelled, Jovenel died big! He died for me and for the rest of the countryWere not going to back down.

Once the funeral ended, protesters threw rocks at a caravan of Haitian authorities and journalists that were leaving.

The funeral comes days after Prime Minister Ariel Henry, with support from key international diplomats, was installed in Haiti  a move that appeared aimed at averting a leadership struggle following Moises assassination.

Henry, who was designated prime minister by Moise before he was slain but never sworn in, replaced interim prime minister Claude Joseph and has promised to form a provisional consensus government until elections are held.

On Wednesday and Thursday, violent demonstrations hit neighborhoods in and around Cap-Haitien as groups of men fired shots into the air and blocked some roads with blazing tires. One heavily guarded police convoy carrying unknown officials drove through one flaming barricade, with a vehicle nearly flipping over.

A priest who presided over a Thursday Mass at Cap-Haitiens cathedral to honor Moise warned there was too much bloodshed in Haiti as he asked people to find peace, noting that the poorest communities are affected.

Moise was sworn in as Haitis president in February 2017 and faced increasing criticism in recent years from those who accused him of becoming increasingly authoritarian. He had been ruling by decree for more than a year after the country failed to hold legislative elections.

Authorities have said that at least 26 suspects have been arrested in the killing, including 18 former Colombian soldiers. Police are still looking for several more suspects they say were involved in the assassination plot, including a former rebel leader and an ex-senator.

__

AP writers Evens Sanon in Cap-Haitien, Haiti and Matthew Lee in Washington contributed to this report.
.......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ..........

OKLAHOMA CITY  The man wanted in the shooting of two Arkansas men on Interstate 40 in eastern Oklahoma and a carjacking in Oklahoma City has been arrested in Dallas, according to Oklahoma City police.

Lee King, 27, was arrested Thursday by U.S. marshals who, with Oklahoma City police, had traced him to a location in Dallas, police Sgt. Gary Knight said.

The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation has said King was wanted in the shooting of Arkansans John Derek Riggs and Jake Myers on Saturday near Vian, about 140 miles (225 kilometers) east of Oklahoma City.

The OSBI said Riggs and Myers had picked up King, who apparently ran out of gas, and taken him to a Vian convenience store, where a gas can and gas were purchased for him.

Riggs and Myers were found wounded from gunshots along the interstate and survived, the OSBI said.

King fled in a vehicle he is suspected of carjacking earlier in Oklahoma City, the OSBI said, and escaped police who pursued him near Antlers in southeastern Oklahoma, about 130 miles southwest (209 kilometers) of Vian.

ADVERTISEMENTSkip



................................................................
.......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ..........

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.  Authorities are trying to find a man accused in a slaying on the Navajo Nation earlier this year.

FBI spokesman Frank Fisher said 27-year-old Josiah Smith, of Smith Lake, NM, was charged June 11 with murder and crimes committed in Indian Country.

Smith is accused of a fatal shooting on the Navajo Nation earlier this year, Fisher said. No specific details of the crime can be provided at this time due to the ongoing investigation.

He said Smith is considered armed and dangerous.

Smith is described as 5 feet and 11 inches, 180 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes.

Tips: Anyone with information on Smiths whereabouts is asked to immediately contact the FBI by calling 505-889-1300 or sending information online at tips.fbi.gov.

ADVERTISEMENTSkip



................................................................
.......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ..........

RIO RANCHO  To Stephen and Carolotta Park, it makes sense to launch their own Burn Boot Camp fitness center in Rio Rancho in the near future.

It takes them full circle, back to where they met, and allows them to resume their passion for fitness.

The couple met in graduate school at the University of New Mexico, and Carolottas software training for a job led them to Atlanta and the Burn Boot Camp branch there. Then came serious discussions about returning to the Land of Enchantment and opening their own branch.

ADVERTISEMENTSkip



................................................................

Its great. For me, weve spent the last eight years away, said Stephen, who grew up in the Northeast Heights. Obviously, weve had a good time, and we got to experience some larger markets, which I liked. But at the end of the day, we really wanted to come back home, myself especially since I grew up in the area. Its a special space, and I loved growing up in Albuquerque.

Carolotta said the goal is to open the Rio Rancho location in January 2022.

The couple is exploring opening the facility along Coors Bypass, Unser Boulevard or in the Taylor Ranch neighborhood.

From what Ive seen, theres a lot of things coming to Albuquerque and in Rio Rancho, Rio Rancho especially, Stephen said. When you look at the growth metrics, you look at the number of families, you look at the school system, Rio Rancho is really where there is a lot of growth. Thats why we chose that market.

The couple has signed a franchise agreement.

Im just ecstatic to be bringing this company into New Mexico, Carolotta said.  We really felt like Burn could benefit a lot of the people living out in Rio Rancho.

Carolotta said Burn Boot Camp started as a gym that catered to women, including busy moms, because it included child care.

Although its open to men and women, she said she wants to make Burn Boot Camp a better experience for busy moms in the Rio Rancho area.

The target clientele will include not only Rio Rancho, but also the northwest quadrant of Albuquerque.

Carolotta said Rio Rancho clients will be able to work out at planned Albuquerque and Santa Fe locations if theyre there for a weekend, as well as any of the other U.S. locations.

She said Burn Boot Camp features cardio, strength training and conditioning workouts conducted on a gymnastics-type floor, which will be easier on bones and joints. She also said basic workouts like running laps in the parking lot will help further break that exercise plateau.

Carolotta said she hopes those who may not be fitness junkies join in, are challenged by and grow from the workouts.

Its a gym that sells empowerment, she said. Youll see yourself modifying up, challenging your body and being able to do something that you were never able to do before. So, thats absolutely the goal.
.......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ..........

SANTA FE  Former Cochiti Pueblo Gov. Regis Pecos slammed New Mexicos efforts to improve education for Native American students in response to a landmark court decision, describing a fragmented funding process for tribal education that will hamper the effectiveness of increased state spending.

In a presentation to legislators, Pecos  who has a long history in state and tribal governments  also highlighted a recent burst of turnover in top administrators at the Public Education Department and the states lack of Native American teachers and school leaders.

The passionate presentation came as members of the powerful Legislative Finance Committee sought an update on the states response to a 2018 court ruling that found New Mexico is violating the rights of some students  including Native Americans  by failing to provide a sufficient education.

ADVERTISEMENTSkip



................................................................

Legislators responded to the ruling by boosting teacher salaries in recent years, funding an extended school year and expanding early childhood education programs that prepare kids for kindergarten. The state also revised a budget formula and made other changes intended to deliver more funding to schools that serve at-risk and low-income students.

But Pecos, a member of the Cochiti Tribal Council, questioned whether the spending is effective.

There is no evidence that dollars received by school districts, Pecos said, reach native students and meet their needs.

The state, he added, hasnt embraced legislation for a Tribal Remedy Framework  a plan that includes turning tribal libraries into community education hubs and investing in the preservation of native languages, among other action. Its been endorsed by leaders of the states 23 nations, tribes and pueblos.

Similarly, Pecos said, much of the state funding offered to tribes is made available through grants that may not continue, interfering with efforts to build sustainable new education programs.

This is a fragmented process, he said.

Public Education Secretary Ryan Stewart, who was appointed a year after the 2018 court decision, told lawmakers that his agency has strengthened oversight of how school districts spend their funding for at-risk students.

The state also requires equity councils, he said, at every district and charter school  and at the Public Education Department itself  to help promote an equal education for every demographic group.

Broader strategies aimed at encouraging a more diverse teacher workforce, supporting Indigenous languages and extending student learning time are also underway, Stewart said.

Weve had a mindset shift at the Public Education Department, he said.

Lawmakers reacted strongly to the testimony from Pecos, Stewart and others.

Rep. Derrick Lente, D-Sandia Pueblo, delivered some of his remarks in Tewa  a pueblo language  and expressed disappointment that the Tribal Remedy Framework hadnt been enacted by the state.

Native American children, he said, have been left to rot because of where they come from for many years.

How much longer do our children have to fail for us to get this right? Lente asked.

Rep. Javier Martinez, D-Albuquerque, described Pecos presentation as a call to action and said he had started to question whether more money is actually needed beyond what weve invested.

I think were losing steam, Martinez said of the response to the court decision. Id hate to be back here in 20 years talking about how nothing has changed.

A judge in the states 1st Judicial District ruled in 2018 that New Mexico was violating the rights of some students  including Native Americans, English-language learners and those from low-income families  by failing to offer an adequate education.

There isnt a clear statistical standard that would allow the state to get out of the lawsuit, a legislative analyst told lawmakers, but the ruling noted the dismal proficiency rates for students and the proficiency gaps among demographic groups.

In 2019, for example, just 30% of third-graders were proficient in reading.

The lawsuit at issue is known as the Martinez and Yazzie case, named after families involved in two lawsuits filed in 2014 and later consolidated.

Where will you be in six months?

Some lawmakers Friday broached the idea of making broader changes to the governance of New Mexicos education system  in which the governor appoints a public education secretary while elected school boards throughout the state oversee individual districts and superintendents.

Among the ideas discussed were establishing an elected education chief statewide or a hybrid system of picking an education secretary similar to judicial appointments. Judges are appointed by the governor after candidates are screened by a committee, and they also stand for election.

Some lawmakers questioned Stewart about turnover within his department among high-level executives, such as deputy Cabinet secretaries.

Rep. Patricia Lundstrom, a Gallup Democrat and chairwoman of the LFC, asked Stewart whether he, too, plans to leave.

Where will you be in six months? she asked.

I think youre stuck with me for a little while longer if thats what youre asking, Stewart responded.

Stewart, the first African American to hold New Mexicos top education job, was appointed in August 2019 following the abrupt dismissal of his predecessor, Karen Trujillo.

He is a former algebra and science teacher who has served in executive positions for the Philadelphia school district and a national nonprofit education group.

Pecos leaves staff position

Pecos announced at the meeting that he had stepped down as senior adviser to House Majority Leader Sheryl Williams Stapleton, D-Albuquerque.

He said he left to protest what is happening with the Legislative Education Study Committee, where the staff director, Rachel Gudgel, was accused of making disparaging remarks about Native Americans.

A committee vote to fire Gudgel failed this week on a 5-5 tie.

Earlier this summer, Gudgel apologized for isolated, insensitive comments but defended her track record as a legislative analyst, saying she had worked for the success of all students, specifically Native American students, throughout her career.

What she is accused of saying and whether the allegations were substantiated arent clear. Legislative staff denied a Journal records request for a report on the investigation.
WENN/Lia Toby Music

Nicky Wire scoffs at 'left-leaning actors and pop stars' for 'queuing up' to receive honors from the British monarchy while praising Paul Weller and David Bowie for rejecting knighthoods.

Jul 23, 2021

AceShowbiz - Nicky Wire has blasted "left-leaning actors and pop stars" for accepting honours from Britain's royal family.

The Manic Street Preachers rocker has blasted "left-leaning actors and pop star" types for "queuing up" to accept the honours from the monarchy.

Speaking to MOJO magazine about holding onto his working-class principles, Nicky said, "I'm so riddled with doubts and contradictions now, even though I still kept to those principles. My kids have been through comprehensive education, I still believe in high taxation and all those kind of things, I stay close to my roots  I haven't abandoned any of those things at all. But I don't know if they're relevant to modern life."

"You see supposedly left-leaning actors and pop stars queuing up to get MBEs and OBEs - and I'd rather f**king stab my eyes out with a pencil than do that. What was it, Paul Weller and David Bowie turned down knighthoods? That's good enough for me."

Meanwhile, the "Motorcycle Emptiness" hitmakers are set to release their 14th album "The Ultra Livid Lament" in September (21), and frontman James Dean Bradfield previously insisted there would be no songs about the pandemic on the LP. He explained, "We're trying to make sure that we're not writing about the (COVID-19) situation too much. It would feel like it was adding insult to injury."

The band is set to play two sold-out tribute shows in honour of Britain's National Health Service (NHS) at Cardiff Motorpoint Arena on 19 and 20 September.

The first night is a free show for NHS workers, while all profits from the second gig will be donated to NHS Wales charities.
WENN/Instar TV

The actor playing Richard Nixon's Attorney General, John Mitchell, on the Watergate series is said to have offered up free services of his CORE company staffers to help get everyone vaccinated.

Jul 23, 2021

AceShowbiz - Sean Penn is reportedly refusing to complete his final weeks of production on his U.S. TV series with Julia Roberts until every cast and crew member has been vaccinated against COVID-19.

The star, whose healthcare company CORE aided California's coronavirus testing and vaccine rollout, isn't satisfied with "Gaslit" production bosses' assurances that everyone in the show's Zone A - reserved only for actors and those workers needing to be in contact with them - will be jabbed.

The state's COVID case numbers are soaring again, due to the rapid spread of the Delta virus variant, prompting Los Angeles County health leaders to reintroduce a mandate requiring compulsory mask wearing indoors at the weekend (July 18). And now Penn has Hollywood chiefs worried that other big names will echo his demands.

On Monday, July 19, company officials at NBCUniversal released a statement announcing that producers working with the American media giant have "the option to implement mandatory vaccination policies for casts and crew in Zone A on a production-by-production basis."

And on Wednesday, according to Deadline, they emailed everyone working on the film "Gaslit", informing them of a free vaccination clinic offering "several vaccine choices," with second doses to be administered 21 days later if necessary. The missive also asked production members to bring proof that they have been jabbed when they next report to work on the set.

But reports suggest the offer is unacceptable to activist and Oscar winner Penn, who plays disgraced former U.S. President Richard Nixon's Attorney General, John Mitchell in the upcoming series about the Watergate political scandal.

Sources told Deadline that staffers on the show, directed by Matt Ross, have worked hard to keep Sean and his fellow cast members safe, but noted that studio heads are uncertain whether they are able to legally enforce mandatory vaccinations.

Penn, who has yet to comment on the reports, also allegedly offered up the free services of his company staffers at CORE to help get everyone vaccinated.
WENN/Pat Denton Celebrity

Urging fans and followers to have more compassion for others, the 'Bourne Identity' star admits he finds the virus scary for his mother and mother-in-law's generation.

Jul 23, 2021

AceShowbiz - Matt Damon is urging fans and followers to have more compassion for others when it comes to the COVID-19 vaccine.

The "Contagion" star would love to see everyone get vaccinated in order to help protect those who are unable to be jabbed for health reasons, but he fears people often don't think about others when it comes to their own health.

He said, "It's tough for me as I have a couple friends who are immunocompromised, and they can't get the vaccine, so they have no choice but to rely on the rest of us to do our part to get to herd immunity. So I look at it that way."

"I wish at the beginning of this people came out and said, 'Look, if we all do this, then we'll protect each other better,' rather than, 'Well, I'm not in this cohort so I don't have to worry and it's not going to hurt me that much.' It's just about looking at this as a 'me' thing or an 'us' thing."

And the "Good Will Hunting" star hopes people "trust science" more than the misinformation that can be spread by social media, adding on Yahoo!, "That's the beauty of America, it's a free country. And none of us would have it any other way. But I fall heavily on the side of trusting science more than something you read on Facebook."

Meanwhile, Matt revealed last year his 21-year-old daughter Alexia and her college roommates in New York all caught COVID-19 "early on."

He said, "Our oldest daughter is in college, she's in NYC. She had Covid really early on, along with her roommates and got through it fine."

"The Bourne Identity" actor also admitted he was worried about his mother and mother-in-law contracting the virus.

"It's scary for that generation...," he said. "I think we've all got the message now, everyone's doing the isolation and social distancing and hand-washing and everything we can to mitigate this but it's frightening, certainly for our parents."
Instagram Music

The 'Keeping Up with the Kardashians' alum and her four children with the rapper, North, Saint, Chicago and Psalm, fly to Atlanta to help him celebrate the release of 'Donda'.

Jul 23, 2021

AceShowbiz - Kim Kardashian remains one of Kanye West's biggest cheerleaders though they're no longer together as a couple. The reality TV star and her four children with the rapper have flown to Atlanta to join him at his album listening event.

On Thursday, July 22, the 40-year-old model and her four children, North, Saint, Chicago and Psalm, made a surprise appearance at the sold-out gathering held at Mercedes Benz Stadium. In videos taken from the event and shared on social media, the media personality was seen wearing a fiery red jumpsuit as her kids tagged along with her.

Kim's sister Khloe Kardashian was also present for a show of support as she documented the listening party on her Instagram Stories.

Kanye took the center of the arena following a two-hour delay as his new album "Donda" debuted globally for the first time. He dressed in red from head to toe, matching his ex's look that night.

Khloe Kardashian posted from Kanye West's album listening party in Atlanta.

Kim and her children's presence at Kanye's album listening party comes after reports that the "Gold Digger" spitter dissed his ex on the album were dismissed. "Kanye actually played the song for Kim personally before the listening party," a so-called insider close to the former couple told Page Six. While confirming that "it's emotional and personal," the source insisted it's "not negative at all."

Another source confirmed to E! News about the lyrics on Kanye's album, "He was respectful and gave her the heads up," noting that the rapper "did not want to blindside" Kim with such personal lyrics.

Previously, it was reported that Kanye broke down in tears after playing "Welcome to My Life" during a listening party in Las Vegas on Saturday, July 18. He reportedly addressed his personal issues in the last two years, including his split from Kim, a meltdown on Twitter and his failed bid to become U.S. President. He reportedly likened his marital home with Kim in Calabasas, Los Angeles to a jail as he allegedly raps, "Tell the assassins I escaped from Calabasas."

A source at the listening party told The Sun, "It's a very deep, sad song about Kanye, with him reflecting on his marriage with Kim." The source added, "He talks about the kids and mentions her taking everything. After he played this song he paused for like, two minutes, and cried. It was really sombre."
WENN Celebrity

The 'Jungle Cruise' actor has been forced to take shelter in a hotel after his new abode in Notting Hill, west London was ruined by floods following heavy rain.

Jul 24, 2021

AceShowbiz - Jack Whitehall has had to move out of his new house after it was damaged by floods.

The "Jungle Cruise" actor - who is dating model Roxy Horner - only bought his $24 million (17.5 million) abode in Notting Hill, west London, last month (July21) but he's been left "gutted" after heavy rainfall last week saw water deluge the kitchen and dining area, leaving the parquet flooring ruined and him left temporarily living in a hotel.

A source told The Sun newspaper, "He's gutted. Talk about putting a dampener on moving in. The house is incredible and he loves it. There's even a lift and swimming pool in it. He wasn't expecting the kitchen to become a pool as well."

The five-bedroom house used to be a pub and features a pool, sauna and steam room, gym, cinema room, and its own parking garage.

"Roxy doesn't live there full time but she is there most of the week now and it would definitely make the perfect home to start a family."

"The courtyard is enclosed at the back and it started to flood very quickly. The rain was unbelievable and just didn't stop coming."

The 33-year-old comic recently admitted lockdown had "accelerated" his relationship with Roxy as she moved in with him just two weeks after they started dating.

He said, "Weirdly that was quite nice because we spent a lot of time together and it accelerates the relationship in a way."

"Then when lockdown ended, there's a lot of things we realised. We'd never gone out to see a film together."

"We'd never been to a restaurant in England because we met in Australia."
PLUMAS COUNTY, Calif. - New evacuation orders have been issued due to the Dixie Fire, according to the Plumas County Sheriffs Office.

The Sheriffs Office has issued evacuations for Greenville and Crescent Mills.

This included Round Valley Reservoir, Dixie Canyon, Indian Falls, Long Valley, Dixie Canyon south to Indian Falls and south of Indian Falls to the intersection of Highway 70 and Highway 89.

The Sheriffs Office issued evacuation orders for Butterfly Valley Road, the East side of Keddie, Round House Road and Old Hwy (West).

Evacuation orders have also been issued for Highway 70 at Black Hawk Rd. north to the intersection of Highway 70 and Highway 89. Everything on the western side of Highway 70, including Black Hawk due to the forward progress and spot fires, deputies said.

Everything west of the intersection Highway 89 and Highway 36 west along the south side of Highway 36 to the county line.

An evacuation warning was issued for Black Hawk Rd. south to Barlow Rd. and west to Snake Lake. Taylorsville, the east side of Keddie, Round House Rd and Old Highway West are also under warnings.

Residents are asked to evacuate northbound on Highway 147 and to Chester for shelter. Residents can also go southbound on Highway 89 to Highway 70 to Quincy.

A shelter is open at the Springs of Hope Church in Quincy at 59 Bell Lane in Quincy.

A shelter is also open at Memorial Hall at 180 Gay St. in Chester.

For information about evacuations, call (530) 283-3242.
REDDING, Calif. - A businesses owner of a donut shop in Redding shot a man who was attempting to rob the shop, the Redding Police Department said.

On Friday around 2:53 a.m., the police department said it received a call from 59-year-old Robert Keo of Anderson. Keo told police he shot a man who was trying to rob Lucky Donuts shop.

Keo told police he was preparing for the day when a truck crashed into the industrial backdoor where the suspect created an opening.

Police said Keo said he was in fear of his life and felt like the man was going to rob and kill him.

Keo told the man he was armed with a handgun and warned him to leave the business. The man did not which caused Keo to fire one shot.

Police said the shot hit the suspect and he exited out the back door and entered a truck that was driven by a second suspect.

Officers began to investigate the scene where they found drops of blood near the smashed door.

During the investigation, officers received a report of a vehicle fire on Clear Creek Rd., west of Highway 273. This was about half a mile from the donut shop.

Police said Keo identified the maroon 2000 Ford F-150 as the vehicle that smashed into the building and officers said the vehicle was stolen that evening from the Alternative Automotive on Wall St.

It appeared the suspects intentionally set the truck on fire in an effort to destroy evidence, the Redding Police Department said in the press release.

Police said the suspect is described as a white male in his 20s to 30s. Officers added they believe the man may be seriously injured and in need of medical attention.
BUTTE COUNTY, Calif. - Butte County Public Health said that it does not currently have plans to enforce any mask rules but says the Delta variant is spreading rapidly in the county.

Due to the increase in Delta variant COVID-19 cases, Doctor Anthony Fauci said on Wednesday, "You might want to consider wearing a mask when indoors, or in particularly crowded places.

This is even if you are vaccinated.

BCPH said it is not able to test for the Delta variant in Butte County.

The B117 variant is the most prominent in the county but the Delta variant is also becoming more prominent, according to BCPH.

This raises concerns for some.

"It does concern me actually, Chico resident Ron Blacksten said. I am old now with COPD that it could really mess me up so I hope to God that it doesn't break out like it did originally. No one is talking about a lockdown or anything so I guess we are okay there so I am just hoping the vaccine I have holds it off."

On July 13, Butte County Public Health reported 65 new cases and on July 20 it reported 120 new cases.

The last COVID-19 related death reported was on June 16.

Butte County said it saw a big increase in new cases from July 13 to July 20 because of several reported isolated outbreaks.

Public health said current COVID-19 vaccines are 80% effective against the Delta variant.

People in Los Angeles County have already been ordered to mask up due to the Delta variant and people in Yolo County are being encouraged to mask up.
REDDING, Calif.- On Thursday, the Shasta County Board of Supervisors held a special meeting on illegal marijuana grows within the county.

The meeting started at 4 p.m. Erin Ryan, a representative from Congressman Doug LaMalfas office, gave a presentation on illegal marijuana grows sites in Northern California.

The meeting also focused on the environmental and health impacts that illegal grows have within the county.

It's going to be a real concentrated effort to get everybody on board and everybody working as a team to combat this, said District 3 Supervisor Mary Rickert.

It's not just a simple problem, it's a complex problem that has many facets to it.

According to a county staff report, a county ordinance bans commercial cannabis activities in unincorporated areas of Shasta County.

The group Shasta County Citizens Against Marijuana tells Action News Now, while the open discussion is a good step. They want to see actions and solutions.

We need to have solutions, said Cathy Grandstaff with Shasta County Citizens Against Marijuana.

Not just more education or more talking about it. We need to have honest solutions; we need to obviously increase our law enforcement and code enforcement.

During the meeting, County CEO Matt Pontes said that they will be taking comments from the public and try to incorporate in to a plan the county is working on.

Pontes said they plan to bring this back to the board next month.
The Indian Newspaper Society (INS) has approached the new I&B Minister, Anurag Singh Thakur, to extend the validity of ABC circulation verification certificate by the Registrar of Newspapers for India (RNI). The RNI had allowed print media the validity of Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) last ABC certificate [which is JD 2019] till July 31, 2021. Now, the INS wants the Minister to extend this circulation certificates validity till March 31, 2022, and has also sought that the current DAVP rates be allowed to continue till May 2022.

GAMEXX Awards 2021 Last date for submitting entries - Monday, July 26, 2021 - ENTER NOW

Meanwhile, INS held the 22nd meeting of the CHD15 Committee via video call on June 18, 2021 to discuss the revision of Standard Newsprint specifications as one of the subject points.

INS stated the Indian newspaper publishing industry, though not satisfied with the quality of Standard Newsprint manufactured in India, has wholeheartedly supported the objective of Make in India and Atmanirbhar all these years. Publishers have also engaged the domestic Newsprint industry to adopt best practices and incorporate global manufacturing & testing standards which will empower all stakeholders to meet their objectives synergistically.

INS placed some key points on record, which include:

INS should be provided a membership of the CHD15  Paper and its products as it represents Newspaper publishers who consume Newsprint, which is one of the largest proportions of paper grades manufactured and imported into the country. While the above is under consideration by BIS, it is most appropriate to have INS representation in the meetings till the critical subject of revision of Newsprint specification is not concluded. We would like to point out that INMAs request in the 18th June 2021 meeting for Newsprint consumption, machine details etc from INS members is not relevant to the subject discussion. Based on the discussion in the last meeting, INS had sent across domestic and imported Newsprint samples to BIS for testing at the 3 institutes  CPPRI, IITR and IIP Mumbai. We request BIS to share with INS the test results and the technical comparison between imported and domestic Newsprint to enable BIS to determine the standards as per international norms.

INS has also expressed the hope that the revision in Newsprint quality standards will reflect the key concerns of publishers and increase the domestic manufacturers domestic Newsprint production and also create the opportunity for the domestic mills to export.
Its the hand-launched drones were talking about, and there's really only one company that matters when it comes to making them: AeroVironment.The American defense contractor has in its portfolio of such devices two main products, the Puma 3 and Raven. The former was confirmed earlier this year as entering the arsenal of NATO forces, while the latter, at least the ones fielded by the U.S. Army, are at the center of a major upgrade effort This month, AeroVironment announce the U.S. Air Force (USAF), too, is focusing on these small machines and granted the company firm-fixed-price orders totaling over $15 million for the delivery of Puma 3 drones and spares for them and the existing Ravens. The order should be done with by November 2021.The Puma 3 is meant for surveillance and intelligence gathering. It comes with a 9.2 feet (2.8 meters) wingspan and a weight of 15 pounds (7 kg), enough to make it easy to handle by the soldier launching it. It can travel for as much as 37 miles (60 km) depending on configuration, spying on its targets using its sensors for up to 2.5 hours at a time.The Raven, on the other hand, is the most widely deployed unmanned aircraft system in the world. Around 20,000 of them are currently used by the worlds militaries, flying for up to 90 minutes on a single outing to spy using a series of surveillance-oriented hardware, including infrared cameras, on targets that can be as far as 10 km (6.2 miles) away.
One could argue that covering your car in gold is not entirely practical or, at the very least, a sure way to invite wannabe-criminals to deface it. More people, though, will argue that it adds no value to the car; on the contrary, it takes some of it from the vehicle, because its tacky and unnecessarily showy.To each their own: if theres anything experience has taught us its that there is always a market for gold-plated or even gold-made objects, including cars. Moreover, the buyers on this market will pay incredible amounts of money for something that the rest of us considers a bad joke in very bad taste. Like the world-famous 1:8 scale model of the Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4.July is autoevolutions Italian Month and you cant possibly celebrate Italian automotive excellence without speaking of Lamborghini. This gold Lambo is not a real car, but it still finds a place here because it was officially sanctioned by Lamborghini itself. In fact, it was even displayed at the Lamborghini booth at a couple of international auto shows for the short period it existed. That said, its not an example of Italys finest in automotive excellence, but rather a sample of PR stunting not working the way it should.It all started in mid 2011. German engineer Robert Gulpen of RGE Robert Gulpen Engineering had established a reputation for building car models since the 90s. His car models werent like any other, because he had found an unlikely niche, at the intersection of the automotive industry and jewelry, right there in outrageous-land. Using precious metals and often precious gems, he would carve miniature takes on the worlds most expensive supercars, and they would sell for as much as $20-25,000 a piece.Previous to the Lamborghini, Gulpen had built a solid gold Bugatti Veyron model and, in the process, understood a very important fact about the client he was catering to: build something even more expensive, and the right buyer will come along. So for the Lamborghini project, he decided to go all out in terms of materials used, to create a record-breaking model car that would be more than a toy and more than a piece of jewelry. It would be a work of art, as he proudly declared in the press release that went out at the time.For that, he would use the latest Lambo model, the Aventador LP 700-4 , a piece of art in itself. He would carve the body out of carbon fiber and then plate it in real gold, and it would be the most amazing thing ever. And that wasnt all: he would also use about 1,400 diamonds for the seats (700 of them for each), platinum for the wheels, more diamonds for the steering wheel and the headlights, and some sterling silver here and there.Gulpens Aventador would be a 1:8 scale model of the real thing, measuring about 60 cm (23.6 inches), but it would strive to be as striking as the real thing . More importantly, pricing would be on par, too: the first figure reported in relation to the model car was $350,000, close to what you would have had to pay for the new Aventador car  you know, the one you could actually drive.In September of that year, Gulpen brought a prototype of the gold Aventador to the Frankfurt Auto Show at the Lamborghini booth but, as you can see in one of the videos at the bottom of the page, it was not made of gold. It was made of carbon fiber, but had the gems inside and out. Gulpen later clarified that hed leave the model like that, so the future owner would decide exactly what materials he wanted and where he wanted them  after all, whats a luxury product if it doesnt come with customization options?In December that year, Gulpen clarified, Sothebys would sell the real model car (not the carbon fiber prototype) at auction, either in Dubai or Europe, and it could fetch as much as $7.5 million. Along the years, as the news passed through the grapevine, the amount suffered modifications, but it never went under $5.5 million. If anyone wanted to buy the car ahead of the auction, they could do so right away, but theyd have to pay $1 million over the starting auction price of $5.5 million.The news made headlines around the world, and for good cause: here was a model car (a fancy, overpriced paperweight, according to some) that would sell for crazy money, made of crazy materials and offered with Lamborghinis blessing. Still, it failed to convince one of those eccentric multi-millionaires to part with this kind of money.In 2013, the Gulpen model car resurfaced again: for the first time ever, Gulpens work was being displayed outside of Europe, in Dubai . Still with Lamborghinis approval, the model was displayed there, now covered in gold and with its own, smaller model. But it was still not the real model car: it was a prototype, and the real deal, it was now said, would be carved out of a giant block of gold. A 500-kg (1,102-pound) block of gold would be used, but the finished model would only weigh 25 kg (55.1 pounds). It would take a year and a half to build it, and a 10-man team would be required. Of the $7.5 million the model would sell for, Gulpen pledged $650,000 to charity.The auction would also include Lamborghini memorabilia for the longtime Lamborghini lover : a piece of a wall stone from the first building of Lamborghini in Italy, a part of the first engine prototype, a first design drawing of the Aventador and its engine, and some more subtle surprises that were never publicly disclosed. The auction would take place in 2014, and once the model car was built (it hadnt been until this point), it would instantaneously nab three Guinness World Records: the most expensive and most precious model car in the world; the most secure showcase to display it, made with bulletproof glass; and the most precious Lamborghini logo ever made.This was eight years ago. Today, theres no trace of the worlds most expensive Lamborghini car model, neither with the carmaker nor Guinness. We contacted Lamborghini, and will update the story when we hear back. Theres no word on whether it ever got made or, if it did, if it sold at auction for the reported $7.5 million.It looks like this was, at best, a dream that never came true or, at worst, PR stunting that didnt work out as planned. Whichever it was, it stands as proof that some things are just too outrageous to exist. Or, as they say, that not all that glitters is gold.
A New Mexico lawmaker denied Communion by a bishop over his vote to advance abortion protections told Axios exclusively he won't be bullied and looks forward to receiving Communion with President Biden one day.

Why it matters: The example set by Sen. Joseph Cervantes, a Democrat, is drawing the attention of lawmakers around the country. Blue states are moving to protect abortion rights should the Supreme Court overturn or erode Roe v. Wade.

"I won't have any problem finding to place to receive Communion," Cervantes said during an interview. "In fact, I look forward one day to receiving Communion at the same parish where President Biden does."

He said other parishes and another diocese in New Mexico have offered to give him Communion, highlighting the split among U.S. Catholic bishops over elected officials and abortion.

Driving the news: Cervantes, a chair of a key state legislative committee, tweeted this week that he was denied Communion by Las Cruces, N.M., Bishop Peter Baldacchino while attending service at a monastery.

"My new parish priest has indicated he will do the same. ...Please pray for church authorities as Catholicism transitions under Pope Francis," the devout Roman Catholic wrote.

The Las Cruces Diocese confirmed Cervantes was denied Communion after the lawmaker didn't respond to pleas from Baldacchino and St. Albert the Great Newman Center pastor Kevin Waymel to stall an abortion bill earlier this year.

"In a personal letter to Senator Cervantes, his pastor advised him that a vote in favor of this particular Senate bill would constitute a grave moral evil and that he should not present himself for Communion," the diocese said in a statement.

Cervantes voted in February to move a bill out of his committee that would protect abortion rights in New Mexico should Roe be overturned.

The conservative Democrat then voted for the proposal when it went before the full New Mexico Senate. It was later signed into law by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, another Democrat.

The intrigue: Washington, D.C., and 13 states expanded abortion access with 30 laws between 2017 and 2021, an Axios review has found.

At the same time, legislatures in 35 states have enacted more than 200 laws from 2017 to 2020 that restrict access to abortion services, according to a recent study published in JAMA Internal Medicine.

Between the lines: Refusing to serve Communion signals that some U.S. bishops and parish priests remain defiant despite Vatican warnings and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' official stance.

The conference quietly clarified last month there will be "no national policy on withholding Communion from politicians," following threats that Catholic public figures  like President Biden  should be denied Communion.

The Archdiocese of Santa Fe, the state's most populous diocese, said it's not banning elected officials from receiving Communion  highlighting the divisions among U.S. bishops, even in New Mexico.

Yes, but: In June, the conference voted 168-55 to draft a document some hoped would prevent the president and other Catholic politicians from receiving Communion if they advocate for abortion rights.

Cardinal Luis Ladaria, the head of the Vatican's doctrine office, sent a letter to the conference imploring it to carefully deliberate first.

What they're saying: "The New Mexico case shows that conservative U.S. bishops have been emboldened by the conference's vote and we might see more cases like this," said Andrew Chesnut, the Bishop Walter F. Sullivan chairman in Catholic Studies at Virginia Commonwealth University.
Azerbaijans provocative steps and maximalist ambitions are creating new threats to the region, Armenia and Artsakh (Karabakh), he said at the start of a weekly cabinet meeting in Yerevan. In this context, I want to emphasize the key role which is played by the Russian Federation in maintaining stability and security in our region.

He singled out the presence of Russian troops in Armenia and a separate peacekeeping contingent which Moscow deployed in Karabakh after brokering a ceasefire that stopped the Armenian-Azerbaijani war last November.

Pashinian spoke two days after Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev met in Moscow amid intense gunfire exchanged by Armenian and Azerbaijani troops across a section of the border between the two South Caucasus states.

In his opening remarks at the talks, Putin thanked Aliyev for helping to find compromise solutions in the Karabakh conflict zone.

They are always the most difficult ones, he said. But if we want  a settlement, we must follow that path. So far we have managed to do that, for which I want to thank you.

Putin received Pashinian in the Kremlin on July 7. He said that after winning parliamentary elections held on June 20 the Armenian leader has a popular mandate to address very acute and sensitive issues facing Armenia.

Putin telephoned Pashinian on June 24 to discuss Russian-backed plans to restore transport links between Armenia and Azerbaijan envisaged by the November truce accord as well as a follow-up agreement reached by the leaders of the three counties in January. He also spoke with Aliyev by phone June 23.

Pashinian claimed on Thursday that Baku is trying to thwart the implementation of the Russian-brokered agreements by provoking more armed incidents on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border and refusing to release dozens of Armenian prisoners remaining in Azerbaijan. He reiterated that Yerevan is interested in opening the border for commercial traffic.

Aliyev told Putin that he wants to make sure that the post-conflict period continues as painlessly as possible.

The Azerbaijani president said last week that Yerevan must sign a peace treaty with Baku which would presumably mean a formal Armenian recognition of Azerbaijani sovereignty over Karabakh. The Armenians must think carefully about that because it could be too late for them in the future, he warned.

In that context, Aliyev again referred to much of Armenias territory, including the capital Yerevan, as historical Azerbaijani lands and said Azerbaijanis will eventually return to their ancestral lands.

Pashinian was quick to condemn Aliyevs statements threatening Armenias sovereignty and territorial integrity.
While we registered up to 200 cases a day last week, their number has gone above 200 this week, said Deputy Health Minister Lena Nanushian. We reported 220 cases yesterday and 225 today.

According to our projections, the upward trend will continue in the coming days, Nanushian added during a weekly session of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinians government.

The Armenian Ministry of Health routinely reported fewer than 100 coronavirus cases a day in early and mid-June.

The daily number of officially confirmed cases began falling in late April despite a lax enforcement of social distancing and sanitary rules imposed by the government a year ago. The steady decline continued even after the government formally allowed people not to wear masks outdoors. Most of them stopped doing that early this year.

Nanushian said vaccination is the most effective way to deal with the resurgence of the disease which has already directly or indirectly caused, according to official statistics, 5,688 deaths in the country of about 3 million.

Since the government has made vaccines available free of charge to all individuals over the age of 17, I am calling on our citizens to take advantage of this opportunity before this wave [of infections] observed by us intensifies, she said.

Pashinian added his voice to the appeal and again told the Ministry of Health and other government agencies to do more to vaccinate the population. He also said the authorities may have to step up the enforcement of mandatory mask-wearing in enclosed spaces in response to the renewed rise in COVID-19 cases.

According to the ministry, only some 144,000 people making up about 5 percent of Armenias population have received a first or second dose of a coronavirus vaccine since the government launched its immunization campaign four months ago. The figure includes hundreds and possibly thousands of Iranians who have visited the country in recent weeks to get free vaccine shots.

At the moment we do have very low vaccination rates that cannot make a difference, acknowledged Gayane Sahakian, the deputy head of the ministrys Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

A fresh slow increase [in coronavirus cases] has already started and we will soon be grappling with large coronavirus numbers, she told RFE/RLs Armenian Service.

Nanushian told Pashinian that the number of people getting inoculated in Armenia on a daily basis has increased of late and currently exceeds 5,000. Pashinian said the authorities must keep up this tempo in the weeks and months ahead.
Seventy-one of them represent Prime Minister Nikol Pashinians Civil Contract party, the official winner of the snap elections. Former President Robert Kocharians Hayastan alliance and the Pativ bloc co-headed by former President Serzh Sarkisian and former National Security Service Director Artur Vanetsian will control 29 and 7 parliament seats respectively.

Pashinian congratulated the two opposition forces on entering the National Assembly when he chaired a weekly session of his cabinet earlier in the day. He said he is prepared to work with them in a way that would exclude hate speech and insults.

Ishkhan Saghatelian, a senior Hayastan figure, dismissed the statement, pointing to the recent arrests of several local government officials affiliated with the bloc.

The detainees are facing different criminal charges rejected by them as politically motivated. They include the elected heads of four major communities in Armenias southeastern Syunik province who demanded Pashinians resignation shortly after the autumn war in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Two of them, Mkhitar Zakarian and Artur Sargsian, were elected to the parliament on the Hayastan ticket. It is not yet clear whether law-enforcement authorities must ask the newly elected lawmakers to lift their immunity from prosecution in order to continue holding them in detention.

Another Hayastan parliamentarian, surgeon Armen Charchian, was released from custody on bail on Wednesday. Charchian was arrested last month on charges of pressuring employees of a Yerevan hospital headed by him to participate in the elections. He denies the charges.

If they [the authorities] think that they can arrest our comrades on trumped-up charges, persecute our supporters and forge a constructive relationship with us, they are madly mistaken, Saghatelian told reporters. He insisted on the immediate release of the political prisoners.

Saghatelian was also dismissive of Pashinians stated readiness to abandon his harsh anti-opposition rhetoric.

His rule is based on deceit, lies and hatred, said the Kocharian ally. This is what feeds him. If he gives it up, he will be finished.

The new parliament is scheduled to hold its inaugural session on August 2. Pashinians party has already announced that it will install one of its leading members, Alen Simonian, as parliament speaker.

The ruling party has also designated two of the parliaments three vice-speakers: Ruben Rubinian and Hakob Arshakian. Both men are affiliated with Civil Contract.

Under Armenian law, the third vice-speaker must represent the opposition minority. Saghatelian said Hayastan hopes to nominate with Pativ Unem a common candidate for the post.

Meanwhile, Kocharian chaired the first meeting of Hayastans parliamentary group. It was announced afterwards that the group will be led by former Defense Minister Seyran Ohanian.

The 66-year-old ex-president, who had ruled Armenia from 1998-2008, said earlier this week that he will cede his parliament seat to another Hayastan candidate but remain the blocs top leader and continue to challenge Pashinians government.
There is acute demand for labor in construction, agriculture, information technology, the manufacturing sector and even the taxi business, Kerobian wrote on Facebook this week.

He said Armenians should therefore urge their relatives and friends working abroad to return home and help strengthen and develop our country.

The appeal was met with skepticism and even derision in a country that has long suffered from high unemployment.

According a World Bank report released in March 2021, Armenias official unemployment rate reached 18 percent in September 2020, up by one percentage point from the pre-pandemic period. The Armenian economy shrunk by 7.6 percent last year due to the pandemic compounded by the autumn war in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Although the economy returned to growth this spring, the lifting by some countries, notably Russia, of coronavirus-related entry bans for Armenian citizens led to a sharp rise in labor out-migration. Government data suggests that some 80,000 people left Armenia in the first half of this year.

Kerobian insisted on Thursday that there are many available jobs in Armenia at present. Those who are trying their luck abroad would definitely find decent jobs here, especially in the sectors mentioned by me, the minister told reporters.

There is even a lack of shepherds in villages, he said. They cant find shepherds and have to hire them from various countries.

Individuals running two private firms involved in animal husbandry confirmed this when they spoke with RFE/RLs Armenian Service.

Armine Melkonian, the chief executive of the Navasard Agro firm based in the town of Sevan, said that even last year it had trouble hiring workers for its sheep and poultry farms despite offering to pay them at least 250,000 drams ($500) a month and cover their food and accommodation expenses.

According to official statistics, the average monthly wage in Armenia currently stands at 216,000 drams. It is considerably lower in rural areas that have long had the highest poverty rates.

Last year, we brought in two workers from Tajikistan, said Melkonian. In March and April this year, we again posted job announcements and told our acquaintances in local villages to ask people if they are willing to work for us on good terms.

There was again zero reaction. So we again called our friends in Tajikistan so that they send two more workers here, she said.

Sasun Asatrian, a co-owner of the Agroholding firm based in another small town, Spitak, said it had to hire Indian migrants for the same reason. Asatrian blamed the worker shortages on Armenians seasonal economic migration to Russia and the fact that young people shy away from agricultural work.

Kerobian spoke of an increased number of job vacancies posted online and monitored by the Armenian Ministry of Economy. But he gave no concrete figures.

A Yerevan-based private employment agency, Staff.am, currently lists about 1,200 vacancies on its website. One of its managers, Nazeli Badalian, confirmed that job openings have indeed increased of late.

Information technology specialists are now Armenias most in-demand workers, Badalian told RFE/RLs Armenian Service.

Kerobian also pointed to data from the State Revenue Committee (SRC) which shows the number of officially registered workers in the country rising by 8,305 in June to a new record high of 643,000. The SRC has not clarified whether the increase primarily resulted from its crackdown on the informal sector of the economy or new jobs created by Armenian firms.
Aliyev said on Thursday Yerevan should recognize instead Azerbaijani sovereignty over Karabakh through a peace treaty proposed by Baku.

The Azerbaijani people are rightly unhappy to see statements  made in France and America to the effect that the conflict must be resolved, he told Azerbaijani state television. I am again telling them that I, the president of Azerbaijan, have already resolved that issue, period. There is no Nagorno-Karabakh, no status.

Speaking one day after meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, Aliyev claimed that Moscow agrees with his stance. Russia and Azerbaijan believe that the war is over and revanchist tendencies in Armenia must not be allowed, he said.

In a joint statement released in April, the U.S., Russian and French mediators co-heading the OSCE Minsk Group called on Armenia and Azerbaijan to resume negotiations on a comprehensive and sustainable resolution of the Karabakh conflict based on their pre-war peace proposals. They expressed readiness to facilitate such talks, including with renewed visits to the conflict zone.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian cited this statement last week when he disputed Aliyevs claim that Azerbaijans victory in the six-week war put an end to the long-standing dispute. Pashinian made clear that Yerevan will continue to pursue the realization of the Karabakh peoples right to self-determination.

Frances ambassador to Armenia, Jonathan Lacote, called on Friday for renewed peace talks mediated by the three world powers.

The reality is that the status of Nagorno-Karabakh should be determined through negotiations within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group, Lacote told RFE/RLs Armenian Service in an interview.

He said the French ambassador to Azerbaijan did not join other Baku-based diplomats in visiting the Azerbaijani-controlled Karabakh town of Shushi (Shusha) earlier this month because Karabakhs status remains unresolved.

The U.S. and Russian ambassadors in Baku also steered clear of the trip organized by the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry.

As recently as on June 9, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated that that the question of Nagorno-Karabakhs status remains unresolved and it must eventually be settled with the participation of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs.

Still, Lavrov said the mediators should not rush to try to broker an Armenian-Azerbaijani agreement on the status at this stage. They should focus instead on confidence-building measures in the Karabakh conflict zone, he told reporters in Moscow.

The Russian-brokered agreement that stopped the Armenian-Azerbaijani war last November calls for a number of such measures, notably the restoration of transport links between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Lacote acknowledged Russias role in halting the war and maintaining the ceasefire in and around Karabakh.

The current reality is that Russia is ensuring the security of the Karabakh Armenians, he said. If it hadnt been for Russian [peacekeeping] forces, there would have been no Armenians in Karabakh now.

The French diplomat said at the same that the truce accord brokered by Putin did not solve all issues, including Karabakhs status, and needs to be complemented by an Armenian-Azerbaijani political process mediated by the Minsk Group co-chairs.
The fighting took place near two villages in Armenias Gegharkunik province bordering the Kelbajar district west of Nagorno-Karabakh handed back to Azerbaijan after last years Armenian-Azerbaijani war.

One of those villages is part of Gegharkuniks Geghamasar community. Its mayor, Hakob Avetian, said he heard intense gunfire that lasted for hours and stopped in the evening.

There was also intense gunfire a few days ago, Avetian told RFE/RLs Armenian Service.

The Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said one of its soldiers deployed in the border area was shot and killed by Armenian sniper fire late in the afternoon.

The Armenian military denied provoking the intensive shootout. It said its border troops opened fire only after three Armenian soldiers were wounded by the Azerbaijani side.

The incident occurred at one of several sections of the militarized border where Azerbaijani troops advanced a few kilometers into Armenian territory and took up new positions in mid-May, provoking a continuing standoff with Armenian army units.

It followed a series of truce violations at another border section separating Armenias southern Ararat province from Azerbaijans Nakhichevan exclave. An Armenian soldier was shot dead there on July 14. Exchanges of gunfire in that area continued until July 20.
According to the Investigative Committee, a group of men led by Karen Poghosian tried to kill on July 14 two residents of the provincial town of Goris reportedly related to a former Syunik governor. One of them was hospitalized as a result.

Poghosian went into hiding immediately after the shooting.

The deputy head of the Investigative Committee, Artur Melikian, told RFE/RLs Armenian Service that the law-enforcement agency has charged him with attempted murder and illegal arms possession and secured an arrest warrant for him issued by an Armenian court.

Melikian said investigators have searched 16 homes and 10 cars as part of the ongoing probe of the shooting. He said they have sufficient evidence to assert that Poghosian fired an assault rifle during the incident.

The suspects father, Syunik Governor Melikset Poghosian, has so far declined to comment on the shooting or his sons whereabouts. It is not clear if he has been or will be questioned by the investigators.

The Armenian government appointed Melikset Poghosian as provincial governor last December as it faced angry protests against controversial Armenian troop withdrawals which many local residents believe put Syuniks security at serious risk. The government insisted that the withdrawals are part of a Russian-brokered ceasefire agreement that stopped the six-week war in Nagorno-Karabakh in November.

The anti-government protests were organized by the elected heads of most Syunik towns and villages who publicly demanded Prime Minister Nikol Pashinians resignation. Four of them, including Goris Mayor Arush Arushanian, were arrested earlier this month on different charges rejected by them as politically motivated.
Bakersfield, CA (93308)

Today

Mainly clear skies. Low 77F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Mainly clear skies. Low 77F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph.
Robert Hinkle is the CEO of Metrus Energy, which finances energy-efficiency and clean-energy projects. Peter R. Orszag is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist. He is the chief executive officer of financial advisory at Lazard. He was director of the Office of Management and Budget from 2009 to 2010, and director of the Congressional Budget Office from 2007 to 2008.
Papuan activists attend a protest in Surabaya to mark the Free Papua Organizations anniversary in Indonesia, Dec. 1, 2020.

Updated at 3:26 p.m. ET on 2021-07-23

Indonesian police arrested a Papuan separatist leader who was on the run after he escaped from a prison in Papua with several others in 2016, while serving a life sentence for the killings of three police officers, officials said Friday.

Osimin Wenda (also known as Usmin Telenggen) was picked up while riding a motorcycle in Puncak Jaya regency on Thursday morning, Papua province police spokesman Ahmad Musthofa Kamal said.

The team stopped him in the Wandigobak village and immediately arrested him, Kamal told BenarNews in a statement.

Osimin, 30, was arrested in 2013. The next year, a Papua court sentenced him to life in prison after finding him guilty of premeditated murder, aggravated robbery and arson attacks.

Kamal said his crimes included participating in an attack on a police station in Lanny Jaya regency that killed a local police chief and two of his subordinates in November 2012.

During the same month, Osimin and other rebels ambushed an entourage led by then-Papua police chief Tito Karnavian  now Indonesias minister of home affairs  in Lanny Jaya, Kamal said. There were no casualties.

Five years ago, Osimin and 13 other inmates, including several separatist rebels, escaped from the Abepura prison in Jayapura, the provincial capital. Authorities blamed the prison break on a shortage of guards.

While on the run, Osimin allegedly was involved in an attack that killed a motorcycle taxi driver in Lanny Jaya regency in 2018, Kamal said.

Sebby Sambom, a spokesman for the West Papua National Liberation Army, the armed wing of the Free Papua Movement, could not immediately be reached for comment on the arrest.

Before his first arrest in 2013, Osimin was part of a group of guerrillas under the command of Lekagak Telenggen, a rebel chief in Puncak regency.

Earlier this month, security forces arrested an alleged guerrilla, Yoniku Murib, and four others under Lekagaks command.

While being interrogated in custody, Murib revealed that the Lekagak Telenggen group was responsible for some attacks in Puncak this year, according to Faisal Ramadhani, director of general crime investigations at the Papuan police.

A low-level separatist insurgency has simmered for decades in Indonesias far-eastern Papua region, which makes up the western half of New Guinea Island and comprises two provinces: Papua and West Papua.

In 1963, Indonesian forces invaded Papua and annexed it. The region, whose population is mainly Melanesian, was incorporated formally into Indonesia after a U.N.-sponsored ballot called the Act of Free Choice in 1969.

Locals and activists said the vote was a sham vote because only about 1,000 people took part. However, the United Nations accepted the result, which essentially endorsed Jakartas rule.

The natural resource-rich region remains among Indonesias poorest and underdeveloped ones.

Police honor guards stand near the coffin of one of their officers in Mimika, Indonesia, a day after he was killed in a gun battle between police and separatist rebels in the Papua region, April 28, 2021. [AFP]

Recent violence

Kamal said the security situation had improved in Papua after a spate of rebel attacks on civilians and clashes between insurgents and security forces in the past few months.

Thank God, the past few days have been calm, Kamal said.

Investigations, arrests and operations to hunt armed criminal groups are still being carried out by joint forces.

In the latest incidents, rebels opened fire on security personnel who were guarding food supplies in Nduga regency on July 6, wounding three soldiers, Jayapura military commander Brig. Gen. Izak Pangemanan told the state-run Antara news agency.

On July 11, a police officer was wounded in a shootout with insurgents in Yahukimo regency. A day later, two soldiers were injured in a shootout with another group of rebels in Nduga, said regional military chief Maj. Gen. Ignatius Yogo Triyono.

Late last month, suspected separatist rebels killed four construction workers and took four people hostage in Yahukimo regency. Police said the hostages were later freed.

In April, President Joko Jokowi Widodo ordered security forces to step up efforts to eradicate the armed groups after separatist insurgents assassinated an army general, who was also the regional chief of Indonesias intelligence agency.

As part of the crackdown, the government declared the separatist rebels a terrorist group. The designation alarmed rights activists who said it could lead to more human rights abuses against Papuan people.

Cahyo Pamungkas, a researcher on Papua at the Indonesian Institute of Sciences, said the designation of separatists as terrorists meant that dialogue was increasingly out of reach.

The result is that the authorities will become more and more overzealous in anti-insurgency operations. There are no more overtures for dialogue and violence and military force has become a solution, Cahyo told BenarNews.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte speaks during an event marking the completion of the passenger terminal at Clark International Airport in Pampanga province, north of Manila, July 17, 2021.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte will attempt to cement his legacy in his sixth and final State of the Nation Address on Monday, his spokesman said, but analysts countered that the commander-in-chief would be remembered for two major failures.

Duterte failed in his promise to end the scourge of drugs despite thousands of extrajudicial killings of suspected peddlers and addicts carried out through his administrations counter-narcotics crackdown, and his government capitulated to Beijing over the South China Sea issue, two analysts told BenarNews in commenting on the presidents legacy. His six-year term ends in 2022.

Dutertes speech to a joint session of Congress will be less about politics and more about reflecting on his achievements and presenting a roadmap for his last year in office, presidential spokesman Harry Roque said.

He will look back at the five years that have passed since he was president. He will focus on, of course, the countrys progress, our social programs, infrastructure, peace and security, foreign policy, Roque told reporters earlier this week.

He will answer the questions, What and where we are now?

The spokesman also expected Duterte to call on lawmakers to push certain measures as priorities, including a tax-reform package and amendments to the countrys Retail Trade Liberalization Act.

This years address is likely to be muted compared with previous ones, because health officials have limited the expected number of guests to around 350 inside the House chamber due to the COVID-19 pandemic. About 15,000 police officers will be assigned to guard duty because opposition groups are expected to protest the address.

Richard Javad Heydarian, a political analyst, said he did not see Mondays address as a farewell speech from Duterte, but rather as a platform instead to promote his proxies for next years presidential elections, which his daughter, Sara Duterte, may contest. Constitutional limits restrict presidents to a single six-year term.

So it is less about defending his legacy, than perpetuating his regime ahead of whats looking like a very contentious elections, Heydarian, author of The Rise of Duterte against Elite Democracy, told BenarNews.

Drug war

Jose Antonio Custodio, a historian and political analyst at the Institute of Policy, Strategy and Development Studies, said Duterte would not have a legacy at the end of his term.

If there was one thing that he has achieved, it is to turn the country into a mess and the basket case of Southeast Asia, Custodio said, referring to Dutertes war on drugs, a campaign launched shortly after he took office in 2016.

Custodio and Heydarian both believe the drug war has been a failure.

His chief policy, the drug war, has been an absolute travesty, failing to produce any empirically, verifiable improvement on the ground, Heydarian said.

It has created untold human tragedy, tarnished the countrys image and global position as a traditional beacon of democracy in Asia, and estranged major investors seeking rule of law.

Duterte, 76, who is known for his brash and foul-mouthed style of leadership, captured the imagination of a public tired of runaway crime and politics cornered by the powerful elite, when he campaigned for the presidency five years ago. He vowed then to break monopolies, as well as dump the bodies of drug dealers and traffickers killed by police in Manila Bay.

According to the government, the Duterte administrations drug war has claimed the lives of 8,000 alleged drug addicts and dealers, but human rights groups say that the figure could easily be three times higher.

Facing prosecution at the International Criminal Court over these so-called extrajudicial drug killings, Duterte in 2019 pulled the Philippines out of the treaty that created the body.

But on Wednesday, the Philippine Supreme Court released a ruling saying that he could face trial at the ICC in The Hague for crimes committed before the countrys withdrawal.

I expect more dismissive rhetoric on the ICC which will further implicate him in crimes against humanity, Custodio said.

At the end of the day, after five long years of this scoundrel, we all know one thing by now  and this is that he lies.

Activists protest near the Malacanang Palace in Manila on the fifth anniversary of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte taking office, June 30, 2021. [Basilio Sepe/BenarNews]

South China Sea

The analysts also said that Dutertes pro-China policy had failed to yield any major South China Sea improvements for the Philippines.

On July 12, 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague affirmed the Philippines rights to its territories under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and declared Chinas claim over most of the South China Sea as baseless.

Instead of leveraging the award, Duterte ignored the verdict and pursued friendlier ties with China. Meanwhile, Beijings pledges of U.S. $24 billion in economic assistance for infrastructure projects have yet to materialize.

Nothing came out of this governments appeasement policy on China, Renato de Castro, professor of international studies at the De La Salle University in Manila, told Benar News earlier this month, ahead of the fifth anniversary of the historic legal victory by the Philippines against China.

We got no concessions from China whatsoever.

Duterte could have spent the last five years making the rounds of international forums such as the U.N. General Assembly and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to get the worlds naval powers to assist in implementing the South China Sea ruling, de Castro and other analysts said.

Now, with less than a year left in Dutertes term, his administration is facing increased scrutiny of the governments achievements and failures, Heydarian said.

My sense is Duterte is more vulnerable at this point. And his rivals will likely tap into anti-China sentiments, even more so as we head into the polls, he said.

A motorcycle with sidecar travels through a destroyed portion of Marawi in the southern Philippines, March 2019. [Froilan Gallardo/BenarNews]

Marawi

Meanwhile, Dutertes government has had some success against militants linked to the Islamic State who laid siege to the southern city of Marawi for five months in 2017, precipitating a battle with government forces that left it in ruins.

But the Duterte administration so far has failed on its promise to fully rehabilitate the city, said Drieza Lininding, head of the Moro Consensus Group, a civic organization leading the calls to speed up Marawis reconstruction.

Lininding called on Duterte to certify the Marawi Compensation Bill which seeks to set aside funds of up to 50 billion pesos (nearly U.S. $1 billion) for those who lost their homes in Marawi.

Until now we cannot go back inside Marawi City, Lininding said.

Some officials have been telling us to support [Dutertes] daughters journey to the presidency. It only means the rehabilitation of Marawi will not be finished during his time. It has not yet even started.
Country

United States of America US Virgin Islands United States Minor Outlying Islands Canada Mexico, United Mexican States Bahamas, Commonwealth of the Cuba, Republic of Dominican Republic Haiti, Republic of Jamaica Afghanistan Albania, People's Socialist Republic of Algeria, People's Democratic Republic of American Samoa Andorra, Principality of Angola, Republic of Anguilla Antarctica (the territory South of 60 deg S) Antigua and Barbuda Argentina, Argentine Republic Armenia Aruba Australia, Commonwealth of Austria, Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Bahrain, Kingdom of Bangladesh, People's Republic of Barbados Belarus Belgium, Kingdom of Belize Benin, People's Republic of Bermuda Bhutan, Kingdom of Bolivia, Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana, Republic of Bouvet Island (Bouvetoya) Brazil, Federative Republic of British Indian Ocean Territory (Chagos Archipelago) British Virgin Islands Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria, People's Republic of Burkina Faso Burundi, Republic of Cambodia, Kingdom of Cameroon, United Republic of Cape Verde, Republic of Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad, Republic of Chile, Republic of China, People's Republic of Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Colombia, Republic of Comoros, Union of the Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, People's Republic of Cook Islands Costa Rica, Republic of Cote D'Ivoire, Ivory Coast, Republic of the Cyprus, Republic of Czech Republic Denmark, Kingdom of Djibouti, Republic of Dominica, Commonwealth of Ecuador, Republic of Egypt, Arab Republic of El Salvador, Republic of Equatorial Guinea, Republic of Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Faeroe Islands Falkland Islands (Malvinas) Fiji, Republic of the Fiji Islands Finland, Republic of France, French Republic French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories Gabon, Gabonese Republic Gambia, Republic of the Georgia Germany Ghana, Republic of Gibraltar Greece, Hellenic Republic Greenland Grenada Guadaloupe Guam Guatemala, Republic of Guinea, Revolutionary People's Rep'c of Guinea-Bissau, Republic of Guyana, Republic of Heard and McDonald Islands Holy See (Vatican City State) Honduras, Republic of Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region of China Hrvatska (Croatia) Hungary, Hungarian People's Republic Iceland, Republic of India, Republic of Indonesia, Republic of Iran, Islamic Republic of Iraq, Republic of Ireland Israel, State of Italy, Italian Republic Japan Jordan, Hashemite Kingdom of Kazakhstan, Republic of Kenya, Republic of Kiribati, Republic of Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Kuwait, State of Kyrgyz Republic Lao People's Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon, Lebanese Republic Lesotho, Kingdom of Liberia, Republic of Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Liechtenstein, Principality of Lithuania Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Macao, Special Administrative Region of China Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Madagascar, Republic of Malawi, Republic of Malaysia Maldives, Republic of Mali, Republic of Malta, Republic of Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania, Islamic Republic of Mauritius Mayotte Micronesia, Federated States of Moldova, Republic of Monaco, Principality of Mongolia, Mongolian People's Republic Montserrat Morocco, Kingdom of Mozambique, People's Republic of Myanmar Namibia Nauru, Republic of Nepal, Kingdom of Netherlands Antilles Netherlands, Kingdom of the New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua, Republic of Niger, Republic of the Nigeria, Federal Republic of Niue, Republic of Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Norway, Kingdom of Oman, Sultanate of Pakistan, Islamic Republic of Palau Palestinian Territory, Occupied Panama, Republic of Papua New Guinea Paraguay, Republic of Peru, Republic of Philippines, Republic of the Pitcairn Island Poland, Polish People's Republic Portugal, Portuguese Republic Puerto Rico Qatar, State of Reunion Romania, Socialist Republic of Russian Federation Rwanda, Rwandese Republic Samoa, Independent State of San Marino, Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, Democratic Republic of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Senegal, Republic of Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles, Republic of Sierra Leone, Republic of Singapore, Republic of Slovakia (Slovak Republic) Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia, Somali Republic South Africa, Republic of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Spain, Spanish State Sri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic of St. Helena St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Pierre and Miquelon St. Vincent and the Grenadines Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Suriname, Republic of Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands Swaziland, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Switzerland, Swiss Confederation Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand, Kingdom of Timor-Leste, Democratic Republic of Togo, Togolese Republic Tokelau (Tokelau Islands) Tonga, Kingdom of Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Tunisia, Republic of Turkey, Republic of Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda, Republic of Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe
Bennington, VT (05201)

Today

Cloudy skies during the evening with areas of fog developing after midnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low near 60F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Cloudy skies during the evening with areas of fog developing after midnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low near 60F. Winds light and variable.
If you'd like to leave a comment (or a tip or a question) about this story with the editors, please email us

We also welcome letters to the editor for publication; you can do that by filling out our letters form and submitting it to the newsroom.
Features Intern

Bellamy Richardson is a features intern at the Berkshire Eagle. She is a rising junior at Williams College and is the executive editor for features at the Williams Record. She can be reached at brichardson@berkshireeagle.com.
The criminal case against former Pittsfield Police Officer Miles Barber will be dismissed if he stays out trouble for two years.
Communities with large tracts of state land are being stiffed financially. Thats what a top Massachusetts official thinks  and shes coming out Friday to say it again.

Quote The formula is not fair to the small, rural towns. Its totally unfair, whats happening." Edward Munch of Peru, a former Select Board member

In December, Auditor Suzanne Bump issued a 70-page analysis of how Massachusetts goes about compensating communities in which the state owns land exempt from property taxes.

Bumps critique was clear: The system is increasingly unfair, especially to smaller towns in Western Massachusetts, and needs to be reformed to prevent an already weak financial support from faltering.

On Friday, Bump will join with local lawmakers in Deerfield and Hawley in a bid to build awareness of the problem and to push for change.

Instead of paying property taxes on tens of thousands of acres of land in Berkshire County, the state coughs up a payment in lieu of taxes, known as a PILOT. Due to a recent change in how those payments are allocated, towns seeing below-average yearly increases in property values have been losing out.

The formula is not fair to the small, rural towns, said Edward Munch of Peru, a former Select Board member. Its totally unfair, whats happening. This needs to change, otherwise in Berkshire County were going to have major problems.

Bump has teamed up with state Sen. Adam Hinds, D-Pittsfield, and state Rep. Natalie Blais, D-Sunderland, to file legislation that would implement Bumps recommendations for adjusting the PILOT formula.

It feels like this is the first step, and even the auditor said that we can continue to study to see if there are better ways to handle this, Hinds said. Were definitely open to different approaches, but it feels like theres the urgency of getting funding to our towns.

In all, 297 of the states 351 communities get PILOT payments. The program has been in place since 1910. Critics believe it has been broken for a while.

In the fiscal year that ended last month, the state paid out $30 million based on land holdings worth $3.15 billion. In Berkshire County, state land is valued at $301,116,600 in the current fiscal year, up $17.1 million from the year before.

Towns have been losing ground, compared to the value of taxable properties. After the Great Recession, PILOT payments slumped for years, only last year catching up to levels of a decade ago. While those payments held steady, property tax collections statewide rose 57 percent in the same period, according to Bump's analysis.

While reimbursements under the proposed revision of the formula would still depend on property values, the bill would add a hold harmless provision so that municipalities cannot lose funding from one year to the next. That change, lawmakers believe, would benefit communities where property values are declining or are rising at a relatively low rate.

The bill also would change the formula to use the three-year aggregate tax rate, which the Department of Revenue had previously used, a ratio of the total property tax assessed in the state to the total property valuation. The fiscal year 2020 PILOT reimbursement rate for state-owned land was $9.54 per $1,000 of value, well below the aggregate tax rate of $14.51 per $1,000.

Bigger allocation?

The push to change the formula has been complemented by an effort to bolster funding for the program in the state budget. Lawmakers increased the allocation from $30 million for fiscal year 2021 to $35 million in the fiscal year 2022 budget, and they plan to add $5 million a year until it reaches the roughly $45 million that Bumps report said is sufficient under the aggregate tax rate.

Bump has worked with members of the House Rural Caucus to advocate for greater funding, a member of her office said. That staff member said that the group planned to hold Fridays events in advance of the hearing on the bill filed by Hinds and Blais.

Blais said the most concerning aspect of current PILOT reimbursement levels was that dissatisfaction with the SOL PILOT program has led local officials to oppose further acquisition of land by the state, she said, quoting Bumps report.

I think that our goal should be to protect land here in Western Massachusetts, but not at the expense of our communities, Blais said.

Other Western Massachusetts lawmakers also see a pressing need to revamp the system.

Its a major issue, said state Rep. John Barrett III, D-North Adams. The reimbursement program at best is weak. Now to be hit with something that further dilutes it is wrong. Theres no ifs, ands or buts about it.

Barrett said he backs findings in the auditors report. Every community is impacted. They keep purchasing land all the time, he said of the state.

Calculating PILOT payments: The recipe Right now, these are the factors that determine how much money communities get from the state under PILOT programs:  Value of state-owned land in each community as determined by the Department of Revenue  Change in property values in each community as adjusted every two years  Share of a municipalitys state-owned land value to the total value of such properties in the state  Annual amount of money appropriated by the Legislature for the program

State Rep. William P. Smitty Pignatelli, D-Lenox, says that given the scale of the problem, communities are justified in opposing further land acquisition, particularly towns like Mount Washington, home to the 8,409-acre Mount Washington State Forest.

If they do not want to pay their fair share of taxes, then we should stop buying land, Pignatelli said. I think the state has to step up. This has been going on for a long time. The states got to pay its fair share. We have to stop handcuffing communities.

In Mount Washington, the state owns more than half of the acreage in the town, but the state-owned land valuation comes out to only one-fifth of the total land value, in part because the state-owned land is unimproved wilderness, Select Board member Jim Lovejoy said. PILOT reimbursements make up around one-third of the towns annual budget.

Its hard for small communities like ours to survive with the costs of everything going up, Lovejoy said after Bumps report was released in December. If they cut [reimbursements] by $60,000, thats somebodys salary. Thats our ability to manage the roads, manage our infrastructure.

Punishing towns

In her report, Bump said the formula used punishes many smaller towns in Western Massachusetts.

The formula provides larger reimbursements to municipalities with high and fast-growing property values at the expense of other communities, the report said. On top of that, the money cant be relied upon by towns.

Millions of dollars in reimbursements for (state-owned land) are distributed to communities each year, but payments are not consistent, due to fluctuating state budget appropriations and changes in property values. Concerns come particularly from communities in central and western Massachusetts, it said.

Municipalities that cannot catch up to communities with increasing land values will experience lower reimbursements over time, the report said, and the effects will be more profound if the programs appropriation is reduced or remains level.

Who's exempt, and who's not?  Nonprofit land owners, including religious, health care, and educational institutions  Municipally owned electric utility companies  Renewable energy installations, including solar and wind power systems  Targeted population groups such as veterans, widows and surviving children, the elderly and the blind  Tax Increment Financing and other special tax abatements voted on by the community and approved by the state  Land and buildings owned by the state or federal government, including authorities (e.g., the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority) The following are properties of state agencies that while exempt from taxes are not part of a PILOT program: Major government properties owned by the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance and associated agencies; barracks for the Massachusetts State Police; National Guard armories under the Commonwealths Military Division; state firefighting academies; buildings and land for the Massachusetts court system; land and property attributed to county sheriffs; and other properties from state agencies that were tax-exempt under previous owners. SOURCE: Office of the state auditor

As a result, its a matter of rich town, poor town.

Urban and suburban areas in the eastern part of the state, especially affluent ones, are the largest recipients of the programs reimbursements, Bumps report said. Rural, less affluent areas in central and western Massachusetts receive declining PILOT reimbursements.

Adding more state land can make things worse for towns.

In fiscal 2020, the state added over 363 acres of land to its portfolio in Williamstown, but that town government lost over $13,863, or 8 percent, of its PILOT reimbursements.

In the town of Peru, the state added 141 acres to its already large holdings of about 7,700 acres; thats 40 percent of the land in Peru, according to Bumps report. Nonetheless, the town lost over $19,867, or 29.2 percent, of its PILOT reimbursements going into that same fiscal year.

Friday events

On Friday, Bump will join with Hinds, Blais and state Rep. Paul Mark, D-Peru, to discuss the issue in a 10:30 a.m. stop atop the Mount Sugarloaf State Reservation, at 300 Sugarloaf St. in Deerfield.

At 1:15 p.m., the group will move to a site near the Dubuque State Forest in Hawley, home to a 8,079-acre state landholding. The location will be 466 W. Hawley Road in Plainfield, at picnic tables near the Hallockville Pond.
NORTH ADAMS  A man has filed a lawsuit against the city and three of its police officers, alleging that the officers used excessive force and broke his arm during an October 2019 arrest.

Richard Sifton, 39, filed the lawsuit in May in federal court in Springfield, naming the city and officers Kevin Fitzpatrick, Trevor Manning and Ivan Cardeno as defendants and seeking $750,000 in damages. Sifton accuses the officers of assaulting him and intentionally breaking his arm.

A response to the complaint filed by a lawyer representing the city and its officers denies the allegations.

Archives North Adams man charged with 2 armed robberies held without bail

Sifton was arrested after robbing Daves Package Store and Dunkin in October 2019. The package store clerk reported that Sifton brandished an object from his pocket as if it was a weapon, and the Dunkin employee reported that Sifton threatened to stab her, according to the police report.

Fitzpatrick was chasing Sifton on foot in a wooded area, and Sifton did not stop when asked to and did not show his hands when asked to, according to the police report. Fitzpatrick tried to taze him, but missed and then grabbed Sifton, who was resisting. He put Siftons arms behind his back and heard a pop, according to the police report.

Soon after, Cardeno and Manning arrived to assist Fitzpatrick, according to the report. While following Sifton in the wooded area, a branch snapped back at Fitzpatrick and struck him in the ear, leaving him with a perforated eardrum and temporary hearing loss, the report states.

Because of a previous injury, Sifton wrote in the complaint, he is disabled and has limited range of motion, making it not possible to handcuff him behind his back, and instead requiring handcuffs in front of him  which he says that North Adams Police knew because of previous encounters. In past arrests, he said, officers had cuffed his arms in front of his body.

He said that officers also hit him in the head, face and torso.

While this was happening the Plaintiff repeatedly screamed for the officers to stop and to please not break his arm, the complaint reads. The defendants responded by yelling shut the f-  up and continued punching him and eventually breaking and dislocating the Plaintiffs arm.

After his arrest, Sifton was taken to Berkshire Health North, where he was treated for bruising underneath an eye and a broken bone in one of his arms, according to medical documents included in the lawsuit.

Representing himself

Sifton, who filed the lawsuit from the Berkshire County Jail and House of Correction, does not have a lawyer, and he filed a motion in court for an appointment of a lawyer, stating that he could not afford one. But, his request was denied, as there is no constitutional right to a lawyer in a civil case, court records state.

David S. Lawless, who is listed in court documents as the lawyer representing the city and the three named officers, did not reply to requests for comment. Fitzpatrick, Manning and Cardeno could not be reached for comment.

In a response to the complaint filed in court, Lawless writes that the officers deny the allegations, including that officers were aware of Siftons disability, that they intentionally broke his arm and that they beat him.

The defendants say that the injuries and damages alleged were caused, in whole or in part, by the plaintiffs own negligence, Lawless writes.

The defendants state that any actions taken by the defendants in connection with the allegations in the plaintiffs complaint were justified and required by considerations of public policy, safety and law enforcement.

Writing that Siftons complaint is frivolous and not made in good faith, the response also requests attorneys fees.

And, citing qualified immunity, the response notes that officers are immune from liability in this case.

Sifton pleaded guilty to two counts of larceny and assault with a dangerous weapon, and was given a two-year sentence, while resisting-arrest charges were dropped, according to court documents in the Northern Berkshire District Court. In mid-June, Siftons sentence ended and he was released from the jail, according to information filed with the court.

He lists his contact information in court documents, all of which were filed before he was released, as the Berkshire County Jail and House of Correction, and Sifton could not be reached for comment.

North Adams Mayor Tom Bernard declined to comment on the lawsuit.

I wouldnt comment on an ongoing matter, he told The Eagle.

No weapon found

The lawsuit was not the first time the North Adams Police Department heard of Siftons complaint. The department received a handwritten complaint from Sifton this February , according to Police Chief Jason Wood. So this is almost a year and a half later.

A formal internal affairs investigation was not opened in response to the complaint, Wood said. Fitzpatrick no longer works for the department and started working for the state police more than a year ago, while the other two officers, Manning and Cardeno, still work for the department.

Its in litigation right now, so theres not a lot I can say about it, Wood said when asked about the lawsuit. Without me being there, I really cant say if the force was excessive or not.

He noted that the initial robbery led officers to believe that Sifton might have a weapon. When Sifton was searched after the second robbery, there was not a knife on him, according to the police report.

Use-of-force issues are a delicate subject, Wood said. I dont want to minimize things at all. But weve just got to do our due diligence and make sure that people are treated fairly. But the other side to that is we need to make sure that everyone goes home safe too. Any kind of use of force is unfortunate because we would certainly rather not have to use it. But its an unfortunate part of the job.

A 52-page use-of-force policy, most recently updated in April, outlines the North Adams departments use-of-force policies.

The degree of force used is dependent upon the facts surrounding the situation the officer encounters, the policy reads. Only a reasonable amount of force may be used and is dependent upon the totality of circumstances.

When someone actively is resisting  that includes pulling, turning or walking away from an officer  officers are able to use some functions of tasers, and if there is violent resistance, they can use a baton, according to the policy.

The policy does not specifically list hands or fists as an option, Wood wrote in a follow-up email. However, he added, the policy references weaponless physical force several times, which would apply to cooperative controls, contact controls, some compliance techniques and defensive tactics which also includes tasers & batons, as well as hand strikes if warranted. This is what is taught in the Basic Recruit Training Academy as well as in-service training every year.

Siftons lawsuit is not the only open one alleging that North Adams Police used excessive force.

Joseph Poplaski filed a lawsuit in federal court in August 2019, alleging that officer Benjamin Austin used excessive force during a 2017 incident in which Poplaski never was charged with any crime. In a response to the lawsuit complaint filed in court, Austin denied seriously injuring Poplaski. That case is ongoing, according to records in U.S. District Court in Springfield.
Officials and residents from Shutesbury gather via Zoom on Thursday night for a meeting of their Select Board's police study group. Shutesbury Town Clerk Grace Bannasch is among the local officials wondering what the future will hold for remote-meeting access.
A face recognition-equipped Detroit roller rink reportedly kicked out a Black teen on June 10 after misidentifying her as a person whod allegedly gotten into a fight there in March.

According to Gizmodo, the girl, Lamya Robinson, says security scanned her face upon entry and then forbade her from entering, despite her claim that shed never been in the building before.

WJBK reports Robinsons parents are considering filing a lawsuit against Riverside Arena skating rink.

In a statement to WJBK, the rink admitted that they used the technology, claiming that Robinson was a 97 percent match for the other girl.

RELATED: Dining While Black: Viral Video Shows Black Couple Being Kicked Out Of ATL Restaurant For Sneakers

One of our managers asked Ms. Robinson (Lamya's mother) to call back sometime during the week, the business said. He explained to her, this our usual process, as sometimes the line is quite long and it's a hard look into things when the system is running.

This is what we looked at, not the thumbnail photos Ms. Robinson took a picture of, if there was a mistake, we apologize for that, the business added.

"To me, it's basically racial profiling," Lamyas mother Juliea Robinson told the news station. "You're just saying every young Black, brown girl with glasses fits the profile and that's not right."

"I was like, that is not me. Who is that?" Lamya added. "I was so confused because I've never been there."

The horrid mishap comes as groups are moving to ban business owners from using facial recognition on customers or workers in their stores.

Tawana Petty who heads Data 4 Black Lives, one of 35 organizations signing onto a campaign calling for retailers to not use facial recognition, says Robinsons experience is far too common.

"Facial recognition does not accurately recognize darker skin tones," Petty said. "So, I don't want to go to Walmart and be tackled by an officer or security guard, because they misidentified me for something I didn't do."

The Cambridge, Massachusetts based Algorithmic Justice League is a digital advocacy organization founded in 2016 by MIT computer scientist Joy Buolamwini. The mission of the AJL is to raise awareness of the social implications of artificial intelligence through art and research. They are compiling the stories of AI gone wrong, particularly where Black people are misidentified and discriminated against.

As more companies put these identifying programs into place, without regulation, more incidents such as Lamya Robinsons will certainly happen.
An ACLU study substantiates the racism claims in a lawsuit filed by three Black border patrol officers last April.

The Michigan ACLU study accuses the Michigan branch of the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP), which operates throughout the state, of using racial profiling and over-policing to instill fear in Michigans immigrant communities, according to the Washington Post.

The study is based on a close evaluation of thousands of pages of documents, including 13,239 Detroit-sector daily apprehension logs from 2012 to 2018. It found that the Border Patrol in Michigan often stops people just for driving while Brown or Black. Whatever people of color do when driving near a Border Patrol vehicle is used as a pretext to pull them over, it reads.

The April lawsuit, filed by three Black CBP officers in Port Huron, MI, charged the agency with targeting African American drivers. It also claimed that the agency discriminated and retaliated against Black officers who protested that treatment.

RELATED: Three Black Border Patrol Officers File Lawsuit To Expose Racism At Michigan-Canada Border

The report included a 2015 CBP chart that has 13 categories of skin color. The report says that more than 96% of those apprehended were nonwhite, identified as Black, Dark Brown, Dark, Light Brown, Medium Brown, Medium, or Yellow. For roving patrols and transit checks, 98 percent of those stopped had Medium or Medium Brown complexion.

The report also found that, in more than three-quarters of roving patrol arrests, no matter how drivers of color react  whether they look at and acknowledge an agent, or do not look at or acknowledge an agent, or whether they speed up or slow down  that action is recorded as suspicious and is used to justify an investigatory vehicle stop.

Researchers also found that, between 2012 and 2018, 85 percent of noncitizens apprehended by the Border Patrol in Michigan were from Latin America. This is despite the fact that more than 70 percent of those arrested attempting to enter the U.S. without authorization from Canada were either Canadian citizens or originally from Europe.

A Border Patrol statement in response to the report said it is agency policy to prohibit the consideration of race or ethnicity in law enforcement, investigation, and screening activities, in all but the most exceptional circumstances. As such, CBP is fully committed to the fair, impartial and respectful treatment of all members of the trade and traveling public.

ACLU attorney Monica Andrade, a co-author of the report, told the Washington Post that the ACLU and CBP have discussed ACLU recommendations to combat racial profiling, which include developing constitutional guidance for agents on reasonable suspicion for traffic stops.

No one should have to live in fear of being targeted by law enforcement agencies because of the color of their skin or the language they speak, but, as the report reveals, that is exactly whats happening in Michigan because of Border Patrols rampant use of racial profiling, Andrade said.
A white woman accused of spitting on a Black activist during protests at the Connecticut state Capitol earlier this year was granted special probation on Wednesday (July 21) and may even have the hate crime charge she faces dismissed.

According to the Hartford Courant, 45-year-old Yuliya Gilshteyn was granted accelerated rehabilitation, a special probation program for first-time offenders, and ordered to complete 100 hours of anti-hate curriculum over the next two years. If she successfully completes the program, a felony hate crime of intimidation due to bias charge will be dismissed.

Gilshteyn was captured on video shouting all lives matter and spitting on activist and Power Up Manchester founder Keren Prescott during a January 6 protest at the New England states Capitol grounds.

Gilshteyn was initially arrested and charged by Capitol police with breach of peace, but after Hartford States Attorney Sharmese Walcott reviewed the case she upgraded the charges to include a hate crime and additional offenses. According to court records, those include third-degree attempt to commit assault, first-degree reckless endangerment and risk of injury to a child.

RELATED: White Woman Caught On Camera Spitting At And Calling Black People The N-Word

During a Wednesday morning hearing, Gilshteyn apologized to Prescott, claiming her attack was completely out of character, however the new ruling infuriated Prescott.

This is the epitome of white privilege, Prescott said while wiping away tears outside the courtroom, according to the Courant. When she attacked me and the police didnt believe me, that was white privilege. When the police held me back and she was led away, that was white privilege ... The fact she was in here today and didnt even get a slap on the wrist, that is white privilege.

Watch the video video below to see what went down.
News

Local schools to end summer meals program having served thousands

Grace Ramey / Grace Ramey Ben Bruni, center, jokes around with Laquanda Brown, left, as he carries jugs of milk to a car during the Bowling Green Independent Schools final summer meals pick-up day at Bowling Green Junior High School on Thursday, July 22, 2021. The final day for open site and meal deliveries by the Purple Bus will be July 30. (Grace Ramey/photo@bgdailynews.com) Grace Ramey / Grace Ramey Blake Settle helps distribute watermelons during the Bowling Green Independent Schools summer meals pick-up at Bowling Green Junior High School on Thursday, July 22, 2021, the last day for meal pick up. (Grace Ramey/photo@bgdailynews.com) Grace Ramey / Grace Ramey Ben Bruni, right, and Lena May, left, listen for how many meal kits to distribute to the next vehicle during the Bowling Green Independent Schools summer meals pick-up at Bowling Green Junior High School on Thursday, July 22, 2021, the last day for meal pick up. (Grace Ramey/photo@bgdailynews.com) Grace Ramey / Grace Ramey Lena May and other Bowling Green Independent Schools employees help distribute summer meal kits for students during the final day for pick-up at Bowling Green Junior High School on Thursday, July 22, 2021. (Grace Ramey/photo@bgdailynews.com) Grace Ramey / Grace Ramey Bowling Green Independent Schools Child Nutrition Coordinator Miranda Pierce, center, opens the trunk door of a vehicle for Dwight Holder, right, and Ben Bruni, left, to load food in during the BGISD summer meals pick-up at Bowling Green Junior High School on Thursday, July 22, 2021, the last day for meal pick up. (Grace Ramey/photo@bgdailynews.com) Grace Ramey / Grace Ramey Ben Bruni carries two summer meal kits to a car during the Bowling Green Independent Schools summer meals pick-up at Bowling Green Junior High School on Thursday, July 22, 2021, the last day for meal pick up. (Grace Ramey/photo@bgdailynews.com) Grace Ramey / Grace Ramey Bowling Green Independent Schools employees help distribute summer meal kits for students during the final day for pick-up at Bowling Green Junior High School on Thursday, July 22, 2021. (Grace Ramey/photo@bgdailynews.com) Grace Ramey / Grace Ramey From right, Bowling Green High School Principal Kyle McGraw, Bowling Green Independent Schools Child Nutrition Coordinator Miranda Pierce and Lena May talk as they help distribute meal kits during the final day for summer meal pick-up at Bowling Green Junior High School on Thursday, July 22, 2021. (Grace Ramey/photo@bgdailynews.com) Grace Ramey / Grace Ramey Laquanda Brown carries a couple milk jugs to a vehicle during the final day for Bowling Green Independent Schools summer meal pick-up at Bowling Green Junior High School on Thursday, July 22, 2021. (Grace Ramey/photo@bgdailynews.com) Grace Ramey / Grace Ramey Bowling Green Independent Schools employees help distribute summer meal kits for students during the final day for pick-up at Bowling Green Junior High School on Thursday, July 22, 2021. (Grace Ramey/photo@bgdailynews.com)

After serving tens of thousands of meals to local students and their families, Warren County Public Schools and the Bowling Green Independent School District are winding down their summer food assistance programs.

Despite the challenges the coronavirus pandemic has imposed upon WCPS Nutrition and Dining Services Department for two summers now, director Kelly Holt said his team has come up with ingenious ways to distribute food throughout the community.

On Tuesday, he told the Daily News the districts summer meals program had distributed about 90,000 meals this summer and that it could reach 100,000 meals served by Thursday, when the program was scheduled to end.

Weve had a very successful summer program, Holt said, noting that WCPS has been able to expand meal service to each of the school districts high school feeder systems.

Holt praised the dedication of WCPS nutrition and dining services staff who work through the summer to make sure students are well-fed.

They really want to see our students. They really want to make a difference, Holt said.

Across Kentucky, more than 2,000 meal sites provide breakfasts, lunches, snacks and suppers when school is not in session, according to the Kentucky Department of Education.

At the Bowling Green Independent School District, its summer meals program is set to wrap up officially July 30.

Between the final week of May and the month of June, the district had served 112,000 meals, according to BGISD Director of Food Service Operations Dalla Emerson.

Emerson said the district has averaged 600 meal kits per week, with each kit packed with seven days worth of breakfasts and lunches. The district also offered meals through camps and walk-up sites.

Its just been an amazing community event, said Emerson, thanking the countless volunteers whove aided school district staff in making the program possible year after year.

 Follow education reporter Aaron Mudd on Twitter @NewsByAaron or visit bgdaily news.com.
Spearfish, SD (57783)

Today

A few passing clouds. Low 79F. Winds SSW at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

A few passing clouds. Low 79F. Winds SSW at 10 to 20 mph.
Spearfish, SD (57783)

Today

Clear to partly cloudy. Low 79F. Winds SSW at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Clear to partly cloudy. Low 79F. Winds SSW at 10 to 20 mph.
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus Romans 3:23-24

No one is perfect. All people make mistakes, sin, and hurt others. When those mistakes happen inevitably, people often feel guilty, and either carry it, or seek absolution.

When someone hurts another individual, they can go in person and ask for forgiveness. But how does one approach the God of the universe and admit to wrong doing?

Thanks to the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, all can approach the throne of the Lord through prayer and ask for forgiveness, not just for a single act, but for all sin committed, and that will be in the future. By doing so, anyone can have a relationship with the living God.

Praying for forgiveness does not have to be highly structured, but it should be sincere, paired with thankfulness, and based on the desire to have a right relationship with God.

How Do I Pray for Forgiveness?

Praying for forgiveness begins with an awareness of a moral transgression or sin. Sometimes it is a big violation of ones conscience. Sometimes it is a resentful thought, or a selfish moment.

When a person hurts someone else, the right thing to do is go to the hurt party, apologize, and ask for forgiveness. When humans sin, sometimes they hurt others, and it is important to ask the offended individual for forgiveness, but sin is always an injury against God.

It can be hard to go to God and admit to wrong-doing, but it is important and necessary as part of the relationship between a believer and their Savior. When discussing prayer, Jesus gave a model in Matthew 6:7-13, which is a good place to start when contemplating how to pray for forgiveness:

"And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Pray then like this: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil."

God wants prayer to be personal, specific to the individual, a conversation. Using the Lords Prayers as a roadmap, rather than a verbatim dictum, asking for forgiveness begins with honoring God, praising Him for His goodness and holiness.

Confess specific sins. Admit to the state of the heart, as well as evil words and bad actions. Ask the Lord for help in turning away from sin, and request the Holy Spirit for the strength the avoid those sins in the future.

Pray to be more like Jesus. Prayer should also include thanking God for forgiveness, for Jesus sacrifice on the cross, and for all the blessings He bestowed.

The state of the heart is important in prayer. Coming before God in prayer with insincerity, arrogance, and asking for forgiveness because it is required, is not a prayer that pleases God.

In a parable, Jesus highlighted the importance of humility in prayer: Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector... I tell you [the tax collector] went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted (Luke 18:10 and 13-14).

Forgiveness is freely given to those who really want it, and God gladly forgives those who have a repentant heart.





Photo credit: Unsplash/Olivia Snow

Is It Okay to Sin and Then Ask for Forgiveness?

A common phrase that even some Christians repeat states, it is better to ask for forgiveness than permission. People try to use it as a reason to do what they believe is for the best to get something done, even if it means going around an authority figure or bending a rule.

From time to time, this idea begins to trend among certain churches; essentially, they hold that because Gods forgiveness is absolute, someone can sin and do something they know is wrong, confident that God will forgive them.

In contemporary movements that embrace this thinking, the term covered by grace may be thrown around. Going back to the days of the Apostles after Christs ascension back to Heaven, people argued sinning gave God more chances to forgive, magnifying His goodness and increasing His grace.

Paul directly contradicts this idea, What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? (Romans 6:1-2) Later he wrote to the Romans, What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! (Romans 6:15)

It is not acceptable for those who have accepted the blood of Jesus Christ and been forgiven to continue behaving as if they do not know the Lord. Instead, believers are to conform to the image of Christ, rather than continue behaving like the world.

However, no one is perfect, and even those who strive to live righteously will fail. In those moments of weakness, the believer can pray for God to forgive them, and ask the Holy Spirit for the strength to resist temptation in the future.

Do I Have to Keep Praying and Asking God to Forgive Me?

The first time a sinner turns to God in prayer, it can be a powerful moment of change. When a sinner goes to God, asks for forgiveness, and embraces Jesus as their Savior and Lord, they become a child of God and no longer a wayward sinner.

After this moment of salvation, Jesus says Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life (John 5:24).

Once someone believes in Jesus, and asks for forgiveness, that person begins a process called sanctification and building a closer relationship with the Lord. Having a relationship with Jesus is just like having a relationship with another person; it requires effort.

When someone enters a new relationship, they do not ask for forgiveness of all future wrongs at once, and then never apologize in the future. Some denominations do argue that individuals can lose salvation after sin, while others disagree.

Regardless of which line of thought one aligns with, if someone is pursuing a sincere relationship with God, seeking sanctification, and growing closer to Jesus then that person will pray for forgiveness when they sin.

Biblical Examples of Forgiveness Prayers

Jonahs Prayer

Jonah committed the sins of disobedience, pride, and prejudice. He tried to run away from his responsibilities and from God. In the belly of a sea animal, he cried out for forgiveness and repented in Jonah 2:7-9.

When my life was fainting away, I remembered the Lord, and my prayer came to you, into your holy temple. Those who pay regard to vain idols forsake their hope of steadfast love. But I with the voice of thanksgiving will sacrifice to you; what I have vowed I will pay. Salvation belongs to the Lord! (Read the full prayer: Jonah 2:2-9).

Davids Prayers

As king, David fell into temptation and had an affair with a beautiful, but married, woman. She was the wife of one of Davids best soldiers, Uriah; when she became pregnant, David murdered Uriah. Gods prophet Nathan convicted him, and David wrote several Psalms to reflect his prayer for forgiveness.

Psalm 32:5 I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, I will confess my transgressions to the Lord, and you forgave the iniquity of my sin.

Psalm 51:4, 51:10 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment...Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. (Read the full prayers: Psalm 32; Psalm 51)





Photo credit: Getty Images/Royalty Free

The Tax Collectors Prayer

This prayer was in one of Jesus parables. It was short, but powerful.

Despite its length, Jesus found it sufficient to highlight the appropriate posture of a sinners heart to ask for forgiveness.

Luke 18:13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, God, be merciful to me, a sinner! (Read the full context: Luke 18:9-14)

Can We Pray for Forgiveness for Others?

Believers find great joy, comfort, and hope in their relationship with Jesus Christ, knowing their sins are forgiven and they have an eternal life with the Lord. Because of this joy, they want to see others find that same security.

Christians can pray for the Spirit to be working in a non-believers life, for opportunities to share the Gospel, and even pray that God will forgive the sinner, but they need to understand that it does grant salvation to someone else. The individual must go to the Lord themselves.

One important prayer regarding forgiveness is asking God to help each believer to forgive others. Forgiveness can be difficult, and the Spirit is there and willing to help.

Jesus Christ came to earth and died on the cross to pay for the sins of the world. This act made eternal forgiveness open and available to everyone and anyone who asks for it.

It is a crucial part of any relationship, particularly the one between humanity and God. Because of Jesus gift of salvation, the prayer for forgiveness can be said at any time, anywhere, and even in any language.

As the Apostle Paul wrote, because if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame (Romans 10:9-11).

Sources

Getty, Mary Ann. What Does the Bible Say About Forgiveness. Hyde Park: New City Press, 2020.

MacArthur, John. The Truth about Forgiveness. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2012.

Ryrie, Charles. So Great Salvation What It Means to Believe in Jesus Christ. Chicago: Moody Publishers, 1997.

Related articles

20 Relieving Prayers for Forgiveness When Your Heart Cant Seem to Heal

How Far Does God's Forgiveness Reach?

What Does Jesus Teach about Stumbling  and Forgiveness?

Photo Credit: Getty Images/Kieferpix

Bethany Verrett is a freelance writer and editor. She maintains a faith and lifestyle blog graceandgrowing.com, where she muses about the Lord, life, culture, and ministry.
The Old Testament offers a look at the lives of two priestsboth young, important, men of authority. But though these men named Phinehas share the same Old Covenant calling, they handle their duties in contrasting ways that can still provide direction to Christians today.

Who Was the Good Phinehas in the Bible and What Did He Do?

We first encounter the priest, Phinehas, son of Eleazar and grandson of Aaron, in Numbers 25. Phinehass righteous acts follow a major encounter that Israel had with Balaam; a diviner hired by the King of Moab to curse Israel. Although Balaam refused the kings commission, he still inflicted great harm upon Gods chosen people.

According to the historical book of Josephus and a reference to the event in the biblical book of Numbers, although Balaam refused to pronounce a curse upon Israel, he encouraged the Moabites to incite a manmade calamity against Gods people by tempting them to commit idolatry and sexual immorality.

Israel fell into the trap laid for them by the beautiful Moabite women. They yoked themselves to the pagan god, Baal of Peor, by participating in ritualistic sexual practices with the Moabites and eating their sacrificial foods. The Lords anger burned against Israel for these detestable acts. As punishment for their idolatry, He inflicted a plague upon His people and caused death to enter their camp. The Lord said to Moses, Take all the leaders of these people, kill them and expose them in broad daylight before the Lord, so that the Lords fierce anger may turn away from Israel (Numbers 25:4).

Moses followed Gods command. He called an assembly together and instructed Israels judges to put to death anyone who had participated in the sinful behavior. While they were still gatheredweeping over Israels sin and Gods judgment, an Israelite named Zimri openly defied Moses by parading a Midianite princess through the assembly and ushering her into his private tent to have sexual relations with her. When Phinehas saw this act of rebellion he left the assembly, grabbed a spear, and followed Zimri and the woman into the tent.

Fueled by his zeal for the Lord and righteous indignation, Phinehas drove the spear into Zimris back and continued driving it until the blade also skewered the body of the Moabite princess beneath him (Numbers 25:6-8).

Then the Lord said to Moses, Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, the priest, has turned my anger away from the Israelites. Since he was as zealous for my honor among them as I am, I did not put an end to them in my zeal. Therefore tell him I am making my covenant of peace with him. He and his descendants will have a covenant of a lasting priesthood, because he was zealous for the honor of his God and made atonement for the Israelites (Numbers 25:11-13).

Because of Phinehass bold and righteous act, the plague against the Israelites ended, and God rewarded Phinehas with a covenant of peace that would extend to his family for all eternity.

Who Was the Bad Phinehas in the Bible, and What Did He Do?

The book of 1 Samuel begins with the story of a barren woman named Hannah, who during her annual pilgrimage to Shiloh went to the Temple of the Lord and prayed fervently for a son. The High Priest, Eli, took notice of Hannah. Thinking she was drunk because of her anguished posture, he rebuked the woman. But when he discovered Hannahs genuine state of petition, he offered her a blessing of favor from the Lord instead.

God granted Hannahs request for a child, and she soon bore a son and named him Samuel, meaning God has heard. After the boy was weaned, Hannah dedicated him to the Lord and left him with the High Priest for service. Eli gladly took Samuel into his care for training. But the priest also had two older sons, who he had neglected to train in the service of the Lord.

The King James Bible describes Elis two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, as sons of Belial (1 Samuel 2:12) a Hebrew word that means wicked or worthless. Elis sons were the acting Levitical priests in Shilohyet they continually treated their duties with dishonesty and contempt. Their sin was great in the Lords sight because of their shameless mishandling of sacred things.

Phinehas and Hophni gorged themselves on choice meats intended for sacrifices. Even before the sacrifices were prepared for offering, they had their forks in the pot. Whenever anyone would question the men about this despicable practicesaying, Let the fat be burned first, and then take whatever you want, they would respond with threats and forcefully take what they desired. Phinehas and Hophni also participated in lude sexual acts with women connected to the service of the Tabernacle (1 Samuel 2:22).

As a result of Phinehas and Hophnis abhorrent practices and the fact that their father, Eli, refused to restrain his sons, the Lord pronounced judgment upon Elis house forever through Samuel.

The time is coming when I will cut short your strength and the strength of your priestly house, so that no one in it will reach old age, and you will see distress in my dwelling. Although good will be done to Israel, no one in your family line will ever reach old age. Every one of you that I do not cut off from serving at my altar I will spare only to destroy your sight and sap your strength, and all your descendants will die in the prime of life. And what happens to your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, will be a sign to youthey will both die on the same day.(2 Samuel 2:32-34).

Gods judgment comes to pass shortly after the pronouncement of judgment when Phinehas and Hophni enter into battle against the Philistines. When the Israelite army realizes that the odds are stacked against them, Phinehas and his wicked brother decide to turn the tide of the battle. They bring out the Ark of the Covenant (Exodus 25), a housing vessel for the Lord God himself during Old Testament times. This battle strategy fails, explains Hope Bolinger in 3 Hopeful Truths from the Ichabod Bible Story

Not only does Phinehas and Hophnis vile disregard for God cost them their lives on the battlefield, but it also causes Israel to lose possession of the Ark of the Covenant. When Eli hears about the turn of events, he has a heart attack and dies. That same day Phinehass wife also dies after giving birth to a son she names Ichabod, which means The glory has departed from Israel.

Why Was it so Bad that Hophni and Phinehas Abused the Priesthood?

Under Mosaic Law, the Tribe of Levi was set apart to be priests and dedicated to serving God (Exodus 23:26-29). Priests were responsible for mediating between sinful people and their Holy God by offering sacrifices, says Penny Noyes in Why Do We Need Jesus as Our High Priest?

The calling of the Priesthood in the Old Testament was a weighty and sacred honor. God commanded that the role be taken seriously because the picture of that role was intended to reflect a greater truth yet to comeJesus as our High Priest.

When Hophni and Phinehas defiled their priestly calling through blatant rebellion and sinfulness, their actions maligned the image of a Holy and righteous God.

What Can We Learn Today from Both Priests Named Phinehas?

Both priests named Phinehas can teach us something about sin, idolatry, and repentance. In Moses era, when Idolatry entered the Israelite camp through the seduction of the Moabites, Gods wrath burned against His people. At that time one mana young priestintervened on behalf of Gods righteousness. Through a swift and immediate penitent act, he took a stand against the sin of idolatry and immorality and stayed the plague that had already killed over 30,000 Jews.

During Elis time one mana young priestbrought shame and judgment upon Israel through his unrepentant acts of immorality and idolatry. He blatantly mishandled the role of a priest by placing himself on Gods throne to serve his own lustful desires just like his father Eli had. In Who Was Eli in the Bible? David Sanford explains that Eli was a man who, for all his priestly duties and privileges, had reduced God in his heart and life. On the throne of Elis life was his own comfort instead of the Lord

In the book of Revelation, we see a further warning about lapsing into the same temptations faced by both of these men. The sins of idolatry and sexual immorality are as old as time, and Gods unwavering warning against them remains clear, as we see in Johns letter to the Church in Pergamum.

But I have a few things against you, because some of you hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to place a stumbling block before the Israelites so they would eat food sacrificed to idols and commit sexual immorality. In the same way, some of you also hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. Therefore repent! Otherwise I will come to you shortly and wage war against them with the sword of My mouth (Revelation 2:14-16).

When we put God on the throne of our hearts, and trust Him to guide us into His righteousness, the power of the Holy Spirit enables us to live the new life in Christ that is our priestly calling. But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light (1 Peter 2:9).

Photo credit: GettyImages/Adrian Weinbrecht

Annette Marie Griffin is an award-winning author and speaker who has managed and directed childrens and youth programs for more than 20 years. Her debut childrens book, What Is A Family? released through Familius Publishing in 2020. Annette has also written curriculum for character growth and development of elementary-age children and has developed parent training seminars to benefit the community. Her passion is to help wanderers find home. She and her husband have five childrenthree who have already flown the coop and two adopted teens still roosting at homeplus two adorable grands who add immeasurable joy and laughter to the whole flock.

This article is part of our People from the Bible Series featuring the most well-known historical names and figures from Scripture. We have compiled these articles to help you study those whom God chose to set before us as examples in His Word. May their lives and walks with God strengthen your faith and encourage your soul.

The Bible Story of Elijah

The Life of Ruth - 5 Essential Faith Lessons

The Bible Story of Queen Esther

The Greatest Villain - King Nebuchadnezzar

The Bible Story of Mary Magdalene
MISSOULA - The combined fire acreage of the fires burning in the Granite Pass Complex, in the Nez Perce-Clearwater and Lolo National Forests is now at 2,375 acres with 1% containment.

A public meeting on the fires is planed for Friday, July 23rd at 7:00 p.m. in the cafeteria at Lolo Elementary School in Lolo, Montana.

The fires have continued to burn, with most activity occurring along the western side of the BM Hill Fire.

Officials say containment strategies for the Granite Pass Complex fires include the use of both direct and indirect line. Portions of the line will be built using existing infrastructure, such as roads and natural features. Other areas will have Type 1 crews working to prepare and hold containment lines.

Keeping the Lolo Creek Fire from impacting US12 is a top priority, and crews have been successful in constructing line around the perimeter. The line continues to hold the Lolo Creek Fire in its current perimeter.

Closures are still in effect in Lolo National Forest, including road, trail, and area closures. Lolo Pass Visitor Center and Lee Creek Campground are included within these areas.

The Granite Pass Complex consists of four fires:

BM Hill Fire: 1,994 acres. 0% contained. Managed under full suppression.

Shotgun Fire: 206 acres. 0% contained.

Lolo Creek: 165 acres. 15% contained. Has the possibility of impacting US12 if fire behavior increases.

Boulder Creek: 10 acres. 0% contained.
Joe Biden speaks at a Town Hall event in Ohio, latest polls show Kamala Harris unpopular with voters, Liz Cheney tears into Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy, life expectancy in the US drops at the fastest rate since World War 2, ratings for NBCs Today Show fall to historic lows.

Plus, Bill's Message of the Day, what did Joe Biden say during Wednesday night's town hall on CNN?
Welblu has unique therapeutic action that simultaneously impacts several mechanisms related to COVID -19 complications

Focelite, a startup at Bangalore Bioinnovation Centre (BBC), plans to launch Welblu, an innovative solution to treat COVID-19, in collaboration with the US partner. It is a curative therapy for COVID-19 positive patients.

A clinical study with this innovative solution has been performed in the US. This study has shown that COVID-19 positive patients who have undergone treatment using Welblu effectively recovered from cytokine storm and respiratory distress in the lesser meantime than the control group.

Welblu has unique therapeutic action that simultaneously impacts several mechanisms related to COVID -19 complications such as severe hypoxia, hyperinflammatory reactions and the increased death signalling leading to an immunosuppressive state.

Likewise, it is seen to be re-adjusting cellular metabolism to a mitochondrioncentred condition that is depriving the COVID-19 virus of energetic and structural supplies.

In predicted wave-3, this product will bridge the gap between vaccinated and the non-vaccinated group. A trial on paediatric age group is underway. It will work effectively on the coronavirus strain of Alpha, Beta, Delta, Delta +, Gamma variation. The product will help in spreading community transmission in the third wave and prevent an individual from dreadful ICU admissions. It will lessen the health economic burden of our country on a huge scale.

BBC is a joint initiative of Department of Biotechnology, Government of India and Department of Electronics, IT, BT and S&T, Government of Karnataka.
Whether it is the industry or academia, life sciences workers are gradually accepting the fact that lab data digitisation improves processes, simplifies workflows and makes research and development (R&D) more efficient. With increasing advances in machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI), digitisation in the research environment is set to become an integral part of every laboratory worldwide. But in emerging markets such as India, there are a large number of factors responsible for its slow adoption such as lack of skilled workforce, high maintenance and service costs, limited expertise, data security etc.
Formalises Indo Israel Innovation Bridge

The Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms (C-CAMP), an initiative supported by Department of Biotechnology, Govt of India and Department of IT, BT, S&T Government of Karnataka, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Consulate General of the State of Israel to South India in Bengaluru to launch an Indo-Israel synergistic partnership in Science & Technology called Indo Israel Innovation Bridge.

The initiative will promote cross-talk and collaborative efforts in scientific research, encourage co-development of innovations and technologies towards commercialization and leverage each others entrepreneurial ecosystem to nurture and accelerate start-ups.

The Bridge that is a key effort in enhancing startup connectivity in the biotech sector between Israel and Karnataka, also looks to identify and link mutual R&aD efforts in both countries in Life Sciences domain.



Dr Ashwathnarayan CN, Deputy Chief Minister, Government of Karnataka said, "I congratulate C-CCAMP on the occasion of Indo Israel Innovation Bridge. Collaboration and integration is the way forward. From Karnataka State Government, I promise support and close collaboration from all departments such as education, health to see that technologies developed at C-CAMP are passed on to the people.



Dr Jonathan Zadka, Consul General of Israel to South India, Bengaluru said We are proud in establishing cooperation by building an Innovation Bridge between Israel and India, bringing closer together the startups ecosystems in life sciences of both countries. The potential of this initiative is enormous, and it has already generated tangible cooperation between startups from Israel and India. By doing so we will be consolidating existing islands of excellence spread across the two nations to create a collaborative environment for cutting-edge R&D. We look forward to supporting the Government of Karnataka to build this bridge of innovation. This new initiative will further strengthen the links between Israel and India.






Night Embassy by Jagermeister is searching for the four most exciting creative minds from Johannesburg's nightlife communities. The campaign supports talent by providing funding, production and mentorship for creative individuals or collectives to make their ideas come to life.

Debuting in Berlin in 2019, the Night Embassy subsequently took place in Moscow digitally, and now launches in Africa with this Johannesburg edition. Bea Theron, Jagermeister's experiential manager, is excited about the four African Night Embassy experiences that will result from the chosen entries, The Night Embassy Johannesburg is about to open its doors across four different urban locations and we want to embark on this journey with you and your community. Parties, installations, poetry, dance, streetwear, design and all conceptual art that comes to life at night. The only limit at the Night Embassy is your imagination."Applications will be judged and selected by a Creative Board of five of Johannesburg's most influential nightlife and culture industry pioneers: event producer, business strategist and venue owner Theresho Selesho; designer, artist and creative director Jana Hamman; DJ and content creator Lelowhatsgood; skate scene pioneer Day Day Marumo and talent management agency owner Thuli Keupzz.These five mentors will educate, inspire and support successful applicants and help them develop and prepare their entire event programme that will be showcased during four residency weeks in November. On 10 and 11 December, following four residency weeks, Night Embassy will close out with the biggest underground party Johannesburg has ever seen.The Night Embassy draws inspiration from both Jagermeister's own heritage of irreverent perfectionism and the freeform creativity of early 90s Berlins nightlife and art scenes. Jagermeister welcomes artists from any background, age and level of experience: the Night Embassy is open to all bold thinkers committed to going from creative concept to creation. These selected projects shine a light on possibilities for our future nightlife and foster a strong sense of local community, says Theron.You might be a musician: multi-instrumentalist or DJ; maybe you're an electroacoustic composer or a one-woman underground music production machine, an Afropop vocalist or a Soweto punk bass prodigy; perhaps you've never created a track in your life, and have instead devoted yourself to spinning the perfect amapiano mix.You might be part of an underground skating society or movement bringing the best collaborative streetwear items to your community. Or maybe you are a visual mastermind of some kind  an immersive media experimentalist, a 3D illustrator, or an imaginative content creator or stylist with a ground-breaking eye for fresh photographic art and disruptive videography. And yes, Night Embassy is looking for sculptors, painters and poets as well. You could be a media art curator with a focus on a niche interest, the head honcho at the helm of a multi-disciplinary collective or even a dedicated party promoter  the list of possibilities is endless!Johannesburg based creatives can apply for a one-week residency this autumn until 13 August.For more information about the Night Embassy by Jagermeister, go to www.night-embassy.com/jhb , or follow @nightembassyjhb on Instagram.
In the aftermath of the looting and protests which happened earlier this month, South Africans from all walks of life have risen to the challenge to #RebuildSA.

How cooking oil brought a moment of joy during a dreadful week It is possible that cooking oil prevented more looting in SA in the last week than the president, the ANC, the intelligence community, the army and the police combined, quips Howard Feldman of Synthesis...

Steers, Wimpy owner has nearly 100 stores hit by looters Steers and Wimpy owner Famous Brands said on Wednesday that several stores, as well as a logistics facility, have suffered various degrees of damage due to the civil unrest in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng...

Residents count cost as South Africa looting starts to die down A week of violence that has engulfed SA slowly began to ebb on Thursday, and people counted the cost of an orgy of arson and looting that has destroyed hundreds of businesses...

Creative Group of Companies M&C Saatchi Group South Africa has called on citizens to rise to the challenge and help heal and change our country.In what has been called a failed insurrection attempt, KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng saw unprecedented destruction of hundreds of shopping malls, the closure of key routes, the decimation of factories, fanning of racial tensions, among much more, which threatens the livelihoods of millions of citizens. However, many more South Africans have come together and committed to rebuilding a country thats fair and inclusive.Founding partner and CEO Mike Abel recently wrote in an open letter on Facebook to South Africans abroad, What I do know about South Africa is every time we get to the very edge, the remarkable everyday people of this country pull us back from the brink. We regroup, re-evaluate and somehow recover.Abel says it is paramount that South Africans who want to help are exposed to how and where they can make a difference. One of our core values as a Group of Companies, and one which we believe is reflected in the spirit of ubuntu and the teachings of the founding father of our democracy Nelson Mandela, is that it is in sincere giving that you receive. Im honoured to be surrounded by partners and associates who drive meaningful initiatives to make a difference, and this is why M&C Saatchi Group South Africa has donated R120,000 to Transition to Transformation to feed 200 families for a critical month, he said.To the backdrop of images of people standing in unimaginably long queues for basic supplies, Abel says that through working closely with professor Nick Binedell of the Gordon Institute of Business Science - it has been ascertained that about R600 will feed a family of four for a month.South Africans can donate to causes such as these with full knowledge that their gesture will make a meaningful difference. The key, though, is acting, said Abel.Always believing that South Africans can achieve more by standing together, Abel encourages everyone to show their belief in South Africa by using a simple symbol designed for Facebook with the rallying call I believe in us.Right now, there is a pressing need to extend a hand to those affected. We created the Facebook Frame as a call to action, to stand together and to make a difference, along with a number of inspiring digital posts to share, said Abel.Abel calls on South Africans who have the means and wish to donate to consider donating towards purchasing meal hampers for families in need. The following details can be used:Transition To TransformationFirst National Bank (FNB)Lynnwood Branch code: 252045Account number: 62407740738All funds go directly to the purchase and distribution of the food parcels.Abel says that as South Africans rally together as they always have, it is M&C Saatchi Group South Africas hope that the government will use this opportunity to tackle the poverty and corruption that has contributed to this crisis.
Pamro is pleased to announce its 22nd annual conference that will run over three days in October. The virtual conference will explore the theme: "Finding certainty in uncertain times through measurement" and is free to all delegates.

The conference will host research experts from across Africa and the rest of the world, who will come together to exchange knowledge and to learn from one anothers successes and failures. The ultimate goal of the event and the organisation is to harmonise research methodologies and encouraging excellence in the industry.In line with this, Pamro invites individuals or institutions to submit their entries. If selected, they will be required to present findings from media audience research activities and/or relevant case studies, to the Pamro audience. Each presentation will be 45 minutes, with a 15 minute Q&A session.Papers on measurement innovation, research-on-research, cross-platform analysis and best practice from professionals in the field of data analytics will be vetted according to their relevance to the industry. Although case studies are welcome, they need to convey findings that are of value to the broader research community.Only papers sent to the PAMRO executive director will be accepted. Contact Jennifer Daniel ( before 4 September 2021.



For more, go to [[www.pamro.org
Over the years, Cheryl Dube has worked as a strategist on a variety of brands. The most challenging and rewarding experiences she's had during this time, she says, have been in the work she's completed on global brands. Here are some of the critical lessons she's learnt along the way.
Soros gave $1 million to Color Of Change PAC on May 14, according to records filed with the Federal Election Commission. It is the progressive billionaires largest political contribution of the 2021 election cycle and his first to the political action committee since 2016.

Color Of Change, which bills itself as the largest online racial justice group in the country, is a vocal supporter of defunding the nations police departments. It led an online political outreach campaign last year to defund police departments following the killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor.

An online petition organized by the group reads, Invest in black communities. Defund the police. The petition also called for divesting from and dismantling the systems that unjustly harm Black people.

Color Of Change supported an effort by the Minneapolis City Council to divert funds from the police department after officer Derek Chauvin murdered Floyd.

Policing is a violent institution that must end. We imagine a country where there is enough money to educate our children, care for our sick and feed those who are financially unstable. Defunding the police allows for this vision, Color Of Change president Rashad Robinson said in a statement supporting the city councils effort.

The defund movement has lost some steam over the past year as violent crime has surged. But Color Of Change remains committed to dismantling police departments.

A campaign director for Color Of Change told a Brooklyn newspaper last month that the group was calling for no more police and no more mass incarceration.

Were saying we need to invest in our communities and the things that keep our communities really safe, said Malachi Robinson.

Soross philanthropy organization, Open Society Foundations, gave Color Of Change grants of more than $1 million in 2019 as well.

As reported by GreatGameIndia earlier, Open Society Foundations, an organization established by George Soros is funded $220 million to BLM (Black Lives Matter) style groups focused on Racial Justice.

The public records disclosed that Soros doubled his 2016 elections expenditures to defeat Donald Trumps re-election campaign. The Open Society Foundations is funding emerging powerful groups like Black Voters Matter, Repairers of The Breach, Circle For Innovations and also the Equal Justice Initiative.

The funding to these groups could eventually end up in the hands of terrorists. Numerous Black Lives Matter organizers have ties to extremist movements of the past, and are not some brand new movement simply fighting for marginalized people today.

Black Lives Matter declared war on the police and released a blueprint for Black Panther style armed patrols monitoring police officers on the streets. BLMs leader revealed in an exclusive interview that they were mobilizing a highly-trained military arm.

A leading Black Lives Matter (BLM) group has atleast one terrorist on its board of directors. Thousand Currents  the group funding the core operations of BLM  is known to have a terrorist Susan Rosenberg as a Vice Chair on its board. Susan is an expert in civil unrest and cultural warfare.

She was the ringleader of Americas only woman-run terror group. She tried to derail Ronald Reagans reelection campaign by orchestrating a violent movement based on racial oppression and spent 16 years in federal prison for domestic terrorism.

The co-founder of the Black Lives Matter movement Patrisse Cullors resigned recently after making millions of dollars. Her resignation comes amid controversy over the groups finances and Cullors personal wealth  including a real-estate buying spree in which she snagged four high-end homes for $3.2 million in the US.

Meanwhile, in an investigation it has been found that 99.64% of the Black Lives Matters Defund the Police donations go to Joe Biden via ActBlue, a Democrat fundraising platform that is the top donor to Biden for President campaign.
The COVID-19 vaccine maker Johnson & Johnson and others is set to pay $26 billion as settlement for causing the Opioid Epidemic.

US pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson and Americas three biggest drug distributors have agreed to pay a combined $26 billion to end the legal liability for their roles in spurring the nations opioid crisis.

Attorneys general from seven states announced the deal on Wednesday, saying that Johnson & Johnson would pay $5 billion and distributors McKesson, Cardinal Health, and AmerisourceBergen about $21 billion combined.

The money will be paid out over time  nine years for Johnson & Johnson and 18 years in the case of the distributors  and will go to states that agree to accept the settlement and forgo pursuing their own lawsuits against the companies.

Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey, whose state will receive more than $500 million, said the agreement fulfilled her promise of making companies that got rich off the opioid epidemic pay a price. The money will help fund programs to prevent and treat opioid addictions.

The companies face thousands of lawsuits over the crisis, which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said caused nearly 500,000 deaths between 1999 and 2019.

Johnson & Johnson is accused of pushing painkillers for excessive use and downplaying their addiction risks, while the distributors allegedly failed to do enough to stop the drugs flowing into illegal channels. Johnson & Johnson agreed last month to a $230-million settlement with New York state.

These companies helped fuel the opioid crisis, which rages in our communities, Healey said. US overdose deaths rose to a record high last year, she added.

These companies helped fuel the opioid crisis, which rages on in our communities. Last year, overdose deaths reached record highs nationwide.



The $500+ million will support our Opioid Recovery and Remediation Fund, which goes towards prevention, treatment, and recovery.  Maura Healey (@MassAGO) July 21, 2021

Under the latest agreement, Johnson & Johnson will be banned from making opioids, and the distributors will add new systems to track such products and prevent them ending up in the wrong hands.

States could start receiving the money by early next year, but the settlement is contingent on getting the vast majority of state and local governments to sign on. At least 48 states must join to get the full payout, and 97 to 98% of local governments must agree to drop or forgo their claims, NBC News reported.

Hard-hit states such as West Virginia and Washington may stick with their own lawsuits. A trial in Washingtons lawsuit against McKesson, Cardinal Health, and AmerisourceBergen is scheduled to begin in September. Its case against Johnson & Johnson is slated to go to trial next January.

The settlement is, to be blunt, not nearly good enough for Washington, Bob Ferguson, the states attorney general, said in a statement. He added that even if the more than 300 Washington cities and counties join in the deal, a total of $527.5 million would be paid to the state over 18 years. Washington is seeking a transformative amount of money in order for state and local governments to address the epidemic, he said.

The US Food and Drug Administration has warned that Johnson & Johnsons single-dose Covid-19 vaccine can cause Guillain-Barre syndrome, a rare disorder where the immune system attacks the nervous system and can result in paralysis.

The US CDC and FDA lifted their recommended pause on use of Johnson & Johnsons coronavirus vaccine with a condition that it will now include a safety label warning that its vaccine comes with blood clot risks.

We need your support to carry on our independent and investigative research based journalism on the Deep State threats facing humanity. Your contribution however small helps us keep afloat. Kindly consider supporting GreatGameIndia.
What's Included

With a Digital Only subscription, you'll receive unlimited access to our website and e-edition. Our digital products are available 24/7 and are accessible anywhere, anytime.

If you have any questions or need further assistance, please call our customer service team at 814-368-3173 or email nfinnerty@oleantimesherald.com.
Infrastructure Minister Ron Schuler characterized Manitobas agricultural outlook as grim during a Thursday afternoon news conference, in which he provided an update on basin conditions and water control structure operations.

Advertisement Advertise With Us

Infrastructure Minister Ron Schuler characterized Manitobas agricultural outlook as "grim" during a Thursday afternoon news conference, in which he provided an update on basin conditions and water control structure operations.

Schuler kicked off the media conference by highlighting the fact that the province has experienced record-low precipitation since September 2020, which has led to well-below normal to record dry soil moisture at some locations.

For example, the Assiniboine River basin only received 78 millimetres of rain in June, even though it averages 92 millimetres by this point in the year.

"The average normal precipitation for July is 68 millimetres. So far, 19 millimetres have been observed," Schuler continued. "The May average is 60 millimetres. This year we saw 36 millimetres."

Flows and water levels are also well below normal for most southern and central Manitoba rivers and lakes, with dry conditions forecasted to continue until the fall.

Because of this, Schuler said the Assiniboine River is the driest it has been since 1961, with government officials recently measuring an average flow of 472 cubic feet per second (CFS) near the Rural Municipality of Headingley.

By contrast, Schuler said the Assiniboine Rivers average flow at this point in the year is 2,920 CFS.

"Keeping in mind flows are being affected by the operation of the Shellmouth Reservoir," Schuler said. "If we did not have the Shellmouth Reservoir, those levels would be much lower."

Lake levels are also being impacted by these dry conditions, with Schuler saying that Lake Manitoba dropped to a historic low of 810.6 feet, the lowest it has ever been for this time of year on record.

"Evaporation is the single greatest source of the decline. In fact, Lake Manitoba dropped one half of a foot in the last month," Schuler said.

"Without any substantial rain, the prediction from our Hydrologic Forecast Centre is that Lake Manitoba will continue to decline by one-half of an inch every week. Again, this is mainly due to evaporation."

Schuler is also worried about how these conditions could impact the water flow of the Fairford Dam located at the northern tip of Lake Manitoba, since a significant drop in CFS could spell disaster for nearby bodies.

"Without this flow, the water in the Fairford River and Lake St. Martin could become stagnant and harm the aquatic life and those in other tributaries," he said.

However, Schuler maintains that Westman bodies such as Dauphin Lake, Lake of the Prairies and Lake Wahtopanah are all within their standard operating levels.

That being said, conditions in the Interlake region are significantly worse, with the Rural Municipality of St. Laurent having declared a state of agricultural disaster on July 5.

"We still believe that we have enough reservoir water," Schuler said. "However, it is getting grim insofar as agriculture because we started out (the spring) so dry. Even a moderate amount of rain simply gets absorbed and it produces no flows in any of our waterways."

If these dry conditions persist, Schuler reminded the public that the minister of agriculture and resource development can declare a serious water shortage under the Water Protection Act, which would allow him to "issue an order to prevent, minimize or alleviate the water shortage."

While Schuler wouldnt unveil how close the province is to taking this step, he said it would be wise for the federal government to consider funding more climate resiliency projects to help Manitobans better prepare for these kinds of crises in the future.

"The province has moved heaven," he said. "Let us now move Earth on some of these climate resiliency projects, like the Lake Manitoba and Lake St. Martin Outlet Channels."

 kdarbyson@brandonsun.com

 Twitter: @KyleDarbyson
The province is spending $2 million to build and operate a new sobering centre in Brandon for people intoxicated by drugs or alcohol.

Advertisement Advertise With Us

The province is spending $2 million to build and operate a new sobering centre in Brandon for people intoxicated by drugs or alcohol.

The sobering centre will give people under the influence of drugs or alcohol a safe place to go if they dont have anyone to care for them.

Rather than using police cells or hospital resources, the sobering centre will give non-violent people a place for short-term recovery around the clock, Justice Minister Cameron Friesen said Thursday morning. The facility will combine harm reduction, withdrawal management and other supports to people.

Public intoxication is a significant issue in the city, Friesen said. Brandon police officers detained more than 500 people under the Intoxicated Persons Detention Act between April 2020 and January 2021.

"That kind of response puts significant burden on the police detachment, it puts a significant burden on the health-care facilities in this region and in this city," he said while standing outside Brandon City Hall.

"It provides a much better way to care for persons and to maintain public safety and to allocate resources both in our health care and in our police agencies."

The sobering centre in Brandon was a recommendation from the Canadian Mental Health Association on addictions care in the region, Friesen said.

Justice Minister Cameron Friesen speaks outside Brandon City Hall on Thursday morning during the announcement of funding for a sobering centre in Brandon. (Drew May/The Brandon Sun)

The project is a partnership between the City of Brandon and the province. Mayor Rick Chrest said it was an "auspicious day" and the centre will help expand and provide more appropriate resources to intoxicated people.

"Today will mark the beginning of the program  we get to start with a clean canvas," he said.

"Well get to determine a made-in-Brandon solution to this issue that sadly has been a growing consideration. Pandemics have not been a friend to those that are experiencing other mental health or addictions issues."

Brandon Police Service Deputy Chief Randy Lewis said the centre will enhance public safety by freeing up officers time from taking care of intoxicated people. The police station is open 24/7, so officers are often the ones caring for intoxicated people.

Once built, he said the facility will be more of a medical environment for people than police holding cells.

"Being intoxicated in a public place is not a crime and, unfortunately, without other alternatives to ensure the safety of these folks, over the years theyve been lodged in the same cells as some of our hardened criminals are lodged in," he said. "This is certainly going to be an improvement."

The City of Brandon and the province are still in discussions in the concrete details of the sobering centre, including the location, who will staff it and which level of government will provide ongoing funding.

While community advocates have been calling for a 24/7 safe space where people can get help and treatment for addictions, Friesen said the sobering centre will not fill the role of a crisis centre. He said, though, that could be the next step and the newly created Department of Mental Health and Addictions is involved.

Brandon Police Service Deputy Chief Randy Lewis speaks outside Brandon City Hall on Thursday morning. (Drew May/The Brandon Sun)

Addictions advocate Kim Longstreet said the sobering centre is a positive step and something she has been asking for in the Wheat City.

To be successful, she said the sobering centre will need to be comprehensive and offer a range of services so its not just a "revolving door" for people experiencing addictions. An Indigenous component is also needed.

"When I think about having someone go to a sober unit, its not just to sober them up. That is an opportunity for the community to work with the person to perhaps maybe try going to detox and going on to treatment," she said.

Brandon still needs long-term drug treatment beds to help people beyond a 21-day treatment program, she said.

The provinces announcement doesnt go far enough to provide addiction supports for people in Brandon, NDP mental health and addictions critic Bernadette Smith said in a statement.

"Westman families struggling with addiction need supports and services that help them get back on their feet.  Its time for the government to invest in harm-reduction strategies and create culturally relevant programs with wraparound supports."

The announcement of a sobering centre in Brandon follows the province funding one in Thompson in June 2020.

 dmay@brandonsun.com

 Twitter: @DrewMay_
Theres something other than the current price of oil Brandonites have noticed when going by gas stations in town recently.

Advertisement Advertise With Us

Theres something other than the current price of oil Brandonites have noticed when going by gas stations in town recently.

Residents have reported over the past several days that a few gas stations in town have had to close temporarily, apparently due to running out of fuel.

That includes the gas bar at Superstore as well as the Petro-Canada stations on Victoria Avenue West.

The Sun reached out to fuel price tracking company GasBuddy to see what they knew about the issue.

Their head of petroleum analysis, Patrick De Haan, wrote in an email that while the company has far less visibility into the Canadian supply chain than that of the United States, he wouldnt be surprised if it was due to a trucker shortage.

"If there are outages, they should be limited," De Haan wrote. "There are no shortages of fuel."

In response to a media request from the Sun, Petro-Canadas parent company, Suncor, acknowledged there have been some issues.

"We have experienced some logistics challenges in the area in the last 24 hours, which have resulted in temporary outages for certain grades of fuel," Suncors Mita Adesanya wrote in an email. "We are working to ensure that all sites are returned to full operations as soon as possible. We apologize for any inconvenience to our customers."

Another email, this time from Superstores parent company, Loblaws, offers another reason for the closures.

"We can confirm that the gas bar has been closed on a few occasions as local fires have made the distribution  in the area difficult at times," Loblaws public relations department wrote.

As of Wednesdays fire situation report from the province, there were 131 total fires burning in Manitoba. Of those, 32 are in the provinces west.

In total, there have been 321 wildfires in Manitoba this year that have burned a total of 583,388 hectares  approximately 6,000 square kilometres  of land.

 The Brandon Sun
OTTAWA - The federal government responded to weeks of pressure from Canadian veterans on Friday by announcing that it will fast-track the resettlement of potentially thousands of Afghans who have worked with Canada at different times over the past 20 years.

Marco Mendicino, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, attends a press conference in Ottawa on Thursday, May 13, 2021. The federal government says it will fast-track the resettlement of Afghans who previously worked with the Canadian military and embassy and are now at risk from the Taliban. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

OTTAWA - The federal government responded to weeks of pressure from Canadian veterans on Friday by announcing that it will fast-track the resettlement of potentially thousands of Afghans who have worked with Canada at different times over the past 20 years.

Yet the trio of cabinet ministers on hand to announce the new immigration measures were surprisingly light on details, including exactly who will be eligible as well as how and when people now in danger from the Taliban for having helped Canada will start to arrive.

For operational security reasons, the precise timing of this operation is extremely sensitive, said Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino, who is leading the effort alongside Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan and Foreign Affairs Marc Garneau.

For the safety and security of the Afghans as well as the Canadian teams who are already on the ground  we have to safeguard the precise details of how this operation will be carried out, as well as exactly when it will begin.

Fridays announcement followed growing concern and frustration within Canadas veterans community after the sudden withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan in recent weeks emboldened the Taliban to take large swaths of the country.

The captured territory includes parts of the southern province of Kandahar, where the Canadian military spent the longest amount of time during its 13-year mission in the country and fought its bloodiest battles since the Korean War.

Canada lost 158 soldiers and seven civilians in Afghanistan before the military was withdrawn in 2014, most of them to hostile action by the Taliban.

Now the veterans say those Afghans who supported them as well as their families are facing the threat of retribution as the Taliban expands its reach and looks to exact revenge on collaborators.

Mendicino said the government already has teams on the ground working to identify people who are at risk for having worked with Canada, and that immigration officials will fast-track applications for asylum from those who qualify.

Our focus is on those who have had a significant and enduring relationship with the government of Canada, he said.

Those eligible will include but are not limited to interpreters who worked with the Canadian Forces during the combat mission, locally engaged staff currently or previously employed at the Canadian Embassy and their families.

He also encouraged Afghans now living in Canada to reach out to his office directly if they feel their families back at home are at risk and eligible.

Canada previously resettled about 800 Afghan nationals and their families in two separate programs launched in 2008 and 2012, before the end of the military mission.

Asked how many people could be eligible for escape to Canada this time around, Mendicino said: Without getting into precise numbers, we do anticipate that the numbers will be in the several thousand.

Mendicino and Sajjan also refused to say how the refugees will get to Canada, including whether Ottawa was fighting for space on evacuation flights planned by the U.S. and other allies.

Obviously, for operational security reasons, we can't provide the details, Sajjan said. But one thing I can assure you that we are involved with the planning the logistics and security of how this will take place.

He added, without providing detail, that Canada is in contact with its allies.

Fridays announcement had been long anticipated after the government faced mounting pressure from Canadian veterans and others worried about former Afghan colleagues who now face arrest and even death at the hands of the Taliban.

Many had questioned why Canada was slow to act compared to the U.S., which is working with NATO to fly about 4,000 Afghan nationals and their families out of the country, and whose Congress has approved tens of thousands of special visas.

The U.S. is also reportedly considering flying tens of thousands of former interpreters and others to Kuwait and Bahrain so their immigration applications can be processed in safety.

The Conservatives and NDP blasted the timing of Fridays announcement, accusing the Liberal government of having been caught unprepared and then dragging its feet until pressured into action.

The Americans made it clear that they would be leaving Afghanistan months ago, and the rise of the Taliban was an expected result, Conservative Leader Erin OToole said in a statement.

Its quite disappointing that these Afghans who saved the lives of our men and women in uniform were an afterthought to this Liberal government.

The NDP echoed that assessment and criticized the lack of detail, including when Afghans will start being evacuated.

One Canadian veteran involved in the grassroots push to help Afghans agreed that the government likely wouldnt have acted if it wasnt for the outcry that preceded Fridays announcement.

But Dave Morrow, a Montreal-area high school teacher who served in Afghanistan in 2010-11 and has been trying to help Afghan interpreters come to Canada for a decade, said the important thing is the government has made a firm commitment.

Morrow, who is a member of an online group called Afghan-Canadian Interpreters that has been spearheading the issue, also agreed with the ministers concerns about security when it came to providing details about the current effort.

We are actively working with the Canadian government to ensure that we get as many Afghans as possible over to Canada, Morrow said. So I have every confidence the government wouldnt backtrack.

The question now is what criteria will be used to decide which family members of Afghans who worked with Canada can come here, Morrow said, and when people can start to escape.

Every day that we let go is another day that we could potentially save lives, he said. However, that needs to be buttressed now with the operational security aspect of things.  There's going to be a fine balance there.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 23, 2021.
IQALUIT, Nunavut - In early May, six residents of Iqaluits elders home were put on charter flights leaving the city after a staff member tested positive for COVID-19.

IQALUIT, Nunavut - In early May, six residents of Iqaluits elders home were put on charter flights leaving the city after a staff member tested positive for COVID-19.

Four were sent to the Embassy West Seniors Living Residence in Ottawa and two others were sent elsewhere in the territory, the Nunavut government said at the time.

Nearly 2 1/2 months later, none of them has returned and the elders home remains closed.

In recent news conferences, Nunavut's health minister Lorne Kusugaksaid the elders would be able to return once staffing permits.

There is no clear timeline for when that will happen, said Anne Crawford, an Iqaluit lawyer and volunteer with Pairijait Tigumivik, the non-profit group that managed the home for the last 25 years.

"When you have that farewell at the airport ... you don't know if they're going to come back," she said. "They're such incredible people and resources for the communities. And we're taking them away."

Crawford said the elders thought they would be gone for two weeks  the amount of time for staff to complete isolation.

"Now they're in an institution, in a different city, with no connection to their families."

Crawford suggested the elders sent out in May should never have been made to leave the territory.

Pairijait Tigumivik approached the Iqaluit Housing Authority and churches in town to see if the elders could be taken in, but the government was "intent on sending them south," said Crawford.

"It's a crisis. Of course you have to cope with it. But you go to community resources," she said.

She also said a solution was only needed for four days. Enough staff would have finished isolation by then and the home could have been reopened.

Kusugak said in early June that the closure gave the department an opportunity to make repairs. He said the elders wouldn't return to Iqaluit until renovations were complete.

"Theres no safe place for them to be here at this time," he said.

The department also needs to find a new group to run the home. Pairijait Tigumivik's contract was to expire March 31, but it continued to provide care through May 10.

Crawford said the group had concerns about some of the department's requests, including removing some Inuit staff. She said the group contacted the Health Department to say it wouldn't be seeking a contract extension, didn't receive a response, and ultimately quit.

Kusugak said the plan has always been to bring the elders back.

"When the new management team is in place, the staff are properly trained, and the facility itself is ready to accept elders  at that time they will be here," Kusugak said.

In a statement to The Canadian Press on July 14, a spokesperson for Nunavuts Health Department said renovations started on May 31 and are expected to finish this summer.

"While the closure is temporary, the facility will not be reopening until the scheduled renovations are completed, the community outbreak is cleared, the contract with the new service provided has been signed and there are sufficient staffing levels," the department said.

Iqaluit's COVID-19 outbreak was declared over on Tuesday. There are no active cases in the territory.

Elders in Nunavut are regularly sent out of the territory for care. There is currently no care in the territory for elders with dementia or for those needing to be looked after 24 hours a day.

The government plans to build three long-term care facilities in Nunavut  in Iqaluit, Rankin Inlet and Cambridge Bay  by 2030.

There are two elders homes now, one in Iqaluit and one in Arviat, that offer assisted living residential care. They can accommodate eight elders each. There are smaller elder care centres in Igloolik, Gjoa Haven and Arviat, with 28 beds combined.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 24, 2021.

This story was produced with the financial assistance of the Facebook and Canadian Press News Fellowship
FREDERICTON - The low number of new COVID-19 cases reported in New Brunswick and the rising level of vaccination among eligible residents is allowing the government to lift all public health orders in one week, Premier Blaine Higgs said Friday.

New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs speaks with the media in Fredericton, N.B., on Monday, June 21, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Stephen MacGillivray

FREDERICTON - The low number of new COVID-19 cases reported in New Brunswick and the rising level of vaccination among eligible residents is allowing the government to lift all public health orders in one week, Premier Blaine Higgs said Friday.

"We came to this decision because we surpassed our first goal of 75 per cent of eligible population getting their first vaccine and are now at 81 per cent," Higgs told reporters in Fredericton.

"In addition, by the end of next week the percentage of eligible New Brunswickers vaccinated with a second dose will be sufficient to balance out many of the current risks of living with COVID-19, while we continue to strive to vaccinate as many New Brunswickers as possible," Higgs added.

By midnight July 30, all limits on gatherings will be lifted, including in theatres, restaurants and stores. The mask mandate will also be allowed to expire. Federal border restrictions, however, will remain.

Dr. Jennifer Russell, the province's chief medical officer of health, warned people that the virus still exists and they need to be cautious. Some businesses, she added, have indicated they will maintain certain restrictions, adding that she expected some residents will continue to wear masks.

"There should be no reason that anyone should be stigmatized, ostracized or judged for wearing a mask," Russell said.

New Brunswick is reporting very few new cases of COVID-19 and most of them have been related to travel, she added. Russell thanked the public for their willingness to get their first and second doses of vaccine, and she encouraged others to make and keep their appointments.

About 62.7 per cent of eligible New Brunswickers are fully vaccinated while 81.2 per cent have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine.

Health officials reported three new cases of COVID-19 in the province Friday, with two in the Saint John region and one in the Fredericton area. There are 10 active reported cases in the province and no one is hospitalized with the disease.

New Brunswick has reported a total of 2,350 cases of COVID-19 and 46 deaths linked to the novel coronavirus.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 23, 2021.

 By Kevin Bissett in Halifax.
HALIFAX - A young woman's angry denunciation of Nova Scotia's Liberals for dropping her candidacy over revealing photos left leader Iain Rankin exposed Friday to wider critiques of his leadership style.

Premier Iain Rankin and his wife Mary Chisholm visit a market after meeting with Lt.-Gov. Arthur LeBlanc to call an election in Halifax on Saturday, July 17, 2021. The election will be held Aug. 17. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan

HALIFAX - A young woman's angry denunciation of Nova Scotia's Liberals for dropping her candidacy over revealing photos left leader Iain Rankin exposed Friday to wider critiques of his leadership style.

"This was supposed to be a boring summer campaign and now it's really not  and the Liberal party is getting attention for the wrong reasons," Lori Turnbull, an associate professor at the school of public administration at Dalhousie University, said Friday in an interview.

Robyn Ingraham, former Liberal candidate in the Nova Scotia election who says she was dropped because of her online photos, is shown in a handout photo from Facebook. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Facebook-The Gentle Barber MANDATORY CREDIT

The controversy appeared minor on Saturday, when Robyn Ingraham announced she would not be running in Dartmouth South, citing "the time commitment and intensity of a campaign and the impact it will have on my mental health."

But in a terse social media post days later, Ingraham stated the real reason she was forced to leave was because of photos she had taken and posted on multiple platforms, including the OnlyFans subscription service.

"I explained that I love to show off the artwork on my skin, and I have no problem taking boudoir photos alone and with friends," she said Wednesday on Instagram.

Ingraham claims that on the eve of the election call and after some photos had become public, she was told by party workers she was being dropped as a candidate. She says she was asked to blame her mental illness as the reason for exiting the campaign.

A barber and small business owner, Ingraham also published an email she said she had sent to Rankin, which stated the party had made a mistake by forcing her out. "The misogynistic behaviour of those above you is not tolerable," she wrote to the premier. "It's not my job to make old white men comfortable."

On Friday, Rankin's news conference in rural Cape Breton about tourism funding quickly turned into a barrage of questions from reporters about how the ousting of Ingraham occurred, what was said and who was responsible. He confirmed his team "assisted" Ingraham with her resignation statement and said he has been repeatedly trying to contact her to learn her version of events.

Rankin also told CTV news during the news conference he's "sad to lose a candidate in this race," adding there were elements in Ingraham's public Instagram post that made him "uncomfortable."

But in a brief interview with The Canadian Press at her barber shop in Dartmouth, N.S., Ingraham said she doesn't plan to talk with Rankin.

"I haven't spoken to him and I have no intention of speaking to him," she said.

I just wanted my story to get out there.

She also said she doesn't want to run for any other party. "I just want to get back to running my business," she said at her shop, called Devoted Barbers and Co.

Tory Leader Tim Houston says the incident suggests there's been a pattern of alleged misogynistic attitudes in the premier's office, in reference to the resignation of former Liberal cabinet minister Margaret Miller in June.

At the time, emails had emerged in which Miller had suggested a staff person in Rankin's office had displayed misogynistic behaviour.

"Margaret Miller, a former minister colleague of (Rankin's) for seven years, raised concerns about misogynistic behaviour," Houston told reporters Friday. "He never even picked up the phone and called her. That's concerning."

Houston added that Rankin consistently blames others when he should be directly involved in decisions such as the vetting of candidates.

NDP Leader Gary Burrill, who made a child care announcement in Halifax Friday, has responded to Ingraham's allegations by calling on parties to take a stand against misogynistic attacks on female candidates.

Turnbull says the controversy has forced Rankin off his campaign themes and onto the defensive, and she raised questions about his oversight of staff. "He's said in his statement that the party is committed to openness and inclusion and this is an example of someone excluded," the professor said.

"This is a reflection on the party that will carry across the province."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 23, 2021.
We have two pandemics: We have the actual pandemic and then we have this pandemic of hate. Things are kind of getting worse both online and offline ... with maybe one pandemic, we have kind of a solution for, but the hate thing, we dont have a vaccine for that.

"We have two pandemics: We have the actual pandemic and then we have this pandemic of hate. Things are kind of getting worse both online and offline ... with maybe one pandemic, we have kind of a solution for, but the hate thing, we dont have a vaccine for that."

 Evan Balgord, executive director of the Canadian Anti-Hate Network

A few days ago, a report by the U.K.-based Institute for Strategic Dialogue suggested that online activity by right-wing extremists in Canada rose last year during the COVID-19 pandemic. Thats in spite of efforts by the federal government and social media companies to curb hate speech and extremism.

The report also found that right-wing extremists in Canada are being influenced by their increasingly violent counterparts in the United States, as explained in a CBC story this week.

"This raises the concern that an emboldened and increasingly violent extreme right in the U.S. could help to inspire similar activity in Canada, as Canadian right-wing extremists look to their U.S. counterparts for inspiration," wrote the authors of the report.

Even more concerning, perhaps, was the assertion that this extremism may yet worsen as lockdown restrictions across the country are eased.

The reports investigators found that the number of individual posts on large social media platforms increased significantly, even as the number of accounts on some platforms dropped in number.

A story by The Canadian Press last June reported that many of the online conspiracy theories about COVID-19 and protests against public health orders have been "laden with racism and bigotry." A spokesman for the Canadian Anti-Hate Network suggested that those espousing hateful beliefs have linked themselves to these COVID conspiracies and anti-lockdown movements.

Thats not to say all people who believe the federal and provincial governments are illegally taking away the rights of Canadians by imposing health restrictions are bigots and racists. Thats obviously not the case.

But the concern here is that hate groups are co-opting and exploiting these movements to drive membership, and turn Canadians against their governments  and against other Canadians. Evidence can be found at many of the anti-lockdown rallies that have popped up around the country, where members of the far right have perpetually turned up.

According to Balgord, such events allow an increasing number of people to "come into close contact with racists and bigots of all stripes"  what he called "fertile hunting" for new recruits.

The march of COVID-19 around the globe, for example, came arm-in-arm with a rise in anti-Asian sentiments, as people blamed China for the health emergency facing our society. The result has been violence directed against Asians and Asian Americans/Canadians across North America.

USA Today reported in February that violence against Asian Americans rose sharply in March of this year, especially after former U.S. president Donald Trump insisted on using the term "Chinese virus" when referring to COVID-19.

And in March, a report released by several advocacy groups, including the Chinese Canadian National Council Toronto Chapter, looked at more than 1,150 cases of racist attacks that were reported through online forums. One in 10 of all cases involved people being purposefully coughed or spat on, with 11 per cent involving unwanted touching or physical assault. One in five attacks occurred in restaurants and grocery stores, "making them the second-most-frequent sites for racist attacks, after public spaces like parks, streets or sidewalks, which made up half of all reported cases," according to a CTV report.

And the attacks have apparently continued. Several Asian and Middle Eastern businesses along Pembina Highway in Winnipeg were streaked with red spray paint overnight on Wednesday, with vandals scrawling crude swastikas on windows and adjacent sidewalks. One business owner whose shop sells Japanese and South Korean goods, said she believed the attack on her shop and a neighbouring bubble tea vendor was motivated by anti-Asian racism.

"As Asians, we are being targeted ... Its a hate crime, its not a random joke," she said.

Ahead of yesterday's emergency national summit on Islamophobia, Justin Trudeau told Global News this week that hatred against Muslims has been fed by populism and the politics of division. Trudeau also urged Canadians yesterday to fight for the kind of Canada "we all want to see."

"A place where we celebrate diversity, where we stand together, we look out for each other."

He may not be the most popular prime minister this country has ever produced  nor the smartest, evidenced by the blackface imbroglio he faced during the last federal election  but he is right about one thing. If Canada is to curb hatred against visible minorities within its borders, the effort has to come from ordinary citizens who refuse to tolerate it.

We should not let resentment over pandemic politics excuse the rise of bigotry and hate in our society. We need to be better than this.
There is a popular childrens story in which an emperor is led to believe that wearing no clothes is the finest apparel. The emperor struts about believing he is displaying the finest fashion. Unfortunately for the emperor, the people can literally see right through this. All credibilitys lost as a result.

There is a popular childrens story in which an emperor is led to believe that wearing no clothes is the finest apparel. The emperor struts about believing he is displaying the finest fashion. Unfortunately for the emperor, the people can literally see right through this. All credibilitys lost as a result.

Enter the "Fact vs Fiction" press conference hosted by Education Minister Cliff Cullen on June 14. While alleging that our associations "Local Voices, Local Choices" and "Sign Up For 64" public information campaigns are designed to bolster partisan politics in favour of the opposition NDP, Cullen concluded that only the government was spokesperson for the truth.

The minister fails to see that school boards have absolutely no interest in supporting any political party. Among the elected in our country, school boards remain unaffiliated. Trustee candidates run for office based on whats best for kids and communities, not whats best for a party.

If factual information on Bill 64 as shared by non-political school boards plays into the hands of his opposition, then the minister should really look in the mirror to see why the entire province is snickering at what, under Bill 64, he actually believes is a better strategy for education in a province that already remains among the worlds best-performing systems. Instead, the mirrors are only filled with smoke "last in the country," "third-highest spending," "poorest outcomes," etc, etc, etc. This the minister knows very well  or does he?

During the same press conference, Cullen provided further "clarifications." "There will be no disruptions to students or teachers." If introducing wholesale reforms in the midst of a pandemic is not understood as the biggest disruption in over a century, then Broadway is more isolated than COVID demands. The ministers listening tours, following the release of his strategy, called on schools to divert much-needed focus away from kids, to engage with government during the last weeks of school. And most of the "listening" was then required on the part of these teachers and principals as the minister delivered twenty minutes of scripted narrative at a cost of tens of thousands of dollars in diverted salary on the part of these staff.

The minister laid more bare facts on the table, stating that Bill 64 wont affect local business interests. "We will design a strategy for regional procurement where it makes sense to do so."

When a politician starts telling you theyre going to use their own "sense" to design any strategy, that is clear enough. Particularly when driven by fiscal efficiency. If it is anything like the "sense" and "efficiency" used by the government to continue reforming healthcare during a raging pandemic, then we are greatly concerned for our communities, students, schools, employers, and local businesses.

Under healthcare, the sense used by this government is counted in lives lost. For education, it will be counted by opportunities missed. Local programs are discontinued because politicians believe their cost is inefficient. Purchasing is exercised by Broadway because this government believes central services are far more efficient than local services. In real terms, this has meant closures of agricultural offices in rural Manitoba and hospital beds province-wide, while eliminating your MPI refunds and hiking Hydro costs.

There is far too much at stake for this to happen. There is no Alberta or Ontario where we can airlift our most vulnerable students. There are no North Dakota truck stops where our schools will receive key programs when these are needed the most.

Much that can be written regarding the ministers new clothes we have done so, on localvoices.ca. About how, from governments perspective, schools will not be closed under Bill 64, even as the moratorium on school closures is removed under Bill 64. How bus routes will not be extended, even as Bill 64 eliminates the current one-hour maximum on the same. How parents will be engaged "more than ever," even as the government has already removed the once required annual meeting with their association. How communities voices will be "heard," even as their right to elect and sit on local boards is stripped away. How an appointed advisory council will represent communities when such council already exists by law  though not convened even once during the past two decades, notwithstanding a clear legal mandate that government do so.

We could go on, but trust that Manitobans see all of this for what it truly is: a bare naked parade on the part of a minister whose chief clothier  the premier  has handed him an invisible cloak as "fact." If the apparel that our association wears is "fiction" and if it promotes the cause of the opposition in any way, then this government has lost touch with its own core values beyond repair. No stitching can close the many rips they themselves have torn in the process.

ALAN M. CAMPBELL, president

Manitoba School Boards Association
You keep using that word: I do not think it means what you think it means
Colourful soccer identity Bill Papas has been joined by his girlfriend in Greece as Westpac starts to expand its investigation into an alleged $400 million fraud orchestrated by the Sydney man, which the bank now believes may have started long before 2018.

Sources aware of the couples travels who requested anonymity for legal reasons say Mr Papas and his girlfriend Louise Agostino are holed up in Mr Papass seaside apartments in Thessaloniki. Ms Agostino has worked for several years at the Forum group of companies and Mr Papas waste business Orca.

Bill Papas on signing a sponsorship deal between his waste company iugis and Liverpool FC. Credit:

Mr Papas has been in Greece since June, while Ms Agostino recently joined him. Ms Agostino has not been accused of any involvement in the alleged Forum Finance fraud.

This week The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald revealed Mr Papas owned two apartments on Alexander the Great Boulevard in Thessolinki overlooking the Aegean Sea.
Chinese regulators are considering serious, perhaps unprecedented, penalties for Didi Global after its controversial initial public offering last month, according to people familiar with the matter.

Regulators see the ride-hailing giants decision to go public despite pushback from the Cyberspace Administration of China as a challenge to Beijings authority, the people said, asking not to be named because the matter is private. Officials from the CAC, the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of State Security, the Ministry of Natural Resources, along with tax, transport and antitrust regulators, began an investigation on-site at the companys offices, the cyberspace watchdog said in a statement.

Regulators clamped down on Didi days after its shares began trading in New York. Credit:AP

Regulators are weighing a range of potential punishments, including a fine, suspension of certain operations or the introduction of a state-owned investor, the people said. Also possible is a forced delisting or withdrawal of Didis US shares, although its unclear how such an option would play out.

Deliberations are at a preliminary phase and the outcomes are far from certain. Beijing is likely to impose harsher sanctions on Didi than on Alibaba Group, which swallowed a record $US2.8 billion ($3.8 billion) fine after a months-long antitrust investigation and agreed to initiate measures to protect merchants and customers, the people said.
In this Daly River community, the 500 women, men and children belong to 10 distinct language groups. Miriam-Rose tells me with the skills of a natural teacher about the four languages she herself speaks, in addition to English. Shes highly educated, was the first Indigenous teacher in the Northern Territory, has a Masters degree in education, an Honorary Doctorate from Charles Darwin University, and is a stunning visual artist. In that capacity she has enriched the iconography of Christian or Western religious art with an Indigenous depth of narrative that makes it singularly tender, as well as inclusive. Its quite late in our conversation when we look together at a photo on my phone of one of her well-known Stations of the Cross series of paintings. In this painting, Miriam-Rose  herself a mother, aunt, grandmother, sister, aunty to many beyond familiar biological definitions  gives us a Mary holding the body of her dead son, Jesus. It takes her keen eye to point out to us that the hearts of Mary and Jesus are one. Detail of Stations of a Cross image - Mother and Son- by Dr Miriam-Rose Ungunmerr-Baumann. Credit:Cathy Laudenbach Oneness is a word Miriam-Rose has already used. So is belonging. And several times she has emphasised, Everybody belongs, everybody matters. It doesnt matter what you have done, you still belong. Its more than a belonging to one another. The universe shes evoking is far larger than that. Its a belonging to ancestors, to the future as well as the past, and its very particularly what she calls, A belonging into nature. Thats what makes place as well as people sacred. Thats what makes displacement agonising. It is also what allows us to perceive, however dimly, that the ravaging exploitation of the earth, and the climate crisis we are resisting acknowledging, are symptoms of a crippling disconnection: a spiritual crisis thats inescapable and may be fatal. Loading

Miriam-Roses profound, transformative recognition of multiple layers of belonging, both into the physical and metaphysical worlds, and to one another, makes sense of the worlds mystical traditions which are, of course, mere infant religions compared to that all-encompassing spirituality cherished and lived over tens of thousands of years. This is not about belief. It is about knowing. As she brings our attention to the oneness demonstrated on her painting of a mother (Mary) mourning a son (Jesus) who has been tormented and hideously murdered, I am left for minutes with tears and without words. Miriam-Rose doesnt need to point to any contemporary parallels, nor does she elaborate on many of the paintings where endurance and courage are given and received in a glance. In an earlier painting in the series, where Jesus is met by his mother on the path as he makes his way towards his own crucifixion, Miriam-Rose shows the mother simply reaching her hand towards her son, not embracing him. Thats our way, she explains. After the boy is 10, 11, 12, after the ceremonies, were not allowed to touch him, not allowed to sit with him. She continues, Some people that dont understand Blackfella stuff, theyre always on top of you, always talking to you, (and not listening, shes kind enough not to add). We have been talking for more than an hour at this point about the principles of dadirri, the spirituality which Miriam-Rose describes as known to all First Nations, yet simultaneously belongs to us all. This is not a theory or spiritual practice. It is an entire way of seeing and being. Everybody has it, she emphasises. You have it. We all have it. Its just that you havent been given the opportunity to discover it. Everybody has it. You have it. We all have it. Its just that you havent been given the opportunity to discover it.

Dadirri could be described in any number of ways: simplest is best. It is, The deep spring that is inside us. Better yet, it is the source of our inner wholeness and that belonging with everything around us. It brings non-judgmental healing, even in the hardest of times, even of our own selves. We can call on it and it calls to us, Miriam-Rose explains. This is the gift that Australia is thirsting for. When I experience dadirri, Im whole again. I can find my peace in this silent awareness. Miriam-Rose is adamant that she cannot teach dadirri. It cant be learned as an abstraction or from just reading about it. Like all authentic knowledge, it must be experienced. It comes as a deep, inner listening and quiet, still awareness. Her humour again comes to life. You have to be open to it. And start by slowing down. Stopping to smell a rose? Thats not good enough! Youve got to be open in your spirit. Not stopping to smell a rose then rushing off to work. And open, too, to the equally deep truths of dadirri: that every life matters; that we belong into one another; that we live in oneness with the universe. Stations of the Cross image by Dr Miriam-Rose Ungunmerr-Baumann. Credit:Cathy Laudenbach At the worst of times for those in her community and well beyond, when loved ones suicide or are abandoned or have lost their way, its the connection to earth through the deep, still, contemplative listening of dadirri that goes some way towards healing. Returning to the bush, to land and family that, Miriam-Rose belongs into, restores her spirit and self. Its what some might call a conscious NOW. When I experience dadirri, I am made whole again. I can find my peace in this silent awareness. Dadirri also means awareness of where youve come from, why you are here, where you are going now and [most of all] where you belong.

The disruptions to Indigenous belonging dont need spelling out. They are lived out daily by all First Nations people. A contemplative listening practice that reconnects us with our own deep spring within would indeed be utterly transformative for all Australians, personally and collectively. But it requires a shift in our attitude to time as well as place. Rushing, hurrying, failing to listen or to live without hectic rush, keep wounds open and add to trauma. Miriam-Roses first spiritual teacher was her own mother, Mary, whose understanding of this immensely subtle, complex culture was very strong. Miriam-Rose  then Rosie  was the second of seven children. At the age of seven, her father died and she went to live with her uncle and aunt who were also brother and sister to her parents. Her uncle was a famous police tracker and I learned that even in tracking, listening is the primary sense used. Young Australian of the Year Isobel Marshall, Senior Australian of the Year Dr Miriam-Rose Ungunmerr-Baumann, Australian of the Year Grace Tame and Local Hero Rosemary Kariuki at the presentation ceremony in Canberra. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen It was in that Adelaide River community that her education began at a time when the education of Indigenous children was generally extremely poor. But when that maternal aunt died, it wasnt acceptable for Miriam-Rose to stay with her uncle, so she returned to her biological mother which, because of the elaborate sense of belonging to a much wider community than immediate family, seems to have been easy for her to accept. They instil you in all that [belonging], was her calm answer to my questions about those times. Which made it hard to look past that one of her own sisters, the only child with a white father, was stolen. Loading
THE LAST LETTER FROM YOUR LOVER 

M, 110 minutes, Netflix Romance is not dead  only resting, like the Norwegian blue parrot. Modern movie romance is extremely difficult to pull off because a) studio films for young women are all about punching people and b) a modern woman doesnt need a man to be free, fulfilled or happy. Callum Turner as Anthony OHare and Shailene Woodley as Jennifer Stirling in The Last Letter From Your Lover. Credit:Parisa Taghizadeh/Netflix And yet, skilled romance writers like Jojo Moyes still sell a pantload of books, like the one on which this is based, so someone must be buying it. And tragic romances never quite go out of fashion, because theyre the best kind. Love without loss is like porridge without salt (or comedy without humour). Shailene Woodley moves into a more adult role here. She is also credited as executive producer, which tells us she owns its themes. The film is set in two periods, 55 years apart. Thats always hard, but American director Augustine Frizzell keeps it clear with classical fashion: Woodley looks like she robbed a Chanel van on its way to Harrods, circa 1965. This is the past as Vogue cover, but quite deliberately so.

Loading Woodley is Jennifer, an American debutante married to a stiff and controlling young British tycoon (Joe Alwyn). They have every material thing  a beautiful London residence, a house and yacht on the French Riviera  but they dont have love. Jennifer is very proper. She does not succumb easily to the dashing foreign correspondent, played by Callum Turner, who comes to the Riviera to interview her husband. The seduction is epistolary. Fifty-five years later, the letters fall into the hands of Ellie (Felicity Jones), a London journalist, but not all at once. To sustain mystery and tension, she must uncover them like a detective. Loading The contrast between these two women is the point. Ellie loves the romance of letters, since she has only grown up with texting; she has a chaotic love life, her eight-year relationship having collapsed because she didnt want kids. Jennifer feels unable to leave her husband because of all the things that bound women before the courts made divorce easier. The men in this story have less dimension, because they already have their freedom.
The 2014 English crime drama series The Missing introduced French police detective Julien Baptiste, a quietly persistent specialist in locating people who had disappeared. The series also marked the launch of English writer-producer Jack and Harry Williams Two Brother Pictures, the company which went on to produce Fleabag, Liar, The Widow and Rellik.

Their inaugural thriller proved a surprise success and, at that early stage, Turkish-born Frenchman Tcheky Karyo, who plays Baptiste, had no idea that his character would subsequently star in both seasons of The Missing (iView and Foxtel Now) and spin off into a sequel series named for his character (iView, Binge, Foxtel Now), which is starting its second season.

French-Turkish actor Tcheky Karyo plays Julian Baptiste, a detective who specialises in finding missing people. Credit:BBC

I didnt know how this would grow, he says from his home in the south of France. Hes based there with his family in an effort to avoid the craziness of the big city.

The seeds of what he became were there, but we didnt know that it would be welcomed at this incredible level throughout the world. The first season came and we didnt know that we were going to do something else.
Then there was the Seven commentary, which provided the main sport for an online audience who made merciless hay with the efforts of McAvaney et al. This is the hardest, most scrutinised gig in broadcasting. Even the commentators arent entirely sure whats coming next, and this years event was shrouded in more secrecy than usual. It left the world wondering: how would the Japanese handle this massive moment, a global jamboree delayed a year but still taking place in the middle of a pandemic, and in the middle of an empty stadium? Sevens team did its best to get us as excited as they were  which is to say very excited indeed. Bruce McAvaney is at his extravagant sports-nerd best in such moments. An Olympic ceremony gives him endless scope to observe that an Icelandic shot-putter youve never heard of once painted a fence in under 12 minutes or that a particular Italian knitted his first canoe out of rigatoni. Bruce is an endless font of such essential trivia, and we are mostly all the better for it. Fireworks light up the sky at the Tokyo 2020 opening ceremony. Credit:Getty

On Twitter, the commentary on the commentary was less generous, and a compendium of gaffes was quickly gathered by bored viewers in a manner that often made it impossible to tell what was real and what was made up. Did the Seven team really observe of Abu Dhabi that it was a city of tall buildings and fast camels? Yes. Yes, they did. And did we hear a commentator lament various Iraq-related wars.

Yes, again. Im very much afraid we did. Early on, the light relief was welcome as the ceremony began in rather bleak fashion, with more than a nod to the devastation wrought by the pandemic amid which the event was taking place. That background  and the spooky absence of a raucous crowd  conspired to make proceedings sometimes feel like a slog. Loading Even the parade of nations, typically a boisterous and celebratory affair, was scaled back, as small pools of athletes wearing masks made their way in. The order of nations was dictated by the Japanese alphabet, making it a crap-shoot for non-speakers to guess when particular teams would make their entrance. Twitter wags suggested it was determined by a countrys position in the vaccine race and that Australia would arrive sometime next week. As it was we came in 38th, squeezed between El Salvador and Austria.

It was a long wait, but the sight of the national team on this peerless stage can still make even the most cynical heart swell. And for Japan, its big moment as host was an emotional one for all concerned as its team marched in. Sevens guest commentator Kumi Taguchi, poached from SBS for the night, said: Shivers running down my spine. Im thinking of the Japanese people, inside their homes, wishing they were on the streets  Oddest surprise of the night? That would have to be the video montage featuring none other than Cabooltures own Keith Urban, listed as the musical representative of Oceania, singing John Lennons Imagine along with American John Legend and other luminaries. But it was the flame we were all waiting for. An inspired choice: Naomi Osaka. Credit:Getty Images And after some interminable speeches, we got it, with the inspired choice of Osaka to bring the cauldron to life. She is one of those rare athletes who transcends sport as well as cultures and countries, and the moment managed to quiet even the commentators for the most part.
Decades ago, on a holiday in the mountains, I towed a little daughter around the snow village of Falls Creek on a blue plastic sled, and rode with her squealing down small slopes.

When the holiday was done we absent-mindedly left the sled in a storeroom at the chalet in which we had stayed.

Falls Creek: a theatre of dreams. Credit:Chris Hocking

For years my daughter asked anxiously about the sled. Was it still safe in the chalet? Would other children use it? When would we retrieve it? It became a sort of talisman, an absent reminder of a special, shining moment.

It still gets mentioned from time to time and somehow it feels OK now that we never returned for the sled, because it rests forever in a pleasurable part of our familys memory, taking us back to the high country.
NSW Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant said maintenance of hard lockdown and fast-tracking first doses to the most at-risk population are the key strategies for us to minimise the human impact of this disease. There were a record 86,620 tests in the past 24-hour reporting period, an increase on Thursdays record of 85,815. Dr Chant says the states testing resources are nearly maxed out at about 82,000 tests each day. We have to acknowledge that our testing resources are finite, she said. We are starting to max out at that and what we have to weigh that against is the ability for people with symptoms to get diagnosed and to get fast turnarounds.

Urgent mass vaccination of young essential workers in south-west Sydney needs to be prioritised in order to stem the transmission risk, she said. The group of workers that keep the society going is in the 20 to 49 -year-old age group in south-western Sydney, Dr Chant said. I think we need to be seeing vaccines in arms on Saturday, Sunday, Monday. It comes as Lieutenant-General John Frewen told the Senate COVID committee on Friday that vaccine supplies were allocated on a per capita basis to the states and there was no surplus stockpile of Pfizer. At the moment, we dont have surplus Pfizer because the decision was to allocate all Pfizer out so the jurisdictions are responsible for managing their allocations of Pfizer with their particular priorities, General Frewen said. He said he had only received an informal request from NSW for additional Pfizer vaccines, but emphasised we are working hard to get as much AstraZeneca into NSW right now.

There are 137 people admitted to hospital with COVID-19. Thirty-two people are in ICU, 14 of whom require ventilation. Dr Chant confirmed an 89-year-old man has died, the sixth death recorded in this outbreak. Health authorities are on alert in the states far north after COVID-19 fragments were detected in sewage in Byron Bay, where residents are being asked to be especially vigilant for symptoms. The region is included in the NSW-Queensland border bubble  announced on Thursday  allowing residents to travel into Queensland. Entry into the state for the rest of regional NSW and Greater Sydney is prevented. The sewage alert comes as NSW Health released more exposure sites on Thursday night, including close contact venues in Lakemba, Belrose, Marrickville and Campsie.

Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt on Friday announced the Pfizer vaccine had been approved for children aged 12 to 15 years by the Therapeutic Goods Administration. If it is approved by the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation, then immunocompromised and kids with underlying medical conditions [will be] immediately added to the phase 1B [of the rollout], Mr Hunt said. This comes despite experts warning long-term data on the safety and effectiveness of vaccinating children was not yet available, and vaccination would need to be justified given children are much less likely to get sick or die from the virus. Ms Berejiklian, meanwhile, is urging people aged under 40 to consider getting an AstraZeneca vaccine after Prime Minister Scott Morrison apologised and took full responsibility for the slow rollout of the vaccine program on Thursday.
Queensland is facing a nervous few days wait to see if there has been any community spread from a flight attendant who worked on flights to a number of regional centres.

The woman, aged in her 30s, flew to Longreach, Gladstone and Hervey Bay on a number of flights on July 11 and 12, before developing symptoms on July 13.

Regional Queensland is facing a Covid test after a flight attendant flew on several flights while infectious.

However, she did not get tested until eight days later, a gap which health authorities are working with the woman to account for.

Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young said while she would have liked the woman to be tested immediately, the fact that there had not been a bloom of cases in the meantime meant she was less anxious than she would otherwise be about the situation.
New South Wales Health has found COVID-19 fragments at the Byron Bay sewage treatment plant, which is within the Queensland-NSW border zone that was reinstated overnight.

The plant services about 19,000 people in Byron Bay, Wategos, Suffolk Park, Sunrise and Broken Head, with NSW Health officials saying the discovery is of great concern.

Wategos Beach near Byron Bay, with the Byron Bay light house in the background. Credit:Peter Braig

NSW health authorities fear there could be undetected virus cases in Byron Bay.

The Queensland-NSW border closed once again overnight in response to the outbreak in greater Sydney, but Byron Bay is part of the declared border zone.
Workers at two of the inner-norths best-known venues, The Grace Darling Hotel and Lazerpig pizza parlour, are owed about $327,000 in unpaid superannuation by the owners of the business, one of whom has been banned by the corporate regulator over his mishandling of the businesses.

Former staff have told The Age of their struggles to be paid superannuation while working at the popular venues, which liquidators suspect may have been trading while insolvent.

Arielle Richards worked at hip Fitzroy eatery Lazerpig between 2019 and 2020. Credit:Joe Armao

Arielle Richards worked at Lazerpig in front-of-house and bar-tending roles on and off between 2019 and 2020.

She said she was fired after raising concerns about staff treatment with the venues owners, and had to fight for months to have superannuation entitlements paid. Liquidators reports obtained by The Age show $326,999 in superannuation payments remain outstanding across the two venues.
He loved it but the trouble was when he returned to daily policing he missed seat-of-the-pants undercover work. I needed to find that addictive rush of adrenaline again. Fear and exhilaration are blood brothers; thats what drives risk. I should have been careful what I wished for. In 1982 Queenslands Emergency Squad consisted of 50 full-time police who trained part-time to respond to sieges, terror attacks and armed offenders. It was the sort of gung-ho work that suited alpha-cops like Banks. Soon he found a kindred spirit in Peter Kidd. Both understood the squad would soon follow Victorias Special Operations Group to become a full-time strike force and they wanted to get in on the ground floor. Peter Kidd. At their first training session Kidd said he would apply for a full-time position and Keith responded: Mate, Ill be right behind you. They shook hands on their private pact.

In 1984 the squad, now called the Tactical Response Group, went full-time, with Kidd and Banks first through the door - as they would be in the many raids that followed. Banks was in his element but soon learned the greatest risk came from superior officers with inferiority complexes. The squad was assigned to protect Rocky, a mafia cannabis cropsitter turned star witness in a murder trial. Banks liked Rocky and turned a blind eye when he smoked dope: For a crook he was a lovely little guy. Rocky gave evidence at the committal hearing like a pro, then an assistant commissioner stepped in to downgrade security to save money. Rocky, now knowing he was expendable, rang his mother, who told him the mafia had reached out to say if he didnt give evidence he would be safe.

Banks knew it was a horrible mistake but couldnt change Rockys mind. The last time he saw him was at the bus station outside police headquarters: We shook hands and said our goodbyes. A few months later the mafia men who promised Rocky a free pass flew him to Italy for a holiday. His body was found with two shots to the back of the head. In July 1987 the squad was assigned to arrest Paul Mullin, Queenslands most wanted and dangerous man. Mullin had escaped from Sydneys Long Bay Prison in 1977 and survived, largely by robbing banks. Finally, there was a tip-off that he was living in house in the Brisbane suburb of Virginia. Banks and his team looked at the options, deciding on a forced entry raid through the rear of the house. Mullin was heavily armed and prepared to shoot, and there were three potential hostages - including two children - in the house.

The scene of the July 1987 raid in the Brisbane suburb of Virginia that would end in the death of Queenslands most wanted man, Paul Mullin, and undercover police officer Peter Kidd. Banks knew speed and surprise was their best hope, which is why he planned to use tear gas and distraction grenades to grab Mullin before he could grab the kids as hostages. But when presented to senior police, the operation was approved without the use of the gas and stun grenades. The modifications were made despite police knowing Mullins firearms were more powerful than theirs. There was another curious demand. Usually, the police who plan and conduct the raid are given control of its timing. Yet for this operation Banks was given no option. The raid had to be carried out the next day. That week in July the Fitzgerald inquiry - which exposed corruption and led to the jailing of the reptilian Queensland Police commissioner Terry Lewis - was holding its first public hearings.

Qld Police Commissioner Terry Lewis. As rotten as a chop. Credit:Fairfax Banks believes that while he was denied distraction grenades, the raids timing was designed to be a distraction from negative headlines. What better way to get Fitzgerald off page one than to kick down a door and grab Queenslands most wanted? It worked, but in the worst way imaginable. Banks picked two teams. Peter Kidd was not selected in the initial group but after one officer had to pull out, Banks agreed that Kidd would be the first through the door. I made the decision that would haunt me for the next 25 years, Banks writes. They wore protective vests they knew couldnt stop a bullet from Mullins military-grade Ruger semi-automatic .223 rifle. Kidd had written a detailed report recommending an upgrade in ballistic vests. It was knocked back on budgetary grounds.

When they burst in, Kidd opened the main bedroom door to find a naked and armed Mullin ready to fire. Kidd and another officer were shot before Mullin was killed by Banks and the team when they returned fire. Banks went to Kidd and tore off his vest to see four entry wounds. He could only hold his hand and try to comfort his dying mate. There was nothing I could do. He threw himself back into his work, hiding his anguish by drinking to blackout, waking then returning to duty. There was no doubt I was a changed man, and not in a positive way ... I was crippled with guilt at having let Pete take part in the raid. Keith Banks (right, looking at camera) with other undercover police at a training facility. The naturally calm Banks became quick to anger and made himself a promise. I was never going to give someone the chance to drop their gun. If they even looked like pointing it at anyone, they were dead.

Banks now knows that during those dark days he volunteered for the dangerous jobs, hoping he would find himself in a fatal confrontation. He began to smoke dope again, crying in private while presenting publicly as the armed expert ready for anything. Two years after seeing his mate shot dead, Banks left the Tactical Response Group, but he wasnt finished with armed offenders. Six years after shooting Mullin, Banks walked into Brisbanes MLC building to deal with a man armed with a rifle, hand grenade, 16 sticks of gelignite and three detonators. The policeman who had wanted to kill spent 90 minutes persuading the man to surrender. Banks was presented with two Valour Awards, for the Mullin raid and the MLC building siege. Keith Banks receives two Valour Awards on one day.

For Banks it was time to leave policing. He was recruited by ex-Victorian armed robbery squad detective Mark Wylie, who had become a Myer executive. Wylie and Banks had much in common. Both had troubled childhoods and became idealistic cops only to be traumatised by shootings. Wylie was shot while leading a raid for one of the 1986 Russell Street bombing suspects. Because of a shortage he was not wearing a vest when shot. In 2014 he took his own life. For Banks, writing Gun to the Head has been a difficult and cathartic experience. He is finished with policing but policing isnt finished with him. Gun to the Head by Keith Banks ... required reading for those who manage police.

Mentally he is in a better space but PTSD is not an illness that passes over time. It retreats into a dark hole to emerge when it sees an opportunity. For Banks it takes the form of a recurring nightmare. He is armed and sees the offender. I aim at my enemy and squeeze the trigger, but it is locked in place ... The gun is useless and I am defenceless ... My mind drifts back all those years and theres no more sleep for me. The dreams are fewer these days but come unbidden, just like the waves of sadness that ebb and flow without cause or remedy. Such is the dark legacy of PTSD. Gun to the Head by Keith Banks is published by Allen & Unwin.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison says NSW vaccine centres will look to extend the time between vaccine shots in order get first doses to people as soon as possible, but noted the move wouldnt affect the allocation of shots to other states.

Speaking on Friday after a meeting of national cabinet, Mr Morrison said authorities would seek to extend the time between first and second Pfizer doses from three to six weeks in NSW clinics, a move that is in keeping with existing advice.

Mr Morrison also said there was widespread agreement about the need to continue to lean into AstraZeneca, particularly in NSW.

However, he emphasised the health authorities were not going to disrupt the vaccination program around the rest of the country.
Whether ATAGI is right or wrong in its caution is disputed. But it is not the only expert source in Australia taking this position. A paper by the Kirby Institutes Raina MacIntyre and other authors published in this months issue of the international journal Vaccine reported their risk-benefit analysis for Australians aged 1859, comparing the risk of AZ vaccination with the risk of COVID infection. The authors concluded: In Australia, the potential risks of the AZD1222 vaccine in younger adults, who are at low risk of dying from COVID-19, may outweigh the benefits. The article also said: The latest policy decision to avoid use of this vaccine in adults < 60 years in Australia is entirely consistent with past vaccine riskbenefit policy decisions when rare but serious adverse events were identified.

Loading The authors say their analysis, done after the death of a 48-year-old woman, was shared with senior health officials in Australia on April 8, 2021. That was the same day ATAGI advised against AZ for under 50s, with the government announcing this at a hastily-called night news conference. Its up to the government whether it accepts whatever ATAGI says  as ATAGIs remit indicates, it only advises. Certainly we know ATAGIs advice (and the debate it prompted) contributed to vaccine hesitancy including among those for whom AZ is most appropriate  older people  and this is very unfortunate. It would be legitimate  if difficult and some would say irresponsible  for Morrison at any point to say he thought ATAGI wrong, that other advisers were telling him something else, and so the government rejected ATAGIs advice.

But what he  a leader with his back against the wall because of the Pfizer shortage and the rollout shambles  should not do is try to lean on a supposedly independent expert group to change its advice. The PMs aim seemed obvious. If ATAGI was pliable, he could say, this is the new health advice  everyone should follow it. He would have the best of all worlds. Or perhaps not. If and when ATAGI changes its advice from now on  even if the PMs view has nothing to do with that change  will it have the same credibility? Wont many people, already suspicious and cynical, think: thats just ATAGI giving into political pressure? If the perception of ATAGIs independence is going to be undermined, the usefulness of the body  whatever it says  becomes questionable.

Loading At his Thursday news conference, Morrison tried to re-spin his pressure on ATAGI. He completely respected its advice, he said. Thats why weve followed the advice of ATAGI. Its my job as prime minister not just to simply accept advice uncritically. Whether its sitting in cabinet meetings or in other forums, of course I challenge the advice that I receive. I ask questions. I drill into it. You would expect me to do that. I think Australians would not expect me to just take this advice simply on the face of it. Actually, on numerous occasions, the government has made a virtue of just accepting health advice without question. In the Australian Financial Review two economists, Ashley Craig and Matthew Lilley, have criticised ATAGI for not building into its recommendations social benefits versus risks. They write: ask yourself whether ATAGI made the right call by refusing to properly account for social benefits in its advice, which encouraged millions of Australians to delay vaccination.

It is not too late to change this message. With millions stuck in lockdowns, ATAGI could instead be emphasising how accelerating vaccinations will make society better off. This, however, seems wrong-headed. ATAGI is a narrow, specialist vaccination advisory body. You wouldnt ask Treasury to assess the effectiveness of Pfizer against AstraZeneca. ATAGIs advice is part of a wider picture, which government has the job of bringing together into one frame. The ATAGI episode is just the latest chapter in the evolving story of the role of health experts in this pandemic. Early on, their status was substantially unquestioned. Morrison and other leaders constantly referred and deferred to them. But then health officials especially at state level became controversial figures, accused of being political.

Loading Although the federal bureaucrats have not been targets in the same way as state officials, there has been a growing perception their advice is influenced by the political needs of their masters. This makes it all the more important that independent advisory groups like ATAGI are not perceived as having a political tinge. As Morrison struggled with what he was saying, or not saying, about ATAGI, on Thursday he did what he hates doing, to get the media off his back on another front. He had been under pressure for earlier refusing to say sorry for the rollout problems  hed resisted the word, preferring to say he took responsibility.
Soaring property prices have fuelled concerns younger Australians will be shut out of the housing market for good, with 60 per cent of voters saying young people in their area will never be able to buy their own homes.

A majority of Australians believe record prices will be bad for the next generation and 40 per cent think the trend is bad for the country, even though many feel their own households could prosper.

Voters who had attended housing auctions this year came away saying people were in shock from the surge in prices. Credit:Wolter Peeters

Only 18 per cent of voters think many young people in their area will be able to buy their own homes, according to a new survey that challenges government assurances about a boost to confidence from higher prices.

The exclusive survey, conducted for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age by research company Resolve Strategic, heard from voters who had attended housing auctions this year and came away saying people were in shock from the surge in prices.
The federal Infrastructure Department was warned by its Victorian counterparts of the logistical implications of trying to shoehorn extra car spaces around the new Surrey Hills-Mont Albert station. The area is surrounded by suburban homes, some of which would have to be acquired by the state government to enable the construction of a car park. A multistorey car park, proposed for some stations under the program, would be on such small pieces of land up to half the floor space of each level could be taken up by access ramps. A spokesperson for the state government said just acquiring the extra land for 2000 spaces around the four railway stations would cost more than the $65 million earmarked to build the car parks themselves. It is simply impossible to provide the number of car parks they have committed to at these sites for the funding they have allocated, they said.

Mr Frydenberg said he had discussed congestion issues with the local council before suggesting the proposals that were approved for financial support. The Boroondara council had identified a lack of car parks around railway stations as a major issue for the community. He said even Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews, announcing the Surrey Hills-Mont Albert project in December last year, had argued the state would work with the federal government if possible. Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews reviews plans of the proposed Surrey Hills-Mont Albert premium railway station. The federal government had promised 500 car spaces towards the Surrey Hills station in 2019. Credit:Joe Armao I consulted my local council who made it very clear that there was a significant lack of parking at railway stations in the area, with an opportunity to expand the parking available, he said. This is why I advocated for more car parks in Kooyong, which will get cars off the road and local commuters to and from home sooner and safer.

But around Surrey Hills station, locals and visitors who knew of the promise for 500 commuter car parks at the soon-to-be demolished station, were either angry or bemused. Loading Its a classic case of pork-barrelling, Geoff Dwyer, who was walking a dog alongside the station, said. And also a lack of coordination between the federal and state government, and probably local as well. Its a really poorly executed plan. His friend, Glenn Nicholson said it sounded like the policy had been announced before determining the need.

It is a case of Yes Minister, he said. Do first and ask for forgiveness later. Over at the Union Road shopping strip, Merrilyn Whitecross said there was a need for more car parks in the area but that she believed the promise for more was an empty one. None of the government promises come true as they are offered, she said. They come up with all sorts of excuses at the last minute to not give us what they promised, especially around election time. Five hundred spaces are being built at Berwick railway station, almost 40 kilometres to the south-east, at a cost of $65 million. The Berwick station is already surrounded by car parks, making the addition of more spaces much easier and less costly than what faces the four Kooyong projects. Not only did the Treasurer promise 2000 car spaces for his electorate, he also pledged to spend $600,000 on upgrading the intersections of busy Burwood Rd with both Glenferrie Road and Auburn Road.

Both intersections are heavily built up. When the Victorian government was told after the election of the Treasurers plans, they found it impossible to do any physical upgrade work - such as an extra turning lane - for $600,000. A Commonwealth government sign promoting a signal upgrade in Burwood Road, Hawthorn. Credit:Joe Armao The intersection includes the 151-year-old Immaculate Conception Church, and would have required the compulsory acquisition of church land. Instead, new lights were proposed, but these already exist, so the federal government paid the Victorian government $600,000 for an assessment of the traffic light sequencing for the two intersections - something done almost daily across the entire Melbourne network. The price of that cash was the installation of two signs noting the Burwood Road Signal Upgrade brought to local residents by the Australian government.

In evidence this week to a Senate estimates hearing, deputy auditor-general Brian Boyd agreed there was never a proper estimate of the costs for the works. No, there was nothing of that ilk, he said in answer to questions from Labors shadow finance minister, Katy Gallagher. Mr Boyd said the lack of engagement with councils and governments, especially in Victoria, was a problem on top of the proposed location for many of the projects. The audit offices Brian Boyd told a Senate inquiry there had been no proper costings of planned railway station car parks ahead of their pledge by the Liberal Party at the 2019 election. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Were not building car parks out in areas where theres a lot of surplus land. Invariably, if youre not extending or increasing an existing location, youve got to find somewhere to construct it, he said.

In Sydney, the car park fund also leaned heavily towards a handful of Coalition-held seats or those it believed it could win. Three were promised to Lindsay where Labors Emma Husar was retiring after turmoil within the party. Loading Another four were pledged in the Banks electorate where frontbencher David Coleman was sitting on a wafer-thin margin of 1.4 per cent with fears he would lose the seat. One of the promised car parks was for Riverwood. Two years on, three families face losing their homes to make way for a 150 space multistorey car park. One of those families is Sam and Monika Charan, residents of Webb St in Riverwood for the past 28 years.

Sam ran Vinnies Ice Cream parlour at the neighbouring Riverwood Plaza for 15 years before retiring. It was Monika who opened the homes front door at 7.30 on the morning of February 16 this year to be told by officials from NSW Transport of plans to compulsorily acquire the property plus two adjoining ones for the planned car park. Sam and Monika Charan, with neighbour Elane He, will lose their homes to a car park as part of the federal governments Commuter Car Park Fund. Credit:Janie Barrett Their son Vineh Charan says the small community of families, all with migrant backgrounds, faced a deeply uncertain future with a deadline of mid-December before the department takes ownership. Given the lockdown environment we are in, and their age, its going to be very difficult and stressful, he said.
One of the architects of the Liberal-aligned Robert Menzies Institute at the University of Melbourne says the centres current board would be improved by a member with ties to the Labor Party.

The intervention comes amid a campaign from students and academics to prevent the institute being housed in the universitys Old Quad.

The Robert Menzies Institute is set to be housed in Melbourne Universitys Old Quad. Credit:Wayne Taylor

Tom Harley, a former chairman of the Liberal-backed think tank Menzies Research Centre, said he was confident the institute he proposed to then-prime minister Malcolm Turnbull in 2015 would operate in a non-partisan fashion.

He said the Menzies Institute was initially modelled on the Whitlam Institute at Western Sydney University and should consider replicating that organisations approach of including someone with an opposing political background in a leadership position. The Whitlam Institute board is chaired by former Labor senator John Faulkner, but includes former NSW Liberals leader Peter Collins.
Imran Ahmed, the centres CEO, noted that months before the White House used his organisations statistic, the report was cited during a March congressional hearing when lawmakers confronted the CEOs of Facebook, Twitter and Google about the proliferation of misinformation on their platform about COVID-19 and the election. It is bizarre to claim that collecting the posts published by people with millions of followers who presumably seek to have influence is spying. I might be British but Im not James Bond, Ahmed said. He said the centre has identified a pattern across extremist movements, including the anti-vaccine movement, that many falsehoods can be traced back to super-influencers. Robert F. Kennedy jnr a vaccine misinformation influencer, according to a report. Credit:BLoomberg The group identified 12 social media users who are responsible for the bulk of the vaccine misinformation, including Robert F. Kennedy, jnr, the nephew of former President John F. Kennedy.

A small number of people are doing a disproportionate amount of harm, Ahmed said. Doocys use of the word spying was spread on social media by right-wing sites such as Legal Insurrection, which treated Psakis pushback as proof of the premise and attacked major media outlets as complicit for debunking it. Senator Josh Hawley sees a White House effort to censor conservatives. Credit:Bloomberg The incident highlights how efforts by the White House and its allies to wage a fight against misinformation can prompt a new round of questionable assertions that require more fact checks. The White House campaign against misinformation prompted a swift backlash from Republican lawmakers.

They are asking individuals and groups to be censored, said Republican Senator Josh Hawley, who recently published a book that warns against the power of the tech industry. And they are trying to use the governments power to get private companies to do it, Hawley said. Its a remarkable attempt to leverage the influence of power of the federal government and the White House to try to get these companies to do their bidding. Loading Hawleys home state is the centre of one of the worst COVID-19 outbreaks in the nation and he said he would welcome mass vaccination centres in Missouri. But removing anti-vaccine voices from social media wouldnt persuade more people to get the shot, he said. Biden said last week that Facebook is killing people by allowing misinformation to spread. He walked back that dramatic phrasing days later, but he continued to press for the company and its competitors to step up efforts to curb the spread of falsehoods about COVID-19 vaccines.

Biden promised on Wednesday to use every avenue to get the facts out to fight misinformation. Theres nothing political about this. Theres no blue or red, he said. But Republicans have bristled at what they see as an effort by the White House to control speech. Senator Roger Marshall, a Republican, argued that the White House campaign will spur more distrust in the vaccine. I see these people in my town halls every week. They hate being told what to do and what not to do, said Marshall, a medical doctor who had a post removed by Facebook last year after it was flagged as misinformation. The same week that the White House stepped up its pressure on social media companies, the Democratic National Committee said it will fact-check misinformation sent as texts.

Conservative websites and lawmakers inaccurately framed it as an attempt by the Biden administration to read peoples personal texts. Hawley claimed in a fundraising email that Biden wants to bring Beijing-style surveillance to the United States  reading peoples text messages. The committee was forced to issue a statement clarifying that it had no ability to access or read peoples private text messages and we are not working with any government agency (including the White House) to try to see personal text messages. The way in which Bidens opponents have pounced on the issue demonstrates the challenge the administration faces in trying to deter the spread of falsehoods on online platforms. Dr Bruce Gellin, the chief of global public health strategy at the Rockefeller Foundation, said the efforts to misrepresent anti-misinformation initiatives only highlight the need to invest resources in the issue.

If people tell you the laws of gravity have disappeared, you need to say, well, not quite, were still touching the ground, said Gellin, whose organisation announced last week that it was steering $US13.5 million into combating COVID-19 misinformation in the United States and abroad. Tech policy experts, however, are more sceptical that the White House push will yield results. My personal view is its shouting into the wind, said Corbin Barthold, internet policy counsel at TechFreedom, a Washington-based think tank that opposes regulation of the industry. While Barthold called the statements from GOP lawmakers hyperbolic, he similarly dismissed the White House efforts as political posturing. The information ecosystem we live in is not going to be controlled from the top like that. It evolves so much faster than people in Washington can understand or predict, Barthold said.
Wellington: Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has announced the trans-Tasman bubble with Australia will be suspended for two months.

The bubble will pause from 11.59pm on Friday night New Zealand time (9.59pm AEST) but there will be managed return flights over the next seven days to allow Kiwi citizens and residents to come home.

Those outside of Victoria and New South Wales will be able to get on these flights and not go through quarantine  but everyone will need a negative pre-departure test.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern warns that after the seven-day grace period, New Zealanders in Australia must take their chances booking a place in hotel quarantine. Credit:Getty

Those in New South Wales will need to enter hotel quarantine for two weeks while those in Victoria will be able to isolate at home, with similar testing requirements to those in managed isolation.
Lansdale, PA (19446)

Today

A few clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 66F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

A few clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 66F. Winds light and variable.
"Today is a big day for us. A new Day Zero. But we couldnt have gotten here without the incredible efforts of Indias entire internet ecosystem," said Co-founder Deepinder Goyal ahead of the day the company got listed.

In a blog post titled "Letter from Deepi," he praised his colleagues and investors, and said will not alter the firm's focus for short term profits at the cost of the long term success of the company.

"India is a tough market to operate in, but if you are building to succeed in India, you are already exceptional. I say that because I believe and Swiggy are two of the best apps in the world today. We have a long way to go before we can call ourselves world class by our customers standards, but we are determined to get there," Goyal said.

in India is largely a duopoly with Zomato and Swiggy being the players. Zomato had made a foray into international markets earlier, but is now focusing on its home market. Co-founder Gaurav Gupta had told Business Standard earlier that the firm is very focused on India, and the IPO will not change how it operates as a business.





ALSO READ: Ant-backed Zomato's roaring India debut sets pace for internet startups

In a note in May, Anand Rathi Research said that in 2019 food consumption in India was about $670 billion, mostly driven by home-cooked food. Food Services, defined as non-home-cooked food or restaurant food, now contributes only around 10 per cent to the food consumption market. This is substantially lower than in global economies such as the US and China where food services contribute respectively about 54 per cent and about 58 per cent of total food consumption.

Hence, the scope for growth is big. In his post, Goyal said several times that it takes time to build a good product and that the company would remain focused on its long-term objectives.



ALSO READ: After blockbuster listing, what should you do with Zomato stock?

"The tremendous response to our IPO gives us the confidence that the world is full of investors who appreciate the magnitude of investments we are making, and take a long term view of our business," he said.



Sanjeev Bikhchandani, entrepreneur and one of the earliest backers of Zomato, tweeted:  Congratulations and very well done team Zomato and Deepinder. Great things take time to build. Thank you for making us look like smart investors

Goyal added that there were many large that are building the India of the future.

"Jios prolific growth has set all of us up for unprecedented scale. Flipkart, Amazon, Ola, Uber, Paytm  have also over the years, collectively laid the railroads that are enabling like ours to build the India of the future. We stand proudly and humbly on the shoulders of giants, and we thank everyone for giving us, and so many other startups, the opportunity to look ahead into the future," Goyal said.



The company shared a video of the listing event at their Gurugram office. "Everything that weve achieved till now, and everything that well achieve from hereon, we owe it all to you - our customers, delivery partners and restaurant partners. Today, on the day of our listing, we wish we couldve brought everyone under a single roof. Since thats not possible, we decided to bring a few of our customers, delivery partners and restaurant partners to our ringing the bell ceremony. We thank everyone for your continuous love. Onwards and upwards!" Zomato said in a statement.
The rejection of telcos' pleas seeking re-calculation of AGR related dues does not bode well for a recovery in the sector and is likely to protract the same given the backdrop of high debt levels and low tariffs, said on Friday.

The Supreme Court has dismissed the applications filed by telecom majors, including Vodafone Idea and Bharti Airtel, seeking rectification of the alleged errors in the calculation of (AGR) related dues payable by them.

said to meet high commitment towards debt repayments and the DoT payment obligations, the industry participants will need to explore avenues of fundraising or asset monetisation, besides concentrating on improving the ARPU levels, substantially.

Noting that Supreme Court has dismissed the applications of telcos for recomputation of AGR dues, Sabyasachi Majumdar, Senior Vice President and Group Head of Limited said, "This will not bode well for the recovery in the sector and is likely to protract the same, given the elevated debt levels and very low tariffs".

The industry is staring at high commitments towards debt repayments and the DoT (Department of Telecom) payments in the coming few quarters, with the next major payments due in March-April 2022.

"In order to meet these, the industry participants will have to look for avenues of fundraising and/or asset monetisation, in addition, to focus on substantially improving the ARPU levels," Majumdar said.

The telecom had submitted before the apex court that arithmetical errors in the calculation be rectified and had flagged the issue of duplication of entries.

All the miscellaneous applications are dismissed, a bench headed by Justice L Nageswara Rao said on Friday while pronouncing the order.

Market watchers said the rejection of the appeal is a major setback, especially for cash-strapped Vodafone Idea.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Shares of food delivery firm Ltd nearly doubled on Friday in a stellar first listing of a local unicorn in India, setting the pace for a slew of such debuts by internet-based startups that are thriving during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Berkshire Hathaway Inc-backed Paytm, hospitality company Oyo Hotels and ride-hailing firm Ola, both backed by SoftBank, are among the Indian startups set to enter markets, riding on support from foreign funds and local investors.

Shares of soared 82.8% after opening at 116 rupees in pre-open trade, a 53% premium to the offer price of 76 rupees for the 93.75 billion rupees IPO, valuing the company at about $12 billion.

China's Ant Group holds a 16.53% stake in Zomato, while its top shareholder is online technology company Info Edge (India), which holds a 18.55% stake.

"Today is a big day for us...we couldn't have gotten here without the incredible efforts of India's entire internet ecosystem," Zomato's founder and Chief Executive Deepinder Goyal said https://bit.ly/3kHPT3Y in a blog post.

Goyal, 38, an alumnus of the Indian Institute of Technology in Delhi, launched in 2008 with fellow graduate Pankaj Chaddah. As of March 31, it operated in about 525 cities in India and has partnered with close to 390,000 restaurants.

It is the first startup to go public in India's food delivery market, which research firm RedSeer estimated is worth $4.2 billion. It offers home delivery of food, allows customers to book tables for dining-in and collates restaurant reviews, making it a competitor to SoftBank-backed Swiggy and Amazon.com's food delivery service.

The company's offering last week drew bids worth $46.3 billion, making it more than 38 times oversubscribed, with big institutional investors placing major bets.

"Growth is key here. Zomato might not be profitable but it is growing exponentially and is enviably positioned to keep that momentum," said Danni Hewson, a financial analyst with AJ Bell, an investment platform in England.

Zomato's loss for the year ended March 31 narrowed to 8.13 billion rupees, while revenue from operations fell slightly year-on-year to 19.94 billion rupees.

"We are...not going to alter our course for short term profits at the cost of long term success of the company," Goyal said.

($1 = 74.5250 Indian rupees)

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The High Court on Friday upheld a single-judge order dismissing the pleas filed by and The e-commerce firm had challenged a probe initiated by the Competition Commission of India (CCI) for alleged competition law violations.

A division bench of Justices Satish Chandra Sharma and Natraj Rangaswamy passed the order in a batch of appeals moved by the e-commerce firms against a June 11 order of a Single Judge of the High Court.

While dismissing the plea, the Bench held, By no stretch of imagination can inquiry be quashed at this stage...Appellants should not be afraid of investigation of ..In the considered opinion of the Court, appeals filed by appellants are devoid of merit and deserved to be dismissed, according to law platform Bar & Bench. The matter was reserved for judgement on June 25.

had approached the High Court against a order which had called for a Director General (DG) investigation into allegations of anti-competitive conduct in the online sale of smartphones on its platform.

The informant before the CCI, Delhi Vyapar Mahasangh (DVM), the traders body, was justifying the decision for a probe. DVM had alleged that these players were giving deep discounts on online sales of smartphones, and cherry-picking sellers. Other allegations included predatory pricing and exclusive partnerships.

Experts such as Salman Waris, managing partner at technology law firm TechLegis Advocates and Solicitors said the court's decision has further reinforced the position of the petitioners that the CCI investigation should continue. However there is a likelihood that and are going to appeal the decision at the Supreme Court, said Waris.

Walmart-owned said it is awaiting to receive a copy of the order of the Division Bench of the High Court and will review it as soon as the firm gets it. As highlighted earlier, we have a very robust compliance and governance process and remain in full compliance with Indian laws. We will do everything to be always compliant, said a Flipkart Group Spokesperson.





DVM is an affiliate of the trade body Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT). CAIT welcomed the Court order. "It fully vindicates the stand of CAIT that Amazon and Flipkart business model is entirely based on violating the FDI policy, rules and other laws, mischievous business practices, therefore, without wasting any more time, the CCI should immediately begin its probe, said B.C.Bhartia, National President and Praveen Khandelwal, Secretary-General of the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT).

CAIT was represented by Advocate Gautam Aditya and Delhi Vyapar Mahasangh was represented by Advocate Abir Roy.

CAIT said that CCI found a prima facie case for investigation against Amazon and Flipkart for violating competition law and distorting the level playing field in January 2020. Amazon and Flipkart approached the Karnataka High Court in Feb 2020 and obtained a stay on the probe. The CCI approached the Supreme Court and the Supreme Court directed the Karnataka High Court to hear the matter. Thereafter the matter was heard for nearly 40 days by the Single Judge Bench of Karnataka High Court quashing the plea of Amazon and Flipkart which was challenged by both e-tailers in Double Bench of Karnataka High Court and order was reserved, which was pronounced on Friday.

Bhartia and Khandelwal of CAIT said that with the pronouncement of judgement there is no bar for conducting investigations into the business model of Amazon and Flipkart. They alleged that these players are continuing with mal-practices and dodging the law, rules and policies of the Country. They said it is for both the Central and State Governments to bring to the books, the people who are continuously violating the law and the rules and speedy actions should be immediately taken against Amazon, Flipkart and others.

Bhartia and Khandelwal said that foreign particularly in the e-commerce sector have been taking India as a banana republic where the laws, policies and rules have no sanctity and they have been provided with impunity to manipulate them according to their wish. Unfortunately they have been successfully violating the law and the policies, bringing many disadvantages to the small traders of the country, alleged Bhartia and Khandelwal.
Biotechnology major has reported a 35.39 per cent decline in its consolidated net profit at Rs 108.4 crore for the quarter ended June 30, 2021 mainly on account of its share of loss in associate startup entity Bicara Therapeutics Inc.

The company had posted a net profit of Rs 167.8 crore for the corresponding period of the previous fiscal, said in a late night filing on Thursday.

Consolidated revenue of the company stood at Rs 1,807.8 crore for the quarter under consideration. It was Rs 1,712.1 crore for the same period a year ago, it added.

"Consolidated revenues, at Rs 1,808 crore, saw a muted growth on account of COVID-related operational challenges at Biocon's API facilities, both in Bengaluru and Hyderabad," Executive Chairperson Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw said.

Q1FY22 P&L was also impacted by a share of loss in its Boston-based associate start-up entity, Bicara Therapeutics Inc, she added.

"The outlook for the rest of the year is promising with several drug approvals on the anvil, contingent to timely USFDA onsite inspections in India and Malaysia, whilst Research Services continue to see rising demand," Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw said.

John Shaw, Vice-Chairman and Non-Executive Director, Biocon, will retire from the company's Board due to health reasons, on July 23, 2021, at the conclusion of its Annual General Meeting, the company said.

As a key member of the company's Board and the management team since 1999, John Shaw has contributed majorly to the transformation of Biocon from a small enzymes company, to a globally recognized biopharmaceutical company, it added.

John Shaw is married to Biocon Executive Chairperson Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw.

The generics segment business of the company for the first quarter of FY22 posted a revenue at Rs 486 crore, down 22 percent (year-on-year) from Rs 621 crore in the same period of the previous fiscal, the filing said.

Biosimilars segment posted a revenue of Rs 758 crore for the first quarter ended June 30, 2021. It had posted revenue of Rs 692 crore for the corresponding period a year ago, it added.

Q1FY22 revenue of Syngene was at Rs 595 crore. It was Rs 422 crore in the first quarter of FY 21, the filing said.

Shares of Biocon Ltd were trading at Rs 397.25 per scrip on BSE, down 1.38 per cent from its previous close.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Home-grown food company Industries on Friday said it will invest Rs 94 crore to increase production capacity at its plant.

The company will add two new manufacturing lines that will increase its production capacity by nearly 85 per cent to 65,000 metric tonnes per annum from the current 35,000 metric tonnes per annum, said Industries in a statement.

The plant, which will manufacture Britannia's flagship brands comprising Marie Gold, Vita Marie Gold, Tiger Glucose & Good Day, will also generate additional employment to 450 people after the investment, the Wadia group company added.

"The new capacities in will be operational by October 2022," said Industries.

The new manufacturing lines will feature fully automated processing and packing lines, as well as the latest warehousing infrastructure to optimise supply chain and quality management.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Chief Minister on Friday asked for immediate payment of Rs 56,000 crore outstanding dues in lieu of government land allotted to it for mining.

A delegation of domestic coal giant, headed by its Chairman and Managing Director, Pramod Agrawal had called on Soren here.

Coal India, the world's largest dry-fuel miner accounts for over 80 per cent of domestic production.

"In the course of the meeting, Chief Minister asked the CIL Chairman to initiate steps for immediate payment of Rs 56,000 crore by to in lieu of land allotted to it for mining," a state government spokesperson said after the meeting.

The chief minister also stressed that the behemoth should start paying royalty on coal to the state on ad valorem basis.

Soren also asked Agrawal to ensure extensive plantation work in the area where mining takes place besides coming forward to work towards health sector including suggestions on operation of Super Specialty Hospital by CCL.

Expressing serious concern over slow progress in Jharia rehabilitation work, the CM urged for expediting it.

Meanwhile, a statement from the state government said that the Chairman assured the CM to consider the issues raised in a positive manner.

Agrawal urged Soren to solve problems related to land pertaining to ECL's Rajmahal project, land verification of CCL, forest lease etc besides ensuring smooth transportation of coal in Amrapali project.

The chief minister assured to consider the demands positively, the statement said.

Chief Secretary, Sukhdev Singh, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Rajiv Arun Ekka, Secretary to Chief Minister Vinay Kumar Choubey, Advocate General Rajiv Ranjan, Chairman-cum-Managing Director of Eastern Coalfields PS Mishra and CCL CMD P M Prasad were also present on the occasion.

Limited (CIL) is the single largest coal producer in the world and one of the largest corporate employer with manpower of 272445 (as on 1st April, 2020).

CIL functions through its subsidiaries in 84 mining areas spread over eight (8) states of India including Jharkhand.

CIL has seven producing subsidiaries namely Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL), Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL), Central Coalfields Limited (CCL), Western Coalfields Limited (WCL), South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL), Northern Coalfields Limited (NCL)and Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL) and One mine planning and consultancy company that is Central Mine Planning $@$# Design Institute (CMPDI).

In addition, CIL has a foreign subsidiary in Mozambique namely Coal India Africana Limitada (CIAL). The mines in Assam i.e. North Eastern Coalfields is managed directly by CIL.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Friday sought response from the Centre and on a plea seeking to prohibit the re-entry of Chinese fashion brand 'Shein' in India through sale of its products on the digital marketplace.

A bench of Chief Justice D N Patel and Justice Jyoti Singh issued notice on the petition by on the ground that Shein was temporarily banned in India by the Centre last year for being prejudicial to the interest and sovereignty of India.

The court, however, refused to pass any interim order to stay the sale at this stage.

Senior Advocate Vivek Raj Singh, appearing for petitioner Ananttika Singh, urged the court to intervene else data will be transferred to Chinese company.

"We will see on returnable date," the court said.

Raj Singh informed the court that there was an advertisement on which publicised the sale of Shein products on its platform as part of its their prime day sale.

59 Chinese apps were banned by the Government of India on June 29, 2020. Shein has been banned, he submitted, pleading that consequently there should be a total prohibition on the sale of Shein products in the country.

He further stated that in spite of a representation made to the Centre, no steps were taken to prevent the sale of Shein products.

The matter would be heard next on August 20.

In her PIL, filed through advocate Preet Singh Oberoi, Ananttika Singh has sought a direction to to suspend its partnership with Shein until the ban imposed by Centre is not lifted.

It is stated that once the entry of Shein and its products was banned for using data of its Indian customers in a manner prejudicial to the interest and sovereignty of the country, it cannot be allowed to circumvent the law by using a third party platform.

The petition highlights that as per Amazon's privacy policy, it could share the data collected from users with registered sellers and it was thus possible that 'Shein' would once again have access to personal and sensitive data of several millions of Indian citizen.

The petition also sought a direction to the Centre to appoint a third party committee, at the cost of Amazon, to make audits on the flow of data of the India consumers to Shein.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Pure play card issuer and Payment Services reported a 22.5 per cent year-on-year (YoY) drop in net profit in the April-June quarter of FY22 due to higher provisions and a dip in interest Its net profit dropped to Rs 305 crore in Q1FY22 compared to Rs 393 crore in the year-ago period. But, sequentially, its net profit was up 73.6 per cent.

While the interest of the company was down 18.4 per cent YoY to Rs 1,153 crore, total was up 11.6 per cent YoY to Rs 2,451 crore. Also, revenue from operations was up 9.7 per cent to Rs 2,362 crore in the reporting quarter over the year-ago period.

Impairment losses and rose by 33 per cent YoY to Rs 645 crore, but were down 8.4 per cent sequentially. SBI Cards' asset quality improved over the previous quarter as gross non-performing assets (NPAs) at the end of June quarter stood at 3.91 per cent compared to 4.99 per cent in the March quarter. Similarly, net NPAs have also come down to 0.88 per cent as against 1.15 per cent in the March quarter.

The company was holding a total expected credit loss on loan balances of Rs 1,396.8 crore as of June 30, which includes a management overlay of Rs 257.8 crore.





has the second-highest market share, both in terms of credit cards in force, with 11.2 million cards, and spends. HDFC Bank has still the highest market share, despite the RBI ban on issuing new credit cards.

In Q1FY22, it has acquired 609,000 new accounts, up 26 per cent sequentially and 111 per cent YoY. While corporate spends in the quarter improved to Rs 6,162 crore from Rs 6,080 crore in the March quarter, retail spends were down to Rs 27,098 crore from 28,863 crore in March. However, on a YoY basis, spends were up 74 per cent.

Under the Reserve Bank of India (RBIs) August 6 circular for one-time covid related restructuring, the company has implemented resolution for 290,884 accounts amounting to Rs 2,668.03 crore. So far, there are no accounts where the resolution plan has been implemented under the May 5 resolution framework of RBI.

The company said there will be no significant impact on it from the RBIs action on Mastercard.
State Bank of India (SBI) on Friday donated Rs 22.87 lakh to Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital, New Delhi, for augumenting facility to help nation in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Besides, the bank also donated an ambulance to the government-run hospital under its corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative.

A cheque of a Rs 22,83,207 was handed by Managing Director C S Shetty to RML Hospital medical superintendent Rana A K Singh in presence of Vijuy Ronjan, chief general manager, and Amitava Chatterjee, chief general manager.

has earmarked Rs 71 crore towards the fight against COVID-19. The state-owned lender has allocated Rs 30 crore for a makeshift hospital, while Rs 21 crore will be used to support initiatives such as procurement of life-saving equipment, oxygen supply to hospitals, COVID-19-care centres, ambulances, PPE kits, masks as well as food relief efforts.

Meanwhile, the bank opened nine new branches in Delhi circle.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
In a blow to the telecom sector, the on Friday dismissed the petitions of and seeking correction of alleged errors in calculating the dues linked to (AGR). With an accumulated debt of Rs 1.8 trillion, is likely to be the most adversely hit by the court verdict.

Vodafone Idea, which has been struggling to remain a going concern, calculated its remaining AGR dues at around Rs 21,500 crore after making a payment of Rs 7,800 crore. However, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) had arrived at around Rs 58,000 crore as total AGR liability for DoTs calculation was around Rs 28,700 crore more than Voda Ideas. too had contested the DoT calculation of Rs 43,980 crore total AGR liability for the telco. said it had to pay Rs 13,000 crore more, having already made a payment of Rs 18,000 crore. The DoT calculation exceeded Bharti Airtels by around Rs 12,980 crore.

Both Vodafone Idea and Bharti Airtel stocks reacted to the development. While Voda Idea shares dropped 15 per cent and Bharti 2.5 per cent in intra-day deals, they ended the day with 9.66 per cent fall and a marginal rise of 0.4 per cent, respectively, on BSE.

The on Monday had observed that it had said not just once but twice and thrice that the AGR dues cant be re-computed, and reserved the order.

The AGR calculation row surfaced after the on September 1, 2020, allowed telecom to pay their AGR dues to the government in instalments spread over a 10-year period, beginning with an upfront payment of 10 per cent of the total. The payment timeline started from April 1, 2021.

"Vodafone Idea (VI) has been losing market share in almost all the circles and has also been preserving financial liquidity as evident from moderation in capex intensity and lukewarm participation in the recent spectrum auctions. However, from FY23 onwards, the break-even EBITDA required by VI to honour its debt and regulatory (AGR) obligations and towards capex would be fairly elevated," Priyanka Bansal, associate director, India Ratings and Research, said.





Experts believe that the decision could derail recovery in the telecom sector.

"This will not bode well for recovery in the sector and is likely to protract the same, given the elevated debt levels and very low tariffs. The industry is staring at high commitments towards debt repayments and DoT payments in the coming few quarters, with next major payments due in March-April 2022, pointed out Sabyasachi Majumdar, senior vice president & group head, ICRA Limited. In order to meet these, the industry participants will have to look for avenues of fundraising and/or asset monetisation, in addition to focus on substantially improving the ARPU levels, Majumdar said.

Vodafone Idea counsel Mukul Rohatgi said the AGR figures were not cast in stone and SC had the powers to correct the arithmetic error. The counsel had urged that the calculations be placed before DoT for the department to take a call.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta had however informed the court that he had not received any instructions from DoT on allowing correction of errors.

Bharti Airtel's counsel had said that there were cases of duplication and that payments made were not accounted for in the computation of AGR dues. Tata Teleservices argued that the SC judgement only prohibited re-assessment and did not bar rectification of calculative errors.

The apex court also said that the sale of spectrum should be decided by the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy process.

SC in October 2019 had delivered the verdict on the AGR issue for calculating government dues of telecom such as licence fee and spectrum usage charges. After the top court had rejected pleas by Vodafone Idea, Bharti Airtel and Tata Teleservices seeking review of the judgement which widened the definition of AGR by including non-telecom revenues, the DoT had in March moved a plea seeking staggered payment over 20 years.
Dear Reader,

Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance.

We, however, have a request.



As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed.



Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard.



Digital Editor
Foundation on Friday said it has inked pacts with non-profit bodies - KMCO and CIF



in a bid to boost education among underprivileged children and youth in Jamshedpur.

All three organisations have been engaged in running high impact projects in the education and technical training sectors.

TSF's education initiative apart from 'Masti ki Pathshala' include the 'Thousand Schools Programme' that operate in Odisha and Jharkhand reaching out to 5 lakh students and aim to bring back children to school through strengthening the education and monitoring systems.

" Foundation (TSF) signed two Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) with Kudy Mahanty Chirens' Opportunities (KMCO) Trust and Cummins India Foundation (CIF) today in an attempt to garner opportunities in the education sector," TSF said in a statement.

The MoU with KMCO, a Jamshedpur-based charitable trust founded in memory of Kudy Mahanty in the year 2000, was signed by Sourav Roy, Chief, Corporate Social Responsibility, and Smita Agarwal, Head (Education) on behalf of Tata Steel and Niroop Mohanty, President, KMCO and Rupa Mahanty, Chairperson, KMCO on behalf the Trust, in presence of Ruchi Narendran.

The one-year partnership with KMCO aims to undertake various developmental projects for underprivileged children residing in urban slums of the city, the statement said.

As a part of the partnership, KMCO will undertake the provision of tablets to schools under 'Masti Ki Pathshala'. This program, operated by Tata Steel Foundation, enables a learning bridge between schools and children from slums of Jamshedpur through residential and non-residential schools, with the sole purpose of making the city a child-labour free zone.

The MoU is intended to equip these centres digitally to ensure smooth and continuous learning practices for the students.

The agreement will also enable a roll out of a non-residential bridge course for children residing in slum areas along the 4km stretch of Marine Drive. There are a total of 15 slums in this stretch that house more than 800 children who have either dropped out of schools or are highly irregular, the statement said.

With domain expertise in the field, the Foundation has partnered with KMCO for building a special course of six months and bringing the kids back to schools, it added.

The statement said that the MoU with Cummins India Foundation was signed by Sourav Roy, Chief, Corporate Social Responsibility, Tata Steel on behalf of the Foundation and Amit Kumar, Trustee, CIF.

The partnership with CIF will work towards special skill training of students at Tata Steel Technical Institute (TSTI) to provide industrial training to local youths.

CIF runs a Technical Education for Communities (TEC) programme which is a global initiative that targets the technical skill gap through local vocational education initiatives and the partnership will ensure training of around 270 local youths.

Under the collaboration, a standardized education platform will be delivered that will help the institute develop market-relevant curriculum, teachers' training, career guidance and the practical experience that the students will.

Speaking on the occasion, Roy said: Masti ki Pathshala is an effort to create a citizen's movement to persistently and meaningfully use education as a means for the most underserved children and youth of Jamshedpur to transform their lives. Our partnerships with KMCO and CIF will not only work towards bringing children back to schools but also increase employment opportunities of youths through the highest quality of vocational instruction.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
One person died, around 1,000 houses were damaged and hundreds of people evacuated from low-lying parts inundated due to and overflowing of rivers as on Friday reeled under one of the worst floods in nearly 40 years, the state government said. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant told reporters here that the floods had badly hit talukas of Sattari, Bicholim, Ponda, Dharbandora, Bardez and Pernem, while other areas also suffered damage. He said there was a report of a woman drowning in Dharbandora taluka but a confirmation on the exact cause of the death was awaited. The chief minister visited certain affected areas in Bicholim taluka in the afternoon to monitor rescue and relief operations. He said government-run schools have been converted into temporary shelter homes to accommodate people evacuated from flooded areas. This is one of the worst floods since 1982. Properties worth crores of rupees have been damaged, Sawant said. The chief minister said teams of the disaster management cell swung into action on Friday and evacuated several people who were stranded at different locations. He said in Pernem taluka (North Goa), the Chapora river was flowing above the danger mark due to which water had entered low-lying areas damaging 88 houses, while eight persons were evacuated. The Chapora river also caused devastation in Bardez taluka where 167 homes were damaged and nine people evacuated, Sawant said. He said in Bicholim taluka, Valvanti and Chapora rivers were overflowing due to which 164 houses were damaged, while 40 people rescued. Sattari was one of the worst hit talukas where 130 houses were damaged while 65 people had to be rescued as Valvanti and Mahadayi rivers crossed their danger levels, the CM said. He said in Ponda taluka, several people in Waghurme village were stranded in their submerged homes and attempts were on to rescue them.

Health Minister Vishwajit Rane was personally monitoring the evacuation process. In South Goa's Salcette taluka, the Kushavati river was flowing above the danger level, damaging 18 houses, Sawant said. In Dharbandora taluka in South Goa, 135 houses were damaged and 150 people evacuated, he said. In Canacona, the Talpona river was overflowing due to which 60 homes were damaged, the chief minister said. The coastal state has been experiencing over the past few days. On Thursday, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) had issued a warning that a circulation in the Bay of Bengal is likely to trigger low-pressure area that will cause more rainfall in Till Wednesday, the coastal state had received 1,998.3 mm rainfall during the ongoing monsoon season as against the average of 1,612.7 mm for the corresponding period. The state fisheries department has asked fishermen not to venture out into the sea due to gusty winds.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
has terminated a Memorandum of Understanding to sell its Covid-19 vaccine Covaxin to Brazils Precisa Medicamentos, the Indian company said on Friday without disclosing the reason.

Bharats statement said it will continue to work with Brazilian health care regulator Anvisa to obtain all required approvals for the use of Covaxin in the country.

There have been allegations in Brazil of irregularities in the governments efforts to buy 20 million doses of the vaccine using Precisa as an intermediary.

The deal to buy 20 million doses of Bharat Biotechs Covaxin shot has become a headache for Bolsonaro after whistleblowers went public with alleged irregularities. One health ministry official said he alerted the president about his concerns.

Bolsonaro, whose popularity has faded as Brazils Covid-19 death toll climbed past 500,000, has denied any wrongdoing, saying earlier he was not aware of any irregularities.

The claims have added impetus to the Opposition's impeachment drive and left the Brazilian leader's allies in Congress evaluating the costs of their support.

Testimony before the Brazil Senate committee from Luis Ricardo Miranda, the chief of the Health Ministry's import division, and his brother Luis Miranda, a lawmaker until recently allied with Bolsonaro, has turned up the heat even more.

The Health Ministry official said he faced pressure to greenlight the import of Bharat Biotech's Covaxin vaccine and that there were irregularities in the invoices particularly a $45-million upfront payment to a Singapore-based company.
has reported 1,425 new cases of in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of infections in the country to over a million, the said on Friday.

The Ministry of National Health Services said that the total number of infections as of now in the country stands at 1,000,034 while the total deaths happened so far is 22,939 after 11 more people with the disease died in the last one day.

The total infections figure for in currently stands at 1,000,034 while deaths at 22,939, said the ministry in a statement.

The authorities performed 25,215 tests in the last 24 hours, recording a 5.56 per cent positivity rate, which is slightly lower than 6.31 per cent a day earlier.

has been battling the fourth wave of the pandemic that hit the country earlier this month.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Chief Minister



Pinarayi Vijayan on Friday announced further tightening of restrictions in the State with an increase in the Covid Test Positivity Rate (TPR) in the last few days.

The average test positivity rate for the last three days is 12.1 per cent.The TPR is above 10 per cent in 11 districts and Malappuram district has the highest of 17 per cent.

"In the context of the Covid spread, Central and State Government Offices, Public Offices, Public Sector Undertakings, Companies, Commissions, and Corporation offices in Category A and B local bodies can function with upto 50 per cent staff and upto 25 per cent in Category C areas," Vijayan said.

Only essential services will operate in Category D areas where the TPR rate is above 15 per cent.

The remaining 50 per cent staff in A & B categories and 75 per cent in C should be involved in Covid mitigation activities, he said.

"District collectors should take the initiative to give them the responsibility for the work.Since only essential services operate in the D category, the vast majority of employees will be part of the preventive measures."



"Areas with a high prevalence of the disease are considered clusters.At the same time, a micro-containment system will be introduced," the chief minister told the media after the daily COVID-19 evaluation meet.

He said has already been assessed nationally as an effective vaccination state and is at the forefront of the zero waste stage and higher dose vaccination.

"At least 60 per cent of the population in the community needs to be vaccinated to achieve herd immunity to the disease. A third wave is unlikely to occur if herd immunity is achieved to the required level by strictly following the Covid protocol.The third wave will not occur naturally.It is caused by the flaws in Covid control and failures in vaccine supply," he said.

Vijayan said at this stage, the state government was trying to give at least one dose of vaccine to people as soon as possible and asked them to avoid crowds where there is a risk of rapid spread due to the presence of the delta variant of the virus.

On Friday, the state reported 17,518 new COVID-19 cases with a TPR of 13.63 per cent.

Vijayan said 1,77,09,529 people have been vaccinated and of these, 1,24,64,589 received a single dose and 52,44,940 have received both doses.

"People who do not have access to smartphones and computers are vaccinated by registering with the help of ASHA activists.So far, about 40,000 pregnant women in the state have been vaccinated," he said.

The Health Department has launched a campaign to vaccinate all pregnant women.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
India on Friday reported a net reduction of 3,881 in active cases to take its count to 405,513. Indias share of global active cases now stands at 3 per cent (one in 33). The country is eighth among the most affected countries by active cases. On Thursday, it added 35,342 cases to take its total caseload to 31,293,062 from 31,257,720  an increase of 0.1%. And, with 483 new fatalities, its Covid-19 reached 419,470, or 1.34 per cent of total confirmed infections.

With 5,476,423 more Covid-19 vaccine doses being administered on Thursday, Indias total count of vaccine shots so far reached 423,417,030. The count of recovered cases across India, meanwhile, reached 30,468,079  or 97.36 per cent of total caseload  with 38,740 new cured cases being reported on Friday.

Now the eighth-most-affected country by active cases, third by deaths, second by total cases, and first by recoveries, India has added 266,233 cases in the past 7 days.

India now accounts for 3% of all active cases globally (one in every 33 active cases), and 10% of all deaths (one in every 10 deaths).

India has so far administered 423,417,030 vaccine doses. That is 1353.07 per cent of its total caseload, and 30.36 per cent of its population.

Among Indian states, the top 5 in terms of number of vaccine shots administered are Uttar Pradesh (47650798), Maharashtra (45116367), Rajasthan (34685568), Gujarat (34636775), and West Bengal (31121980).

Among states with more than 10 million population, the top 5 in number of vaccine shots per one million population are Kerala (568724), Delhi (566597), Gujarat (542281), Uttarakhand (534773), and J&K (467041).

Backwards from here, the last 1 million cases for India have come in 25 days.

The count of active cases across India on Friday saw a net reduction of 3,881, compared to net addition of 2,224 on Thursday. States and UTs hat have seen the biggest daily net increase in active cases are Mizoram (548), Meghalaya (192), Sikkim (103), Manipur (48), and Nagaland (19).

With 38,740 new daily recoveries, Indias recovery rate stands at 97.36%, while fatality rate remained unchanged at 1.34%.

The Indian states and UTs with the worst case fatality rates at present are Punjab (2.71%), Uttarakhand (2.15%), and Maharashtra (2.1%). The rate in as many as 14 is higher than the national average.

Indias new daily closed cases stand at 39,159  507 deaths and 38,652 recoveries. The share of deaths in total closed cases stands at 1.29%.

Indias 5-day moving average of daily rate of addition to total cases stands at 0.1%.

Indias doubling time for total cases stands at 613.4 days, and for deaths at 601.6 days.

Overall, five states with the biggest 24-hour jump in total cases are Kerala (12818), Maharashtra (7302), Odisha (1948), Tamil Nadu (1872), and Andhra Pradesh (1843).

Among states with more than 100,000 cases, the five with worst recovery rates at present are Kerala (95.49%).

India on Thursday conducted 1,668,561 to take the total count of tests conducted so far in the country to 452,939,545. The test positivity rate recorded was 2.1%.

Five states with the highest test positivity rate (TPR)  percentage of tested people turning out to be positive for Covid-19 infection (by cumulative data for tests and cases  are Goa (16.71%), Dadra & Nagar Haveli-Daman & Diu (14.67%), Maharashtra (13.49%), Sikkim (12.95%), and Kerala (12.5%).

Five states with the highest TPR by daily numbers for tests and cases added  are, Mizoram (19.35%), Sikkim (17.73%), Manipur (16.71%), Kerala (12.38%), and Meghalaya (11.18%).

Among states and UTs with more than 10 million population, five that have carried out the highest number of tests (per million population) are Delhi (1231215), J&K (825583), Kerala (721404), Karnataka (553942), and Uttarakhand (538676).

The five most affected states by total cases are Maharashtra (6245057), Kerala (3218015), Karnataka (2889994), Tamil Nadu (2543040), and Andhra Pradesh (1948592).

Maharashtra, the most affected state overall, has reported 7302 new cases to take its tally to 6245057.

Kerala, the second-most-affected state by total tally, has added 12818 cases to take its tally to 3218015.

Karnataka, the third-most-affected state, has reported 1653 cases to take its tally to 2889994.

Tamil Nadu has added 1872 cases to take its tally to 2543040.

Andhra Pradesh has seen its tally going up by 1843 to 1948592.

Uttar Pradesh has added 52 cases to take its tally to 1708057.

Delhi has added 49 cases to take its tally to 1435720.
The Delhi Cabinet on Friday approved a proposal to pay Rs 1 crore compensation each to the families of six IAF, Delhi Police and civil personnel who died in the line of duty.

The said it stands with the families of all paramilitary, army, police and civil personnel residing in the city.

"The Kejriwal government will give a 'Samman Rashi' of Rs 1 crore each to the families of six bravehearts of Delhi who lost their lives in the line of duty. The decision was taken in the meeting of the Delhi Cabinet regarding the grant of the ex gratia to the families," the Chief Minister's Office said in a statement.

The revenue department proposed to provide the compensation amount, which was approved by the cabinet on the instructions of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

People of Delhi who lost their lives in the line of duty cannot be compensated, but their families will get some help from the amount given by the government to honour their sacrifices, he said.

The six men include three from the Indian Air Force (IAF), two from the Delhi Police and one from the city's Civil wing.

Kejriwal had in June lauded them and said he saluted these bravehearts for making the supreme sacrifice while guarding the country from "external or internal threats".

His deputy Manish Sisodia while announcing the government's decision in June had said that the Kejriwal government stood "shoulder-to-shoulder with the families" of these bravehearts who attained 'martyrdom' while serving the country.

"Although loss of a soldier is irreparable, the Kejriwal government, after coming to power had launched the scheme to provide ex gratia to families of such personnel so it could become a source for them to live with dignity," he had said.

From the Delhi Police staff, one senior officer and a constable are among the list of the six men who died while performing their duty.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Sanket Kaushik lost his life during duty at Rajokri Flyover. A truck hit him while he was checking vehicles around the area, and he died on the spot, the statement said.

Kaushik left behind his wife and three daughters who now depend on her for sustenance.

"And, so to honour his martyrdom and support his family to live a life of dignity, we have announced ex gratia of Rs 1 crore to his family," the deputy chief minister had earlier said.

Similarly, Vikas Kumar, a Delhi Police constable, was performing his picket duty when a four-wheeler whose driver had "knowingly increased the speed" hit him, when it was asked to stop the vehicle.

Vikas was injured in the incident, and was shifted to AIIMS thereafter where he was declared dead.

From the Indian Air Force, Rajesh Kumar from Safdarjung here was another such "martyr who lost his life while serving the Air Force", the chief minister's office said.

Rajesh was on an aircraft which took off from Jorhat, Assam and later it went missing. Its wreckage was found in Arunachal Pradesh, and he was subsequently found dead. He had only been three months into his marriage, and therefore his family will also be extended the 'Samman Rashi'.

From IAF, Flt Lt Sunit Mohanty was on the same flight as Rajesh Kumar. Mohanty was from Dwarka, and he also passed away in the plane crash, while performing his duty. He was living with his family, including his aged father, mother and a younger sister, the government said.

Also, Meet Kumar, a Squadron Leader in the Indian Air Force, had died after his MIG-21 crashed in an operational flying sortie in Kangra hills in Himachal Pradesh.

Pravesh Kumar, a Civil Defence personnel, was performing his duty at Mangolpuri flyover when a truck rammed into him and fled, and he died. His family will also receive the support of Rs 1 crore, it added.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Delhi chief Anil Kumar Friday wrote to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal demanding a Rs 1 crore for the family of photojournalist Danish Siddiqui who was killed recently while covering the clashes between Afghan troops and the Taliban in Kandahar.

The party said in a statement that Kumar also demanded the Pulitzer winning photographer be posthumously given the highest civilian award of the Delhi government.

"Danish Siddiqui was a celebrated photojournalist whose photograph of mass cremation of Covid dead bodies in Delhi had attracted international attention, calling the bluff of both the Modi and the Arvind Kejriwal governments about the number of actual Covid fatalities during the second wave of the pandemic in the capital," the statement said, quoting Kumar.

"A financial reward to his family will be a befitting tribute to this brave man, who had earned name and fame not only for himself and Delhi, but also for the country as a whole, with his matchless photographs, which spoke a thousand words without uttering a word," it added.

Siddiqui was killed in the town of Spin Boldak, near the border with Pakistan. He was embedded with Afghanistan special forces at the time of his death.

He was covering the situation in Kandahar for the Reuters news agency.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Urban Development Minister Satyendar Jain on Friday said the has given Rs 293 crore in advance to North Delhi Municipal Corporation so that the civic body can release the of its employees.

"The North always faces issues related to of employees. We hope they release the as soon as possible," he said during a press conference.

The Delhi High Court had on July 8 directed the city government to release an amount of Rs 293 crore within 10 days to the corporation to allow it pay salaries and pensions.

The court's direction had come on a clutch of petitions relating to non-payment of salaries and pensions to teachers, hospital staff, sanitation workers and engineers.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
There is no fixed timeline for completion of the ongoing vaccination drive in the country, the health ministry said in Parliament on Friday. However, it is expected that all beneficiaries aged 18 years and above will be vaccinated by December 2021, Bharati Pravin Pawar, minister of state in the health ministry, told the Lok Sabha.

Responding to a query by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Mala Roy of the Trinamool Congress, Pawar said there had been no delay in entering into purchase agreements with domestic vaccine manufacturers. Advance payments have also been made to manufacturers for the supply orders placed with them, he said.

The two MPs had asked whether the government had taken note of a significant delay in entering into advance purchase agreements with vaccine manufacturers, thereby adversely affecting the pace of vaccine rollout.

The government said it had spent more than Rs 9,700 crore on procurement and operational cost of vaccines, and placed orders for one billion doses till December 2021.

The health ministry said in Parliament that there was only a marginal difference in the purchase price of the two vaccines  Covishield at Rs 205 and Covaxin at Rs 215  exclusive of taxes. Pawar told the Lok Sabha that the price of vaccine for procurement by the government is negotiated by National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for Covid-19 (NEGVAC) and its subgroups involving detailed deliberations with the vaccine manufacturers.

She said the cost of vaccines includes its delivery in a temperature-controlled environment to the consignee points communicated by the government to the manufacturer.





The health ministry in response to a separate question said as of July 20, 2021, 326 million people have received at least one dose of Covid-19 vaccine. Of them, 85 million had received both shots.

The government has spent Rs 800 crore on the purchase of vaccines out of the Budget outlay of Rs 35,000 crore. Till July 20, 2021, 425 million doses have been supplied to the states through all sources. More than 403 million doses have been utilized during the ongoing vaccination drive.

While sharing the data regarding 11 per cent of the total Covid-19 cases reported in people aged less than 20 years in the country, the government said clinical trials for vaccines for children were underway.

On the third wave, health minister Mansukh Mandaviya said there was no scientific evidence  either from India or globally  to show that children get disproportionately infected with Covid-19, including the delta variant.

He said health was a state subject and the Centre was extending technical support in helping states strengthen their infrastructure. The minister also shared details of how the capacity of ICU beds, ventilators as well oxygen has been improved in the country.
The announced on Thursday that it will donate more than 200 million doses of vaccines against COVID-19 to countries with average and low incomes before the end of this year.

That is twice the initial amount the 27-nation bloc planned to deliver, mostly through COVAX, a UN-backed program to provide vaccines to the poorest parts of the world.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the EU had "taken on its responsibility in helping the world fight the virus".

"Vaccination is crucial - that is why it is essential to ensure access to COVID-19 vaccines around the world," she said.

According to EU data, COVAX has so far delivered 122 million doses of vaccines to 136 countries.

The EU said it had provided assistance to African countries to help them produce vaccines and medicines to reduce the continent's dependence on imports, the Associated Press reported.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The European Medicines Agency has recommended authorising Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine for aged 12 to 17, the first time the shot has been authorized for people under 18.

In a decision on Friday, the EU drug regulator said research in more than 3,700 aged 12 to 17 showed that the Moderna vaccine already given the OK for adults across Europe produced a comparable antibody response.

Until now, the vaccine made by Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech has been the only option for as young as 12 in North America and Europe.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is currently considering whether to extend the use of the Moderna vaccine to the same age group.

With global vaccine supplies still tight, much of the world still is struggling to immunize adults, and agencies including the World Health Organization have urged rich countries to donate their doses to the developing world where fewer than 2% of people have been vaccinated rather than moving on to inoculate their less vulnerable populations.

Hundreds of millions of Moderna doses already have been administered to adults, and the company says the two-dose vaccine is just as protective in teens. In a study of more than 3,700 12- to 17-year-olds, the vaccine triggered the same signs of immune protection and there were no COVID-19 diagnoses in the vaccinated group compared with four cases among those given dummy shots.

Sore arms, headache and fatigue were the most common side effects, as in adults.

U.S. and European regulators do caution that both the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines appear linked to an extremely rare reaction in teens and young adults chest pain and heart inflammation.

In the U.S., children represent about 14% of the nation's total coronavirus cases to date. And while the young are far less likely than the old to get seriously ill, at least 344 children have died of COVID-19 in the U.S. alone, according to a tally by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

So far in the U.S., just under half the population is fully vaccinated with the highest rates, not surprisingly, among older adults. Just a quarter of 12- to 15-year-olds, who got access to Pfizer's vaccine starting in May, have had their second dose, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Among those 16 and 17, about 37% are fully vaccinated.

Both Pfizer and Moderna have begun testing in even younger children, from age 11 down to 6-month-old babies. These studies are more complex: Teens receive the same dose as adults, but researchers are testing smaller doses in younger children. The first results from elementary school-aged children are expected in September.

The EU drug regulator said it would continue to monitor the safety and efficacy of the Moderna vaccine in children as it is used in European member countries.

Although some countries have authorized Pfizer-BioNTech's vaccine for children under 18, not all have decided to start using it, citing the minimal risks children face from the coronavirus. In Britain, for example, health officials have so far declined to recommend that children under 18 be vaccinated unless they have medical conditions that warrant it.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Britain has reported another 39,906 cases in the latest 24-hour period, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 5,602,321, according to official figures released on Thursday.

The country also recorded another 84 coronavirus-related deaths. The total number of coronavirus-related deaths in Britain now standing at 128,980. These figures only include the deaths of people who died within 28 days of their first positive test, the Xinhua news agency reported.

England has recently lifted most Covid-19 restrictions as part of the final step of the roadmap out of the lockdown. Scientists have warned that lifting all restrictions at this stage could increase likelihood of dangerous variants.

The average number of daily cases in England is around 41,000, and hospitalizations and deaths are rising too although at a much lower level than during previous waves, said Nadhim Zahawi, the minister for Covid-19 vaccine deployment. He made the remarks when updating members of the parliament on Thursday.

Regarding the NHS (national health service) Covid-19 pass, he said: "Anyone can access a pass via the NHS app on the NHS website or by calling 119 and asking for a letter to demonstrate vaccine status. People will also be able to demonstrate proof of a negative test result."

Although the government do not encourage its use in essential settings, like supermarkets, other businesses and organization in England can adopt the pass as a means of entry where it is suitable for their venue or premises and when they can see its potential to keep their clients or their customers safe, according to Zahawi.

But for proprietors of venues and events where large numbers are likely to gather and likely to mix with people from outside their households for prolonged periods deploying the pass is the right thing to do, he said.

About 88 per cent of adults in Britain have received the first jab of Covid-19 vaccine and more than 69 per cent have received two doses, according to the latest figures.

To bring life back to normal, countries such as Britain, China, Russia, the United States as well as the European Union have been racing against time to roll out vaccines.

--IANS

int/rs

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Friday said the police was being "pro-active" in sending a notice to the India MD over the circulation of a "communally sensitive" video, while the slammed the state government for "targeting" the official "individually" through the summons which was quashed by the High Court.

The HC quashed the notice issued to India Managing Director Manish Maheshwari by the UP police, seeking his personal appearance as part of its probe into the video uploaded by a user on Twitter, saying it was issued by mala fide.

The single bench of Justice G Narendar said the notice under Section 41(A) CrPC should be treated as Section under 160 of CrPC, allowing the Ghaziabad Police to question Maheshwari through virtual mode from his office or his residential address in Bengaluru.

Responding to the development, UP spokesperson Rakesh Tripathi said, "We have seen riots in western in the past and the large scale use of social media in it. The police were pro-active to prevent any communal disharmony and hence took this decision to set accountability of a social media platform and sent notice to "



"The court has disallowed in person appearance but allowed questioning through virtual mode. We respect the decision of the High Court. The government is committed to ensuring no misuse of social media for disturbing communal harmony," he told PTI in Lucknow.

UP Congress' social media vice chairperson Pankhuri Pathak said the way the UP government is "targeting" Twitter is something not seen anywhere in the world.

'This government is just after Twitter and trying to control social media the way it has controlled the mainstream media," she alleged.

"We have earlier seen law enforcement agencies' raids at offices of social media but when that did not work, the government went after individuals, targeting them personally. This vendetta politics is hurting the image of India world over," Pathak said.

Meanwhile, the Ghaziabad Police, which had lodged an FIR against Twitter and others on June 15 over the circulation of the video of an elderly Muslim man who claimed being attacked by a group of young men and his beard being forcibly shaved off, said it was yet to receive the HC's order.

"We are yet to receive the Karnataka High Court's order. When we get the order, we shall decide the course of our future action accordingly," Ghaziabad police chief Amit Kumar Pathak told PTI.

The FIR named as accused Twitter Inc, Twitter Communications India Pvt Ltd (Twitter India), news website The Wire, journalists Mohammed Zubair and Rana Ayyub, besides leaders Salman Nizami, Maskoor Usmani, Shama Mohamed and writer Saba Naqvi.

They were booked over the circulation of a video in which the man, Abdul Shamad Saifi, also alleged that he was forced to chant 'Jai Shri Ram' on June 5 during the attack.

However, the police maintained that it was not a communal attack but some people had tried to portray it that way while sharing the video on social media.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
India looks forward to continuing its engagements with the Pacific Alliance, said the MEA on the 10th anniversary of the alliance.

Riva Ganguly Das, Secretary (East), (MEA) on Thursday met the Ambassadors of Colombia, Chile, Mexico and Peru to extend greetings on the 10th anniversary of the Pacific Alliance, the informed.

"Secretary (East) met the Ambassadors of the Pacific Alliance: Colombia, Chile, Mexico and Peru and congratulated them on the 10th Anniversary of the Alliance," MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said in a tweet.

"India looks forward to continuing its engagements with the Pacific Alliance," he added.

Earlier, Bagchi also informed that India supports the Afghan government and people in realising their aspiration for a peaceful, democratic and prosperous future.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Karnataka High Court on Friday quashed the notice issued to India Managing Director Manish Maheshwari by police, seeking his personal appearance as part of its probe into a communally sensitive video uploaded by a user on platform, saying it was issued by malafide.

The single bench of Justice G Narendar said that the notice under Section 41(A) CrPC should be treated as Section under 160 of CrPC, allowing Ghaziabad police to question Maheshwari through virtual mode, at his office or his residential address in Bengaluru.

Maintaining that the provisions of the statute under Section 41(A) CrPC should not be permitted to become tools of harassment, Justice Narendar said Ghaziabad police did not place any material which would demonstrate even the prima facie involvement of the petitioner, though the hearing has been going on for the past several days.

In the background of the fact that section 41(a) notice was issued by malafide, the writ petition (filed by Maheshwari seeking quashing) is maintainable.

Accordingly, the notice under section Annexure A notice shall be read as section 160 of the CrPC, the court said.

The action of the respondent (Ghaziabad police) trying to invoke section 41(A) of the CrPC gives no doubt in the mind of court that the same has been resorted to as an arm-twisting method as the petitioner refused to heed to the notice under section 160 of the CrPC, the court observed.

The Ghaziabad (Uttar Pradesh) police had issued a notice under Section 41-A of the CrPC on June 21 asking him to report at the Loni Border police station at 10.30 am on June 24.





ALSO READ: Sidhu takes charge as Punjab Congress chief in presence of Amarinder

Maheshwari then moved the Karnataka High Court as he lives in Bengaluru in Karnataka.

On June 24, the High Court, in an interim order, restrained Ghaziabad police from initiating any coercive action against him.

Justice Narendar had also maintained that if police wanted to examine him, they could do so through virtual mode.

The Ghaziabad Police on June 15 booked Inc, Twitter Communications India (Twitter India), news website The Wire, journalists Mohammed Zubair and Rana Ayyub, besides Congress leaders Salman Nizami, Maskoor Usmani, Shama Mohamed and writer Saba Naqvi.

They were booked over the circulation of a video in which an elderly man, Abdul Shamad Saifi, alleged that he was thrashed by some young men, who also asked him to chant 'Jai Shri Ram' on June five.

According to police, the video was shared to cause communal unrest.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Kenneth Juster, America's former Ambassador to India, has been named as an advisor to the Global Board of the US India Business Council (USIBC).

We are thrilled to welcome Ambassador Juster as an Advisor to our Global Board -- a true proponent of the US-India partnership, who has left an undeniable mark on bilateral relations, president Nisha Desai Biswal said.

also announced the addition of Kamal Ahluwalia, president Eightfold AI; Guru Bandekar, Chief Procurement Officer, Global Strategic Sourcing Stanley Black & Decker and Raghu Raghuram, CEO VMware, to its Global Board of Directors, further solidifying the Council's leadership in key sectors.

As the two countries continue to focus on rebuilding economies, we are fortunate to have this set of visionaries guiding us, Biswal, who has earlier served as the US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs under the Obama administration, said.

Juster, who was the US envoy to India from 2017 to 2021, in a statement said that the breadth of the US-India relationship has continued to expand over the past few years beyond collaboration in key sectors to a shared vision for the Indo-Pacific region.

The two countries have a robust partnership, to which the has made significant contributions. I look forward to being an Advisor to the Global Board to help further strengthen bilateral economic and commercial ties. Juster said.

Ahluwalia said that working with the esteemed leaders and organisations in league with the USIBC would make an immediate impact on how advanced technology is used in our daily lives and lifelong careers.

We continue to invest in our make where we sell and buy where we make a strategy to support those who make, shape, build and protect our world. I'm proud to be on the US India Business Council as we work together to advance the Council's advocacy agenda and support India's vision of Make in India' growth strategy, Bandekar said.

As someone with close personal ties to both India and the US, I welcome the opportunity to participate in enhancing the already strong and fruitful relationship between the two countries," noted Raghuram.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
MP B Manickam Tagore on Friday has moved a motion of Adjournment of the business in to discuss over 'Pegasus Project' media report.

"I hereby give notice of my intention to ask for leave to move a motion for the adjournment of the business of the house for the purpose of discussing a definite matter of urgent importance namely:- that the house do discuss the recent allegations in the media of the government carrying out spying and online surveillance of several senior Opposition leaders, constitutional authorities, reporters and activists using the Israeli software Pegasus and which could have grave implications for the right to privacy of individuals guaranteed under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution," wrote the MP to Secretary-General.

On Thursday, held protest marches in different states seeking a Supreme Court-monitored probe into allegations of surveillance using Pegasus spyware.

The party has also demanded the resignation of Home Minister Amit Shah.

The Opposition has alleged that names of several Indian politicians, journalists, lawyers, and activists have appeared on the leaked list of potential targets for surveillance by an unidentified agency using Pegasus spyware. This comes following reports published in The Wire.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
As on date, no foreign COVID-19 vaccines have been purchased or received as donation by the government of India, Minister of State for Health Bharati Pravin Pawar informed on Friday.

On whether India in the first instance exported vaccine without assessing the impact of the second wave and need of vaccine in the country, Pawar, in a written reply, said the government of India has secured COVID-19 vaccines for the eligible beneficiaries as per the availability of vaccines in the country.

In response to another question on whether the government has signed any agreement with foreign countries for supplying Covid vaccine to India, the minister said while the government of India is engaged in a dialogue with foreign manufacturers of Covid vaccine, no specific agreement has been signed as yet.

The export quantity comprised vaccines committed under international agreements by the domestic manufacturer to COVAX and its individual commitments to other countries or organisations and vaccines supplied through the "Vaccine Maitri" initiative, Pawar said in the written reply.

Elaborating on the reasons for not identifying journalists as frontline workers and giving them priority for vaccination, she said COVID-19 is guided by the National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for COVID-19 (NEGVAC) on the basis of concurrent scientific evidence.

The prioritisation for has been done with an aim to protect the pandemic response and health system and to have maximum impact on reduction of disease and deaths due to COVID-19, she said.

This was later followed by age-based prioritisation, which is considered equitable and which has also been the practice globally, Pawar stated.

On the total doses of foreign vaccines so far received on purchase or as donation so far and the timeline fixed by the government to vaccinate all the eligible people in the country, she said, "As on date, no foreign COVID-19 vaccine has been purchased or received as donation by the government of India".

In view of the dynamic and evolving nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, no fixed timelines at present can be indicated for the completion of the drive, however, it is expected that all beneficiaries aged 18 years and above will be vaccinated by December 2021, she stated.

The National COVID-19 Vaccination Drive is progressing at a steady pace and Covid vaccination has improved significantly from 2.35 lakh doses per day in the month of January 2021 to an average of 39.89 lakh doses per day in the month of June 2021, Pawar said.

However, in order to raise awareness about COVID-19 vaccines, address vaccine hesitancy and sustain vaccine confidence, a communication strategy is in , lace which is being implemented across all states and UTs, she said in another reply.

Under the National Covid Vaccination Program, from January 16 to April 30 2021, 100 per cent of vaccine doses were procured by the government of India and provided free of cost to state governments.

From May 1 to June 20, "The Liberalized Pricing and Accelerated National COVID-19 Vaccination Strategy" was brought in effect in order to incentivize production by vaccine manufacturers and encourage new COVID-19 vaccines. Under this strategy, states and UTs and private hospitals were allowed to procure COVID-19 vaccine directly from manufacturers.

The government of India procured 50 per cent of monthly vaccine production by the domestic manufacturers, the state government and private hospitals procured remaining 50 per cent doses.

The quantity of doses available for states and UTs and private hospitals was worked out on state-wise population of 18 to 44 years on pro-rata basis, Pawar said in her reply.

The "Revised Guidelines for Implementation of National COVID Vaccination Program" were issued on June 8, to be effective from June 21 under which the government of India is procuring 75 per cent of COVID-19 vaccines produced in the country and providing it free of cost to states and UTs.

The states and UTs, in turn, will administer the vaccines free of cost to all citizens as per priority. The domestic vaccine manufacturers have the option to provide 25 per cent of their monthly vaccine production directly to private hospitals.

The guidelines were reviewed and revised keeping in view the experiences gained from May 1 this year and the repeated requests received from states, the reply stated.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The government has no record of farmers who have died during the agitation at Delhi's borders against three new farm laws since 2020, Agriculture Minister informed Parliament on Friday.

Tomar also said the government has not undertaken any study to ascertain the apprehensions in the minds of farmers about the three farm laws.

Thousands of farmers, mainly from Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh, have been camping at Delhi's borders since eight months in protest against the three laws. Out of them, a small group of 200 farmers are now staging a protest at Jantar Mantar in central Delhi after getting special permission.

Asked if the government was aware of the total number of farmers who have died during farm protest since 2020, Tomar said: "The Government of India has no such record."



However, the Central government during discussions with farmers' unions had appealed to them that children and elders, especially women, should be allowed to go home in view of the cold prevailing at that time and the COVID-19 situation, he said in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha.

Further, in a separate reply, Tomar said, "No study has been undertaken to ascertain the reasons for apprehensions created in the mind of farmers on account of these farm laws."



However, the Centre has proactively undertaken efforts to reach out the farmers to remove their apprehensions, he added.

Asserting that the government is serious and sensitive towards farmers issues, the minister said the Centre has been engaged in active discussions with the farmers' unions.

So far, 11 rounds of negotiations have been held between the government and agitating farmers' unions to resolve the issues, he added.

In all the rounds of discussions, the government has stressed that instead of insisting on repealing the laws, the farmer unions should discuss about their concerns on specific clauses so that their issues can be resolved, he added.

"During various rounds of discussions, the government continuously requested the farmers unions to discuss the provisions of the farm laws, so that if there is an objection to any provision, the advancement can be made towards resolution of those. But the farmers' unions insisted only on the repeal of the farm laws," he said.

The last round of talks between the government and unions was held on January 22. Talks have not resumed following widespread violence during a tractor rally by protesting farmers on January 26.

The Supreme Court has put on hold the implementation of the three laws till further orders and set up a committee to find solutions. The committee has already submitted its report.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Centre is purchasing Covishield and Covaxin doses at the rate of Rs 205 and Rs 215 per dose, respectively, and there is only a marginal difference in the purchase price of the two vaccines for the government,



the Lok Sabha was informed on Friday.

In a written reply, Minister of State for Health Bharati Pravin Pawar also said that the government is not facing any difficulty in procuring and arranging vaccines for states and Union territories (UTs).

In fact, the Government of India has been supplying vaccines free of cost to the states/UTs for administration to prioritised beneficiaries as recommended by the National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for COVID-19 (NEGVAC).

Advance visibility of these allocations, that is, the total doses of vaccine that would be available to a state and UT, is provided to them 15 days in advance, so as to enable them to plan for acceleration of vaccination coverage while being cognizant of the available vaccines, the minister said.

The Government of India allocates vaccines to states/UTs based on criteria such as pro rata target population, progress of vaccination in the state and UT and vaccine wastage.

"According to the latest supply order, the Government of India is purchasing Covishield (exclusive of taxes) at the rate of Rs 205 per dose and Covaxin at the rate of Rs 215 per dose. There is only a marginal difference in the purchase price of the two vaccines for the Government of India," Pawar said in the written reply.

As on July 20, 2021, a total of 42.52 crore doses of Covishield and Covaxin have been supplied for COVID-19 vaccination drive in India.

Till July, around Rs 8,071.09 crore has been spent on purchase of COVID-19 vaccines. The price of vaccine for procurement by the Government of India is negotiated by NEGVAC and its subgroups involving detailed deliberations with the vaccine manufacturers, the minister told the House in response to a separate question.

She further elaborated on the initiatives taken by the Union government to help Indian vaccine manufacturers who are in the process of developing COVID-19 vaccine which are in advance stage of trial.

The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) under the Ministry of Science and Technology is implementing 'COVID Suraksha- the Indian COVID-19 Vaccine Development Mission'.

Under the mission, facility augmentation for production of Covaxin is being supported whereby Bharat Biotech and three public sector enterprises, including Haffkine Biopharmaceutical Corporation Ltd, Mumbai; Indian Immunologicals Limited (IIL), Hyderabad; and Bharat Immunologicals Biologicals Limited (BIBCOL), Bulandshahr, are being supported.

Additionally, technology transfer of Covaxin production to a consortium of partners, including Hester Biosciences and OmniBRx Biotechnologies Pvt Ltd led by Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre (GBRC), Department of Science and Technology, Government of Gujarat, is being facilitated by the Department of Biotechnology, the minister said.

The Government of India has also provided financial assistance to domestic vaccine manufacturer Biological E' which is at present in advance phase III clinical trial for 'At-risk manufacturing' of COVID-19 vaccine, she added.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
on Friday voiced "serious concern" over media reports about India allegedly eavesdropping on foreigners, including Prime Minister Imran Khan, using Israeli spyware Pegasus and urged the UN to thoroughly investigate the matter.

According to reports, Khan was a potential target of the Israeli-made Pegasus spyware programme by clients of the NSO Group cyberespionage firm.

The Foreign Office (FO) through a statement responded to the media queries related to India's alleged use of the Israeli spyware.

We have noted with serious concern recent international media reports exposing Indian government's organised spying operations against its own citizens, foreigners as well as Prime Minister Imran Khan, using an Israeli origin spyware, the FO said.

The statement also condemned what it called "India's state-sponsored, continuing and widespread surveillance and spying operations in clear breach of global norms of responsible state behaviour.

We are closely following these revelations and will bring the Indian abuses to the attention of appropriate global platforms, said the FO.

also called on the relevant UN bodies to thoroughly investigate the matter, "bring the facts to light, and hold the Indian perpetrators to account".

India on Monday categorically rejected allegations linked to the Pegasus snooping row, saying attempts were being made to "malign" Indian democracy.

Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw asserted that illegal surveillance was not possible with checks and balances in the country's laws.

"The press reports of 18th July 2021 also appear to be an attempt to malign the Indian democracy and its well-established institutions," Vaishnaw said in Parliament



India, the minister said, has an "established protocol when it comes to surveillance... any form of illegal surveillance is not possible with the checks and balances in our laws and our robust institutions."



Minister of state for external affairs Meenakshi Lekhi on Thursday said that the story on the alleged snooping through Israeli spyware Pegasus is "concocted, fabricated and evidence-less" and that the news reports based on it call for "defamation".

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Prime Minister and Home Minister Amit Shah used the Pegasus spyware against India and its institutions, and "the only word for this is treason", Congress leader alleged on Friday.

Gandhi demanded a monitored probe into the matter. Addressing reporters at Vijay Chowk, he also demanded the resignation of the home minister.

He said all his phones have been tapped and his friends informed by intelligence people that this is being done.

"Pegasus is classified by the Israeli state as a weapon and that weapon is supposed to be used against terrorists. The prime minister and the home minister have used this weapon against the Indian state and our institutions. They have used it politically, they have used it in Karnataka..," he told reporters.

"The only word for this is treason, he said.

The matter has to be investigated, the former Congress president said.

A judicial inquiry monitored by the should be conducted and the home minister must resign," he told reporters.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
announced on Thursday the successful conclusion of this year's Hajj season, free from the Covid-19 and other contagious diseases, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Saudi Health Minister Tawfiq Al-Rabiah attributed the success to an integrated system of health facilities in the holy sites, highly equipped ambulances and qualified teams, the report said.

The minister added that limiting the number of domestic pilgrims during this Hajj season to 60,000 also contributed to the success, the Xinhua news agency reported.

For the second year in a row, has allowed only domestic pilgrims to performed Hajj to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.

--IANS

int/rs

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) said it was probing the deaths of 28 people who apparently died after being administered with a Covid-19 vaccine.

The study would be conducted to determine if these fatalities were directly linked to the vaccination in the country where the Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer jabs are being used, reports Xinhua news agency.

"We need to determine if the event that we saw is indeed related to the vaccine or related to something else. These are very comprehensive studies that would be conducted," SAHPRA's CEO Boitumelo Semete-Makokotlela said on Thursday.

The probe was launched after the SAHPRA on Wednesday told parliamentarians that there were reports of breakthrough infections after people were inoculated with the Pfizer or Johnson & Johnson vaccines.

According to the National Health Department's figures, around 5.5 million South Africans have been vaccinated.

Over one million people have received the J&J vaccine and 4.5 million others the Pfizer jab.

SAHPRA said they have received 3,730 reports of adverse events following immunisation, of which 279 were termed as adverse events of special interest.

According to the National Institute for Communicable Diseases, the country, one of the worst hit in the African continent, has recorded 2,327,472 cases till date, with 68,192 fatalities.

--IANS

ksk/

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The told the Bombay High Court on Friday that a sessions court in Pune taking cognisance of the police's charge sheet in the Elgar-Parishad Maoist links case in 2018 did not cause any prejudice to the accused persons, and therefore, did not entitle Sudha Bharadwaj or her co-accused to default bail.

Advocate General Ashutosh Kumbhakoni, who was arguing on behalf of the state, was referring to the contentions made in a plea filed earlier this year by lawyer and activist Bharadwaj seeking default bail in the Elgar case.

Her counsel Yug Chaudhry had earlier told a bench of Justices SS Shinde and NJ Jamadar that Bharadwaj and her co-accused had been charged for scheduled offences under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). Chaudhry had said that only a special court could have taken cognisance of the case that was taken over by the court in January 2020.

He had said KD Vadane, the judge who had taken cognisance of the charge sheet was an additional sessions judge but had pretended to be a special judge and signed his orders as a special judge. Such lapse entitled Bharadwaj to default bail, Chaudhry had said.

On Friday however, the opposed the submission.

"Can it be said that just because cognisance was taken by someone who didn't have jurisdiction, a person is entitled to default bail? This cognisance aspect cannot make them (Bharadwaj and her co-accused) entitled to default bail. Let us not make a mountain out of a molehill," he said.

Kumbhakoni said the fact that a sessions court and not a special court took cognisance of the Pune police's case could be considered a "irregularity" but not "illegality."



"In the entire petition, not a whisper that there is failure of justice or any prejudice is caused because of this cognisance," Kumbhakoni said.

The NIA's counsel, Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh, too said the above fact did not entitle Bharadwaj and her co-accused to default bail. He said there was no irregularity in the sessions court taking cognisance of the case until the took over.

"All sessions judges are equal. There is no greater or so, it is merely a question of notification distinguishing them as so," Singh said, adding that one's right to default bail accrued if a charge sheet was not filed within 90 days.

"Once the charge sheet is filed, then the right to default bail goes away. Whether cognisance is taken or not is not material to the fact that charge sheet has been filed," Singh said.

The HC will continue hearing the plea on August 2.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Union Electronics and Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Friday hit out at the Trinamool Congress (TMC) after a copy of his statement was snatched from his hand during a ruckus that broke out in the

The has a culture of violence and is trying to bring it to Parliament, the newly inducted IT minister said, asking what message was being sent to the rest of the country.

"The kind of violence they (TMC) inflicted on Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers in Bengal, that is the same culture they are bringing. What message are we giving to the country, to the next generation parliamentarians?" Vaishnaw asked.

MP Santanu Sen had on Thursday snatched a copy of Vaishnaw's statement, while he was delivering his speech about the Pegasus Project matter in Sen proceeded to tear it into pieces.

A verbal feud followed between BJP and MPs. Marshals intervened to bring the situation under control.

Heated words were exchanged between Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri and TMC MP Santanu Sen after the latter snatched the sheet from Vaishnaw.

After the incident, sources informed that the government is planning to give privilege motion notice against Trinamool Congress MPs who "misbehaved" with the IT Minister.

They said the government will also urge the chair to suspend Trinamool Congress MP Santanu Sen, who snatched the copy of Vaishnaw's statement from him and tore it into pieces in the upper House.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Indias first unicorn Zomato will make its stock market debut on Friday, marking a historic moment for the domestic capital market. Read more on this and other top headlines.



Cash-strapped Vodafone Idea gets nod for FDI up to Rs 15,000 crore

Cash-strapped telco Vodafone Ideas proposal for investment of up to Rs 15,000 crore through foreign direct investment (FDI) has been approved by the Union government, according to officials. A top-level group, comprising representatives from the ministries of home affairs, external affairs, finance and commerce and industry, took the decision. Read more

Strategic divestment: Valuation of companies caught in the crosshairs



The Department of Commerce has flagged concerns over the valuation of companies under strategic divestment, citing the case of Neelachal Ispat Nigam (NINL). This has led to the government going back to the table on the method of valuing a public sector enterprise. Read more

Union Cabinet approves 100% FDI in PSU refiners to aid BPCL sale

The Union Cabinet on Thursday approved a proposal to allow 100 per cent foreign direct investment (FDI) in public sector refiners, expanding the scope for FDI in the privatisation of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL). The approval by the Cabinet will enable the sale of the governments 52.98 per cent stake in BPCL to a foreign buyer, and, at the same time, will open the door for FDI in other public sector companies in the oil sector put up for privatisation. Read more



Zomato to make stock market debut on Friday, four days ahead of schedule

As per initial schedule, Zomatos listing was to take place on July 27. However, investment banks managed to complete the share allotment and listing formalities ahead of the deadline. Under the Sebi framework, the timeline between IPO closing and listing has to be six working days. Zomatos IPO had closed on July 16. Read more

RBI to introduce Central Bank Digital Currency in phases: deputy governor



The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will introduce its own version of Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) in a phased manner and after carefully weighing its impact on various issues, including how it could hamper the deposit mobilisation abilities of banks, and its potential effect on the conduct of the monetary policy, deputy governor T Rabi Sankar said in a speech on Thursday. Read more
Two Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) terrorists, including a top commander of the outfit, were killed in an overnight encounter with security forces in the Sopore area of Jammu and Kashmir's Baramulla district, police said on Friday.

A police spokesperson said the security forces launched a cordon-and-search operation in the Warpora area of Sopore on Thursday, following specific information about the presence of ultras there.

"During the search operation, as the presence of terrorists got ascertained, they were given repeated opportunities to surrender. However, instead of surrendering, they fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party which was retaliated, leading to an encounter," he said.

In the ensuing encounter, two "categorised terrorists of proscribed terror outfit LeT" were killed, and their bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter, the official said.

He identified them as Fayaz Ahmad War, alias Rukana, alias Umar, of Warpora, who was a top commander of the LeT, and Shaheen Ahmad Mir, alias Shaheen Molvi, of Cherpora Budgam.

"As per police records, both the slain terrorists were part of groups involved in various terror crime cases and several terror crime cases were registered against them," he added.

The spokesman said War had been associated with terrorism since 2008.

"Although he had surrendered earlier with arms and ammunition, after his release, he again worked as a terrorist associate for proscribed terror outfit HM and was detained under PSA. However, after his release in March 2020, he joined terrorist ranks of proscribed terror outfit LeT," he said.

Besides being part of groups involved in several terror crime cases, War was very instrumental in planning and executing terror attacks on security establishments and civilian killings, and figured among the list of most-wanted terrorists in north Kashmir, the spokesperson said.

"He was the last active terrorist who perpetrated a series of various terror crimes and violence in north Kashmir which included attack on police party at Warpora Sopore in March last year in which one police personnel and a civilian got killed and the attack on joint naka party at Ahad Baba crossing on in April last year in which three CRPF personnel got killed," he said.

The spokesman said War was also involved in the killing of a civilian, Danish Manzoor Naja of Eidipora Bomai, and an attack on a joint naka party at Model Town Sopore in which another civilian and a CRPF trooper were killed.

He was involved in the killing of two municipal councillors and a policeman near SDH Sopore on June 12, and two police personnel and two civilians at Main Chowk, Sopore, the official added.

War was also involved in a series of grenade attacks on police and security establishments, he said.

Incriminating materials, arms and ammunition, including two AK-47 rifles and four magazines, were recovered from the site of the encounter, the spokesman said.

Inspector General of Police, Kashmir, Vijay Kumar congratulated police and security forces for conducting a successful operation in a professional manner without any collateral damage.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Federal health officials have signalled they're hunting ways to quickly learn if a third COVID-19 vaccine dose might better protect organ transplant recipients and other patients with weak immune systems.

While the vaccines are strongly effective in most people, many Americans with immune-suppressing health problems remain in limbo after immunisation, uncertain how protected they really are. France and Israel already have begun offering an extra dose to transplant recipients and other immunocompromised people. In the US, those patients increasingly are pushing for -- even lying to get -- another shot, too.

Thursday, advisers to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reviewed some small studies that hint, but don't prove, a third dose might help at least some immunocompromised patients. The panel can't formally recommend an extra dose without the Food and Drug Administration's permission, but several advisers asked if the government could allow worried patients to sign up for one as part of a study.

"We are actively looking into ways that could be done," replied CDC's Dr Amanda Cohn. "Stay tuned. We are working through those issues.
US Secretary of State Antony J Blinken will visit India on July 27 and 28 to discuss a range of issues including the recovery from the coronavirus pandemic and the situation in Afghanistan and the Indo-Pacific, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced on Friday.

It will be Blinken's first visit to India after assuming charge as the US Secretary of State and the second by a high-ranking official of the Biden administration since it came to power in January.

"US Secretary of State, Antony J Blinken, will visit India on July 27 and 28," the MEA said.

It said Blinken will meet External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Security Advisor Ajit Doval on July 28.

A statement by the US State Department said Blinken will also meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"Secretary Blinken's visit is an opportunity to continue the high-level bilateral dialogue and bolster the India-US global strategic partnership. Both sides will review the robust and multifaceted India-US bilateral relations, and potential for consolidating them further," the MEA said in a statement.

"Discussions will focus on regional and global issues of mutual interest including recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Indo-Pacific region, Afghanistan and cooperation in the UN," it added.

The US State Department said Blinken will travel to Kuwait after visiting India and that the two-nation tour is aimed at reaffirming the United States' commitment to strengthening its partnerships.

"Secretary of State Antony J Blinken will travel to New Delhi, India and Kuwait City, Kuwait July 26-29 to reaffirm the United States' commitment to strengthening our partnerships and underscore cooperation on our shared priorities," it said.

"In New Delhi on July 28, Secretary Blinken will meet with External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss a wide range of issues including continued cooperation on COVID-19 response efforts, Indo-Pacific engagement, shared regional security interests, shared democratic values, and addressing the climate crisis," it added.

It is learnt that both sides will also discuss the possibility of holding an in-person summit of leaders of the Quad grouping in Washington later this year.

The US has been looking at convening the in-person summit of the leaders of Quad to boost practical cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region as well as to send a strong signal about Washington's commitment to the grouping. The Quad comprises India, Japan, Australia and the US.

US Defence Secretary Lloyd J Austin had paid a three-day visit to New Delhi in March.

It is expected that the evolving situation in Afghanistan will be a major focus of the discussions between the two sides.

Afghanistan witnessed a series of terror attacks in the last few weeks as the US withdrew the majority of its troops from the country and is looking at completing the drawdown by August 31, ending nearly two-decade of its military presence in the country.

The Taliban was evicted from power by the US-led forces in 2001. Now, as the US is pulling back its troops, the Taliban fighters are attempting to gain control of various parts of the country.

As the situation deteriorated in Afghanistan, India has been in touch with leading international players as well as the Afghan government on the overall developments in the country.

India has been a major stakeholder in the peace and stability of Afghanistan. It has already invested nearly USD three billion in aid and reconstruction activities in the country.

India has been supporting a peace and reconciliation process which is Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Washington DC [US], July 23 (ANI): press secretary Jen Psaki on Thursday slammed for rejecting a fresh World Health Organisation (WHO) probe into the origins of COVID-19.

Speaking to reporters at a briefing, Psaki said the Biden administration is "deeply disappointed" by China's rejection.

"Their position is irresponsible and frankly, dangerous. Alongside other member states around the world, we continue to call for to provide the needed access for data and samples," the press secretary declared.

Psaki further added, "This is critical, so we can understand, to prevent the next pandemic. This is about saving lives in the future and it is not a time to be stonewalling."

The WHO earlier this month proposed a second phase of studies into the origins of the in China, including audits of laboratories and markets in the city of Wuhan, calling for transparency from authorities.

Beijing reacted to the WHO proposal with Zeng Yixin, vice minister of China's National Health Commission (NHC), telling reporters that the WHO plan "disregards common sense and defies science." Zeng reiterated China's position that some data could not be completely shared due to privacy concerns.

Reacting to China's position Psaki said it was clear the country "isn't living up to their obligations" on investigating the pandemic and said Biden will shift focus to a global campaign to launch a "multilateral effort and support for putting pressure" on to increase transparency.

She said that the multilateral approach would be a "big focus" of Biden's strategy in engaging with China more broadly. "It is not just the United States calling for this," the official warned.

"As a part of our renewed engagement and our effort to build a coalition of support around the world with allies and partners, we are joined by the international community on this," Psaki concluded.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The says there's been no decision to change the COVID-19 guidance on wearing face masks.

Press secretary Jen Psaki insisted Thursday that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and not the White House, makes the decisions about public health.

Psaki says any change in the guidance would come from CDC.

The current guidance is that fully vaccinated individuals do not need to wear face masks while those who are unvaccinated should continue to wear them.

and public health officials have been discussing whether to update the mask guidance because of the surge in COVID-19 infections blamed on the highly contagious Delta variant.

CDC Director Rochelle Walensky said at a briefing Thursday that while her agency is always reviewing the data, the recommendations haven't changed.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Realty portal Housing.com on Friday said online searches for residential properties on its platform increased in June after witnessing a decline in the preceding two months, owing to the second wave of COVID pandemic, indicating a possible revival in actual demand in the second half of this year.

Delhi-NCR region (comprising Gurugram, Noida, Greater Noida, Faridabad and Ghaziabad micro markets) witnessed maximum online property searches by potential homebuyers in June to secure the top position, Housing.com said in a statement.

In the list of top 20 cities with high online property search activities, Mumbai ranks second, followed by Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Ludhiana, Pune, Goa, Surat, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Guwahati, Varanasi, Amritsar, Coimbatore, Patna, Meerut, Jaipur, Kanpur and Lucknow.

Housing.com, which is owned by Singapore-based Elara Technologies that also runs PropTiger and Makaan.com, has launched Indian residential index for online search (IRIS) that will track potential buyers activity on its platform on a monthly basis.

The index has been created with the objective of giving an in-depth view of buyer activity in India by tracking 42 key cities driving the residential market.

Housing.com's IRIS inched up 9 points month-on-month in June after a slowdown in online searches for residential properties during April and May 2021. The national online demand is up by 26 points year-on-year, despite a similar lockdown situation in both periods.

"The index shot up in June 2021, on the back of opening up of lockdowns as active COVID-19 cases subsided. The demand uptick in June 2021 and the ebbing of the second wave of the pandemic indicates a rise in demand in the coming months," Housing.com said in a statement.

As per our research, both online and offline trends hint at a speedier bounce back from the impact of the second COVID wave, said Dhruv Agarwala, Group CEO, Housing.com, Makaan.com and PropTiger.

The demand in Tier 2 cities has recovered more quickly than in the top-cities, demonstrating resilience during the pandemic, he added.

"The entire idea behind the launch of IRIS is to present the online residential demand dynamics in a comprehensible format to various stakeholders.

"The index brings forth macro and micro level real estate market insights through the knowledge gathered from the search activity of millions of potential homebuyers on the Housing.com platform," said Mani Rangarajan, Group COO, Housing.com, Makaan.com and PropTiger.

The index will provide monthly insights on buyer activity as observed on Housing.com, giving a comparative analysis at city and locality levels to homebuyers, sellers, agents, policy makers and real estate analysts.

"A majority of initial searches for buying a home takes place online and thus the online search trend is a leading indicator for developing offline homebuyer activity in a city in the near to mid-term," said Ankita Sood, Director & Head of Research, Housing.com, Makaan.com and PropTiger.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The country's exports grew 45.13 per cent to USD 22.48 billion during July 1-21 on account of healthy growth in sectors such as gems and jewellery, petroleum and engineering, according to the provisional data.

Imports also rose 64.82 per cent to USD 31.77 billion in the said period, leaving a trade deficit of USD 9.29 billion.

Exports of gems and jewellery, petroleum and engineering during July 1-21 stood at USD 424.5 million, USD 923.33 million and USD 551. 4 million, respectively, the data showed.

Imports of petroleum, crude and products rose by about 77.5 per cent to USD 1.16 billion.

During the period, exports to the US, UAE and Brazil increased by 51 per cent to USD 493.24 million; 127 per cent to USD 373.36 million; and 212 per cent to USD 144.5 million, respectively.

Recording positive growth for the seventh consecutive month, exports rose by 48.34 per cent to USD 32.5 billion in June on account of healthy growth in shipments of petroleum products, gems and jewellery, and chemicals, even as the trade deficit aggregated at USD 9.37 billion during the month.

The final figures for the full month of July would be released next month by the ministry.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Chinese President has made an unannounced visit to Tibet, according to Campaign for (ICT).

Video clips shared on Chinese social media on Thursday show Xi addressing people in the city of Nyingtri (Chinese: Linzhi), stepping out of a shop in the Barkhor area in Lhasa and giving remarks to the public while facing the "Monument to the Peaceful Liberation of Tibet" in front of the Potala Palace, the traditional winter residence of the Dalai Lama.

A recent official notice announcing the closure of the Potala on July 22 indicated a visit by a high-level dignitary, but the fact that Xi was visiting caught many observers off guard. According to sources, the visit may have been linked to the 70th anniversary of the controversial 17 Point Agreement, which falsely claims marks its "peaceful liberation of Tibet," but which Dalai Lama has renounced as an agreement made under duress.

A source told the ICT that Xi first landed at Mainling airport in Nyingtri, in southeast Tibet, on July 20. Xi addressed a public gathering in Nyingtri, stating that 10 years ago, when he came as head of the Chinese government's delegation to mark the 60th anniversary of the 17 Point Agreement, he had gone to Lhasa first. But this time, he said, he came to meet the people in Nyingtri first, telling them that not a single ethnic group should be left behind in the efforts to fully build a modern socialist

Xi was also seen addressing a gathering in front of the Potala Palace in Lhasa, where he stated that "as long as we follow the Communist Party and as long as we stick to the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, we will surely realise the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation as planned."

A source told ICT that Xi may also visit one of the monasteries in Lhasa, possibly Drepung Monastery, during this trip.

Three separate sources told ICT that their acquaintances in Lhasa reported unusual activities and monitoring of their movement in the past several days, indicating the visit of an important leader. "People reported receiving calls from security officials checking on their activities for no apparent reason. Roads in several sections of Lhasa were blocked, and the Lhasa City authorities announced the banning of drones and kites in Lhasa from July 21 to August 17," the ITC release said.

While heavy security is expected for a visit by Xi anywhere, it is unusual that even Chinese state media did not report about his visit to Nyingtri and Lhasa, even though two days have already passed since his arrival.

Xi last visited the Autonomous Region--which spans about half of Tibet--in 2011 when he was China's vice president. At the same, he visited Lhasa, Nyingtri and Shigatse.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
By Alex Lawler

LONDON (Reuters) -Oil edged further below $74 a barrel on Friday but was on track to end the week little changed after a surprising recovery from Monday's slide, underpinned by expectations that supply will remain tight as demand recovers.

The price of oil and other riskier assets tumbled at the start of the week on concern about the impact on the economy and crude demand from surging cases of the COVID-19 Delta variant in the United States, Britain, Japan and elsewhere.

Brent crude was down 3 cents at $73.76 a barrel by 1000 GMT after jumping 2.2% on Thursday. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude dropped 1 cent to $71.90, following a 2.3% gain on Thursday.

"Clearly, oil bulls are back in town," said Stephen Brennock at oil broker PVM. "But that is not to say that virus concerns have completely vanished."

For the week, Brent was set to end the week up a marginal 0.2%, having declined in the previous three weeks. U.S. crude was poised to remain steady over the week.

"Oil's comeback has surprised me," said Jeffrey Halley of brokerage OANDA.

Both contracts fell about 7% on Monday but have recouped all of those losses with investors expecting demand to stay strong and the market to receive support from falling oil stockpiles and rising rates of vaccinations.

Demand growth is expected to outpace supply following Sunday's deal by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies, known as OPEC+, to add back 400,000 barrels per day (bpd) each month from August.

ANZ Research analysts said in a report that the market was starting to sense the 400,000 bpd increase will not be enough to keep the market balanced, and inventories in the United States and across OECD countries continue to fall.

U.S. crude inventories rose by 2.1 million barrels last week, but stocks at the Cushing, Oklahoma delivery point for U.S. crude hit their lowest since January 2020. [EIA/S]

(Additional reporting by Sonali Paul in Melbourne and Roslan Khasawneh in Singapore; Editing by David Clarke)

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
UK health officials on Friday issued a warning of an increased risk of catching the Delta variant even if someone has had COVID-19 before and urged caution as further investigations remain ongoing.

Public Health England (PHE), which monitors all variants of concern (VOC) in the country on a weekly basis, found the Delta VOC cases have risen by 33,716 since last week to a total of 286,765 and continues to account for approximately 99 per cent of cases across the UK.

It also revealed that 897 cases out of 68,688 infections of the Delta variant first identified in India recorded in an 11-week period from April to June were possible reinfections.

The Delta risk assessment has been updated to reflect early signs of increased risk of reinfection with Delta compared to Alpha [variant previously dominant in the UK], the PHE said.

National surveillance analysis, adjusted for different variables including age and vaccination, shows a preliminary signal of increased risk of reinfection with Delta compared to Alpha. Further investigations are being undertaken, it noted.

With reference to the latest hospitalisation data, 3,692 people have been hospitalised with the Delta variant, of whom 2,152 (58.3 per cent) were unvaccinated and 843 (22.8 per cent) were fully vaccinated.

This most recent hospitalisation data shows once again just how crucial vaccination is in protecting us from severe illness and death, said Dr Jenny Harries, Chief Executive of the UK Health Security Agency.

Two doses of vaccine are far more effective against COVID-19 than a single dose, so please make sure that you come forward to get your second dose as soon as you are invited, she said.

As we emerge from restrictions and vaccine coverage continues to rise, it is important to remember that while the protection provided by vaccination is excellent, it is not total. It is still as important as ever that we continue to exercise caution, she added.

PHE also confirmed a further variant B.1.621 has been designated a variant under investigation (VUI) on Wednesday, having previously been designated a signal in monitoring. The new designation was made on the basis of early analysis of its genetic profile as well as its apparent expansion and subsequent importation to the UK.

Sixteen confirmed cases of B.1.621 have been identified across the country to date, and the majority have been linked to overseas travel. There is currently no evidence of community transmission in the UK, PHE said.

Meanwhile, the latest Office for National Statistics (ONS) data showed that COVID-19 infections have continued to rise around much of the UK. Swab tests in the community suggest 1.3 per cent of the population or one in 80 people has the virus, up from one in 100 the week before, and the Delta variant accounts for almost every case.

Amid the rising numbers and resulting pingdemic with the National Health Service (NHS) alerting thousands to self-isolate following exposure to a COVID-positive individual, the government has exempt supermarket depot workers and food manufacturers in England from quarantine rules to prevent food supply problems.

The new daily contact testing measures for those exempted are beginning on Friday at 15 supermarket depots, followed by 150 depots next week. Up to 10,000 staff are expected to qualify for the scheme, but supermarket workers are not included.

UK Health Secretary Sajid Javid said daily testing of food industry staff would "minimise the disruption caused by rising cases in the coming weeks, while ensuring workers are not put at risk".

The latest daily infections data from the Department of Health showed 39,906 new cases on Thursday, the lowest daily total since May.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The US carried out airstrikes across in the past several days as part of an effort to support the Afghan security forces fighting insurgents, the Pentagon has said.

The news of US airstrikes in came a day after Americas most senior military officer admitted that the had gained strategic momentum, with their forces now controlling about half of Afghanistan's more than 400 district centres.

The Pentagon, however, refrained from giving any specifics of its airstrikes in

Without speaking to specifics, I can say that in the last several days, we have acted through airstrikes to support the ANDSF (Afghan National Defense and Security Forces) but I won't get into tactical details of those strikes, Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby told reporters on Thursday at a news conference here.





But we continue to be able to and we continue to, as the Secretary said yesterday, conduct airstrikes in support of the ANDSF, he said.

The commander of US forces in the region, Central Command's General Kenneth Frank McKenzie, would retain the authority to call for airstrikes in support of Afghan forces until the US withdrawal from Afghanistan was complete.
Nifty futures on SGX were up 14.50 points at 15,828.50, around 8.15 am, indicating a firm start for the benchmark indices on Friday.

Here are the top stocks that are likely to buzz on Dalal Street today:

Listing: shares will make their market debut today. The IPO that was subscribed nearly 40 times is expected to list at a 30 per cent premium, as per analysts. It issue price stands at Rs 76 per share. READ HERE

Results Today: Forty-one companies, including RIL, JSW Steel, SBI Card, YES Bank and Federal Bank will report their quarterly numbers today.

Analysts expect improvement in RIL's energy margins on the back of a pickup in global demand to support the consolidated performance of Reliance Industries in the first quarter. However, the gains are also expected to be offset by the challenges in the retail and petrochemicals businesses, and a flattish show in telecom. READ HERE

Vodafone Idea, Airtel: Telecom stocks will be in focus today amid reports that the Supreme Court will pronounce its judgment on appeal for correction of errors in Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) calculation on July 23.

ICICI Lombard: The pandemic has left deep gashes on the balance sheet of the leading non-life insurer ICICI Lombard General Insurance, with its net income diving 62 per cent YoY to Rs 152 crore for the June quarter.

Indiamart Intermesh: The company posted a 19 per cent YoY increase in consolidated net profit at Rs 88 crore for the quarter ended June 30, 2021, as against a net profit of Rs 74 crore in the same period a year ago.

BPCL, HPCL, IOC: Shares of PSU refiners may also hog the limelight on Friday after the Union Cabinet on Thursday approved a proposal to allow 100 per cent foreign direct investment (FDI) in public sector refiners, expanding the scope for FDI in the privatisation of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL).

CanFin Homes: The company reported a nearly 17 per cent YoY rise in its net profit at Rs 108.85 crore in the first quarter ended June 2021. Total income, however, fell to Rs 450.84 crore during Q1 FY22 from Rs 522.50 crore in Q1 FY21, CanFin Homes said in a regulatory filing.

Persistent: IT firm Persistent Systems reported a 68 per cent YoY jump in consolidated net profit to Rs 151.2 crore for the April-June quarter of this year. The company had posted a net profit of Rs 90 crore in the year-ago period. Its revenue from operations grew 24.1 per cent YoY to Rs 1,229.9 crore.

Future Retail: Competition Commission has issued a show cause notice to Amazon seeking an explanation from the e-commerce major regarding a deal with a Future Group firm that was approved by the watchdog in 2019, according to a PTI report.

Mphasis: The company reported a 23.4 per cent YoY increase in consolidated net profit at Rs 339.6 crore in June 2021 quarter from Rs 275.1 crore in the year-ago period. Revenue from operations grew 17.5 per cent YoY to Rs 2,690.8 crore.

Tata Power: The company will sell 100 per cent stake in Trust Energy Resources Pte to Tata Power International Pte, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the company, for $285.64 million. The transaction is expected to be completed by August 10.

Mahindra Lifespace Developers: The board will consider the proposal for issuance of bonus equity shares on July 28.

PSP Projects: The company has secured new work orders worth Rs 82.79 crore till date in the financial year 2021-22 for Institutional and Industrial projects.

Spandana Sphoorty Financial: The company has allotted 12,500 secured NCDs of face value of Rs 1 lakh each on a private placement basis for aggregate amount of Rs 125 crore. The issue will mature in May 2023.

Tanla Platforms: The company posted 32.9 per cent YoY jump in its Q1 consolidated net profit at Rs 104.5 crore. Its revenue jumped 37.5 per cent YoY to Rs 626.4 crore from Rs 455.5 crore posted in same period last year. The company board considered and approved the proposal for the buyback of the companys fully-paid equity shares for an aggregate amount not exceeding Rs 65 crore.

Biocon: Net profit was down 43.5 per cent YoY at Rs 84.4 crore while revenue was up 3.9 per cent YoY at Rs 1,760.6 crore.

Hero MotoCorp: The company launched an advanced, connected, and feature-rich new Maestro Edge 125.

Wipro: The company launched FieldX, a cloud-based end-to-end digital service lifecycle automation solution built on ServiceNows Now Platform. Using FieldX, manufacturing organizations can enhance and scale-up their after-sales customer service operations while reducing costs, the company said.
The enthusiastic response to Zomato's initial public offering (IPO) and the listing day surge is likely to act as a big boost to the ecosystem. Market players say the successful stock market debut will encourage venture capital and private equity investors to back more domestic startups. Further, it will motivate more unicorns, unlisted firms worth more than $1 billion, to resist the temptations to list in the US make their debut overseas.

The food-delivery company's Rs 9,375 crore maiden offering was considered a test case for other tech and start-ups waiting in the wings to go public. Zomatos IPOs drew bids worth Rs 2.1 trillion as it was subscribed 40 times. On Friday, the stock ended with a gain of 66 per cent.

Many see this as a sign of a mature capital market and a sign that domestic investors are open to back companies that are not making any profits or conform to the normally accepted benchmarks.

"The stellar debut of on the domestic bourse after attracting robust subscription is a testimony to the fact that investors are willing to bet big on new-age technology companies which have the characteristics of a disruptive business model. With growing internet penetration and the number of smartphone user base increasing month after month, the entire private digital ecosystem will enable wealth creation and further deepen our capital market in the coming years," said S Ramesh, Managing Director and CEO, Kotak Mahindra Capital Company.

Zomato's losses widened every year between FY18 and FY20 from Rs 107 crore to Rs 2,386 crore. However, the cash burn has helped the company grow its top line five times from Rs 466 crore to Rs 2,605 crore.

Paytm, Nykaa, Policybazaar, and MobiKwik, among others, are waiting in the wings to launch their IPOs.

For large startups the US market is considered to be a preferred destination. A few domestic companies such as travel portal Makemytrip have therefore opted to list there as Indian investors were seen as hesitant to pay the kind of valuation private equity investors or the US pay.





However, Zomatos listing has quashed these notions. Investment bankers said listing in the US does not necessarily give companies access to more investors than India. Listing in Indian offers companies an additional pool of institutional investors in mutual funds and insurance companies apart from foreign investors. And listing in the home market is a significant boost to the brand and creates excitement, which does not happen if they list in the US.

However, some say it is too early to conclude if Indian have matured to accept loss-making unicorns.

"We are seeing the mother of all bull markets for primary and secondary markets. And it is not just for You see, the stocks of hotels, airlines, even companies that have turned their networth negative, hitting record highs. One should not take this as proof of domestic investors getting comfortable with loss-making companies. We will have to wait and see if this trend sustains for the next 3-6 months whether more unicorns find the support got,' said G Chokkalingam, Founder, Equinomics.

Ambareesh Baliga, an independent analyst, termed Zomato's reception as an investor frenzy associated with bull markets.

"People are pouring money and expecting Zomato to perform. Such people are outnumbering those who are cautious based on fundamentals. As long as they outnumber cautious investors, the stock will move up, said Baliga.

Baliga added that most investors are chasing momentum, and the enthusiasm will disappear once investors start making losses.

"As long as they are making profits, the confidence level is high. But every day is not a good day in the markets. You have a long bull run, and then it collapses very badly."

Further, analysts said that the listing would put a lot of pressure on Zomato to turn profitable and other unicorns planning to list need to be aware that handling public investors is very different from handling private equity investors.

"Now everything related to you, including the financials, are in the public domain. Earlier, no one bothered about your financials except the private equity guys. And you will have pressure every quarter, and they were dealing with savvy investors earlier, which is no longer the case," said Baliga.
Biocon fell 1.65% to Rs 396.15 after the company's consolidated net profit declined 43.5% to Rs 84.4 crore in Q1 FY22 from Rs 149 crore in Q1 FY21.

Revenue from operations increased by 4% YoY to Rs 1,761 crore in Q1 FY22 from Rs 1693.8 crore in Q1 FY21. As compared to Q4 FY21, the company's net profit and revenue from operations have declined by 67% and 4%, respectively.

On the segmental front, revenue from Generics was Rs 486 crore (down 22% YoY), revenue from Biosimilars was Rs 758 crore (up 10% YoY) and revenue from research services was Rs 595 crore (up 41% YoY) in the first quarter. The Novel Biologics segment recorded revenue of Rs 11 crore during the period under review.

Research & development expenses increased by 12% to Rs 120 crore while manufacturing, staff & other expenses rose by 7% to Rs 1,371 crore in Q1 FY22 over Q1 FY21.

Profit before tax in Q1 FY22 stood at Rs 166 crore, down by 33% from Rs 249 crore in Q1 FY21. EBITDA rose by 1% to Rs 437 crore in Q1 FY22 from Rs 432 crore in Q1 FY21. EBITDA margins declined to 24% in the first quarter from 25% recorded in the same period last year.

Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, executive chairperson of Biocon said, Biocon has seen a strong 41% YoY growth in Research Services and a steady growth in its Biosimilars business, reporting revenue of Rs 758 Crore, up 10% over the same period last year, and 14% over the preceding quarter. Consolidated revenues, at Rs 1,808 Crore, saw a muted growth on account of COVID-related operational challenges at Biocon's API facilities, both in Bengaluru and Hyderabad.

Q1 FY22 P&L was also impacted by a share of loss in its Boston-based associate start-up entity, Bicara Therapeutics Inc. Excluding this share of loss, profit before tax was a healthy Rs 224 crore.

Novel Biologics are investment intensive and we will explore external venture funding to support clinical development for long-term value creation. Business sentiments are favorable for Biosimilars, Generics and Research Services.

Globally, we see a strong demand for biosimilars and generic drugs, given the growing emphasis on affordable drug pricing. Net Profit, excluding the share of loss from Bicara, was at Rs 142 crore and reported net profit was at Rs 84 crore.

The outlook for the rest of the year is promising with several drug approvals on the anvil, contingent to timely U.S. FDA onsite inspections in India and Malaysia, whilst Research Services continue to see rising demand.

John Shaw has decided to step down from the board effective the end of the annual general meeting this year, due to health reasons, she added.

Biocon is an innovation-led global biopharmaceuticals company committed to enhance affordable access to complex therapies for chronic conditions like diabetes, cancer and autoimmune.

Powered by Capital Market - Live News

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Shares of Zomato, one of the leading food services platforms in India in terms of value of food sold, will list on the bourses today, 23 July 2021. The issue price is Rs 76 per share.

Wipro launched FieldX, a cloud-based end-to-end digital service lifecycle automation solution built on ServiceNow's Now Platform. Using FieldX, manufacturing organizations can enhance and scale-up their after-sales customer service operations while reducing costs.

Hero MotoCorp on Thursday launched an advanced, 'connected', and feature-rich new Maestro Edge 125. The new scooter offers a connected and distinctive experience with its enhanced aesthetics, modern technology, and edgy design.

Tata Power Company signed Share Purchase Agreement (SPA) on 22nd July 2021 with Tata Power International Pte. (TPIPL), a wholly owned subsidiary of the company, for sale of 100% equity shares held in Trust Energy Resources Pte (TERPL), another wholly owned subsidiary of the company for a consideration of $285.64 million.

IndiaMART InterMESH reported consolidated total income to Rs 211 crore in Q1 FY22, up 13% y-o-y. Consolidated net profit rose 19% to Rs 88 crore as compared to Rs. 74 crore in Q1 FY21.

Mahindra Lifespace Developers informed that the board of directors of the company at its meeting scheduled on Wednesday, 28th July, 2021, shall, inter-alia, also consider, the proposal for issuance of bonus equity shares.

Allcargo Logistics said that the meeting of the board of directors of the company is scheduled on 6 August 2021 to consider the proposal for voluntary delisting of the equity shares of the company.

PSP Projects secured new work orders worth Rs 82.79 crore till date in the financial year 2021-22 for institutional and industrial projects from various clients.

Powered by Capital Market - Live News

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
As one watches headlines that are of more than passing interest, the question thrusts itself forward: Are we living through the interesting times of the Chinese curse, with multiple and overlapping crises slowly coming to a head, in a manner that is beyond the capacity of existing systems and institutions to meaningfully tackle? Consider, for a start, the fact that climate change has caused heat waves and fires in (of all places) Siberia and north-western Canada.

Dear Reader,

Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance.

We, however, have a request.



As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed.



Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard.



Digital Editor
With the appointment of Navjot Sidhu as the head of the Punjab unit of the Congress, Chief Minister of Punjab Captain Amarinder Singh is, without doubt, down. But whether he is out remains to be seen.

Till a few months ago, Mr Singhs supporters thought everything was going his way. The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), the principal rival, had had to walk out of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), breaking with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on the issue of the farm laws, thoroughly compromised by its complicity. Basking in the reflected glory of the farmers revolt, having ...
Calling the BJP an "anti-people" party who is running the government with "hatred", chief on Friday said the Assembly polls next year will be the "last opportunity" to save

"To achieve the target of securing 350 seats in UP, we will have to work day and night," the former chief minister said addressing party workers here.

He asked the party workers to be beware of BJP's "tricks".

The BJP has wasted more than four years. The BJP is running the government with anger and hatred. It will show many colours till the Assembly elections. This will be the last opportunity to save democracy," he said.

Yadav further called the BJP government at the Centre and in the state as "anti-people" and said through its new farm laws, it wants to benefit capitalists.

"With these black farm laws, the ownership of the land will be taken out of the hands of farmers," he alleged, adding that farmers are not getting the minimum support price for their crop.

"There is no possibility of doubling the income of farmers even remotely," he added.

He also said under the BJP regime, the wealth of capitalists has increased manifold and attacked the ruling party over unemployment.

Crores of people have suffered due to their "faulty policies", he added.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
:The CPI(M)-led LDF



government in on Friday faced the heat in the state Assembly over amulti-crore loan scam that surfaced in a cooperative bank controlled by the party, asthe latter charged that the party leadership had kept the scandal under wraps though they have clear knowledge about the fraud.

Raising the issue during zero hour, the Congress-UDF wanted the House to be adjourned to discuss the matter which they called as the "biggest bank robbery" in the history of the southern state.

Though the fraud had come to light in 2018, the governing council of the Karavannur Cooperative Bank in Irinjalakuda in Thrissur district was dismissed only on Thursday, they said justifying theirallegation that the Marxist party had taken a decision to keep the fraud a secret.

"What were you doing in these three years," Leader V D Satheesan asked.

The crime even embarrassed the popular heist series released in OTT platforms, they mocked before walking out of the House protesting over Speaker M B Rajesh's action denying leave for the adjournment motion.

In his reply, Minister of Cooperation V N Vasavan, however, refuted the charges and said the government acted promptly and seven bank employees, allegedly involved in the fraud, had already been suspended.

A complaint in this regard was lodged for the first time on January 16, 2019 and police registered a case within a week.

On the charges of delay in dismissing the bank governing council, the minister said there were some mandatory proceedings to be followed, including conducting a probe, before doing so.

The irregularity was estimated to the tune of over Rs 104 crore, the minister said.

"A crime branch probe is progressing into the incident. The Cooperation Department is also carrying out a separate probe," Vasavan added.

Congress legislator Shafi Parambil, who presented the notice for the motion, alleged that the ruling CPI(M) had given lead for the biggest ever bank robbery in the history of the state.

The situation was that the account holders, who had not taken a loan of even one rupee, had to repay up to Rs 100 crore, he said.

The Palakkad Legislator also charged that the party itself had carried out a probe into the scam but kept all the findings, which confirmed the irregularity, under wraps in these years.

An alleged loan scam, to the tune of over Rs 100 crore,has been reported in Karavannur Cooperative bankfollowing which police has registered a case against six bank officials and launched investigation.

After several people including local customers raised apprehensions about the bank's functioning, an audit had been conducted there recently, in which the charges were reportedly found to be true.

During the inspection, it was also found that were sanctioned on the property pledged by local customers without their knowledge and the loan amount was credited multiple times to the selected accounts.

The case was registered against the bank officials, including the secretary of the bank, who were already placed under suspension over the allegations.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The road ahead is even more daunting than during the 1991 economic crisis and the nation would need to recalibrate its priorities to ensure a dignified life for all Indians, said former prime minister on Friday.

In a statement marking the 30th anniversary of economic liberalisation, Singh said he was deeply saddened at the devastation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the loss of millions of fellow Indians and livelihoods.

Recalling that as finance minister in 1991, he ended his budget speech by quoting Victor Hugo, 'No power on Earth can stop an idea whose time has come', and said, "Thirty years later, as a nation, we must remember Robert Frost's poem -- 'But I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep'."



"It is not a time to rejoice and exult but to introspect and ponder. The road ahead is even more daunting than during the 1991 crisis," Singh said in the statement.

"Our priorities as a nation need to be recalibrated to foremost ensure a healthy and dignified life for every single Indian."



He said that on this day, 30 years ago in 1991, the party ushered in significant reforms of India's economy and paved a new path for the nation's economic policy.

Over the last three decades, successive governments have followed this path to catapult the nation to a USD 3 trillion economy and into the league of the world's largest economies, the former prime minister noted.

More importantly, he said, nearly 300 million fellow Indians have been lifted out of poverty in this period and hundreds of millions of new jobs have been provided for the youth.

Singh said the reforms process unleashed the spirit of free enterprise which has helped produce world-class companies and help India emerge as a global power in many sectors.

"The economic liberalisation process in 1991 was triggered by an economic crisis that confronted our nation then, but it was not limited to crisis management. The edifice of India's economic reforms was built on the desire to prosper, the belief in our capabilities and the confidence to relinquish control of the economy by the government," he said.

Singh said he was fortunate to play a role in this reform process along with several of his colleagues in the party.

"It gives us immense joy to look back with pride at the tremendous economic progress made by our nation in the last three decades. But I am also deeply saddened at the devastation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the loss of millions of fellow Indians," he said.

The social sectors of health and education have lagged behind and not kept pace with our economic progress. Too many lives and livelihoods have been lost that should not have been, Singh lamented.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
St. Johnsbury, VT (05819)

Today

Cloudy early with some clearing expected late. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 54F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Cloudy early with some clearing expected late. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 54F. Winds light and variable.
St. Johnsbury, VT (05819)

Today

Cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 54F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 54F. Winds light and variable.
St. Johnsbury, VT (05819)

Today

Cloudy skies early, followed by partial clearing. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 54F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Cloudy skies early, followed by partial clearing. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 54F. Winds light and variable.
article

$100.00 / for 365 days

Sponsored Content Articles  Policy & Procedure

Only content submissions which satisfy our conditions for publication will be published.

The fee for publication via this portal is $100. This fee is non-refundable.

To accomplish your publication purchase, you must be logged-in as a website user: https://www.capemaycountyherald.com/users/signup

This purchase is for online publication only. If print publication is also desired, please proceed with the purchase of online publication and contact Advertise@cmcHerald.com regarding print publication.

By default, approved/paid submissions will be published to the "Lifestyle" section of the website. Requests for other urls/sections deemed relevant to the submission will be honored.

Submissions may contain links  including do-follow links.

Published submissions will remain published for as long as the website remains active, presumably at least one year.

Submissions must conform to our comment standards (https://www.capemaycountyherald.com/site/comment_standards.html) and must constitute appropriate use of the English language.

Publisher reserves the right to refuse publication for any reason.

Submissions will not be processed for publication without advance payment.

Submissions requiring additional support services  e.g., to amend content or to effect payment  will not be published. By mutual agreement, editorial services may be provided for an additional charge; otherwise, advance payment rendered will be deemed a non-refundable service charge.

Upon request to Advertise@cmcHerald.com a link to the published article will be transmitted via email.

Our website is directed to a U.S.-based audience; our content may not be accessible to some international audiences due to technology restrictions.

By initiating this transaction, the submitter assumes any and all liability associated with publication of the submitted content (e.g., infringement, licensing) and agrees to defend and hold the Publisher harmless.
An employee at Carteret Health Care receives the COVID-19 vaccine at a clinic in December 2020 when the hospital first began offering the shot to frontline health care workers. At this time, CHC is not requiring its employees to receive the vaccination. (Elise Clouser photo)
FILE - In this photo taken Thursday, Jan. 16, 2020 former North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory participates during a University of North Carolina Institute of Politics forum in Chapel Hill, N.C. McCrory said on Thursday, July 22, 2021 that he wants to participate in three televised debates ahead of the 2022 primaries, including one in late fall and two early next year. He is competing against U.S. Rep. Ted Budd and former Rep. Marker Walker in his bid for the Republican Party's nomination for an open U.S. Senate seat. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome, file)
Photo: The Canadian Press Yuan Zhiming, director of the Wuhan National Biosafety Laboratory of the Wuhan Institute of Virology.

China cannot accept the World Health Organization's plan for the second phase of a study into the origins of COVID-19, a senior Chinese health official said Thursday.

Zeng Yixin, the vice minister of the National Health Commission, said he was rather taken aback" that the plan includes further investigation of the theory that the virus might have leaked from a Chinese lab.

He dismissed the lab leak idea as a rumour that runs counter to common sense and science.

It is impossible for us to accept such an origin-tracing plan, he said at a news conference called to address the COVID-19 origins issue.

The search for where the virus came from has become a diplomatic issue that has fueled China's deteriorating relations with the U.S. and many American allies. The U.S. and others say that China has not been transparent about what happened in the early days of the pandemic. China accuses critics of seeking to blame it for the pandemic and politicizing an issue that should be left to scientists.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the director-general of WHO, acknowledged last week that there had been a premature push after the first phase of the study to rule out the theory that the virus might have escaped from a Chinese government lab in Wuhan, the city where the disease was first detected in late 2019.

Most experts don't think a lab leak is the likely cause. The question is whether the possibility is so remote that it should be dropped, or whether it merits further study.

The first phase was conducted earlier this year by an international team of scientists who came to Wuhan to work with their Chinese counterparts. The team was accused of bowing to demands from the Chinese side after it initially indicated that further study wasnt necessary.

Zeng said the Wuhan lab has no virus that can directly infect humans and noted that the WHO team concluded that a lab leak was highly unlikely. He added that speculation that staff and graduate students at the lab had been infected and might have started the spread of the virus in the city was untrue.

Yuan Zhiming, the director of the biosafety lab at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, said they had not stored or studied the new coronavirus before the outbreak. I want to emphasize that .... the Wuhan Institute of Virology has never designed, made or leaked the novel coronavirus, he said.

The WHO team concluded that the virus most likely jumped from animals to humans, probably from bats to an intermediate animal. The experts visited markets in Wuhan that had sold live animals, and recommended further study of the farms that supplied the market.

In the next step, I think animal tracing should still be the priority direction. It is the most valuable field for our efforts," Liang Wannian, who headed the Chinese side, said at Thursday's news conference.

Tedros said last week that he hoped for better co-operation and access to data from China. We are asking China to be transparent, open and co-operate, especially on the information, raw data that we asked for in the early days of the pandemic, he said.

His words were echoed at the same virtual news conference by Germanys health minister, Jens Spahn, who called on China to intensify co-operation in the search for the origin of the virus.

Zeng said China has always supported "scientific virus tracing" and wants to see the study extended to other countries and regions. However, we are opposed to politicizing the tracing work," he said.

China has frequently sought to deflect accusations that the pandemic originated in Wuhan and was allowed to spread by early bureaucratic missteps and an attempted coverup.

Government spokespersons have called for an investigation into whether the virus might have been produced in a U.S. military laboratory, a theory not widely shared in the scientific community.

China has largely ended local transmission of COVID through lockdowns and mask-wearing requirements, and has now administered more than 1.4 billion doses of Chinese vaccines. Just 12 new domestically spread cases were reported Thursday and China's death toll from the virus has remained unchanged for months at 4,636.
Photo: Weibo

Some Richmond residents have gone through sleepless nights after seeing their hometown in China struggling to cope with record-breaking rainfall and mass flooding.

Tens of thousands of people in Zhengzhou have had to flee their homes and city after the unprecedented rainstorms hammered the region on Tuesday, turning city centre streets into rivers.

Harris Niu, who had just hung up a phone call with his relatives in Henan province, says the rainstorm has stopped and residents are slowly returning back to home or work.

However, Niu said he was extremely worried after watching the news showing pedestrians and bikers trying to cross flooded streets.

I had been frantically calling my relatives to see if they are doing well and I still remembered the moment when my relatives picked up my call and tried to comfort me by saying they are safe and sound - I was relieved and whispered to myself, Thanks God, said Niu.

Niu said he has been returning to Henan once a year to visit his relatives after immigrating to Canada.

He said he also donated some money to the local Henan friendship society to support the victims of the floods.

Sarah Pereira, who originally came from Zhengzhou and immigrated with her husband to Canada, has ridden the same emotional roller coaster as Niu.

Pereira said she was worried at the beginning after hearing her family members were out of running water and electricity and her brother had to spend one night at his office.

However, Pereiras worries were relieved after being told by her parents that firefighters have been giving out food and shelter to citizens who were stranded.

The crisis reminds us to cherish the little things around us - clean water, electricity and a roof over our head. We cant take everything for granted, said Pereira.
Photo: The Canadian Press Clerk of the legislature Craig James

The former clerk of the B.C. legislature has pleaded not guilty to five charges including breach of trust and fraud, just as a judge tossed out one of the accusations against him.

A spokesman for the Crown prosecutor's office says Craig James appeared in B.C. Supreme Court in Victoria on Thursday to enter the plea.

The charges came after an RCMP investigation into spending by senior staff on personal expenses at the provincial legislature.

James had originally been charged with six counts, but in a ruling posted online Associate Chief Justice Heather Holmes quashed the first breach of trust charge for several reasons, including that it duplicated other charges and could prejudice the trial process.

Lawyers for James argued at a hearing in May that the first count alleging the breach in connection with his duties was a duplicate charge and would only confuse the jury at trial.

However, the prosecution service said in an emailed statement that James has now elected a trial by judge alone on three charges of breach of trust and two counts of fraud, with the trial expected to begin in Vancouver in January.
Photo: The Canadian Press Indigenous Services minister Marc Miller speaks to media at the Frobisher Inn in Iqaluit, Nunavut.

Indigenous Services Minister Marc Miller says the federal government needs to do more to support people living in Nunavut, particularly when it comes to the territory's long-standing housing crisis.

The Liberal politician made his first-ever visit to Nunavut this week, spending two days in Iqaluit.

In an interview with The Canadian Press, Miller said overcrowded housing in Nunavut was "a vehicle for spread" of COVID-19. Last fall, a COVID-19 outbreak in Arviat, Nunavut, infected 339 of the community's 3,000 people and killed one person.

"For Nunavummiut, that's not a surprise," Miller said Friday.

With more than half of Nunavut's residents living in overcrowded homes, as highlighted in MP Mumilaaq Qaqqaq's territorial housing report, Miller said people are left more vulnerable.

"Most people don't look at housing through a health lens," said Miller. "They see it as somewhere to live ... but they don't see it through the health lens that many people in Nunavut have been saying for ages and have been ignored."

He said remoteness shouldn't mean communities such as those in Nunavut are left behind the rest of the country.

"We have to make sure that Inuit get first-class treatment in a country that everyone looks at as a first-class health-care system."

Miller said the pandemic showed systemic racism affects remote communities like those in Nunavut when it comes to accessing health care.

With no intensive care unit in the territory and only one hospital for its 25 communities, COVID-19 patients who needed treatment were flown hundreds of kilometres to southern Canada.

"One case of COVID in the North costs a lot more than one case of COVID in the south," he said.

Miller also addressed Qaqqaq's scathing farewell speech in June when the New Democrat announced she wouldn't seek re-election. In it, Qaqqaq said she was racially profiled by security on Parliament Hill and didn't feel safe at work.

"I am horrified ... but that is her reality and that is what she lived," Miller said. "The House itself is a parochial, paternalistic beast."

Later Friday, Miller and Ahmed Huseen, minister for Families, Children and Social Development, touted the Liberals' budget commitments to build Indigenous-led shelters for people experiencing gender-based violence.

Applications for shelters and transitional housing will open in September, with funding earmarked for 38 emergency shelters and 50 transitional homes across Canada.

Aluki Kotierk, president of the land claims organization Nunavut Tunngavik Inc, said the money is much-needed, but too little, too late.

"It doesn't meet our needs. We have a current housing crisis. But I think we're encouraged because this is the beginning," Kotierk said in an interview.

She said her organization had requested $500 million for housing in Nunavut, but the 2021 budget only set aside $25 million.

"We were very disappointed with that," Kotierk said.

Although it was Miller's first time in Iqaluit, he noted the Nunavut capital is a regular campaign stop for politicians from all parties.

"A lot of politicians come here, but ... I do want to see what challenges that smaller communities face. The farther removed you are, the more in the back of people's minds you are," Miller said.

Liberal cabinet ministers made another announcement Friday in the North, with Hussen and Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland touting their budget commitments to child care and early learning in Whitehorse.
New! Written In Stone: Secrets of the Temple

The Temple Mount is the most important archaeological site in Israel and the most disputed piece of land on earth. Now, new archaeological finds near the Temple Mount in Jerusalem are offering a look into the actual places Jesus visited and what it was like to worship in the holy Temple described in the Bible. Discover Gods covenant connection to the Temple Mount and learn its historic significancefrom Abraham to the modern day.

Be among the first to own CBN Films Written in Stone: Secrets of the Temple today for a gift of any dollar amount! In it, you will see skilled archaeologists unearth clues that provide a look into Israels sacred past. This riveting film reveals what has been hidden for thousands of years, and today confirms the truths of Gods Word.

When you request your DVD, well rush your exclusive copy to your home, plus youll get instant 4K streaming access. Watch with your family or small group on a computer, smart TV, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Roku, or on your favorite digital device.

Youll be blessed to know that your gift is going towards producing more inspirational films and documentaries, and to help us take the Gospel to those who have never heard.
Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription, or activate your access, to continue reading.
This service applies to you if your subscription has not yet expired on our old site. You will have continued access until your subscription expires; then you will need to purchase an ongoing subscription through our new system. Please contact The Chanute Tribune office at 620-431-4100 if you have any questions
Chatham, VA (24531)

Today

Mostly clear. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low around 70F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Mostly clear. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low around 70F. Winds light and variable.
Its not my style to bang on anybodys personal freedom. Too many great Americans have died since 1776 so that we will have liberty and the pursuit of happiness. I am equally as steady in my stance that to be vaccinated for the coronavirus is a personal decision that each person should make and banging on any non-vaxer is not the American way. Encouragement is well and good, but to hurl hurt and hate at anothers personal decision is about as un-American as anything else you can name. Rancor never works.

If you have decided not to be vaccinated, I respect your decision. If you have been ridiculed, consider the source and know that you are not alone in your views. Either way, please give a moment to share a story that I read earlier this week about raw reality.

This is what really happens, and, as long as you know the candid truth about this new wave of COVID disease, Ill be content.

Dr. Brytney Cobia is a hospitalist at the Grandview Medical Center in Birmingham. Shes the one who takes the admits from the emergency room and attends their treatment while they are hospitalized. She just told writer Dennis Pillion of AL.com (the Alabama newspaper combine) a very telling and honest-to-God fact:

Im admitting young healthy people to the hospital with very serious COVID infections, wrote Cobia, a hospitalist at Grandview Medical Center in Birmingham, in an emotional Facebook post Sunday. One of the last things they do before theyre intubated is beg me for the vaccine. I hold their hand and tell them that Im sorry  but its too late.

As the Delta variant of the influenza begins to boost emergency admissions, Cobia says that of all her recent admissions only one had taken the vaccine. They needed more oxygen, but theyll be fine. Those who didnt take the vaccine arent as fortunate.

Back in 2020 and early 2021, when the vaccine wasnt available, it was just tragedy after tragedy after tragedy, Cobia told AL.com this week. You know, so many people that did all the right things, and yet still came in, and were critically ill and died.

With the vaccine in abundance, the playing field has changed. AL.com reports. In the United States, COVID is now the pandemic of the unvaccinated, according to the head of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In Alabama, for example, state officials report 94% of COVID hospital patients and 96% of Alabamians who have died of COVID since April were not fully vaccinated.

A few days later when I call time of death, continued Cobia on Facebook, I hug their family members and I tell them the best way to honor their loved one is to go get vaccinated and encourage everyone they know to do the same.

They cry. And they tell me they didnt know. They thought it was a hoax. They thought it was political. They thought because they had a certain blood type or a certain skin color they wouldnt get as sick. They thought it was just the flu. But they were wrong. And they wish they could go back. But they cant. So, they thank me, and they go get the vaccine. And I go back to my office, write the deceased death note, and say a small prayer that this loss will save more lives.

Dr. Cobia said that, yes, treating patients who could have received the vaccine  and did not -- is a little different than the early stages of the virus when no vaccine was available, and scores of Americans were dying.

You kind of go into it thinking, Okay, Im not going to feel bad for this person, because they make their own choice, Cobia said. But then you actually see them, you see them face-to-face, and it really changes your whole perspective, because theyre still just a person that thinks that they made the best decision that they could with the information that they have, and all the misinformation thats out there.

And now all you really see is their fear and their regret, she continued. and even though I may walk into the room thinking, Okay, this is your fault, you did this to yourself, when I leave the room, I just see a person thats really suffering, and that is so regretful for the choice that they made.

The Birmingham doctor urges any doubters to visit with their personal physicians to form the best decision. I try to be very non-judgmental when Im getting a new COVID patient thats unvaccinated, but I really just started asking them, Why havent you gotten the vaccine?

And Ill just ask it point blank, in the least judgmental way possible, she said. Most of them, theyre very honest, they give me answers. I talked to this person, I saw this thing on Facebook, I got this email, I saw this on the news, you know, these are all the reasons that I didnt get vaccinated.

And the one question that I always ask them is, did you make an appointment with your primary care doctor and ask them for their opinion on whether or not you should receive the vaccine? And so far, nobody has answered yes to that question.

Brytney Cobia and her husband (also an MD) have two children and, frankly, she is worried over the fact Alabama is the least vaccinated state in America. All these kids are about to go back to school. No mask mandates are in place at all, 70% of Alabama is unvaccinated. Of course, no kids are vaccinated for the most part because they cant be, Cobia said. So, it feels like impending doom, basically.

* * *

So, there it is. The raw truth of what really happens as a treacherous strain of the coronavirus descends in the United States. You still have a choice. Make it an easy one.

royexum@aol.com
Police spoke with complainants about a deceptive business practice on June 1. The first spoke about an experience on March 28, when they contacted James Gans, 51, about doing renovations to their existing and functioning ground pool and patio in Hixson. He told police that Gan wrote up a detailed plan and said it would cost $13,500. The second complainant said the pair paid Gan $2,000 via a Capital One credit card. About a month later, Gan received a check for about $500, but the rest of the loan would not be completed for an additional two weeks.The second complainant said that on the next day, Gan asked her if he could Venmo her money, and then have her PayPal it back to him in order to have immediate access to the money.She told police she did not do that. Gan did come by on May 6 in order to drain water from the pool. The loan was completed on May 12 and the complainants said Gan told them he wanted to start now that he had been paid.Over the next two weeks, Gan repeatedly told the victims that he would start their project on a particular day, and then not show up for a myriad of reasons. They told police that on May 27, the first complainant texted Gan. He told him that another contractors pool was a total loss because Gan had not returned to his pool.Police said Gans method is to collect deposit money up front and then to not show up when scheduled. Police said Gan makes excuses for why he needs extra money or cant work, and then leaves equipment on the property and causes more damage than the work would cost.Police said the victims contacted other contractors to repair the damage and complete the work Gan was supposed to do.Gan was arrested and charged with three counts of deceptive business practices, six counts of theft of property, one count of theft of services, one count of vandalism, and two counts of felony misapplication of contract payments.
Blood Assurance and the Lookouts are partnering to compete against Medic Regional Blood Center and the Tennessee Smokies in a week-long competition to see who can get the most blood donors.

The competition will start on Monday and the last day will be July 31. All donors in the Chattanooga, Cleveland, Fort Oglethorpe and Dalton areas will receive one ticket to see the Chattanooga Lookouts play the Tennessee Smokies.



"Summer is a difficult time for blood banks across the country due to travel and increased usage, and Blood Assurance has been in critical and urgent need of several blood types for weeks," officials said. "Blood Assurance is still not seeing the number of donors it saw before the pandemic, and that, combined with the typical decrease of donations during summer months, has led to a critical need for donors. Many people do not donate in the summer months due to vacations and holiday traveling. Schools are also out during these months, which means there are no school blood drives."



At the Lookouts we believe in the importance of giving back to our community, said Lookouts President Rich Mozingo. We continue to receive tremendous support from the greater Chattanooga area this season and are excited to partner with Blood Assurance in support of this great cause.



Blood Assurance or MEDIC will win a trophy and bragging rights depending on which blood center collects more units during that week in its area. All donors during this week will also be entered to win a YETI cooler.



Blood donors who would like to make an appointment or find a drive or center can visit bloodassurance.org/schedule, call 800-962-0628, or text BAGIVE to 999777.



To be eligible to donate blood, you must be at least 17 years old (or 16 with parental consent) weigh 110 pounds or more and be in good health. Donors are asked to drink plenty of fluids, avoid caffeine and eat a meal that is rich in iron prior to donating.
Fire investigators with Walker County Fire Rescue recently investigated two cases of arson.

The intentionally-set fires occurred in vacant structures at 601 James Street Lot 66 in Rossville and 980 Wheeler Road in LaFayette. Fire investigators do not believe the two incidents are connected.



Georgia Arson Control is offering a reward up to $10,000 for information leading to an arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible for arson and or fraud.

Tips can be reported by calling 1-800-282-5804 or online at georgiaarsoncontrol.org.
The Tennessee General Assembly approved two new one-time holidays for this year, in addition to the traditional sales tax holiday that takes place annually. During these holiday periods, Tennesseans can save nearly 10 percent on qualifying items.We are proud to return money to hardworking Tennesseans, Governor Bill Lee said. I encourage everyone to take advantage of these savings.Were happy to help Tennesseans save money and provide some tax relief, Revenue Commissioner David Gerregano said.The details of the sales tax holidays are:Clothing, School Supplies, and Computers: Friday, July 30  Sunday, Aug.1: During this weekend holiday, clothing priced under $100, school supplies priced under $100, and computers priced under $1,500 are exempt from sales tax. Online purchases are included. Read more about the traditional sales tax holiday here.Food, Food Ingredients, and Prepared Food: Friday, July 30  Thursday, Aug. 5: During this week-long holiday, food, food ingredients, and prepared food are exempt from sales tax. This includes qualified sales of food and prepared food at grocery stores, restaurants, and food trucks. Takeout food is included in the holiday; however, alcoholic beverages are not included. Read more about the food, food ingredients, and prepared food holiday here.Gun Safes and Safety Equipment, July 1, 2021- June 30, 2022: During this holiday, which lasts an entire fiscal year, gun safes and specified gun safety devices sold at retail are exempt from sales tax. Read more about the gun safe and safety device holiday here.Learn more information about the three sales tax holidays by visiting www.tntaxholiday.com . You can also email revenue.support@tn.gov or call 615-253-0600 with any questions.
The Ringgold Playhouse will open a five-performance production of its dark, crime drama The Shawshank Redemption beginning Thursday night, July 29.

The play, based on the much-heralded Stephen King novella, brings a lot of grit, poignancy and intensity to the Ringgold Depot stage according to director Adam Cook.



Weve waited a long time to tell this great story, and our team is really looking forward to finally revealing Shawshank to audiences, Mr. Cook said.



Mr. Cook says that the company was in rehearsals for the show in early 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic brought production to a halt.



We were about five weeks into rehearsal in March of last year when everything shut down, Mr. Cook said. We were all really bummed out about postponing the show, but we understood that it was necessary at the time. We waited it out, and then got the band back together and got back to work, so were happy show time is finally here.



The play tells the story of Andy Dufresne  a banker who is convicted of murder and sentenced to life in the notorious Shawshank prison in 1949. Andy, played by Zack Jordan, must find a way to keep himself and his hope alive over the years by using his wits and forging friendships with Red (Chuck Nalley), Brooksie (Ed Huckabee) and others amid the cesspool of shady characters. Based on Kings novella, Shawshank showcases the resiliency of the human spirit made famous in the acclaimed 1994 film.



Its just an incredible story, Mr. Cook said. I first read the book and watched the film version when I was a teenager, and it has stuck with me ever since. We have a fine collection of actors whove worked hard to tell this important story, and Im really proud of the great effort and dedication theyve put into this show.



In addition to Jordans Andy and the Red of Chuck Nalley, the duo is joined onstage by actors Mark Morgan (Warden Stammas), Steve Jordan (Guard Hadley), David Dunn (Guard Entwhistle), Ed Huckabee (Brooksie), Pat OBrien (Rooster), E.J. Laughter (Bogs), David Howard (Rico), Johnathan Sumner (Dawkins) and Joshua Chisholm (Tommy).



With a serious story comes serious content, which is why the play is rated R for language and themes, and is not suitable for children, officials said.



Thus far, in our eight-year history, every show weve performed has been family friendly, but thats not the case this time around, Mr. Cook said. Its dark and gritty content, and just like its described in the book, prison is no fairy tale world. We just want to make sure that audiences know ahead of time that its not suitable for all ages.



The show will run at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, July 29 through Saturday, July 31, with special matinee performances at 2 p.m. Saturday, July 31 and Sunday, Aug. 1.



Tickets are $10 general admission and $8 for seniors and students.



Tickets can be purchased in advance online through Eventbrite.com, or at the door.



Were just really excited to show this story to our audiences, Mr. Cook said. When you have a team like this  the cast and stage manager Renee Lierow have worked extremely hard, so I hope theatre fans from all around come see this wonderful show theyve crafted.
The Hamilton County Health Department reported 120 new COVID-19 cases on Friday, marking the first time the Department has seen cases in the 120 range since March 19, 2021.

With the 120 new coronavirus cases reported on Friday, the county total is now 46,391.



There has been one more death from the virus, a white male over the age of 81, and the total is at 511 in the county.



The number of those who have recovered from coronavirus in Hamilton County is 45,251, which is 98 percent, and there are 629 active cases.



There are 65 patients hospitalized and 20 in intensive care units. Four more are hospitalized with suspected COVID. There are 33 Hamilton County inpatients.

The number of Hamilton County residents hospitalized for COVID-19 also continues to rise. Last week, the average number of Hamilton County residents hospitalized each day was 10. This week, the daily average has increased to 31 Hamilton County residents hospitalized each day, highlighting a concerning trend.

We are seeing a steady increase in COVID-19 cases throughout our county, says Health Department Administrator Becky Barnes. The most effective way to stop the spread is to get vaccinated now to prevent a surge of cases, hospitalizations, and COVID-related death as we head into the fall and winter months.

On a positive note, the Health Department is pleased to note that the number people seeking a first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in Hamilton County has increased in the last few days.

It is our hope that people are realizing the seriousness of this virus and making a decision to get vaccinated, says Barnes.

To view the Health Departments COVID-19 vaccination event calendar, visit vaccine.hamiltontn.gov . Free Pfizer COVID-19 vaccination events are offered at multiple locations. No appointment is necessary, and anyone 12 years of age and older is eligible.

School Reopening Guidance

In alliance with CDC guidelines, the Health Department recommends that unvaccinated and partially vaccinated individuals continue to wear masks while inside, particularly in crowded settings when physical distancing cannot be maintained. This recommendation extends to the reopening of schools in Hamilton County.

As schools start to plan for reopening this coming fall, the Health Department recognizes how important it is for schools to consider a safe return for their students and teachers, as well as the importance of in-person instruction, says Health Department Interim Health Officer Dr. Fernando Urrego. Assuring that students are able to attend school in-person is a top priority. In order for a safe return, Covid-19 prevention strategies are critical to protect individuals, especially in areas of high transmission levels.

Given low vaccination rates and recent increases in COVID-19 cases, including in children, schools are encouraged to closely monitor community transmission levels for guidance of adding additional prevention strategies if needed. These measures are to protect those that have not been vaccinated, particularly children under 12 years of age that are not yet eligible to receive vaccine. The Health Department will continue to recommend schools follow the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions (CDC) updated Covid-19 K-12 School Guidance Prevention Strategies.

COVID-19 Testing in Hamilton County

Please seek testing if you are experiencing the following symptoms or have been in close contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case:

Fever or chills

Cough

Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

Fatigue

Muscle or body aches

Headache

New loss of taste or smell

Sore throat

Congestion or runny nose

Nausea or vomiting

Diarrhea



Free testing is available at these partnering agencies:

LifeSpring Community Health drive-thru COVID-19 Testing

2507 McCallie Avenue, Chattanooga, TN 37404

Mondays and Fridays from 11AM-1PM

Clinica Medicos drive-thru COVID-19 Testing

1148 E 23rd Street, Chattanooga, TN 37404

Monday - Saturday: 8AM-5PM

Sunday: 1PM-4PM

Appointments are optional. To make an appointment, call 423-206-4530.

For additional testing information, visit our website or call the COVID-19 hotline at 423-209-8383.
The Chattanooga Department of Transportation announces the following road closures:



Wilcox Blvd Tunnel



Wilcox Boulevard Tunnel will be closed on the following dates and times for TDOT inspection:



Monday, July 26 at 8 p.m. until Tuesday, July 27 at 5 a.m.

Detours will be posted. Please plan additional time while traveling.





W 26th Street



W 26th Street will be closed between Williams Street and Long Street beginning Monday, July 26 through Tuesday, July 27. Detours will be posted.





Shallowford Road



Shallowford Road will be reduced to one lane between Jersey Pike and Cromwell Road on Tuesday, July 27 from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. for vegetation management. Two-way traffic will be maintained with the use of flaggers. Delays are expected, please use alternative routes if possible.





McCallie Tunnel - Westbound



McCallie Tunnel westbound will be closed on the following dates and times for TDOT inspection:



Tuesday, July 27 at 8 p.m. until Wednesday, July 28 at 5 a.m.

Detours will be posted. Please plan additional time while traveling.





View CDOT's map of events and road closures for full details of these activities and other projects underway in our public space.






Actor Henry Golding is known for his roles in movies like Crazy Rich Asians (2018), A Simple Favor (2018), Last Christmas (2019), and The Gentlemen (2019).

Before Golding made it big as a movie star, he led a quiet life in the United Kingdom. Surprisingly, Golding got opportunities to interact with royalty back then. He recently revealed that he used to know Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and her family.

Henry Golding | Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images

Henry Golding grew up in the U.K.

Golding was born in the state of Sarawak in Malaysia. His mother is Malaysian and descended from the Iban people of Borneo. Meanwhile, his father has English ancestry. Golding lived in Malaysia until he was 8 years old. His family, then, moved to England and lived in Surrey.

He shared in an interview with The Guardian in 2018 that he had difficulties growing up as an Asian kid in England, especially since he lived in an area without a lot of Asians around.

Casual racism was rife back then because there werent many Asians, Golding said. We were called every racist name under the sun. It wasnt even the right racist names, but they would just say them because they were kids. It was like: Oh, st. Ive never experienced this.

He also added, As a young man, you start taking pride in who you are. You start realising: Yeah, I am Asian. Then you yearn for a broader understanding of what that means.

When he became an adult, Golding moved to Southeast Asia to pursue work as an actor. At the time when he landed his breakthrough role in Crazy Rich Asians, Golding was living in Singapore. Now, he resides in Los Angeles.

How Henry Golding used to know Kate Middleton and her family

RELATED: Who Is Henry Goldings Wife? Liv Lo Is a Fitness Entrepreneur Married to the Last Christmas Star

Long before he made it big as an actor, Golding worked as a hairdresser at Richard Wards salon in London. This was where he came to know Kate.

I dont know if I should say it, but Kate Middleton used to come to the hairdresser I used to work at way before all of this happened, he revealed on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen.

Did you ever do her hair? Cohen asked.

Golding said that he actually cut her brothers hair. He shared, Really sweet family, very sweet family. So thats my brush with the royals.

Kate has one brother named James Middleton, who works as a businessman. Over the years, James has launched different companies, including his latest one: A dog food service named Ella & Co.

Henry Golding is rumored to be playing James Bond

RELATED: Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins: 5 Movies to Watch Next

After Daniel Craig revealed he will step down from his famous James Bond role, fans have been speculating about who could be Craigs successor. Recently, Goldings name is popping up in many news outlets.

If Golding were to land the role, he would surely forge a closer tie to the royal family. In fact, Cohen told him that, as James Bond, he is going to be having dinner at the palace with the queen.

Golding has toyed with the idea of playing James Bond, but he has never confirmed anything. He told Attitude last year, Its an honour to even be in the conversation. Its one of the greatest film roles ever, youd be stupid to be like, I dont want to do that s-. F- no, it would be the wildest ride.
Is the British royal family purposely excluding the newborn daughter of Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex? The couple became parents for the second time when they welcomed Lilibet Lili Diana Mountbatten-Windsor in June 2021. A royal expert says Lili not yet being included in the line of succession on the royal familys official website could spell a future firestorm.

Meghan Markle gave birth to Lilibet Lili Diana in June 2021

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle | Pool/Samir Hussein/WireImage

After announcing they were expecting a second child in early 2021 Meghan and Harry became a family of four on June 4, 2021. Two days later on June 6, 2021, the couple shared the news of Lilis birth with the world on their official Archewell website.

On June 4th, we were blessed with the arrival of our daughter, Lili, they said in a statement. She is more than we could have ever imagined.

Lili was born at 11: 40 a.m. in Santa Barbara, Calif., at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital. She weighed 7 pounds 11 ounces. The birth announcement also noted that baby and mother were already back at Meghan and Harrys home in Montecito, Calif., and that the new parents were now on parental leave.

Lilis no. 8 in the line of succession and currently not listed on the royal familys official website

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle | Karwai Tang/WireImage

RELATED: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Wont Ask Any of Their British Friends to Be Lilibets Godparents, According to Royal Commentator

Lili is eighth in the royal familys line of succession. At the time of publication, the royal familys official website hasnt been updated to reflect her status. Speaking to The Sun in July 2021 royal expert Daniela Elser said the current state of the website could create a firestorm with Lili at the center of it.

Its simply beggars belief that this website situation has been allowed to happen given that 2021 is in strong contention to be the Queens Annus Horribilis 2.0 for a variety of Harry and Meghan-shaped reasons, she said. The fact that the Palace has failed to include Lili so far and for weeks on end after her birth carries with it quite the sting.

Where exactly does Lili fall in the royal familys line of succession? Shes behind her father just like her older brother Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor. Harry, 36, is in the line of succession behind Prince Charles, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge as well as his niece and nephews Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis.

Lilis birth brought about some questions regarding her place in the line of succession. Not long before she entered the world Harry and Meghan were demoted on the royal familys website. Although the couples place on the website changed, it didnt impact Lilis standing.

The babys christening could be a turning point for the royal family and Meghan Markle and Prince Harry

Queen Elizabeth II, Meghan Markle, Prince Harry, Prince William, and Kate Middleton | Neil Mockford/GC Images

RELATED: When Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Could Release the First Photos of Baby Lilibet

Multiple royal experts have said Lilis birth could unite the family. As Elser wrote for news.com.au in July 2021, the event is even more charged and freighted because it has the potential to improve or to further damage Harrys relationship with his family.

Meghan and Harry could, according to Elser, extend an olive branch to the royal family by having Lilis christening across the pond.

If the Sussexes were to decide they wanted the christening to happen back in the U.K., perhaps even in September when it has been rumoured that both Harry and Meghan will return to London, she said, then it would be construed as an olive branch after years of intra-family squabbling and rancour.

The royal expert continued, saying if they decided to have the ceremony stateside in California it could be seen as nothing less than a clear rejection of the royal family because Queen Elizabeth II doesnt travel internationally anymore.
The Pioneer Woman Ree Drummond is known to offer up everything from cooking secrets and shortcuts to hacks and tips in the pages of her cookbooks and on her Food Network show. With that in mind, its no surprise the 52-year-olds recipe for Buffalo Chicken Meatballs is easy and (relatively) quick.

Ree Drummonds Buffalo Chicken Meatballs are ready in 35 minutes

Ree Drummond | Bobby Bank/Getty Images

A home-cooked meal doesnt always mean spending hours in the kitchen. Its something Drummond proves over and over again on The Pioneer Woman.

Take her Buffalo Chicken Meatballs. A twist on the popular spicy chicken wing recipe, the cookbook author takes all of the same flavors and puts them in meatballs. And she does it all in a little more than 30 minutes.

The Pioneer Womans Buffalo Chicken Meatballs can be on the table in as little as 35 minutes, according to Food Network. Drummond prepares the meatballs and while theyre in the oven baking for approximately 15 minutes she makes a sauce. Then she assembles the meatballs on a platter being sure to add extra sauce. Thats it. The recipes as simple as that. Shape the meatballs, make the sauce, plate, and serve.

The Pioneer Woman makes a 2-ingredient sauce to go with the meatballs

RELATED: Ree Drummonds Pioneer Woman Pasta Puttanesca Recipe Is a Quick Dinner: Its Really Fast to Make

From her familys sprawling ranch in Pawhuska, Oklahoma, Drummond demonstrated just how easy her Buffalo Chicken Meatballs are to make. During The Pioneer Woman Season 28 Episode 4: 3 Apps and a Cocktail she combined the ingredients for the meatballs noting that it did not take long at all to mix together. Then she moved on to what very well could be one of the simplest sauces of all time.

The Food Network star combined just two ingredients to make a sauce for the meatballs. Drummond used hot sauce  she suggests the brand Franks Red Hot  and butter. She put the butter and hot sauce in a pan on the stove to combine them and once the meatballs were done baking she tossed everything together. The result, a dish described by the Pioneer Woman as saucy, messy, and wonderful.

Could the sauce be any easier or quicker? Best of all the sheer simplicity of it means a trip to the grocery store is unlikely. Simply grab some hot sauce and butter and the sauce for the meatballs is halfway done.

The Food Network stars Buffalo Chicken Meatballs have 5 stars

Ree Drummond | Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for Hearst

RELATED: The Pioneer Woman: Ree Drummond Calls Her Chicken Taco Salad a 16-Minute Meal  Its Really, Really Fast

At the time of writing the Pioneer Womans recipe for Buffalo Chicken Meatballs has five stars on Food Networks website. Although it doesnt make the cut as one of Drummonds 10 most popular recipes its well-liked by those who have tried it at home.

One reviewer described the meatballs as super easy to put together and totally delicious. Another called them tasty and something different to offer thats easier to eat than wings.
After much anticipation, the third installment in the Power Universe, Power Book III: Raising Kanan has finally debuted. Though fans have been eager to sink their teeth in Kanan Starks (Mekai Curtis) origin story, the series has fleshed out Kanans world in the 90s in much bigger ways than wed ever imagined.

In addition to Kanan and his friends, we also take a deep dive into the world of his mother, Raquel Raq Thomas (Patina Miller), a drug queenpin who isnt to be trifled with. Now Miller is revealing that her character is based on Power executive producer Curtis 50 Cent Jacksons mother.

Patina Miller as Raquel Raq Thomas in Power Book III: Raising Kanan | Starz

How did Raq become a drug dealer in Power Book III: Raising Kanan?

As much as Raising Kanan focuses on the titular character, its also about his mother Raq, a drug queenpin who isnt afraid of anything. In the pilot episode, we learn that Raq began dealing drugs around 1985 when she was dating a dealer named, High Post. After High Post was killed in 1986, Raq and her brothers, Marvin (London Brown) and Lou-Lou (Malcolm Mays) took over his business.

I think there is nothing that this woman has not seen, Miller told Digital Spy. They live in Southside, Jamaica, Queens, you know what I mean? There is nothing that she hasnt seen before. She ran with a really crazy crew and so shes seen a lot of things and she knows how to assert herself, but she tries to withhold the violence of it all, because shes a thinker.

RELATED: Power Book III: Raising Kanan: Everything You Need to Know Before Watching the New Series

Patina Millers character Raq in Power Book III: Raising Kanan is based on 50 Cents mother

Much of the events in Raising Kanan and certainly the character Kanan Stark is based on Curtis 50 Cent Jacksons real life. Like Kanans mother, the rappers mother, Sabrina was a drug dealer and raised him alone until she was killed in a fire when he was eight. Miller says she drew not just from the rappers memories but also from her own mother to embody Raq.

You know, what I love about this character is that shes a bit of my mom, Miller told the New York Daily News of her mother, who was a single teen mom in the South. Shes a bit of a lot of peoples moms Its a story about a single Black female making the st work. And she just happens to be in the crime business. Its a mother-son tale. Its about that unbreakable bond that love between these two people. And I think thats the story that were telling. Yes, its a crime drama, but it is a family drama as well.

RELATED: Power Book III: Raising Kanan: Mekai Curtis Studied 50 Cent to Transform Into Kanan Stark

Patina Miller didnt think she could play Raq in Power Book III: Raising Kanan

As fearsome and iconic as Miller is in the role, she didnt think she could embody Raq when she first read the script. The Tony Award winner explained that it all hit too close to home.

Shes a beast of a character, she told the New York Daily News. I read the script and as soon as I put it down, I was like, OK, I cant not do this. Like, this character is me and I have to play this character. And it just clicked, you know? Something about reading that script, where theres a lot of that stuff that you never get as a Black female actress. Youre always on the search for three-dimensional roles to sink your teeth in, a role that really gets to showcase all of the different things that you do. All the things that you think of yourself as a Black woman, this character got to do. And I was like I have to do it.

Power Book III: Raising Kanan creator/showrunner Sascha Penn says hes fully expecting Miller to be nominated for an Emmy for her role in the show.
Will Hannah and Luke ever reunite? O-T Fagbenle has some theories about if/when that will happen in The Handmaids Tale. With Elisabeth Moss saying Hannah will be the main focus on season 5, and showrunner Bruce Miller saying season 5 could be the last, Hannahs fate could be decided soon.

[Spoiler alert: This article contains spoilers for The Handmaids Tale.]

O-T Fagbenle as Luke (L) and Jordana Blake as Hannah (R) in The Handmaids Tale Season 4 | Jasper Savage/Sophie Giraud/Hulu

Is June ever going to get Hannah back?

Luke and June reunited in The Handmaids Tale Season 4. Now all thats missing is their daughter. In season 4 episode 9, Progress, June and Luke made their first joint attempt at saving Hannah. They tried the diplomatic route by contacting Commander Lawrence. But he made an offer they had to refuse. Luke then suggested June meet with Nick to get information and ask for help. He hated the idea of June seeing him, but he recognized Nicks power as a Commander in Gilead.

Nick said getting Hannah out was impossible. But he gave June new photos of her as well as information about her new home in Colorado Springs. This marked the first time Luke saw a recent photo of his daughter in years. Moss told Elle June will be entirely focused on Hannah and taking down Gilead in The Handmaids Tale Season 5. But saving Hannah would actually go against the plot of Margaret Atwoods The Testaments.

In The Testaments, Hannah grows up in Gilead and becomes an Aunt to avoid being married off. She knows her biological mother was a Handmaid, and she has hazy memories of the place she was taken to after being taken from June and Luke. But Hannah, renamed Agnes by her Gilead parents and Aunt Victoria when shes older, doesnt remember much of her biological parents.

Without spoiling how it happens, Hannah is reunited with June and Luke in Canada at the end of The Testaments. And she meets her half-sister, Nichole, through Aunt Lydias plotting.

RELATED: The Handmaids Tale Season 4: June Was 100 Percent Giving up Luke in That Finale Scene, Elisabeth Moss Says

The Handmaids Tale could end with June and Luke saving Hannah

Saving Hannah has been Junes main motivation the entire series. Now that shes free, shes also focused on defeating Gilead once and for all. The show could decide to deviate from The Testaments plot by getting Hannah out. But that would make it difficult to have Hannah as a main character in the upcoming The Testaments spin-off series. (The Handmaids Tale showrunner Miller is developing the series for Hulu. Ann Dowd is playing Aunt Lydia again.)

O-T Fagbenle thinks its possible for Hannah to be saved in The Handmaids Tale. But he also thinks that would come with the end of the series. He told TVInsider:

Ill say this: I feel like thats the end of the show. I feel like to want for that is to want for the end of the drama, and I think as long as that reunion is unresolved, well have more episodes of Handmaids. But I could be wrong. Ive been wrong many times before.

O-T Fagbenle as Luke Bankole in The Handmaids Tale Season 4 Episode 10, The Wilderness | Sophie Giraud/Hulu

RELATED: The Handmaids Tale Season 5: Will June Be Arrested?

The Handmaids Tale Season 5 could be the last

Miller hinted the end of The Handmaids Tale could be approaching. He told The Hollywood Reporter:

I have to say I would have had very different ideas before the pandemic. I mean, we talked about it, and Lizzie and I have talked about it, and the writing staff and I have talked about it extensively about where were going precisely, but I do feel like after this year, its a good time to reassess. So I know where I am in the story, and I do feel like were kind of reaching kind of a pivot point, but whether thats the end or not, I dont know. It just feels like its a good time to reassess what you were thinking, just because the story world has opened up because the real world has changed so much.

Whatever ending Miller has in mind, Fagbenle is convinced it wont be a happy one. He told TVInsider:

But also, those creatively sadistic creatives we have making the show, I dont think theyre going to give us a happy ending where Luke and Hannah and June walk off into the sunset and build a new house in the Maldives, he told TVInsider. I think theres probably more blood and torture on the horizon.
Every day, people are exposed to a variety of synthetic chemicals through the products they use or the food they eat. For many of these chemicals, the health effects are unknown. Now a new study shows that several hundred common chemicals, including pesticides, ingredients in consumer products, food additives, and drinking water contaminants, could increase the risk of breast cancer by causing cells in breast tissue to produce more of the hormones estrogen or progesterone.

"The connection between estrogen and progesterone and breast cancer is well established," says co-author Ruthann Rudel, a toxicologist and research director at Silent Spring Institute. "So, we should be extremely cautious about chemicals in products that increase levels of these hormones in the body."

For instance, in 2002, when the Women's Health Initiative study found combination hormone replacement therapy to be associated with an increased risk of breast cancer, women stopped taking the drugs and incidence rates went down. "Not surprisingly, one of the most common therapies for treating breast cancer is a class of drugs called aromatase inhibitors that lower levels of estrogen in the body, depriving breast cancer cells of the hormones they need to grow," adds Rudel.

To identify these chemical risk factors, Rudel and Silent Spring scientist Bethsaida Cardona combed through data on more than 2000 chemicals generated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)'s ToxCast program. The goal of ToxCast is to improve the ability of scientists to predict whether a chemical will be harmful or not. The program uses automated chemical screening technologies to expose living cells to chemicals and then examine the different biological changes they cause.

Reporting in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives, Rudel and Cardona identified 296 chemicals that were found to increase estradiol (a form of estrogen) or progesterone in cells in the laboratory. Seventy-one chemicals were found to increase levels of both hormones. The chemicals included ingredients in personal care products such as hair dye, chemical flame retardants in building materials and furnishings, and a number of pesticides.

The researchers don't yet know how these chemicals are causing cells to produce more hormones. It could be the chemicals are acting as aromatase activators, for instance, which would lead to higher levels of estrogen, says Cardona. "What we do know is that women are exposed to multiple chemicals from multiple sources on a daily basis, and that these exposures add up."

The Silent Spring researchers hope this study will be a wakeup call for regulators and manufacturers in how they test chemicals for safety. For instance, current safety tests in animals fail to look at changes in hormone levels in the animal's mammary glands in response to a chemical exposure. And, although high throughput testing in cells has been used to identify chemicals that activate the estrogen receptor, mimicking estrogen, the testing has not been used to identify chemicals that increase estrogen or progesterone synthesis.

"This study shows that a number of chemicals currently in use have the ability to manipulate hormones known to adversely affect breast cancer risk," says Dr. Sue Fenton, associate editor for the study and an expert in mammary gland development at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. "Especially concerning is the number of chemicals that alter progesterone, the potential bad actor in hormone replacement therapy. Chemicals that elevate progesterone levels in the breast should be minimized."

The researchers outlined a number of recommendations in their study for improving chemical safety testing to help identify potential breast carcinogens before they end up in products, and suggest finding ways to reduce people's exposures, particularly during critical periods of development, such as during puberty or pregnancy when the breast undergoes important changes.

The project is part of Silent Spring Institute's Safer Chemicals Program which is developing new cost-effective ways of screening chemicals for their effects on the breast. Knowledge generated by this effort will help government agencies regulate chemicals more effectively and assist companies in developing safer products.
From left to right are Cherokee Nation Health Services Deputy Executive Director of External Operations Brian Hail, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra and Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. touring the tribes health centers in Tahlequah. Becerra visited the CN in July. COURTESY
Osage Nation Principal Chief Geoffrey Standing Bear said that his tribe will seek a court ruling that the Osage reservation was never disestablished. The Osage Nation remains intact, he said July 19. COURTESY
Chickasha, OK (73018)

Today

Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 71F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 71F. Winds light and variable.
Last week in more than 50 towns and cities across Cuba, illegal protesters staged the largest protests against the government in decades. These dissidents did so at great personal risk, as Cuban state is known for detentions and house arrests for those who openly oppose them. Cuban religious leaders were in the thick of this growing cry for more freedom and more provision for the people of Cuba.

At a base level, Cubans are protesting against their widespread material lack, as food and medicine are difficult to obtain on the island. I observed this across several trips between 2016 and 2019, watching the staff at a local faith-based organization search stores for basics and coming up empty-handed. On another trip my son was admitted to a hospital with the necessary medicines only after we showed our U.S. passports. And all this was before COVID-19.

But the outcry is about more than food shortages and a global pandemic. Other protests, such as the sit-ins of artists in November 2020, or the subsequent music video seen by half of the people of Cuba in four weeks, point to a consensus of discontent under Cubas Communist regime. The video provides a slogan for this summers protests. Patria y Vida (homeland and life), defiantly recasts the mantra of the Cuban Revolution, Patria o Muerte (homeland or death).

Amid the turmoil, Cuban congregations and faith-based groups are deciding how to involve themselves. Some have made protest a part of their religious expression. Throughout the nations history, it has been religious leaders who have challenged both political and religious institutions, and who have championed independence. In the early 19th century, Father Felix Varela and others were exiled for promoting independence, the abolition of slavery, and a participatory form of government.

Varelas ideas influenced one of Latin Americas greatest independence leaders, Jose Marti, along with a generation of anti-establishment Christians. Current examples of such leaders like Yarian Sierra Madrigal and Yeremi Blanco Ramirez joined last weeks protests and then were violently detained, as Christianity Today reported.

Subscribe to email digests from the Better Samaritan.

Other Christians separate their faith from politics. These communities of worshippers may be on the front lines of providing for the needs of their community, yet do not speak out publicly. One pastor told me that to have time each week to worship, learn and serve without contemplating the government is of great worth to Cubans. The church becomes an oasis for them, itself a place of freedom. Some faith-based groups with strong international partnerships view political engagement as an unwise risk.

Still others interpret much of their Christian faith according to the social goals of Cuba, though not its ideological underpinnings. For example, Reverend Doctor Ofelia Ortega Suarez served as member of the Cuban Parliament, President of the Matanzas Evangelical Seminary and President of the World Council of Churches for Latin America and the Caribbean. In an interview with her and her husband, Dr. Rev. Daniel Montoya Rosales, the couple described concerns about the push for social change in Cuba.

Montoya Rosales was a young man in a Baptist church when the Cuban Revolution was brewing. His activist father disappeared mysteriously when he was 15, never to return.

They describe the current push for privatization of industries as a movement for individual gain. They viewed sharing as their Christian duty, the base of which is to seek to benefit one another instead of oneself. In their perspective, sharing meant voluntarily holding things in common.

That is where the church also has a role to play, in teaching sharing, nothing is mine, said Montoya Rosales. I have to share what I do, added Ortega Suarez.

In his recent book Reading While Black, theologian Esau McCaulley points out biblical examples of responses to injustice like that found in Cuba, which include a range from prayer, submission, and peacemaking to public outcry, pointed critique and demands for liberation. According to McCaulley, Scripture instructs Christians to long for a world marked by Jesus reign. Hungering for justice, he wrote, is hungering for the kingdom.

In 1960, the Cuban Council of Evangelical Churches (CCEC) had made a similar declaration, envisioning a society that ascribed to God the ultimate authority concerning man and history, and that is based upon the social principles of Christ.

Jamie Goodwin, Assistant Professor of Humanitarian and Disaster Leadership at the Humanitarian Disaster Institute, is earning a Doctor of Philosophy Philanthropic Studies from the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. Her research focuses on international philanthropy and civil society, with a focus on faith-based organizations and immigrant groups.
This Tuesday, Amazon founder and the richest man on the planet, Jeff Bezos, entered space for the first time. This was the virgin flight for Blue Origin, the space travel company that Bezos founded, and lasted 10 minutes and 10 seconds.

Bezoss trip came just days after billionaire Richard Branson reached the edge of space on board his Virgin Galactic rocket plane. The company currently has more than 600 reservations, a trip that costs his commercial passengers, $250,000 apiece. The company hopes to launch to the public next year.

While the White House called Bezoss flight a moment of American exceptionalism, others have been less than thrilled to see the wealthiest in the country head into the heavens.

Watching the coverage of the billionaires going to space and the notion that it may pave the way for all of us to go in the future. Can I just ask why they think everyone would want to go to space for 8 minutes? And how is this a good use of millions of $? How bout curing cancer?, wrote former World Vision head Richard Stearns in a series of tweets. It is estimated that Bezos spent $5.5 billion to achieve his space flight. That same amount of money could have brought clean water to 110 million people who currently have no access. It could also have given a $4000 raise to every one of Amazons 1.3mm employees.

After his flight, Bezos thanked every Amazon employee, and every Amazon customer. Because you guys paid for all this. Bezos says he funds Blue Origin by selling $1 billion of Amazon stock annually.

Mark J. Shelhamer is former chief scientist of NASAs Human Research Program. He is professor of otolaryngology, head and neck surgery, at Johns Hopkins University, where he is also director of the Human Spaceflight Lab. He most recently also became the director and founder of the Bioastronautics@Hopkins initiative. Shelhamer has been involved in human spaceflight research since the 1980s and serves as an adviser to commercial spaceflight federation.

Shelhamer joined global media manager Morgan Lee and executive editor Ted Olsen to discuss whether Christians should celebrate billionaires in space, why not everyone was a fan of spaceflight when it first took off, and and how working in this industry has affected his relationship with God.

What is Quick to Listen? Read more

Rate Quick to Listen on Apple Podcasts

Follow the podcast on Twitter

Follow our hosts on Twitter: Morgan Lee and Ted Olsen

Read an essay from Mark Shelhamer

Music by Sweeps

Quick to Listen is produced by Morgan Lee and Matt Linder

The transcript is edited by Faith Ndlovu

Highlights from Quick to Listen: Episode #274

Help us understand a little bit historically, how controversial was the expense of human space flight in general in the fifties and sixties; was there so much enthusiasm or there wasnt much of a debate?

Mark Shelhamer: Human flight has been going on as a government program in the United States, then the Soviet Union in Russia, now China for quite a long time and there is a tendency to romanticize a lot of this and say that back in the good old days, the Apollo program, the early days of the American space program in the sixties, maybe early seventies were all united. There wasn't all this agonizing and questioning, but thats not true to a great extent. There was a lot of concern, this was a cold war effort. President Kennedy's speeches on the matter are very inspiring and very compelling. They kind of skirt around the issue of it being a cold war battle.

But referring to the Soviet Union putting a man in space, he does say in one of his speeches that the recent events in space have made an impact on those who are trying to decide as to which path to follow. He is talking about non-aligned nations, figuring out whether they should align themselves with the Soviet Union and communism or the American system and democracy.

Article continues below

So that's what he's talking about in that case. He couched it to some extent in cold war terms, that was very much what drove the early astronauts, especially people like Frank Borman, who listened to some of the things he had to say back then about the science part of the Apollo program.

That's not why he was there. He was there to fight a cold war battle. And if you're fighting a cold war battle on a world stage like that, the expense is not a consideration. It was an expensive operation, no doubt about that. The Apollo program was taking at its peak, which did not last long, about 4% of the federal budget.

These days it's more like 0.4% of the federal budget is taken by NASA. A lot of misconceptions on that basis. But even when Kennedy realized how expensive the Apollo program was going to be started to have some misgivings. He was asking his advisors and there's even a speech at the United Nations that he gave about backpedaling a little bit and trying to call to cooperate with the Soviet Union rather than compete with the Soviet Union because it's possible that neither of our nations can afford to do this. There's also a recording available where he had a talk with James Webb, who was the NASA administrator at the time where he was saying I'm not that interested in space. Are there thingsthat we can cut back from the NASA initiative that aren't directly relevant to sending people to the moon? Because that's really what we're in this forest to win that particular battle of the cold war. To his credit, James Webb said, No, sir, Mr. President, this is our opportunity to build a space flight infrastructure in this country that will serve us for decades to come.

Even Kennedy who started this whole thing in the United States was having second thoughts about the cost and there were going to be 20 Apollo missions to land on the moon, they stopped at Apollo 17. They were cut out because of probably a number of things; those missions were incredibly dangerous, incredibly risky. You can read the mission reports they're freely available. Every one of those flights was skirting disaster. NASA wanted to quit while they were ahead, but they were also incredibly expensive and Congress just wasn't on board anymore for more moon landings after they did 6.

We talked about the cost associated with it. Was there this concern in that early space flight program, just in terms of public opinion was there a concern about arrogance and pride associated with space flight?

Mark Shelhamer: Yeah, there was and there have been books written about this that have explored that It's an intriguing question. It strikes me, it strikes me as either being incredibly profound or, or incredibly misplaced.

That argument about basically humanitys hubris, you can apply that to anything, and it has been applied to almost any technical or scientific accomplishment that people think we're getting into God's domain; we have no business doing this. Its another cliche, if God had intended man to fly, He would have given us wings. Well, He gave us the ability to create flying machines so there's a counter-argument. At what point do you want to stop microscopes?

What business do we have peering into the inner workings of the human body? Why not apply the same reasoning to all nonhumans? You can't say unmanned anymore, because then that, is a sexist term, but non-human or untended, sometimes it's called uncrewed space flight, a term, which I don't like for obvious reasons because that means the alternative is crewed space flight, which also has its problems.

Article continues below

Let's just call it non-human space flight. People are fascinated by the Hubble space telescope. The discoveries that are made astronomically are incredible.

But they're on a continuum. They're not different from what we find by sending humans into space. If there's an argument to be made about the hubris of humans, why is that reserved for sending humans into space? Why isn't it more broadly, applied in all of those cases?

Let me answer my own question a little bit. In all of those cases, the bottom line is that all of these ventures are humans way of understanding our place in the universe, understanding our place in creation. I find it hard to believe that that is not a worthwhile thing to pursue. That's scientific exploration, that's human exploration. To some extent, we go because we can go, and it will change our perspective on who we are and how we fit into the universe. That at the bottom line is why I think we do this.

Would you say that there are times where exploration can be self-aggrandizing or a misplaced priority? Maybe not a bad one, but the money that it would cost to run, something ends up being money that is diverted from potentially something that should be a more significant priority?

Mark Shelhamer: Yeah. I'm going to say yes. But also no. Absolutely because there's a history of exploration and including science, exploration being turned into exploitation. I'm not a historian except maybe of human space flight, but it's not hard to find examples of that; colonization; a variety of things even more recently, taking the arguments about cloning arguments, about what CRISPR gene editing can do. Those things can be very risky and when they get out of the research discovery phase and start being applied, that's a conversation that should be held more broadly because they have significant implications for all of us.

Of course, there can be self-aggrandizement. Now, the question about using animals in research is very valuable. There are some things that you do not want to try on humans before you've tried them on another living being.

Hypothetically, I'm sure we could find examples where people would take that too far and just do the experiment because it's possible to do it. Having said that; basic science is a very tricky thing and it's something that people generally don't understand who don't have a scientific background or have not been familiar with science.

There is a tremendous number of technological advances that benefit our everyday lives that are the result of a serendipitous finding of somebody, just frankly, screwing around in the laboratory, aiming for something and they find something else, bread mold, and it takes a scientific insight and scientific genius to capitalize on that observation. But it really troubles me, you hear this once in a while from people lamenting how much money is spent on scientific research. Well, not enough is the straight answer, but, if they want to complain about that, they could say, why don't we just spend money on the important research?

We don't know what's going to be important in five or 10 years. So, to some extent research, including the research that comes along with sending people into space, including astronomical observations on that continuum. We don't know where these are going to lead. We don't know what may happen to our change in perspective of humanity when we start sending large numbers of people who do not have rigorous scientific training into space, people who can afford to take the time to enjoy the view, relish the experience, poets, philosophers, what are they going to come back and report to us that people who weve sent so far just have not had the time to think about. That's a pretty compelling reason.

Article continues below

Morgan Lee: There's going to be things that we don't even know. We don't know what we don't know that's out there and that those things will change and could benefit our life here on earth but one of the ways that many people would push back specifically when we're thinking of billionaires going into space is that maybe Jeff Bezos's flight and the company that he started are going to do things that positively benefit humanity. But I know something that Jeff Bezos could do right now to improve humanity and that is he could pay his workers more, or Amazon could pay taxes. Do you think that there's a little bit of a different equation when you transition from a government-funded initiative to one that talks about how private individuals are choosing to spend their money and does that complicate how we might think about something like this?

Mark Shelhamer: Yeah, I think that's a legitimate concern. They have created phenomenal businesses that otherwise would not have existed. They created essentially the commercial human space flight industry from nothing in less than 20 years or so.

That's an amazing accomplishment when you consider that it was the domain of national entities and governments for such a long time. It would have been deemed impossible when they first started it. That's not an insignificant accomplishment. To some extent that needs to be separated from the other concerns that you mentioned, it's always possible to find a good way for somebody else to spend his or her money.

You could probably look at the way I spend money, right? This is a dangerous road to go down. I'm not about to cast the first stone in this argument and say the rich people should be spending their money differently. If you knew how I spent some of my discretionary income on my hobbies, I'm not going to call them vices, I'm going to call them hobbies. But anybody could come in and say, you spent X amount of money on this thing, a concert ticket, or a new piece of electronics, which is in my home workshop. You could have given that to X and used that to buy another meal for the underprivileged or whatever.

I could have, but maybe I already give to those causes, and maybe I work extra hours in consulting to make the money specifically, so I have discretionary funds to reward myself for that extra work. Would it be better if I didn't work that hard and didn't make the money at all?

I want to turn the question around and say these billionaires may have some questionable tax practices, but by and large, they made their money in legal business ventures that are above board. They're not criminal enterprises. To that extent, would we be better off if we said, The world would be better if you weren't so successful and didn't make that money in the first place and then we wouldn't be having this argument at all, but they made the money from their own efforts? They get to decide how to spend.

Since you've worked on both the NASA side of things and you're advising folks on the private side of things, what are some of the key differences in the questions that you ask when a government agency is sending folks into space and a private company is sending folks into space, do the questions fundamentally change?

Mark Shelhamer: Well, yeah, there is some overlap, but the questions can become broader there. They're not mutually exclusive, NASA has a role to play, and government space programs have a role to play.

Article continues below

They should be doing things that may be too expensive or too risky or too uncertain, or too fundamental scientifically to attract commercial interest. That's always been their role. That was their role in encouraging commercial aviation in the last century, they did it through a large part by sponsoring airmail, and so that is arguably a perfect role for the government because otherwise there was no way for fledgling aircraft companies or airline companies, I guess there were no airline companies, but air transport companies to make money.

So, the government steps in and says, We'll support. We will make sure that you have at least enough funding because we need airmail delivered, and this was not a unanimously, accepted idea. You can imagine the arguments at the time, mail by a horse-drawn carriage and a railroad is good enough. Why do we need air travel?I can't say that I've seen those arguments, but I can imagine that they would have occurred. Where would we be today? We all benefit from commercial aviation and the fact that it is commercial and there is a profit motive means that the cost has come down and the accessibility has been incredibly broadened.

Almost anybody in this country can afford to take an airplane flight now. That's one of the things that's going to be different about this. NASAs mandate is not to commercialize. Except through doing the basic research that permits safe space travel, NASAs mandate is not to send large numbers of people into space. We could argue whether it's worthwhile to send large numbers of people into space, but if they want to go, how could it be a bad thing to provide them with that opportunity? The cost is going to come down. This may look bad now. It may look like this is the domain of a bunch of rich people and how can that possibly be good for us? That's how it starts. Airline travel at first was incredibly expensive. It can only be afforded by the wealthy, the costs will come down to a great extent because the commercial providers, Virgin Galactic, Blue Origin, SpaceX are pioneering reusable rockets and reusable spacecraft.

The space shuttle was a big step in that direction. It didn't achieve that as well as NASA had hoped, and they still threw away the solid rocket boosters and the external tank. The spacecraft came back, and it needed a lot of refurbishment. But through the desire to make a profit through a commercial interest, these commercial providers are pushing the boundaries to reduce the cost, and eventually, that's going to benefit a lot of people. So, what could possibly be bad about providing anyone who wants to and can afford it, it's still going to be steep, with the opportunity to go into space and experience what astronauts have experienced for decades, the overview effect, the change in perspective that you get from being in space.

Is it correct that astronauts that are being sent up into space these days are actually using SpaceX technology?

Mark Shelhamer: Yes. The Russians had their own system. They use a Soyuz spacecraft, which they'd been using for a long time, very reliable to get cosmonauts to the space station. The Americans were using; until it was retired, the space shuttle. The space shuttle is incredibly expensive, it was something like half a billion dollars per flight of the space shuttle.

NASA retired the space shuttle in 2011 and had to buy tickets on the Soyuz spacecraft from Russia to get our astronauts up to the space station and people lamented the short-sightedness of letting the shuttle go. But we were paying the Russians a lot less than half a billion dollars per flight.

Article continues below

You could argue that that was a wise thing economically to retire the space shuttle, at least for this use, but people criticized NASA for that. Now NASA has contracted with SpaceX and Boeing. Boeing does not have their spacecraft flying yet, but they will soon and under contract to NASA, SpaceX now flies NASA astronauts to the space station.

NASA no longer has to pay for seats on a Soyuz spacecraft from Russia. So, there's a government industry collaboration. We're already going to see the fruits of this in September. September 15th is the presumed launch date.

SpaceX is going to launch the first all commercial crew to lower earth orbit. It's not going to go to the space station. It's going to orbit for three or four days. All four seats of this flight were paid for by an internet billionaire. They're going to be doing medical research on that flight. The arguments start to break down when you look at the details and the people who are going to fly on that flight; two women, its no longer purely the domain of rich white men.

In some of these public, private partnerships, different companies are trying to do different things. Some of them are a little bit more focused on delivery vehicles. Some of them are a little more focused on the tourism aspect. Are there significant differences between the Boeing program, the SpaceX program, the Blue Orbit? Help us understand a little bit what's going on in quick and broad strokes with some of these new private companies. Are we talking about three or four companies? How many companies are involved? How big is this world?

Mark Shelhamer: Yeah. You may get the impression from the press coverage that its just Bezos, Branson, and Musk, but he's doing something by sending something useful, arguably to the space station under NASA contract, but space and commercial space flight, and not only human but also untended or other forms of space flight, this is a growth industry. This is big and it's going to get bigger, partly because the costs are coming down. The costs are coming down partly because of the increased reusability of the rockets and some of the spacecraft, which NASA had not been able to make significant headway on for a long time, particularly NASA's fault but they're commercial. We talk about NASA, and we talk about government space agencies. Remember NASA contracts out to commercial aerospace companies to build the rockets and the spacecraft. So, it may be government-funded, but to some extent, there's always been commercial vendors and industry presence.

This is partly because NASA is going back to the moon and Mars and the commercial providers are getting headlines. They're making this look feasible. This is realistic. Now it's possible to talk about sending people to the moon and Mars, without people laughing in your face, which they used to do for a long time, and sending normal people into space.

But back to your question, there's a large number of companies that are working on building satellites, what are called Nanosats, or CubeSats, small satellites that you can make relatively cheaply and send a lot of them up. This can wreak havoc with astronomical observations, so I'm not cavalier about the concerns there, but it's going to bring the cost of earth, observation, satellites, and tracking of terrestrial resources and space monitoring for radiation, and a variety of things down. There are a lot of companies working in that general field; there are companies building rockets that you probably have never heard of. There's a company called Made in Space that has a 3d printer and it's called additive manufacturing now, its up on the international space station.

Article continues below

This is a commercial venture. There are companies building biomedical sensors for people to take on their private space flights, which have a tremendous number of terrestrial spin-offs. There's a whole slew of companies and a whole bunch of different industries that you might not immediately associate with space flight or human space flight and not all of them are going to survive. There'll be a shakeout there always has been, but many of them are going to survive and thrive.

In terms of the specific companies, there are three major players. There's also a company called the Sierra Nevada, which we don't hear about too much, but they're developing a suborbital spacecraft a little bit more along the lines of the Virgin Galactic spacecraft.

Let me go in order briefly from the ones that have the less ambitious plans to the more ambitious. Virgin Galactic, that's Richard Branson's company, they flew a week and a half or so ago. That's a suborbital mission. The spacecraft is unusual in that it is taken up under the wings of a mothership.

It's not a conventional aircraft by any means, but at least a more standard airplane, and it is dropped, and it lights its rocket and goes up and you're in suborbital space for a few minutes, comes back down, and lands on a runway. So, it is ready to use again, after some inspection and refurbishment.

The plans for Richard Branson are to also send satellites into space with a different company called Virgin Orbit. I don't know that Virgin Galactic has plans to send humans into orbit. They may have plans to scale up their suborbital spacecraft, to permit transcontinental travel via suborbital spacecraft.

The Virgin Galactic spacecraft was launched and landed in the same geographical area. But imagine if it launched from the west coast and landed in Japan in a half hour. That technology could potentially be scaled up to do that. I think that's what Virgin Galactic has their eye on. The next one up would be Blue Origin, Jeff Bezos company. They're the ones who flew just recently and they want to expand their suborbital capability. Their spacecraft is very interesting in that it is more conventional in terms of the history of space travel. It goes up on a more or less conventional rocket.

It's not conventional because it's reusable. You saw that if you watch the coverage. The rocket came back down. They'll refurbish it and use it again. It's not thrown away; the same with the spacecraft, but unlike the Virgin Galactic suborbital spacecraft, the Blue Origin spacecraft called New Shepard after Alan Shepard, the first American in suborbital space. That Blue Origin spacecraft does not have a pilot or a crew, it's completely automated.

It's completely automated because it's a much more conventional flight profile. It goes up, the rocket pulls away, the spacecraft continues up on a ballistic trajectory, starts re-entering the atmosphere, the parachutes pop out, it lands on the ground and there's not much that a pilot could do in that spacecraft.

It's highly automated and there's more room for; frankly paying customers in there. Blue Origin has much broader ambitions. Jeff Bezos has said for a long time that he wants to take humanity and all of its polluting ways off of the surface of the earth and put them into earth orbit and make the earth in some sense a national park.

That's very ambitious, but people like Gerard K O'Neill from Princeton who Jeff Bezos took a course with when he was in college, have been talking about this general idea for decades. So that's his plan if that were ever successful, it would take decades, if not centuries. Nevertheless, that doesn't seem like a necessarily bad thing to do. You have to stop the argument when people say, that's great for all the people who can afford it. That cost is going to come down. Only rich people can afford it now because it's only been done twice.

Article continues below

In some sense of specious argument, the costs will come down. The Blue Origin, I believe they're one of the companies that got a contract from NASA to build a Lunar lander, a human Lunar lander for NASA s current plans to send people back to the moon. Blue Origin is flying suborbital, but they also have very ambitious plans for deeper space like the moon. There's SpaceX, which is Elon Musk's. SpaceX has for a while been providing cargo service to the international space station, along with a number of other companies. Other ones send cargo up and they have been doing this for a long time under contract with NASA to send cargo to the space station.

Twice now they have sent astronauts to the space station. They're able to capitalize on that cargo spacecraft capability, make it a human spacecraft, and then since they've done that, they're going to be able to sell those flights. If you thought the suborbital flight was expensive, an orbital flight is tremendously expensive. But at least people are doing it. There's this Inspiration4 flight on a SpaceX spacecraft coming up in September and Elon Musk also has his plans on much bigger things. He says he plans to die on Mars, just not on landing. He plans on dying there as an old man on Mars. Maybe he will, maybe he won't. The thing is we have a commercial for-profit venture that's talking seriously about spend about sending people to Mars. This is new, this has never been possible before realistic and people taking it seriously. That's more than just a sketchy outline of some of the commercial providers.

As we think about the ethics of exploration, the ethics of space as we've talked about, one of the great hopes with the unknown unknowns is there's going to be stuff that we all learn, in human space flight. We're going to learn more about ourselves and more about the physics, discoveries, and things we can make, and things we can do. You're someone who has done a lot of work on the human body risks in space, but are there other risks?

If we're hoping for unexpected discoveries, should we also be concerned about unexpected ethical dilemmas?

Mark Shelhamer: Wow, yes, of course. Whenever some great thing happens that has fantastic advantages and great benefits for humanity, people will never pass up an opportunity to screw it up, look at the internet, look at television.

In all of these cases imagine what people thought this was going to bring to the common individual. That is true, but it's also brought along a lot of less desirable qualities. Exploration can easily be turned into exploitation.

We have to look out for that. That's why conversations like this are so important. There are going to be snake oil salesman and various underhanded ventures that try to capitalize on this. That doesn't mean you don't do it. Somebody is going to do it anyway.

So why not try to make it transparent and do it correctly but let me backtrack and talk about the research aspect of things. These suborbital flights, certainly the orbital ones to come, the inspiration for flight that I mentioned, open up opportunities for research that would never have been available before.

Just as an example and as a researcher, this fascinates me. This does not mean I'm going to give up my NASA-sponsored research. It means I'm going to incorporate the possibilities of commercial flight providers into my research portfolio. As an example, the NASA Flight Opportunities Program right now has a solicitation out, soliciting for grants to do research in the area of technology development, kind of like the R and D type of research on among other things, suborbital flight spacecraft. They're saying, look at the opportunities this has for pushing technologies that might benefit science and technology engineering on earth, and also future space flights. NASA will fund that research, even though it's going to fly on a commercial platform.

Article continues below

I'm submitting a grant proposal to that solicitation. I've been working, as you mentioned at the beginning as an advisor to the Commercial Space Flight Federation for 12 years. Back when we started, we thought these flights were going to be two years away. Now they're actually happening. The possibility that I can fly into space with my own experiment, just like I'm there in the laboratory to watch an experiment that I do and you're the expert in that experiment. Astronauts are amazing people but they're rarely expert scientific experts in the science that they're doing on the space station. There are some exceptions.

Kate Rubins is an exception. She's a biochemist and she does that type of research among others on the space station. But it's unreasonable to expect an astronaut doing a variety of things on a space flight to be an expert on every scientific domain. I'll tell you from my personal experience, I've done a lot of parabolic flights under NASA support.

This is the vomit comet, an aircraft that goes up and flies a parabolic trajectory and you are weightless for about 20, 25 seconds at a time. But it's 30 to 40 times in a row. You can do some good science. There are occasions in which me performing my own experiment as the test subject in a parabolic flight, observed something unexpected, and capitalized on that.

That would not have happened if I were not flying with the experiment. So now I can fly, not just me but almost any investigator who's willing to do it can fly on a suborbital space flight because it's all a lot cheaper than flying to the space station and a lot more accessible. I wanted to make sure that the research aspects of these flights were not lost. One final point I'll make about this, one of the people who flew on the Virgin Galactic flight is Sirisha Bandla. Ive known Sirisha for quite a while because of our joint work, before she worked for Virgin Galactic, she was like me kind of an advisor to the industry. Part of what she did during the flight was that she took her own initiative and dedicated some of her precious free time in weightlessness, some of the time that she could have used to float around the cabin, enjoy the zero-G experience, which I can tell you is thrilling just from doing it 20 seconds at a time, and looking out the windows, she devoted some of that to a very simple Pathfinder experiment on plant growth in space, which is a scientifically valid thing to do.

This is something that's missed in most of these stories, the very first human suborbital flight that Virgin Galactic did had some scientific research on it.

Would you be able to share how working in the realm of space exploration has uniquely shaped your faith and your perspective of God?

Mark Shelhamer: First of all, it infuses everything that I do, hopefully, it certainly encourages me to do the best science that I can do in the best way, ethically, treat everyone fairly, don't cut corners, but that that's not specifically science. Our faith should inform that no matter what we do, that's biblical. No matter what you do, do it as if you're doing it for the Lord and not for men. That's the way that we should be looking at this. In my particular case, and I know this drives a lot of people in science, the privilege of being able to explore God's creation as a scientist and get frankly insights that I don't think you would otherwise get without a scientific view of it. That doesn't mean everyone's insights are not valuable. That doesn't mean scientists have exclusive rights to awe and wonder, quite the contrary. We have an obligation to share those insights with other people, which by the way, is what I think commercial space flights are going to allow people to do; experience that awe and wonder directly. I would draw on that, it's an honor and a privilege to be able to explore the creation as a scientist.

It's a form of worship.
Judge blocks Arkansas law banning puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones and gender surgery for kids

Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment

A federal judge has temporarily blocked an Arkansas law banning the use of experimental drugs and gender-transition surgeries on minors, which was set to take effect next week in the state.

The law, called the Save Adolescents from Experimentation (SAFE) Act, was adopted earlier this year in the southern state after lawmakers overrode Gov. Asa Hutchinson's veto of the bill. Hutchinson, a Republican, said in April that the measure was extreme and overbroad and that it could not be defended on limited government grounds. The law was scheduled to be enacted on July 28.



Led by Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall, he and Republican attorneys general of 17 states  Alaska, Arizona, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, and Texas  filed an amicus brief in federal court last Tuesday in support of the Arkansas law.

Wednesday's judicial injunction against the law comes as four trans-identifying young people, two doctors, and the American Civil Liberties Union came together to file a lawsuit against the state, arguing that the statute violates their constitutional rights. The judge said that their motions could indeed be successful at trial.



To pull this care midstream from these patients, or minors, would cause irreparable harm, U.S. District Judge Jay Moody, who issued the ruling, said in a statement.



Praising the decision, Holly Dickson, the executive director of the Arkansas chapter of the ACLU, said the ruling sends a message to other states that her organization will not allow the medicalized gender transitioning of children to be taken away from youth.



Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge, a Republican, intends to appeal the ruling, promising to defend the law.



I will not sit idly by while radical groups such as the ACLU use our children as pawns for their own social agenda, she said.



Likewise, family advocates in favor of the law said they believe the truth about the nature of these contested medical practices and procedures will eventually win out.

"We are disappointed but not surprised that a judge has placed a temporary hold on the Arkansas law that protects children from unscientific, experimental, and destructive gender transition procedures. However, we are confident that ultimately state lawmakers will remain free to protect the health and safety of children, said Tony Perkins, president of the Washington-based Family Research Council, in a statement emailed to The Christian Post.

"The legal challenge to this law is being mounted by a political movement that advocates for using off-label drugs and experimental procedures on minors. Yet a growing number of individuals are coming forward to share their stories of being permanently disfigured and/or sterilized from procedures such as puberty-blocking drugs, cross-sex hormones, and irreversible surgeries. The truth about the dangers of these life-altering procedures cannot be ignored," he said.



The intensifying legal disputes in the United States regarding the medicalization of gender, especially as it pertains to minors, comes as European nations are moving away from the experimental practices.

Late last year, the High Court of Justice in the United Kingdom ruled in a judicial review that children younger than 16 are unlikely to be mature enough to consent to taking irreversible chemical puberty-blocking drugs given the significant risks and repercussions to their health. The ruling is presently being appealed, and a subsequent decision in March held that parents could give consent on behalf of their minor children.

Earlier this year in Sweden, the prominent Karolinska Hospital said that as of April 1, puberty blockers would no longer be given to youth younger than 16, and their statement referenced the U.K. ruling as part of their rationale.

In June of last year, health authorities in Finland revised their professional guidelines by prioritizing psychological help and support over experimental medicine, especially for young people whose gender dysphoria came about after puberty.
New York bans child marriage, turns planned protest into celebration

Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment

A planned protest in New York City against child marriage will now be a celebration next month after Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed legislation Thursday raising the age of consent to be married in New York State to 18.

"This administration fought hard to successfully end child marriage in New York and I'm proud to sign this legislation to strengthen our laws and further protect vulnerable children from exploitation," Cuomo said in a statement. "Children should be allowed to live their childhood and I thank the many legislators and advocates who worked diligently to advance this measure and further prevent forced marriages in this state."

Cuomo signed legislation in 2017 that raised the age to marry from 14 to 18. But the 2017 bill allowed 17 year olds to get married with parental and judicial consent.

The new legislation is named Nalias Law after a survivor forced into child marriage and is expected to take effect within the next month.

The law makes New York only the sixth U.S. state to end all marriage before 18 with no exceptions, according to Unchained at Last, the only nonprofit in the U.S. dedicated to helping women and girls leave or avoid arranged, forced or child marriages.

Fraidy Reiss, Unchained at Lasts executive director, who survived a forced marriage in Brooklyn, had pledged Tuesday to "Chain-In" outside Cuomos Manhattan office every Wednesday starting Aug. 4  in bridal gown and chains  until he signed the bill. Cuomo took action on the legislation, however. So now, instead of a protest, the group is planning to celebrate.

We have been pushing to end child marriage in New York since 2015. Along with our allies in the New York Coalition to End Child Marriage, we met with or called every state legislator multiple times," a statement from the organization reads.

"We submitted memos of support. We Chained-In in Manhattan and Albany to demand an end to child marriage."

Unchained at Last called it "a good day for girls in New York."

"Now lets do the same for girls in another 44 states. #18NoExceptions," the statement added.

In a study published in April, the organization found that nearly 300,000 minors under age 18 were legally married in the U.S. between 2000 and 2018. Some of these minors were as young as 10. But a majority were 16 or 17. Most of the minor girls were married to adult men who were an average of four years older.

In a statement Thursday, State Sen. Julia Salazar, who pushed for the legislation, praised the work of Unchained At Last to make the law a reality.

"Regardless of maturity level, minors lack sufficient legal rights and autonomy that they need to protect them if they enter a marriage contract before becoming adults," Salazar said. "The vast majority of minors who enter a marriage are teenage girls, and getting married before adulthood often has devastating consequences for them. I thank Governor Cuomo for signing this bill to finally prohibit child marriage without exceptions in New York, and commend the continued work of Unchained At Last in advocating to prohibit child marriage nationwide."

Democratic Assemblyman Phil Ramos also praised the new legislation as protection for vulnerable young girls.

"The cruel and callous practice of child marriage has traumatized too many children to count," he said. "Nalia's Law, which will raise the age of consent for marriage to 18 and prohibit marriage if either person is underage, is named after one brave survivor of forced child marriage who I was lucky enough to meet. With the passage of this crucial legislation, minors in New York will be further protected from this predatory practice, and we can prevent stories like Nalia's from repeating themselves."

The signing of the New York bill comes over a month after Gov. Daniel McKee of Rhode Island signed a bill to ban marriage before the age of 18. Other states that have enacted similar laws include Delaware, Minnesota, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
Married Texas pastor gave teen drugs at church then raped her multiple times, police say

Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment

A married Texas pastor who claims he was only counseling a 15-year-old girl and her family is now in jail after police say he groomed her, gave her methamphetamines and then raped her multiple times in the last month, including at church. The teenager was hospitalized after her most recent encounter.

Brian Pounds, 45, who was listed as the lead pastor at First Assembly of God in Vernon along with his wife, Amy, has been charged with sexual assault of a child and delivery of a controlled substance to a child, according to his redacted arrest warrant.

Police say they first spoke with the teenagers mother on July 1 while she was searching for her daughter at a motel. Pounds, who was present at the motel, told an officer that he was at the motel to help get a room for a person in need. That room had reportedly been rented in the name of First Assembly of God.

The girl was later discovered at a nearby Walmart by her mother who took her to the Vernon Police Department. During an interview with officers that day, the teenager revealed that she had been having sex with the pastor and smoking methamphetamine at the motel. She also said she had been having sex with the pastor for about a month since he first initiated sexual contact with her at his church when he was supposed to be counseling her.

The teenager was taken to United Regional Health Care in Wichita Falls where she was admitted to the hospital with medical complications from smoking methamphetamine.

Five days later she gave police additional details about her contact with the pastor during a forensic interview.

Pounds began the grooming process by getting Jane Doe a job cleaning houses for elderly people. Pounds then began to meet Jane Doe at his church ... in Vernon. Pounds started offering Jane Doe methamphetamine at the church. Pounds continued to meet with Jane Doe at the church for what Jane Doe described as counseling. Jane Doe said Pounds would offer her methamphetamine while at the church, the affidavit said.

The teenager went on to describe two sexual encounters with Pounds at the church.

She revealed that the day her mother caught her at the motel the pastor gave her drugs before having sex with her again and choked her during the act.

Pounds gave her methamphetamine to smoke and get high. Jane Doe said Pounds had sex with her [redacted] at the [redacted] Jane Doe said during the course of having sexual intercourse Pounds placed both hands on her neck and choked her, the affidavit said.

Calls made to Vernon First Assembly of God by The Christian Post on Thursday went unanswered. On their website, the church states they are committed to discovering what it means to represent God on Earth.

We believe the church is made up of all believers and expressed through various local bodies of worship. Our active participation in a body of believers gives evidence to our commitment to the discovery of what it means to be Christ's body on the earth, the church said.

Pounds was booked into the Wichita County Jail on July 16 for sexual assault and delivery of a controlled substance. His bail was set at $200,000.
2 Georgia churches leave United Methodist Church over LGBT stance, announce merger

Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment

Two congregations in Georgia have left the United Methodist Church over the denominations opposition to homosexuality and merged into one church.

Asbury Memorial Church and Wesley Oak Church, both based in Savannah, recently voted to disaffiliate from the UMC South Georgia Conference.

Asbury, which averaged 287 attendees in weekly worship in 2019, finalized its process of disaffiliation last fall. Meanwhile, Wesley Oak, which averaged 29 attendees, finalized disaffiliation earlier this month.

Asbury Memorial Pastor Rev. William Hester told The Christian Post on Monday that the decision to leave came soon after the 2019 special session of the UMC General Conference.

Delegates at the special session voted to reaffirm the theologically conservative stance of the UMC regarding homosexuality, rejecting a compromise proposal that would have allowed more regional variance.

Hester explained to CP that "it became clear after this event that the denomination was not heading in the direction we had hoped."

"Since we disaffiliated last year, Asbury Memorial is a nondenominational, independent church continuing to be rooted in Wesleyan theology," said Hester.

Regarding the merger with Wesley Oak, Hester noted that the two churches have a long history of fellowship and agreed to combine their ministries once Wesley Oak left the UMC.

"When both congregations felt called to disaffiliate, we both recognized that our ministries would be more effective if we combined our efforts and resources," the pastor said.

At present, Asbury Memorial and Wesley Oak retain their respective church properties, though each church holds Sunday morning worship at a different time.

The Rev. David Thompson, the conference's coastal district superintendent, told CP that he was part of conversations between the regional body and the two departing congregations.

We are never happy to see local churches depart from our fellowship, but understand their desire to do so and pray for their future ministry, Thompson said. He described the process as being gracious in nature.

Even though changes in church status and connection can occur, we are still bound together in the body of Christ, and I am thankful for the ministry Asbury Memorial and Wesley Oak have done and will do in the name of Christ.

For decades, the UMC has debated its stance on LGBT issues, as the mainline Protestant denomination officially labels homosexuality incompatible with Christian teaching, bars non-celibate homosexuals from being ordained and prohibits the blessing of same-sex marriages.

After failed efforts to reach a compromise between theological liberals and conservatives within the UMC, many congregations have decided to leave the denomination.

These include conservative churches who dislike the open defiance to UMC rules by many liberal leaders and progressive churches who do not believe the denomination will ever change its official position.

Next year, the UMC will hold a general conference, which many believe will see the approval a measure to allow conservative churches to amicably separate from the denomination.
'Painful and confusing': John Pipers successor resigns from lead pastor role at Bethlehem Baptist Church

Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment

The lead pastor of the church founded by Desiring God teacher and author John Piper has resigned from his position, becoming the latest church leader to leave the congregation in recent years.

Bethlehem Baptist Church, a multisite church based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, recently confirmed the resignation of Pastor Jason Meyer, who succeeded Piper as senior pastor.

Dave Zuleger, pastor of preaching and vision for Bethlehems South Campus, confirmed the resignation in a blog post on the churchs website.

This is another painful and confusing moment for us. Its confusing and painful corporately because Jason took the mantle from Pastor John Piper and helped lead us to this point of campus-specific preaching. It feels jarring, Zuleger wrote Thursday.

Its been more painful to me personally than corporately. Jason has been a dear friend and mentor since we met in his tiny closet of an office during my first year of seminary back in 2010.

Zuleger went on to state that he wrote the post as a way to state the reality of things and to give you space to lament, adding that they need to return to a healthy rhythm of grief-filled lament that the world is broken, sinful, and not as it should be.

What do we do when confusion and pain are heavy and we dont yet see or understand much of Gods plans or purposes? We just keep talking to God. Talking to Godcasting our cares on him and pouring out our hearts before himis an exercise of faith, continued Zuleger.

So, South Campus, pray for your leaders as we pray for you. Pray for me, and Ill be praying for you. This moment is hard. Feel the freedom to lament. We will talk more in the days ahead, and please feel free to reach out to the elders to talk.

Meyer is the fourth pastor to resign from Bethlehem Baptist since March, as church leadership weathers accusations of allegations of toxic and abusive leadership, according to investigative journalist Julie Roys.

The other three were Ming-Jinn Tong, former pastor for neighborhood outreach; Richie Stark, former director for youth and family discipleship; and Bryan Pickering, former pastor for care and counseling.

Pickering explained to Roys in an interview that he believed theres harm being done by the church leadership, especially the elders at Bethlehem Baptist.

Theres unethical behavior. Theres domineering. Theres bullying ... cultural, damaging behavior thats being done, and has been done, for a long time, Pickering told Roys.

In May 2012, Meyer was overwhelmingly approved by a congregational vote of 784-8 to be the successor of Piper, who had led Bethlehem Baptist for over 30 years.

"God came down and kissed Bethlehem tonight," said Piper in a Twitter post at the time. "Meyer has been approved to take hold of this baton."
SBC megachurch shocked ex-pastor arrested, accused of grooming, molesting 12-y-o girl

Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment

Chets Creek Church, a multi-campus Southern Baptist megachurch in Florida, was shocked and devastated to learn that former Southside campus pastor Jeff Bedwell was recently arrested for allegedly grooming and sexually molesting a young girl from the age of 12 until she turned 17.

Chets Creek was shocked and devastated to learn of the charges made against a former member of its staff," Senior Pastor Spike Hogan said in a statement to The Christian Post Tuesday.

"Jeff Bedwells employment with the church was terminated more than two years ago for issues unrelated to the current charges now made against him."

Hogan assured that during his time at the church, the 38-year-old Bedwell was "subjected to the same thorough vetting and background check process that we require of all leaders."

"[T]here was no hint of criminal activity," Hogan continued. "Had we learned of, or had any reason to believe there was wrongdoing, we would have reported it to law enforcement immediately. With his recent arrest, we will cooperate with law enforcement in any way we can as they conduct their investigation."

Local news reports indicate that Bedwell served as a youth pastor at the Southside campus of Chets Creek Church. But Baptist Press, the official news service of the Southern Baptist Convention, named him as the campus pastor before his firing in a 2018 report.

Chets Creek Church noted that the "church has no plans to comment further at this time" and did not elaborate on Bedwells former role. But the church insists that leaders are working to make their church safer.

"The safety of our members and families remains a top priority for us. The trust that they place in Chets Creek is precious and something that we work to earn and maintain every day. To that end, we are also constantly looking for ways to make our church even safer. With Gods help and guidance, we will do just that," Hogan said.

"Right now, our primary focus is to pray for any person who has been harmed and support them in any way they need. Please pray with us as we are once again reminded that we live in a dark world that needs help and hope that only God can bring."

Records from the Duval County jail, where Bedwell is being held on a $500,000 bond, show that he was charged with four counts. Those charges are the transmission of materials harmful to minors, one count of unlawful sexual activity, one count of lewd and lascivious molestation of a minor between the age of 12 and 16 and one count of lewd and lascivious sexual battery on a minor between the age of 12 and 16.

According to an arrest report cited by The Florida Times-Union, Bedwells alleged crimes began in 2013 and ended in 2018. The church said his employment was terminated in 2019.

Bedwell reportedly used text messages and Snapchat to become close with the victim when she was 12.

When she turned 13, he is said to have begun grooming her with text messages, photos and sexual conversations during which he allegedly requested inappropriate photos. By the time she was 14, the exchanges allegedly escalated to include videos. The pastor is accused of having two alleged sexual encounters with the girl when she was 14.

Bedwell allegedly continued sexually assaulting the victim at his home and inside his vehicle until she turned 17, according to the arrest report. Bedwell has been at the Duval County jail since July 8. He is expected to answer the charges in court on July 29.

Since Bedwells arrest, Chets Creek Church has scrubbed most of their association with him from their website and social media. It was still unclear Tuesday how law enforcement was alerted of Bedwells alleged crimes. A request from CP to the Jacksonville Sheriffs Office for further details remains pending.
Biden Dept. of Education: It was an error to push CRT activist handbook

Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment

The Biden administrations Department of Education has edited its Roadmap to Reopening Safely and Meeting all Students Needs, which previously included a link to a document promoting tenets of critical race theory.

The Department of Educations COVID-19 handbook was originally published in April as a resource for states, districts, schools, and teachers as they reopen schools safely and support students. It also informed the aforementioned groups on how they could spend money allotted for education in the American Rescue Plan passed by Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden in March.

The handbook contains a section declaring that: Schools are microcosms of society; therefore, culturally responsive practices, intentional conversations related to race and social and emotional learning, and helping students understand the skills they are building in school, are the foundation for participating in a democracy and should be anchor tenets in building a schoolwide system of educational opportunity.

The original copy of that particular section of the handbook, captured in a July 15 screenshot, included a hyperlink to the Abolitionist Teaching Networks Guide for Racial Justice & Abolitionist Social and Emotional Learning. While Fox News first reported on the guides inclusion in the handbook earlier this week, a New York Post article highlighted its presence in the publication nearly two months ago.

In the guide, the Abolitionist Teaching Network describes its mission as to develop and support educators to fight injustice within their schools and communities. The guide featured a call to abolitionist teachers to build a school culture that engages in healing and advocacy, which requires students, families, and educators who disrupt Whiteness and other forms of oppression.

Critics of the Biden administration alleged that by promoting the Abolitionist Teaching Networks guide, the Department of Education was endorsing critical race theory.

Encyclopedia Brittanica defines critical race theory as an intellectual movement and loosely organized framework of legal analysis based on the premise that race is not a natural, biologically grounded feature of physically distinct subgroups of human beings but a socially constructed (culturally invented) category that is used to oppress and exploit people of colour.

Following Fox News' report and the resulting pushback, the Department of Education issued a statement to the news outlet asserting: The Department does not endorse the recommendation of this group, nor do they reflect our policy positions. Additionally, the department maintained that it was an error in a lengthy document to include this citation.

In addition to asking teachers to disrupt Whiteness, the Abolitionist Teaching Networks guide characterizes social-emotional learning as a covert form of policing used to punish, criminalize, and control Black, Brown, and Indigenous children and communities to adhere to White norms.

The document also laments that Most SEL standards are rooted in Eurocentric norms, not to empower, love, or free Black, Brown, or Indigenous children.

After pressing for the removal of all punitive or disciplinary practices that spirit murder Black, Brown, and Indigenous children, the guide concludes with a list of an Abolitionist Teachers Demands, which contains demands to remove any and all police and policing from schools and institute reparations for children of color stolen by the school-to-prison pipeline.

The inclusion of the Abolitionist Teaching Networks Guide for Racial Justice & Abolitionist Social and Emotional Learning is not the first time the Department of Education has had to walk back encouragement of critical race theory.

Earlier this year, the department introduced the National Activities program as part of an effort to promote new and existing evidence-based strategies to encourage innovative American history, civics and government, and geography instruction, learning strategies, and professional development activities, and programs for school personnel.

The National Activities program is an initiative of the American History and Civics Education programs, which provide grants to educational institutions that embrace the aforementioned types of initiatives.

The department stressed that the goal of such programs was to benefit low-income students and underserved populations, identifying the integration of projects that incorporate racially, ethnically, culturally, and linguistically diverse perspectives into teaching and learning as a priority. It specifically mentioned the importance of, in the teaching and learning of our countrys history, both the consequences of slavery, and the significant contributions of Black Americans to our society.

According to the department, This acknowledgment is reflected, for example, in the New York Times landmark 1619 Project and in the resources of the Smithsonians National Museum of African American History. The document from the Federal Register outlining the National Activities Program includes a quote from Ibram X. Kendi, a noted proponent of critical race theory.

In response to the criticism that followed the agencys promotion of projects and individuals that promote critical race theory, Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona said in a statement last week that this program, however, has not, does not, and will not dictate or recommend specific curriculum be introduced or taught in classrooms.

Efforts to ban the teaching of critical race theory in public schools have gained a lot of steam at the state level. According to Education Week, 26 states have introduced bills or taken other steps that would restrict teaching critical race theory or limit how teachers can discuss racism and sexism, while eleven states have enacted those bans, either through legislation or other avenues. The states that have enacted such legislation are Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Montana, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Utah.

At the federal level, legislation banning the teaching of critical race theory in taxpayer-funded schools faces an uphill battle to passage in light of the Democrats control of the Legislative and Executive branches of government.

However, Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., and Rep. Dan Bishop, R-N.C., have introduced legislation in their respective chambers called the Stop CRT Act, which would bar federal funds from being sent to K-12 schools that promote Critical Race Theory, as well as colleges and universities that compel students or faculty to affirm tenets of Critical Race Theory.
Detective finds evidence of sex trafficking on OnlyFans: 'Hiding behind that paywall'

Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment

A detective and a panel of guest speakers at the Coalition to End Sexual Exploitation's online summit detailed Wednesday how the popular content subscription service platform OnlyFans, frequently used for pornographic purposes, fosters abuse and sex trafficking.

Detective Joseph Scaramucci from McLennan County Sheriffs Office in Texas, known as one of the countrys most elite human trafficking investigators, shared with viewers how OnlyFans shows evidence of sex trafficking activity. He spoke about the signs that investigators look for when working to find evidence of sex trafficking.

Scaramucci has been involved in both state and federal investigative work since 2004. He has participated in arresting over 460 sex buyers and has aided in the arrests of 149 individuals for human trafficking and related offenses, which led to the identification of 260 trafficking victims.

Targeting trafficking is going through and looking at the photographic visual indicators, being able to show the travel, and being able to get very strong indicators, whether it be financial transactions coupled with money movement, he detailed. And people in certain cities at certain times, [those] advertisements just happen to be posted at and then coupling that with are they advertising for OnlyFans as well."

... The beauty of OnlyFans is that many of them are hiding behind that paywall.  [They] are shooting video with their victims [on OnlyFans], and they are using that video to elevate themselves because that's what [pimps] do  which is what drives me crazy about them.

In several instances, Scaramucci said he has taken videos from OnlyFans and screen captures faces throughout the videos to build criminal cases against many.

During the pandemic, OnlyFans has seen exponential growth. Last year, it claimed to have more than 30 million registered users and more than 450,000 creators.

OnlyFans, headquartered in London, was launched in 2016 by British tech entrepreneur and investor Timothy Stokely, who has a background in the online adult world.

Since the launch, OnlyFans has become a haven for online pornographic material.

This platform is unquestionably facilitating child sex abuse material and human trafficking of adults and minors alike,  enabling sexual abuse and exploitation, said Linda Nealon, the director of corporate and strategic initiatives for the National Center on Sexual Exploitation.

Its critical that law enforcement, policymakers, service providers, parents and caregivers understand how this platform works and the many associated risks.

In October 2018, Ukrainian-American entrepreneur Leonid Radvinsky bought the majority stake in OnlyFans parent company, Fenix International Ltd. Radvinsky also has a history in the adult online world. He started a porn website called MyFreeCams through his holding company, Mfcxy, Inc. Radvinsky has other smaller pornography sites that he promotes.

As you can imagine, given both these gentlemens backgrounds, a large percentage of the content of OnlyFans is pornographic in nature,  at least 90% to our best estimate, said Ron Eritano, representing the Normandy Group on behalf of Awareness is Prevention. ... The interesting thing about OnlyFans is it portrays itself as a much more mainstream website and platform due to connections with a number of celebrities, from Floyd Mayweather Jr., the boxer; to Cardi B, the entertainer. But make no mistake about it, OnlyFans is predominately and heavily an adult online pornographic website.

The OnlyFans layout, Eritano said, is much like that of Instagram and Facebook, with a homepage, options to grow subscribers or followers and a messaging feature.

When using the platform as a subscriber, users must check off a box verifying they are over 18 and submit a credit card payment. However, the only method for creators to monitor age verification is when they request payment for video content they post. They must provide a selfie photo, which shows themselves in the picture and a government identification card.

OnlyFans has partnered with at least three different organizations, which use an AI platform to work to verify whether or not users are the same person in their photo IDs, he said.

The platform allows users to have an option to be a creator, a subscriber or both. When using OnlyFans, Eritano said, there is some free content made available. However, much content requires a fee to access, typically how hardcore pornography is made available.

OnlyFans differs from its predecessors in the online space because of its paywall, which can often create trouble for law enforcement and those trying to monitor what is happening on the platform.

The price structure is constantly shifting because the prices per creator are changing based on demand.

Eritano said it is difficult for law enforcement to monitor the website because the paywall is expensive and not easily searchable due to very few search mechanisms.

Greater responsibility is placed on the payment providers because they can police or influence OnlyFans and its interactions with its creators and the content they are posting.

One of the most common features of OnlyFans is the use of third parties in most videos and content posted. There is no age verification process in place for third parties. Age verification only takes place for the account in which the creator is sitting.

This creates a huge loophole that continues to be utilized by many folks on OnlyFans today, Eritano explained.

The other potentially dangerous factor about OnlyFans is its inner connectivity to other social media platforms through promotions. Those sites include Facebook, Twitter, Tiktok, Snapchat and Instagram.

Not only are they promoting OnlyFans, but they have recruiters actively recruiting folks to come make their millions, citing the few examples of folks who have made a lot of money, and encouraging a lot of folks, particularly young folks who are on a lot of those websites, to come on over to OnlyFans and have a similar experience, Eritano added.

As you can imagine, that becomes pretty dangerous pretty quickly. Not only do they pay the recruiters on OnlyFans, the creators themselves are incentivized to add folks by getting a small payment in conjunction with anyone they add to the platform. OnlyFans continues to drive its membership based on those payment structures.

OnlyFans receives a 20% cut of any content purchased on the site, and 80% of the money made from content purchased on the site stays with the creators.

Early on, some of these big celebrities jumped in, like Bella Thorn. And when they jumped in, she went a little towards the racy side and showed pictures that are maybe not allowed in some of the other sites. And all of a sudden, her subscribers would follow her and pay very substantial amounts of money, added Tim Palmbach, the director of the University of New Haven Center For Forensic Investigations of Trafficking in Persons.

One of the problems with OnlyFans is not only is it just generally exploitative in nature,  there is layers of exploitation.  What it's doing is grooming and finding our young, vulnerable children in the general social media, and convincing them to come on over  and then grooming them to do more and more sexually explicit, exploitive activity under a lie that they will make millions.

Palmbach said some of the ways to stop the potential threat of OnlyFans is through banking, financing, working with law enforcement by reporting things that are witnessed and searching for potential dangers in other social media platforms.
In persecution, Jesus stood silent. What will you do?

Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment

The mantra of American Christianity today is you cant take away my freedoms. But it seems, in almost all accounts of the early church and even Jesus Christ himself, that the case was quite the opposite. The early church was willing to lay down whatever rights they might have hadproperty, freedom, even life itselfto share the Gospel. Later, Paul would explain this concerning a variety of rights, saying, we have not made use of this right, but we endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the Gospel of Christ (1 Cor. 9:12).

You have said so.

A mere four words (in the English language, at least) separate the time that Jesus was accused before Pilate and the chief priests and elders, and some of his final words on the cross (Matt. 27:11). According to the Gospel of Matthew, the next time we hear from the silent Savior is when he raises a cry to God, saying, my God, my God, why have you forsaken me? (Matt. 27:46).

This account of Jesus silence was a phenomenon to those who experienced it. The governor was greatly amazed, writes Matthew (27:14). Perhaps the reason for this isdespite every accusation the government officials felt they could make in good consciencein their hearts, they knew that Christ could make a holy rebuttal. Even those attempting to thwart Jesus mission knew that he was God, but they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened (Rom. 1:21). And yet, though he had every rightthe only rightto denounce such accusations, he stood silent.

This posture, I believe, has a massive impact on the way that Christians should navigate government confrontation. Not only did Jesus embody a posture of humility and silence in the face of his accusers, but his disciples also acted in a similar manner throughout the book of Acts. Though much of the book of Acts is an account of the boldness of the disciples in preaching the Gospel, one thing the reader will be hard-pressed to find is a disciples disobedience to the government. I do not mean that they succumbed to the law prohibiting the spread of the Gospelthey clearly continued doing that. I mean that when they were arrested or stoned, they did not object to any of it. In most cases, albeit implied in the biblical text, the disciples would handle arrests and persecution peacefully, taking care only to share the Gospel all the more.

In a manner so loving and humble, the savior of the world did not invoke his right to fair treatment. What the Roman soldiers mockingly said to Jesus was true: If you are the son of God, come down from the cross, they derided (Matt. 27:40). Still he hung, silent. As capable as he was of removing himself from his own death, so he was capable of defending himself against the authorities. For he is the Son of God. But for the sake of the mission of God, he did neither.

In seeing so clearly the power of Jesus humility, the disciples gladly laid down their rights to freedom. There is a reason that God allowed the apostle Paul to endure such unjust treatment from an unjust government. Because he embodied the posture of Jesus in the face of confrontation, he wrote most of the New Testament.

Now, let me be clear. This is not a call for Christians to remain silent in the face of conflict. In fact, the most equipped commentators on the state of this world are the ones who carryin their hands and heartsthe truth of Gods word. This is a charge to American Christianity to embody humility and imitate Christ.

In imploring Christians to contend for the faith, Jude did not mean trying to keep prayer in schools or elect a close-to-Christian president. He meant contending for the truth of the Bible, defending the one true Gospel against all other false gospels. This is a mission that can be carried out under any circumstance. The ability to preach the Gospel publicly without reprobation is not distinctly a Christian freedom. It is clear in the Bible that in being stewards of the Gospel, Christians should expect the contrary.

So, American Christian, as you hear of religious freedoms being compromised, remember that they are not necessary for the Gospel of Christ to prevail. Imitate Christ who, though capable and justifiable in every manner of defending himself, laid down his rights for your salvation. Imitate the disciples and the early church who would stop at nothingwho would sacrifice everythingto see the Gospel advance. Lower your posture, that you might elevate Christ.

In all conflict, whether fair or unfair, let the words of Hillsongs Man of Sorrows be said about you:

Silent as he stood.
More than 40% of black churchgoers want to keep hybrid church model in wake of pandemic: study

Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment

Black churchgoers have adapted so well to online church amid the pandemic some 41% of them now favor a hybrid model of in-person and online services, even after COVID-19 is no longer deemed a threat, and 7% say they would rather their church services remain digital going forward, a new study has revealed.

The study, Trends in the Black Church conducted in partnership with the Rev. Brianna K. Parker of Black Millennial Cafe, Gloo, Urban Ministries, Inc., LEAD.NYC, American Bible Society and Compassion, examined how the pandemic affected black faith communities. The data was gathered through follow-up with a group of 1,083 U.S. black adults and 822 black churchgoers who had participated in an online survey conducted April 22May 6, 2020, according to Barna Research.

Data show that the pandemic pushed black church pastors to innovate and challenged their ability to disciple people digitally during the pandemic. Even now, as churches emerge from COVID-era regulations, pastors and their people wonder if or how these shifts will continue to shape the trajectory of their ministry strategy, Barna Research noted.

The follow-up data showed that as of September 2020, three in five black adults had watched services online during the pandemic. Some 47% of black adults who participated in church during the pandemic said the experience made them more open to digital church, while an equal percentage who attended church online in the past six months said they favored in-person gatherings going forward.

At the height of the pandemic, many black and Hispanic churches were more likely to close due to the disproportionate impact of the pandemic on their communities. Data released by New York City showed how the coronavirus killed black and Latino people at twice the rate that it killed whites and nationwide data also reflect a similar trend. The situation forced many congregations of color to adapt quickly as a result out of necessity and congregants felt they adjusted well.

The vast majority of black church congregants, (64% strongly agree) feels their church responded well to the pandemic. Across the board, larger churches were more likely to be ready and resourced to embrace the digital and hybrid space, compared to smaller churches, Barna Research noted.

The Rev. A.R. Bernard, leader of New York City's 40,000-member Christian Cultural Center, which caters to a strong African American audience, told The Christian Post in a recent interview that coupled with the age of convenience he has seen a strong appreciation for online church in his own congregation.

The culture right now, were in a culture of convenience when it comes to church. Thats real. We surveyed our people (congregation)  and the larger percentage of our people are enjoying service at home, he said.

Carey Nieuwhof, a former lawyer and founding pastor of Connexus Church, suggested in an op-ed earlier this year that its likely the hybrid church will stick around even after the pandemic because a post-modern cultural shift has taken place.

Perhaps the deepest threat to in-person attendance comes from a cultural possibility , that we might be entering into a relatively selfish me-centered behavior that might relegate churches even farther to the sidelines than they were pre-pandemic, he wrote.

Among the many characteristics of post-Christian, postmodern spirituality, three stand out when it comes to future attendance trends. Postmodern spirituality is: self-directed, anti-institutional, selective, he wrote.

In other words, people will pick and choose what they want to do. That goes from choosing a favorite preacher to listen to, to deciding to watch from home or on the go, and even (youve already seen this) tenets of the faith they are inclined to embrace and tenets theyre inclined not to, he added.
Pro-Life Democrats praise Manchins support for Hyde; urge Democrat gov. to run for president in 2024

Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment

A group of pro-life Democrats has praised Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., for working to preserve a longstanding ban on the use of taxpayer dollars to pay for abortions and is calling on another pro-life Democrat to seek the White House in 2024.

Manchin co-wrote a letter calling on the influential Senate Appropriations Committee to include the Hyde Amendment in the Department of Health and Human Services funding bill for fiscal year 2022, slated to begin Oct. 1. The letter, dated Wednesday, was co-authored by Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and addressed to Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., as well as the committees ranking member, Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Ala.

We write to express our support for the Hyde Amendment, which has been included in annual appropriations bills on a bipartisan basis since 1976, they began. The senators explained that this amendment prohibits federal funding for elective abortion coverage, except in the case of rape, incest, or if the mothers life is in danger, through any program funded through the Labor, Health, and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Act.

The letter concluded with a warning that repealing this provision would eliminate over 40 years of bipartisan precedent.

In an interview with The Christian Post, Dan Green, the national communications director for the pro-life group Democrats for Life of America, praised Manchins letter as awesome, adding, Joe Manchin has personally promised to us that hell do everything he can to save the Hyde Amendment. According to Green, We fully expect that he will maintain Hyde  in the Senate and that it ultimately will be in the final bill.

Manchins vow to support the preservation of the Hyde Amendment is significant because of the Democrats narrow majority in the Senate. Democrats hold 50 of the 100 seats, with Vice President Kamala Harris serving as the tie-breaking vote. Based on the math, if Manchin and all Republicans oppose the passage of a spending bill without the Hyde Amendment, such a bill would lack the votes necessary to pass in the chamber.

Manchin and Wickers plea to save the Hyde Amendment comes as Democrats in the House of Representatives have already taken the first steps to repeal the provision.

Early last week, a House subcommittee approved a spending bill for the Department of Health and Human Services that did not include the Hyde Amendment. Later in the week, House Democrats on the powerful House Appropriations Committee blocked an effort by Republicans to restore the Hyde Amendment in the spending bill.

As the full chamber has yet to approve the spending bill omitting Hyde, Democrats for Life of America has worked to put pressure on Democratic lawmakers who have previously supported Hyde or have identified themselves as Democrats. The advocacy organization partnered with the pro-life group Students for Life of America to hold two Mobilize for Hyde rallies outside the offices of Reps. Brendan Boyle in Philadelphia and Tim Ryan in Akron, Ohio.

Additionally, the group had people drop off #SaveHyde pledges at the offices of 10 additional congressional Democrats asking them not to support a spending bill that did not include the longstanding provision. Green said that Mobilize for Hyde rallies were initially planned at the offices of all 12 lawmakers but we had to make the last-minute decision to just do two rallies because it was just too hard to collaborate to do more with Students for Life.

Green estimated that about 25 people turned out at each of the two rallies, with an even mix of Students for Life members and DFLA activists. He told CP that his organization planned on holding similar rallies outside the offices of Democratic senators who have supported Hyde in the past, specifically mentioning Sens. Bob Casey, D-Pa., and Tim Kaine, D-Va.

Green contended that it was not necessary to hold a rally outside Manchins office because he has expressed his support for keeping Hyde. While a date has not been set for such rallies, Green predicted that they will take place sometime in August.

After stressing that DFLA has grown a ton in the past year, Green expressed disappointment with how the Biden administration has handled the issue of abortion so far: Everything that has been done has been very damaging, especially  not including the Hyde Amendment [in the administrations budget request].

In addition to criticizing the Biden administrations abortion policies, Green indicated that DFLA was working to recruit Gov. John Bel Edwards, D-La., to run for president in 2024: Were trying to start a draft to get John Bel Edwards to run for president in 2024.  We want John Bel Edwards to run for president, we want a pro-life Democrat running for president and we think he would be an incredible one.

I think that despite the challenges right now, I think the pro-life movement is growing, I think its becoming more diverse, I see that with our work at DFLA, he maintained. In this kind of post-Trump era, Im seeing a lot of more liberal pro-lifers rise up, some more diverse pro-lifers who come from different backgrounds like atheists, nontraditional backgrounds, and I think were starting to build a more bipartisan movement that isnt just conservatives who are pro-life but are just people from all different backgrounds.

In addition to Democrats for Life of America, the Susan B. Anthony List also reacted favorably to the fact that a Senate Democrat would speak out in favor of the Hyde Amendment, especially given the Democrats narrow margin of control in the chamber and the House Democrats efforts to eliminate it.

In a statement, Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the pro-life group, thanked Manchin and Wicker for reaffirming strong bipartisan support for the Hyde Amendment after pro-abortion House Democrats stripped Hyde and other key pro-life policies from their spending bills.

Forcing taxpayers to be complicit in the destruction of innocent life by funding abortion on demand through birth is abhorrent, she added. House Democrats bill is too extreme to pass the Senate and they push a radical political agenda at their own political peril.

Green agreed that embracing a spending bill without the Hyde Amendment and continuing to embrace far-left policies on abortion would cost Democrats politically. If the Democrats dont moderate on this issue, especially in the 2022 midterms, I would expect them to lose a lot of seats because they are doing things that are highly unpopular with the American people in terms of abortion.

As Manchin and Wicker noted in their letter, Recent public polls show almost 60 percent of Americans oppose or strongly oppose using taxpayer dollars to support abortion. Both Democrat and Republican presidents have signed the law. It has passed through both Democrat and Republican controlled Congresses.

Since both the Senate and the House have to agree on the contents of the budget bill, Manchins opposition to a spending bill without the Hyde Amendment could pave the way for a stalemate between the two chambers. If the House and the Senate fail to reach an agreement by midnight on Oct. 1, the government will shut down unless lawmakers agree to support a continuing resolution that will fund most of the federal government at existing levels of spending for a limited period of time.
Removing parents incentive to work undermines intent of child tax credit, policy expert warns

Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment

The Internal Revenue Service distributed the first payments for the newly expanded Child Tax Credit last week, which Democrats praised and Republicans derided as an anti-work welfare check that is not pro-family and disincentivizes work.

A component of President Joe Bidens American Rescue Plan signed in March, the first enhanced Child Tax Credit was worth roughly $15 billion and reached 35 million families on July 15, with an average payment of $423.

Families should receive $3,000 for every child from age 6 to 17 years old, and $3,600 annually for every child younger than age 6 under the expanded child tax credit. This is an increase from $2,000 per child in 2020.

The income-based payments begin to phase out for individuals earning more than $75,000 and married couples earning more than $150,000, Fox Business reported.

Families whose earnings are too high to qualify for the payments can still receive the $2,000 tax credit for their child if their income level is below $200,000 for individuals and $400,000 for married couples.

For the first time in our nations history, American working families are receiving monthly tax relief payments to help pay for essentials like doctors visits, school supplies, and groceries," Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said in a statement. "This major middle-class tax relief and step in reducing child poverty is a remarkable economic victory for America  and also a moral one."

The IRS sent out the first of six monthly payments last Thursday. The monthly payment is up to $300 for each child younger than age 6 and up to $250 per month for each child ages 6 through 17, according to the IRS.

There is no limit to the number of children per family who can receive the credit.

The Treasury Department claims that the American Rescue Plan will lift over 5 million children out of poverty this year and cuts child poverty in half.

"We did what we promised," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said of the child tax credit on Tuesday. "Help is on the way. Help is here. Money in the pocket. Children going back to school, people going back to work. Money in the pockets of the American people, vaccines in their arms."

Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said "no greater thing" has helped American families more than the expanded child tax credit.

Republican leaders are not opposed to a child tax credit, but criticize the enhanced tax credit, which they believe "replaces work with welfare checks."

Connor Semelsberger, director of Federal Affairs, Life and Human Dignity for the Family Research Council, told The Christian Post in an emailed statement that though a Child Tax Credit is pro-family, removing the incentive to work undermines its intent.

The Child Tax Credit is an important pro-family policy that recognizes even hardworking parents need economic support to care for and grow their families, Semelsberger told CP. However, what has always been established from the inception of the policy is that it is a benefit for taxpaying families. Whether that is a family with one or both parents working, the goal of the policy is to provide families who pay taxes with further financial flexibility to meet their childrens material, educational and spiritual needs.

Semelsberger said the economy instead needs policies to help families rediscover the value of work over welfare checks.

The goal of increasing the amount of the Child Tax Credit to adequately respond to the economic needs of families is laudable, he continued. However, the removal of the requirement to work completely undermines the original intent of the Child Tax Credit. In an economy with more job openings than willing workers, we need policies that help families rediscover the dignity that comes with working to provide for your family and country, not one that replaces work with welfare checks.

Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., said the child tax credit disincentivizes marriage and working families, saying it is anti-work, and it certainly isnt pro-family.

Over the next six months, some American households with no working adults will receive over $6,000 in cash payments from the federal government, Rubio said in a statement.

In the past few months, Rubio said Americans have seen the destructive consequences of when the government pays people not to work.

Rubio is not unsupportive of a child tax credit and has worked in the past to help expand the credit for families.

The way President Biden tells it, the handout is part of his administrations pro-family plan. In reality, he has transformed the pro-worker, pro-family Child Tax Credit into an anti-work welfare check, Rubio added.
Republicans have more confidence in church, military, police than Democrats: Gallup poll

Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment

Americans' confidence in most major societal institutions has decreased since 2020 amid a tumultuous year impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, a heated presidential election and increased tension, Gallup's annual "Confidence in Institutions" poll shows.

The poll compared the levels of confidence Republicans and Democrats have in 16 of the leading American societal institutions. The poll is based on telephone interviews conducted June 1 through July 5 with a random sample of 1,381 adults living in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The sampling error has a margin of plus or minus 3 percentage points.

The results indicated Republicans have more confidence than Democrats in the church or organized religion, military, police and small business. Democrats, however, showed higher levels of confidence in public schools, newspapers, large technology companies, Congress and the medical system.

In 2021, 37% of respondents said they have a "great deal" or "quite a lot" of confidence in the church or organized religion. About 51% of Republicans or those who lean Republican and 26% of Democrats or those who lean Democrats said the same.

Majorities of respondents from both parties (78% of Republicans and 62% of Democrats) said they have a "great deal" or "quite a lot" of confidence in the military.

The largest partisan gap in confidence for any of the institutions listed was the presidency, where 62% of Democrats or Democrat leaners reported having a "great deal" or "quite a lot" confidence. In comparison, 13% of Republicans or Republican leaners said the same.

The second-largest partisan gap between the two leading parties was confidence in the police, with 45 percentage points separating the two parties. About 76% of Republicans reported having a "great deal" or "quite a lot" of confidence in the police, while only 31% of Democrats said the same.

Both political parties showed little confidence in the media. But the poll suggests that Republicans are far more skeptical of both television news and newspapers.

Americans overall have the most confidence in small business, with 70% of all respondents saying they have a "great deal" or "quite a lot" of confidence. Meanwhile, 69% said they have the same confidence levels in the military and 51% reported having similar confidence levels in the police. Forty-four percent of respondents said they have "great deal" or "quite a lot" of confidence in the medical system.

The institutions that scored the lowest percentages of Americans with a "great deal" or "quite a lot" of confidence were Congress, television news, big business and the criminal justice system.

Confidence in the police was the only institution of the 16 measured with increased confidence from 2020 to 2021, a 3-percentage-point increase.

Of the 16 institutions measured, confidence in public schools saw the greatest overall drop of 9 percentage points from a 41% confidence in 2020 to a 32% confidence in 2021.

The survey comes as public school education has been a source of contention lately due to clashes over transgender policies, mask mandates, online learning and components of critical race theory slipping into curriculums across the country.

Congress or big business has reportedly ranked at the bottom of the list since 2007.

Megan Brenan, a research consultant at Gallup, wrote in her analysis that confidence levels seem to have leveled out to more typical levels from before the pandemic.

In 2020, confidence in several specific institutions increased as the nation dealt with the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, Brenan wrote. These include some of the business and societal sectors most affected by the public health and financial effects of the coronavirus situation, including the medical system, public schools, small business, organized religion and banks."

This year, these same five institutions show the greatest decreases in confidence, she continued. However, they all are perceived at least slightly better than they were in 2019 before the pandemic.
The recent Gaza conflict: My personal experience as an Arab Christian in Israel

Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment

My name is Andre Moubarak, and I am from Jerusalem. My ancestors are Aramaic-speaking Christians, indigenous to Southern Lebanon, northern Israel, and Western Syria. To this day, our community says the same prayers as Saint James, the head of the Jerusalem Church in the Book of Acts, and the half-brother of Jesus.

I grew up in the Christian quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem, and I am an Israeli citizen as well. I speak 5 languages: Aramaic, Arabic, Hebrew, English, and French.



I work as a tour guide, and I regularly travel throughout all of Israel. Ive also had the opportunity to travel the world. Ive been to Europe, the UK, the United States, Canada, South Africa, the Philippines, and Singapore.

Interestingly, every society I have visited in the world is more stable and peaceful than my hometown of Jerusalem. In a land with a fierce rivalry between our Muslim and Jewish neighbors, we Christians are the minority. The Christian culture here is very peaceful, and we avoid conflict to the best of our abilities. In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says, Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God (Matthew 5:9, NIV). We take such admonitions very seriously.

I remember back in 2019 tourism in Israel was at its peak and we expected 2020 to be even better. Everything from hotels to guided tours were fully booked for the whole season.

When COVID-19 first hit us in early March 2020, we were surprised by how fast the pandemic spread around the globe. The Israeli government shut down all tourism and closed the borders indefinitely.

I was grateful for the break from tour groups because I was really drained physically and needed an extended rest to restore my health. The COVID-19 shutdown was the perfect time to take a sabbatical in the US. My wifes family lives in Maryland and Texas, and we ended up spending a whole year splitting our time between those 2 states. It was a fun experience, and a wonderful time of personal growth.

But each season must come to an end. My sabbatical ended, and I finally returned to Israel in early May 2021. But as soon as I was back home safely, a huge protest was taking place. It was so bad that the police were forced to close the roads to Jerusalem. Tensions were already escalating around the city. But the worse was yet to come. On a Monday, as I went to sit on my balcony to drink my morning coffee, I was surprised to hear a loud war siren. I immediately knew that Jerusalem was attacked. After 15 seconds I heard at least 5 explosions. This confirmed my worst fears. War was upon us once again.

The war intensified the next day, with most of the rocket attacks from Gaza targeting Tel Aviv.

Outside in Jerusalem, street violence erupted between the Arab Muslim and Jewish communities. The violence lasted for days. Throughout the whole country, neighbors turned against each other, and the ethnic hatred exploded even in cities where the Jewish and Muslim residents lived in relative harmony.

My first thought was to use social media to update my friends and followers and ask everyone to start praying. With my team in Jerusalem, I was able to host three virtual prayer meetings. People joined these prayer meetings on Zoom from all over the world and we prayed together for the Lord to have mercy and bring peace and healing to the people of both Israel and Gaza. Many of my former tour participants sent their prayers by messenger and email. We were all experiencing shock and grief.

The war lasted 11 days, with thousands of missiles landing both in Israel and in Gaza. While there were many casualties on both sides, the numbers were higher in Gaza. At least 243 people, including more than 100 women and children, were killed in Gaza, according to its health ministry. In Israel 12 people, including 2 children, were killed. Both sides claimed victory in the conflict. After they agreed to a ceasefire treaty, the problems subsided.

As Aramean indigenous Christians, we believe our primary role is to pray for peace between the Muslims and the Jews. In the US the atmosphere is very peaceful, for the most part. People live a very secure, prosperous, and quiet life. In Jerusalem, its the opposite tension, stress, and war are the order of the day, and sadly, the tension isnt gone.

In all my life living in Jerusalem, Ive never seen such hostility and violence in the streets.

People are planning to resume their group tours to Israel in the fall of 2021 and spring of 2022. We are doing extra training and preparation for the coming seasons. We desperately need Christians to pray for the body of Christ in Israel. Us Christians need to continue bringing reconciliation between Arabs and Jews through the proclamation of the Gospel.



I will leave with you with 5 prayer requests that are badly needed today:

1.Pray for the peace of Jerusalem, including all its inhabitants and all surrounding areasfor both Israelis and Palestinians.

2. Pray for leaders and all those in authority, that they may pursue peace so we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness (1 Timothy 2:2).

3. Pray for healing of relationships between Jews and Arabs, especially for our young people who are exposed to this kind of hatred for the first time.

4. Pray for protection for our churches, communities, and our families. Some churches had to cancel their services or hold them online because of fear. Pray especially for Haifa, Acre, Lod, Ramle, Jaffa, Cana of Galilee, and Jerusalem.

5. Pray for us to remember to turn our eyes to God, our refuge and strength, and to Jesus, the prince of peace.



Im still continuing my teaching on Zoom and we are reaching a lot of people from all over the world. To see the virtual tours to Israel you can join us for free.




How does science support the pro-life cause? An apologist answers

Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment

A pro-life Christian apologist has shot down the argument that unborn babies are nothing more than a clump of cells that are part of the mothers body and argues that embryos essentially drive their own development from the earliest stages of pregnancy.

Megan Almon, who has trained hundreds of individuals to defend the pro-life viewpoint through Life Training Institute, spoke to teens and young adults gathered for Summit Ministries five-day online student conference on Monday. The conference challenges people ages 16 to 25 to think deeper about their personal faith and convictions.

Abortion is a travesty.  The unborn is not part of the mothers body ... not in the same way that my arm is part of my body, Almon explained to the virtual audience of over 100 teens and young adults. The unborn is attached to its mother, but not part of her body.  We are distinct organisms. ... [The unborn] has its own unique genetic code that differs from its mothers and its fathers.

To explain her stance, Almon addressed a few questions: What is the unborn? and How can someone know exactly when one type of egg cell becomes another type of cell  a zygote?

She said two scientific things must occur to create an unborn zygote. The first, she said, is that one cell becomes another type of cell if it changes in its material composition, which would create a new cell. The other way to know if a new cell has been created, she added, is if one cell changes how it behaves.

If the cell changes its makeup or if it changes behavior, something brand new is created  a human being, she added.

Almon said that it only takes about 250 milliseconds after sperm and egg meet for the plasma membranes of both cells to begin to merge to form a hybrid cell surface, and the material composition and behavior changes are also very abrupt.

That egg cell, faster than I can snap my fingers, changes in its material composition and goes from being an egg cell that could survive about 24 hours in its environment, to being a brand new kind of cell that can now survive 100 years given medical technology because it is a human being, Almon said.

Within about three to five minutes, that cell changes behavior entirely and goes from being the egg cell whose sole job was to attract sperm, to being something like the death star that now repels [sperm] because of the formation of the zona pellucida, which causes that to happen. That new human being, who is protected, begins its earliest development along the way.

According to Almon, who received a degree in Christian apologetics from Biola University and whose husband serves as director of programs and semester with Summit Ministries, humans are constantly developing.

Not only are humans distinct, but she said they are whole human beings at the zygote stage.

The speaker contends that both alive and dead cells come off the epidermis when humans scratch their skin cells.

However, after someone scratches off those cells, the ones that fall off, that are alive, will not live for much longer than a few minutes on whatever surface they land. She said that when humans scratch their skin, they are not mass murderers because the bodily cells that fall off the skin are part of them and contribute to their overall function.

However, she said an embryo  a zygote at the single-cell stage  is different from any other type of cell in the body. Sperm cells and egg cells are indeed alive, but those are also part of a larger organism and carry specific roles for that organism, she added.

The embryo, even at the single-celled stage, its parts contribute to its overall function, and it goes on to do something that is absolutely remarkable, she told attendees. We hear language oftentimes in these conversations that debate the science saying, Oh, its just a clump of cells, its just a mass of tissue, as if the unborn is some kind of constructive thing.

From the time you were an embryo, you were not constructed at all. You drove your own development from within, and you're still doing that, she continued. Science tells us we are living distinct and whole human beings from the moment that we came into existence. That's remarkable.

One of the biggest hurdles humans have to overcome when talking about the pro-life view, Almon said, is the nature of moral truth and the idea of moral relativism. Moral relativism is a term used to describe philosophical positions concerned with the differences in moral judgments across different individuals and cultures.

... Abortion most often is framed as something that is a matter of personal preference.  In other words, we hear things like, I would never have an abortion, but I cant tell people whats right and wrong for them. That is moral relativism, she explained.

Men and women  we need your help when it comes to issues like this one. ... If Im right about the issue of abortion, this idea that some human beings dont matter as much as others is playing itself out to the tune of around 2,000 to 2,500 human lives every single business day [in our nation alone], she added. Its overwhelming to even think about. We have to talk about this because there is too much at stake not to talk about it.  Remember that ideas have consequences.  Dangerous ideas have victims.

As Almon concluded her lecture, some of the young adults and teens watching asked questions in the chatbox on the virtual platform. Some wondered about different opposing views used to rationalize the pro-life stance.

What is your opinion on the argument regarding topics such as incest, rape ending in pregnancy? asked one viewer named Kathleen Rutler.

Almon responded that humans should start by emotionally acknowledging there is nothing easy about the topic of rape. She said humans should not simply dismiss the question with an intellectual answer but should meet hurting people where they are and carry their burdens with them.

Almon said the answer to the question points to another question: If a baby is a product of rape, and the baby reminds the mother of how horrible that was, can she kill the baby?

I think the answer is no because even though rape is psychologically different, it still begs that question, What is the unborn? If the unborn is human, which the science and philosophy clearly demonstrate, then we cannot kill the unborn for that reason, Almon said.

Another viewer named Tessa Doerr said she is pro-life. However, she said a question she often ponders about is: If the baby seriously endangers the mothers life and there is no other help for the mother, can abortion be deemed appropriate?

We live in a broken world, where this sometimes happens, and this is rare when this is the case, Almon replied, not giving a clear answer about if the mother or the baby should live in those cases. ... Abortion is the intentional killing of the human embryo or fetus.  The pro-life stance still stands [in occasions when doctors typically choose mother over baby in those cases]. 
Emoji designers unveil finalists Pregnant Man, Pregnant Person to depict trans pregnancies

Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment

Designers of emojis have rolled out new images for consideration, designs that include a Pregnant Male and Pregnant Person in an attempt to be more inclusive and represent so-called trans pregnancies.



The website Emojipedia released its latest draft list of emojis containing new pictograms, including variations created to depict pregnant women who identify as men or nonbinary that it says will be available in mid-2022, "If approved in September 2021."

According to the Unicode Consortium  a nonprofit organization that oversees emoji standards across digital devices  new pictograms will be added in September following an approval process. The images will be available on other platforms in subsequent months, People.com reported Monday.

Earlier this year, the Unicode Consortium said the release would be postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic, moving it from March to September.



"Under the current circumstances we've heard that our contributors have a lot on their plates at the moment and decided it was in the best interests of our volunteers and the organizations that depend on the standard to push out our release date. This year we simply can't commit to the same schedule we've adhered to in the past," said Mark Davis, president of the Consortium, in a statement.

The Pregnant Man emoji came in sixth place in a fan-favorite poll of the most anticipated emoji with 5.3% of the vote. These emojis are purportedly an effort to be more inclusive and show " ... that pregnancy is possible for some transgender men and non-binary people."



What distinguishes the Pregnant Man emoji from the Pregnant Person emoji  to ostensibly represent someone who identifies as nonbinary  is a mustache. The Pregnant Person emojis face is hairless, though both new emojis are clutching a baby bump.

The term nonbinary has no material meaning as it is not biological, but has been defined by LGBT activist organizations and circulated by the media as pertaining to someone who identifies as neither male nor female or some of both.

Some Twitter users joked that the Pregnant Man emoji looked like a man who ate too many tacos and suggested, this is going to help me up my #Thanksgiving game.

Newsflash @Apple, only women can get pregnant! Rep. Mo Brooks, R-Ala., quipped on Twitter last week after seeing the Apple announcement of the pregnant man emoji.



Comedian and radio host Tim Young, likewise, quipped: Sooo ... the trust the science crowd is very excited about the pregnant man emoji ... got it.



According to Vyvyan Evans, author of the 2017 book, The Emoji Code: The Linguistics Behind Smiley Faces and Scaredy Cats, emojis first originated in Japan in the late 1990s and went global in 2011.

Evans opined in a piece for the New York Post in 2017 that the reason for the global appeal of these digital symbols expressing a range of emotions is to textspeak what body language is to spoken communication.



The emojis primary function is not to usurp language but to fill in the emotional cues otherwise missing from typed conversations. It allows us to be more effective communicators, he said.
California law forcing nursing homes to use trans pronouns struck down by appeals court

Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment

A California appeals court has ruled that a state law that requires nursing home staff to use transgender pronouns is a violation of their free speech rights.

In a unanimous 3-0 decision Friday from the California Third District Court of Appeals, judges ruled against a 2017 rule that penalizes non-compliant health care providers who repeatedly fail to use trans-identified residents' preferred names or pronouns.

Violations could be prosecuted as misdemeanors, and violators could face 180 days in jail and a $2,500 fine.



The court held that what is known as misgendering a transgender-identified person with pronouns denoting biological sex may indeed be disrespectful, discourteous, or insulting. However, the First Amendment does not protect only speech that inoffensively and artfully articulates a persons point of view.

"At the very least, willful refusal to refer to transgender persons by their preferred pronouns conveys general disagreement with the concept that a persons gender identity may be different from the sex the person was assigned at birth. Consistent with the Legislatures findings in enacting section 1439.51, we conclude misgendering does indeed convey an ideological message," the opinion reads.



"Because the pronoun provision is a content-based restriction of speech, we

disagree with both the trial court and the Attorney General, who argues the provision is

merely a time, place, or manner restriction."

The court further added that free speech law protects "a wide variety of speech a listener may

find offensive, including insulting speech based on race, national origin, or religious

beliefs."



The court further held that had the regulation been more specific by targeting intentional insults or harassment and not include criminal penalties, it might have been upheld.

Justice Ronald Robie argued in a concurring opinion that the state legislature "chose a prophylactic remedy to eliminate misuse of pronouns that just went too far."

"Instead of mandating that employers ensure the use of proper pronouns in the workplace, the Legislature unwisely made misuse of pronouns a crime," Robie wrote. "When we rule this law cannot stand, we do not reject the need for persons to use appropriate pronouns but, in my opinion, are suggesting that the Legislature fashion a workable means of accomplishing the laudable goal of the legislation."



LGBT activists decried the court's ruling.



"Let's be clear: refusing to use someone's correct name and pronouns isn't an issue of free speech  it's a hateful act that denies someone their dignity and truth," said Rick Chavez Zbur, the executive director of Equality California.



"California's nursing home patients deserve better than this  and we'll be fighting until this decision is overturned," he said.

The contested statute became law in 2017 as part of the LGBTQ Long-Term Care Facility Residents Bill of Rights, signed by then-Gov. Jerry Brown.

State Sen. Scott Wiener of San Francisco, who authored the law and is a frequent sponsor of other LGBT-oriented measures in the Golden State, said the courts decision was misguided and must not be allowed to stand.

"Deliberately misgendering a transgender person isn't just a matter of opinion, and it's not simply 'disrespectful, discourteous, or insulting.' Rather, it's straight-up harassment," he said in a statement.



The ruling comes on the heels of a related court decision at the federal level surrounding institutionally mandated use of a transgender-identifying persons desired pronouns and the challenge such requirements pose to rights outlined in the First Amendment.

In late March, a three-judge panel on the Circuit Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit remanded a decision back to the lower district court. The judges' ruled that Nicolas Meriwether, a professor of philosophy at Shawnee State University in Ohio, was within his rights to sue the school for violating his free speech rights by requiring him to address a trans-identified student using opposite-sex pronouns.

The lower U.S. district court had previously dismissed Meriwethers lawsuit.



The appellate courts opinion, authored by Trump appointee Judge Amul Thapar, stated that universities have traditionally been home to academic freedom and that intellectual diversity is encouraged.

They have prided themselves on being forums where controversial ideas are discussed and debated. And they have tried not to stifle debate by picking sides. But Shawnee State chose a different route: It punished a professor for his speech on a hotly contested issue, the opinion reads.



And it did so despite the constitutional protections afforded by the First Amendment. The district court dismissed the professors free-speech and free-exercise claims. We see things differently and reverse.
12 women claim Liberty U mishandled sexual assault allegations in new lawsuit

Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment

A dozen women have filed a class-action lawsuit against Liberty University, arguing that the evangelical higher education institution failed to adequately investigate credible claims of sexual assault properly.

Twelve unnamed women filed the lawsuit on Tuesday against the Lynchburg, Virginia-based university in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York.

The plaintiffs accuse Liberty officials of violating Title IX federal anti-discrimination law, namely failing to process sexual assault and harassment allegations properly.

Liberty University has intentionally created a campus environment where sexual assaults and rapes are foreseeably more likely to occur than they would in the absence of Libertys policies, claimed the lawsuit.

The complaint argued that Liberty created an unsafe campus environment by misusing its honor code, known as The Liberty Way. The code, among other things, prohibits extramarital sex, consuming alcohol or being at events where alcohol is served.

According to the lawsuit, the honor code fails to clarify if a woman who reports being sexually assaulted will be punished for violating the honor code if she admits, when reporting the alleged assault, to breaking other aspects of the code, such as drinking.

Some students who were the victims of sexual violence, including Plaintiffs below, reported their assaults to the University through [resident advisors], and were urged to withdraw those reports because they involved admitted violations of the Liberty Way, the lawsuit states.

Those students, including certain of the Plaintiffs, were told that their reports would subject them to discipline that could include expulsion. They, apparently, did not qualify for the amnesty, though no explanation for why was given.

The lawsuit documented the allegations of the 12 Jane Does, which involve incidents that span several years and include stalking and sexual assault incidents.

For example, according to the complaint, when Jane Doe 3 reported being assaulted by a male athlete while drunk at a party, the university investigation ignored key evidence against the athlete and dismissed her complaint against him.

The lawsuit asserts that the unnamed athlete continually harassed the plaintiff afterward, including filing a frivolous lawsuit, leading Jane Doe 3 to attempt suicide in 2017 and then drop out of Liberty in 2020.

According to the complaint, Jane Doe 7 was sexually assaulted in 2014 by a Liberty medical school student. However, she did not report the incident because she heard how other sexual assault victims who reported their attacks to the university were alleged to have been treated.

Jane Doe 10 alleged that she was raped in 2014 by a fellow student, with Libertys Student Conduct Office giving her no opportunity to present her case. Instead, the lawsuit claims the university forced her to apologize to her rapist for violating the honor code.

In response to the lawsuit, Liberty issued a statement stating that the allegations by the plaintiffs in the complaint are deeply troubling, if they turn out to be true.

Many of the claims are the complete opposite of how the Universitys policies and procedures were designed to operate over the years, the school statement reads, as reported by local media outlet WSET ABC 13 News.

Liberty has invested mightily in programs and personnel to help maintain a safe campus and to support any and all victims of sexual assault who came forward.

The statement goes on to say that the University has a robust non-discrimination policy, which includes an amnesty policy to encourage victims to make reports without fearing that their involvement in other activities like drinking alcohol or extramarital sex will be disciplined under the student honor code.

"That policy includes a fair process for resolving disputes about rape, sexual harassment, sex discrimination and retaliation, as well as providing supportive measures as appropriate," the statement continues. "It would be heartbreaking if those efforts had the results claimed in this lawsuit."

We will immediately look into each of these claims to determine what needs to be done to make things right, if they turn out to be true, the statement concluded.

Because the claims are made anonymously and go back many years, in one case over two decades, it will take some time to sort through.
PRRI survey, NY Times columnists view of religious right reveals astounding bias: Richard Land

Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment

A recent New York Times op-ed fundamentally misunderstands and misrepresents how conservative-leaning Christians think about the state of affairs in U.S. politics, according to Richard Land, outgoing president of Southern Evangelical Seminary.

In a July 9 op-ed by The New York Times' Michelle Goldberg, titled The Christian Right Is in Decline, and Its Taking America With It, the columnist argued that the statistics show religious conservatives are in decline and, in response, they're willing to defile the nation if they cant take it over.

The high point of the religious rights influence, she mused, might prove to be the presidency of George W. Bush, particularly in 2004 when the culture generally agreed with them on the hot-button social issue of the day: same-sex marriage.

Goldberg further elaborated that the percentage of white evangelicals has dropped, citing research from the Public Religion Research Institute that showed white mainline Protestants outnumbered white evangelicals in 2020.

Her assertion that conservative Christians are animated by a triumphalist ethos and want to take over American culture is completely wrongheaded, said Land, who also serves as the executive editor of The Christian Post, in an interview on Monday.

Nothing could be further from the truth, Land said of Goldbergs contention, noting that among spiritual and religious leaders, the thinking among Christian conservatives who started becoming more visibly involved in politics several decades ago was far from triumphalist. Rather, their posture was wholly defensive.

We didnt begin this culture war. Politics is downstream from culture, and culture is downstream from religion, or alternatively, your worldview. Progressives are bringing their worldview, which is their religion, into culture and into politics. Evangelicals are doing the same thing, he said.

Virtually every religious leader that I knew, and know, that was involved understood that our efforts were attempts to fight a strategic retreat, to minimize the damage to our culture until and when a great spiritual revival awakening came to the country. And that without it, America was going to be a very different place.

Goldbergs op-ed is the perfect example of a wish being the father of the thought, he asserted.

Land considers the recent PRRI study an outlier, adding that the active practice of Christian faith declining in the U.S. is not news to evangelicals. While no religious group is growing as fast as the population, the only two that have shown actual growth over the past decade are white evangelicals and the historic black church, he said.

Any research or assertion that mainline Protestantism, which has virtually disappeared before our eyes in my lifetime, has overtaken evangelicals in terms of a percentage of the population is research that has moved to an alternative universe. It has no relation to actual facts on the ground, Land said.

He added that by any standard of measure, he would be the epitome of the religious right, and he had to research what QAnon was when he first heard about it in the news.

Goldbergs opinion piece also asserted that borne out of the belief that evangelicals no longer own mainstream culture and its moral values and they are now just another subculture, much of the current cultural conflict that has arisen helps explain not just the rise of Donald Trump, but also the growth of QAnon and even the escalating conflagration over critical race theory.

This, again, fundamentally misunderstands the facts on the ground, Land said. The idea that QAnon is deeply embedded in the religious right reveals an astounding bias, he said.

I have a very low expectation of the editorial page of the New York Times, but Ms. Goldbergs op-ed reached new lows of propaganda masquerading as opinion.

The outgoing seminary president emphasized that the salvation of the U.S. will not come from the nations capital city.

If America is going to be revived, its going to be one person, one family, one church at a time. Government is not a locomotive. Its a caboose. When the people change, the government will change, not Washington to the people. The salt of the law can change actions, behaviors and habits. Its only the light of the Gospel that can change attitudes, beliefs and hearts, he added.
Vaccine mandates likely after full FDA approval, says health expert

Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment

As the Biden administration struggles to convince unvaccinated Americans to voluntarily take widely available COVID-19 vaccines in the face of rising infections and hospitalizations, one health expert believes vaccines could likely become mandated by businesses and government agencies once they receive full approval from the Food and Drug Administration.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over 56% of the U.S. population has received a single dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. Meanwhile, 48.7% of American adults have been fully vaccinated.

Andy Slavitt, who stepped down last month as President Joe Bidens COVID response coordinator, told NBC News this week that he believes a wave of local vaccine mandates is likely to come once one or more of the three vaccines authorized by the FDA for emergency use get full approval from the agency.

I think once the vaccines go through full FDA approval, everything should be on the table, and I think that everything will be on the table at the level of municipalities, states, employers, venues, government agencies, Slavitt, who served as administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services during the Obama administration, was quoted as saying.

Pfizer and BioNTech, as well as Moderna, submitted applications for full approval of their vaccines to the FDA on May 7, 2021, and June 1, 2021, respectively.

While the FDA has not indicated when full approval of the mRNA vaccines might happen, it is expected that the submissions for full approval will get what is known as priority review," which takes about six months.

Using this timeline, the FDA could decide on full approval of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine by January 2022 and February 2022 for the Moderna vaccine, Healthline noted.

Once the vaccines are fully approved by the FDA, Slavitt said he believes some federal agencies should begin requiring vaccinations for their employees. This includes military members, healthcare workers at Veterans Affairs hospitals and nursing homes and other federal workers in close contact with the public.

I think every government agency ought to rethink what's appropriate, Slavitt told NBC News. There are a number of people in surveys, by the way, who say precisely these words, I'm not going to take it, unless it's required.

In August 2020, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's leading infectious disease expert, said he didnt foresee a COVID-19 vaccine mandate in the United States.

I don't think you'll ever see a mandating of vaccine, particularly for the general public, Fauci said during a Healthline.com townhall, CNN reported.

He argued that everyone had the right to refuse the vaccine.

If someone refuses the vaccine in the general public, then there's nothing you can do about that. You cannot force someone to take a vaccine," he said.

Almost a year later, however, Fauci told CNNs State of the Union" last week that it would be a good idea to have vaccine mandates at the local level.

I have been of this opinion, and I remain of that opinion that I do believe at the local level, there should be more mandates. There really should be, Fauci said.

Were talking about life-and-death situations. Weve lost 600,000 Americans already, and were still losing more people. There have been 4 million deaths worldwide. This is serious business. So I am in favor of that.

Across the U.S., hundreds of colleges have mandated COVID-19 vaccinations for the upcoming school year, prompting legal challenges by those opposed to getting the experimental vaccine.

A federal judge sided with Indiana University's vaccination requirement in an opinion issued early Monday morning after eight students challenged the school's requirement that students and employees receive a COVID-19 vaccine before the start of the fall semester.

The university will recognize certain medical and religious exemptions to its requirement. But officials say unvaccinated students will need to continue following coronavirus mitigation strategies as they ease them for the fully vaccinated.

In June, a judge in Texas dismissed a lawsuit filed by former Houston Methodist Hospital staff members who were let go for refusing to get a COVID-19 vaccine.
Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment

We know from Scripture that Christ has reserved for His people imperishable crowns (1 Corinthians 9:25-25), and believers should aspire to guard them jealously. Jesus warned the church in Philadelphia to guard their crowns so that no one steals them. Unfortunately, many Christians are not aware of these crowns and do not put any effort to ensure that they earn them.



This theology is, sadly, not popular among African Christians, and I believe that ignorance of this is a calculated attempt of the devil to steal these rewards so that we do not have them when Christ returns.

The devil always wants to stop Christians from having the crown of righteousness (2 Timothy 4:8) by making us mind earthly things without recourse to the coming Kingdom. This crown is promised to Christians who love and anticipate the Second Coming of Christ. Paul had the conviction that he had earned this crown after working tirelessly to evangelize the gentile nations. We should be no different. As believers we need to strive to spread the Gospel to the unreached, no matter the cost. Jesus will not return until the Gospel of the Kingdom is preached to all the world (Mathew 24:14).

Paul also talks about an imperishable crown in 1 Corinthians 9:25, to show the durability of the crown when compared to the gains of this world, which are perishable. The enemy does not want us to have this crown by making sure that selfishness and quest for wealth control our lives. He gives us the other gospel which promotes self and causes Christians to go after comfort and luxury at the expense of this crown. When Christ invited us to deny ourselves, carry our Cross and follow Him, He was inviting us to come and wear the incorruptible crown that He prepared for us from eternity.

The crown of glory is found in 1 Peter 5:4. This is reserved for ministers who shepherd the flock with love and righteousness. Christians who deny themselves, and sacrificially work in God's vineyard without looking for gains, are qualified for this unfading crown of glory. The devil manipulates ministers of the Gospel to focus on selfish gain while during ministry work. We should always strive as laborers in the vineyard of God to serve selflessly and shun filthy lucre. I ask God every day to deliver me from myself and from the love of money because I know that the things that will come between me and this crown is selfishness and the quest for self-aggrandizement.

The crown of life in James 1:12 and Revelation 2:10 is prepared for those who persevere under trials and persecutions as a proof of their love for Christ. It is also meant for those who endure torture even unto death for the sake of the Gospel. Jesus encouraged the church in Smyrna to endure afflictions and be ready to die. Those who are beheaded for the sake of the Gospel shall wear this crown to reign with Jesus during the millennium rule (Revelation 20:4). Fear and self-love are the weapon that Satan uses to stop us from having this crown. Through them, he makes us practice risk-free Christianity. For us to earn this crown, we must be ready to suffer for the sake of Christ and His Gospel. We must be bold and firm in time of persecutions and tribulations with the understanding that there is a crown to be won if we persevere to the end.

It is the desire of God that every soul on this planet should be brought to Him through evangelism and missions. Paul had the assurance that he had earned his crown after evangelizing Thessalonica. Those who desire this crown must be involved in soul winning; especially in taking the Gospel to those who have not heard of Jesus.

Never forget that the command to preach the Gospel is given to all of us, and these crowns are promised to us at the end of our Christian race. We must not be oblivious of the enemies schemes. His objectives are to ensure that we become fearful and complacent. Christ is coming quickly to reward those who have done the work which He commanded (Revelation 22:12). We must always keep that in mind.
Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment

As I make clear in my brand-new book, Christianity and Wokeness, nothing will be left untouched by the woke revolution. One of the key targets of this movement, which is currently sweeping the West: boyhood and girlhood.

No less a cultural touchstone than Disney World recently changed up the greeting to its famous fireworks show. Instead of Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls the park begins proceedings with Good evening, dreamers of all ages! In addition, Disney is changing its standards of dress and presentation for staff. Simply put, Disneys look and feel will now be gender-inclusive according to the company:

Our new approach provides greater flexibility with respect to forms of personal expression surrounding gender-inclusive hairstyles, jewelry, nail styles, and costume choices; and allowing appropriate visible tattoos. Were updating them to not only remain relevant in todays workplace, but also enable our cast members to better express their cultures and individuality at work.

These changes, among others, occasioned pushback. But one public commentator, Tarah Chieffi, dissented from such concerns, essentially dismissing them: If not everyone feels comfortable at the parks, that failing falls on Disney's shoulders, not the individual's. These changes will likely keep coming, and Disney will likely keep evolving. That's a good thing, and folks who wring their hands over 'history' and 'tradition' should get used to it.

Actually, it is totally sensible to find Disneys evolving standards problematic. Wokeness is deeply postmodern. It is fluid, knowing no boundaries, adhering to no norms, and questioning very reality itself. As I show in Christianity and Wokeness, there are no fixed codes in wokeness; as a postmodern system, there is no broader right and wrong. The only mantra that matters is your own personal one. Said in simplest form: you do you. Life revolves not around the community and its principles, but around the expressive individual.

One big problem with this argument is that the very gender inclusivity that Disney is embracing does not make many people feel comfortable. Many people feel comfortable when the created realm is reflected, not revised. This happens when natural families are celebrated, boys and girls are identified and nurtured, adults are held to higher standards, and broader moral precepts than everyone feels comfortable and express yourself are promoted. Even though such views are held by many, many Americans, woke voices have essentially gained dominance in our culture. Now, we are left to deal with it.

We can do better than this in America. Over against a "gender-inclusive" and self-directed culture, we could teach the next generation that life is not really about getting lost in yourself at all. It is most filled with hard-won zest and discovery when it is directed beyond the self. We could direct our kids' attention to things we cannot explain in ourselves, nor locate in ourselves as the authoritative standard: worship, beauty, truth, joy, and endurance in tragic suffering.

In all this, we could teach that there is something better than a Disneyfied form of living for yourself. A life that is about something bigger than ourselves is a life aimed squarely at deeper meaning, greater significance, and what we could call, simply, "wonder."

Such an existence is not about our own smallness; it's about something beyond us. In a this-worldly sense, isn't that why we go to Disney? Who goes to a massive theme park to collect soda cup lids, or look at the underside of park benches? We go to such places to get lost in wonder.

Of course, the life dedicated to wonder is no picnic. It involves working really hard every day to give our precious children happiness in a world that is often hard, sometimes brutally so. All this work, including the work to raise boys to be godly men, and girls to be godly women, is challenging. Even with divine help, we Christians dont do it perfectly. We all fail (James 3:2). But we strive nonetheless, and we do so because we are building something greater. We are trying, against the felt bounds of our own fragility, to preserve what is best in our world, our society, and our faith.

We are not asking those around us to structure their lives so that we feel comfortable and can express ourselves. No, we have a very different life purpose. Whether we go to Disney or not, we are doing all we can to lead the rising generation to the Lord, to love them well, and then, at the end of our life, by the grace of God through Christ, to enter the wonder that is beyond us, that has always beckoned us, and that even nowat this very houris startlingly close.
Over 18,000 sign petition urging Pope Francis to reverse restrictions on traditional Latin mass

Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment

More than 18,000 people have signed a petition urging Pope Francis to withdraw his apostolic letter imposing restrictions on the celebration of the traditional Latin mass, warning that it will cause further division and hurt among the faithful, achieving the opposite effect of its stated purpose.

On Friday, Pope Francis published an apostolic letter called Traditionis Custodes, which lays out guidelines on the use of the Roman liturgy prior to the reform of 1970. Beginning in 1970, Catholic Churches across the world began to conduct masses in the local vernacular as opposed to in Latin, which Catholic masses had been conducted in for hundreds of years. This reform came about as a result of the Second Vatican Council, which reformed many of the Catholic Churchs longstanding traditional practices.

However, some Catholic Churches still conduct masses in Latin even a half century after the reform of 1970. As the pope wrote in Traditionis Custodes, In order to promote the concord and unity of the Church, with paternal solicitude towards those who in any region adhere to liturgical forms antecedent to the reform willed by Vatican Council II, my venerable predecessors, Saint John Paul II and Benedict XVI, granted and regulated the faculty to use the Roman Missal edited by John XXIII in 1962 when conducting mass.

In this way they intended to facilitate the ecclesial communion of those Catholics who feel attached to some earlier liturgical forms, he added. Citing a desire to press on ever more in the constant search for ecclesial communion, meaning church unity, Francis explained that he wanted to take a different course when it came to regulating the practice of the traditional Latin mass going forward.

The apostolic letter illustrated the responsibilities of bishops who lead dioceses where there exist one or more groups that celebrate according to the missal antecedent to the reform of 1970. Specifically, bishops are to designate one or more locations where the faithful adherents of these groups may gather for the eucharistic celebration (not however in the parochial churches and without the erection of new personal parishes.) This suggests that at some time, traditional Latin masses may no longer be permitted within church facilities.

Additionally, the letter instructed bishops to take care not to authorize the establishment of new groups that celebrate the traditional Latin mass. Current and future priests will need permission from their bishops to continue or begin celebrating masses in Latin.

Many Catholics did not approve of Traditionis Custodes and a petition to Show Pope Francis the Latin Mass will survive any suppression was published on LifePetitions just three days later. As of Wednesday afternoon, nearly 18,400 people had signed onto the letter, which was addressed to Francis.

As lay people dedicated to Christ and His Church, we urge you to reconsider your unjust and scandalous treatment of the Traditional Latin Mass, the petition reads. We URGE you to have regard for the many souls who benefit spiritually from the Ancient Rite.

The Traditional Latin Mass has been a source of unity for the Catholic Church for more than 1500 years, producing great saints, repentant sinners, and souls won for Christ across the world, it continued. To attempt to restrict the Traditional Latin Mass as a new generation are rediscovering the treasures of Gods Church will inevitably cause further division and hurt among the faithful, risking the loss of some souls who will regretfully turn away.

The petition concluded by urging the pontiff to reinstate the Mass of the Ages to its proper place in the Catholic Church. As Francis alluded to in Traditionis Custodes, his predecessor Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI regulated the faculty to use the Roman Missal edited by John XXIII in 1962.

In 2007, the retired pontiff published an apostolic letter of his own called Summorum Pontificum, giving wide discretion for the use of the Traditional Latin Mass. In the letter, Benedict described the Roman Missal blessed by Pope Paul VI in 1970, which was translated into various languages throughout the world as the ordinary expression of the lex orandi (rule of prayer) of the Catholic Church of the Latin rite.

At the same time, he characterized the Roman Missal edited by John XXIII in 1962, used at Traditional Latin Masses, as an extraordinary expression of the same lex orandi of the Church and duly honoured for its venerable and ancient usage. According to Benedict, These two expressions of the Churchs lex orandi will in no way lead to a division in the Churchs lex credendi (rule of faith); for they are two usages of the one Roman rite.

In Traditionis Custodes, Francis expressed disagreement with that assertion, describing the liturgical books translated into vernacular as the unique expression of the lex orandi of the Roman Rite. While he gives bishops exclusive competence to authorize the use of the 1962 Roman Missal in his diocese, the aforementioned restrictions were imposed on the celebration of the traditional Latin mass.

According to an article in the Jesuit publication America, many Catholic dioceses across the United States will continue to allow Latin masses to take place as they process the implications of the popes new apostolic letter. These dioceses include St. Paul and Minneapolis, Baltimore, Oklahoma City and San Francisco.

At the same time, diocesan parishes in the Diocese of Little Rock have been informed that they can no longer offer a traditional Latin mass. The bishop of Springfield, Illinois, informed two parishes in his diocese that celebrate the traditional Latin mass that Eucharistic celebrations are permitted at these locations using the Roman Missal promulgated by Saint John XXIII in 1962 on any and all days of the year.

According to the website Latin Mass Directory, which contains a list of venues that celebrate the Traditional Latin Mass, there are 658 such venues in the U.S. There are nine venues offering a Traditional Latin Mass for every one million American Catholics.
Martha Baer: a life in pictures

A tribute to the pioneering leader of Christies Contemporary Art department, who passed away this summer

When Martha Baer arrived at Christies in 1978, she had little idea of what she was letting herself in for. Enticed from the respected art gallery Acquavella to establish a new Contemporary Art department at the auction house, Martha quickly built what has since become one of the most important categories in the company  helping to strengthen not only Christies reputation as an art market leader, but also New Yorks reputation as the global centre of contemporary art.



Martha was born in St. Louis in 1939. Soon after graduating from Vassar College, she went to work for Charles Buckley, the legendary director of the St. Louis Art Museum. Moving to New York. She then embarked on an illustrious career at notable galleries including both Andre Emmerich and Acquavella.



Her early years at Christies were challenging. While the company was new to the American market, Martha was the perfect person to establish its reputation in the United States. She was familiar with the local market, she knew the artists, and she knew the clients.

She was a strong and forceful character, demanding of herself and those who worked with her  Christopher Burge

Christopher Burge, then Head of the Impressionist and Modern Paintings department remembers Marthas first week. She was a strong and forceful character, demanding of herself and those who worked with her. She came to the company with a lot of experience, but when she arrived, she had no desk, no assistant, and thought all the English people who had been sent over from London were quite mad. She was ready to quit after her first week, but she spoke to her close friend, the critic Clement Greenberg, who persuaded her to give it another chance. Im so glad she did.



Marc Porter, Chairman of Christies Americas, who had worked with Martha since his days as a specialist in the Books and Manuscripts department, says that in addition to being a great asset for Christies in America, Martha was also a great ambassador for the Americas within the company.



She understood the culture of doing business in America, he remembers fondly, and was able to navigate all the cultural differences. At the time, the New York office was regarded by many as something of a colonial outpost by the head office in London, but Martha helped to establish the region as one of the most important in the company.

Martha Baer at Christies in New York

Her four decades at the auction house were marked by many highlights. In 1983, she was responsible for the successful sale of Willem de Koonings Two Women, which sold for $1.2 million  the highest price achieved for a living artist at the time.



Between 1988 and 1991, she secured the collection of Burt and Emily Tremaine for auction. Considered by many to be the greatest private collection of twentieth-century art in the world, the two sales were highlighted with works by Fernand Leger, Piet Mondrian, Jackson Pollock, Andy Warhol and Jasper Johns amongst many others.



Winning these consignments was often the result of relationships that Martha had spent years nurturing. She was adored by collectors who turned to her for advice and guidance, which Martha was always keen to share.

She was devoted to her clients, and would dedicate considerable time and energy toward developing relationships with them  Stephen Lash

Stephen Lash, Chairman Emeritus at Christies and someone who had known Martha since her early days at the company, recalled: She was devoted to her clients. She had access to all the top collectors and would dedicate considerable time and energy toward developing relationships with them. She would introduce them to new artists she believed in  and dissuade them from acquisitions that she felt werent right for them or their collection. Consequently, she was rewarded with their trust, and both Christies and her clients benefited tremendously.



Another example of a longstanding relationship that Martha developed over the years was with the Chicago collectors Robert and Beatrice Buddy Mayer. Under Marthas leadership in November 1989, Christies offered 20 works from the couples collection in a special single-owner evening sale, including an important 1963 painting by Roy Lichtenstein, Torpedo Los.



Following that successful sale, Martha maintained her friendship with Buddy Mayer, calling on her whenever she visited Chicago. This decades long relationship resulted in another blockbuster sale of the couples artwork in 2019, highlighted by Robert Rauschenbergs iconic Buffalo II, which sold for a record-breaking $89 million.

Martha Baer and Christopher Burge at Christies in New York

Anyone who worked with Martha will also recall her great sense of humour and highly infectious laugh. Burge remembers joining Martha on a client visit to Japan: She had taken up knitting, and as the aircraft taxied to the runway, she took a ball of wool from her bag and began to knit, he explains.



As the plane took off, she accidently dropped the ball of wool which promptly rolled back under the seats of hundreds of passengers through the entire length of the aircraft. Once the plane had leveled off, Martha sheepishly had to go back through the aircraft and retrieve her now unraveled ball of wool. Martha would often regale clients with stories such as these, and they loved it. Her sense of humor was very disarming, Burge says.



As well as being an accomplished specialist and a determined deal maker, Martha was also a passionate mentor to more junior colleagues, many of whom have gone on to hold senior positions within Christies and beyond.

She was tremendously generous with her time and knowledge, and helped to propel anyone who demonstrated talent and intellectual curiosity  Marc Porter
CLEVELAND (AP)  FirstEnergy Corp.'s conduct in secretly funding a $60 million bribery scheme to win a $1 billion bailout for two nuclear power plants it once owned was wrong and unacceptable, company CEO and President Steven Strah said during an earnings call Friday.

His remarks come a day after Akron-based FirstEnergy and the U.S. Attorney's Office in Cincinnati announced the company would pay a $230 million fine as part of a deferred prosecution agreement.

If the company abides by all the provisions in the agreement, a charge of conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud will be dismissed in three years. The U.S. Attorneys Office in the agreement said the elements of the charge involve bribery, lying or concealing facts, an intent to defraud, and using wire communications to further the scheme.

The company also is under investigation by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

Strah said FirstEnergy has made significant strides in reforming FirstEnergy's ethics policies and code of conduct in the wake of the scandal brought to light last July when then-U.S. Attorney David DeVillers announced the arrest of Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder and four associates.

Householder has pleaded not guilty to a federal conspiracy charge and awaits trial. He was subsequently removed as speaker and expelled from the House.

Former FirstEnergy CEO Chuck Jones and two other top executives were fired in October for violating company policies and code of conduct.

A New York-based public relations firm on Friday issued a statement on behalf of Jones saying neither Jones nor any other FirstEnergy employee engaged in unlawful activities in their dealings with government officials.

The First Amendment and campaign finance laws allow the use of a certain kind of nonprofit entity for appropriate political activity and allows individuals and corporations to support political candidates and lobby on behalf of legislation and government policies, the statement said.

Mr. Jones is very disappointed that FirstEnergy would falsely implicate so many hard working and dedicated employees in wrongdoing who were committed to implementing the Board's stated goals, the statement said.

The nonprofit entities referred to, which are also known as dark money groups, have been implicated as key conduits in funneling money for the bribery scheme.

Authorities have said the $60 million from FirstEnergy and its subsidiaries was used to get Householder supporters elected to the Legislature and to help him get appointed as speaker. It also was used to fund a campaign to get the nuclear bailout bill approved and signed by Republican Gov. Mike DeWine in July 2019, and to bankroll a dirty-tricks campaign to keep a repeal referendum from reaching the Ohio ballot.

A statement of facts issued Thursday by the U.S. Attorney and FirstEnergy lays out in detail how Jones, identified as Executive 1, allegedly participated in the bribery scheme and his dealings with Householder and others.

FirstEnergy continues to cooperate with federal prosecutors and investigators in the bribery probe and the other federal investigations, company officials have said.

The $230 million settlement, Strah said, will be funded with cash on hand and not customer money.

The settlement amount was discounted to reflect FirstEnergy's cooperation in the Justice Department investigation, according to the agreement.

This is truly a humbling moment for our company, Strah said. We're humbled by it, but we do view it as a positive step for the company. We paid a significant penalty for accountability."

Strah said FirstEnergy is making progress in settling other Ohio issues, which include two sets of federal shareholder lawsuits, audits by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio and other regulatory matters.

I would be very pleased to resolve the Ohio issues by year's end, he said.
Graham Wood/Getty Images

Legendary British rock band the Rolling Stones are set to take two Texas stages as a continuation of their No Filter tour this Fall.

On November 2, Mick Jagger and company will touch down in Dallas to play the Cotton Bowl Stadium, then later that month on November 20, the Stones will return to the Lone Star State to play Austin's Circuit of The Americas.
Click here to read the full article.

The Biden administration imposed new sanctions against a Cuban official for alleged human rights abuses inflicted on protesters during the governments crackdown earlier this month.

The sanctions, brought against the Cuban defense minister and the head of the nations special forces brigade, Alvaro Lopez Miera, were just the beginning, President Joe Biden said in a Thursday statement.

Lopez Miera, whose assets were frozen, was added to a blacklist of specially designated nationals and cannot enter the U.S. The Treasury Department said Lopez Miera played an integral role in the repression of ongoing protests in Cuba.

Today, my Administration is imposing new sanctions targeting elements of the Cuban regime responsible for this crackdownthe head of the Cuban military and the division of the Cuban Ministry of the Interior driving the crackdownto hold them accountable for their actions. This is just the beginningthe United States will continue to sanction individuals responsible for oppression of the Cuban people, Biden said.

Biden condemned the mass detentions and sham trials of anti-government protesters in Cuba who demonstrated by the thousands in cities and towns across the island nation. The historic protests were prompted by nationwide food and vaccine shortages in the communist country. Demonstrators filled the streets chanting freedom and yes, we can while calling for an end to the nations decades-old dictatorship.

I unequivocally condemn the mass detentions and sham trials that are unjustly sentencing to prison those who dared to speak out in an effort to intimidate and threaten the Cuban people into silence, Biden said. The Cuban people have the same right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly as all people. The United States stands with the brave Cubans who have taken to the streets to oppose 62 years of repression under a communist regime.

Earlier this week, Biden tasked the Treasury Departments Office of Foreign Assets Control to explore sanctions in order to put pressure on the communist regime following the crackdown. Yet already existing economic sanctions and a trade embargo that have been in place for more than 50 years have yet to accomplish their goal of toppling Cubas dictatorial regime and are causing its citizens to suffer.

The Cuban people are protesting for the fundamental and universal rights they deserve from their government, said Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen. Treasury will continue to enforce its Cuba-related sanctions, including those imposed today, to support the people of Cuba in their quest for democracy and relief from the Cuban regime.

Biden said his administration is reviewing our remittance policy to determine how we can maximize support to the Cuban people. And said hed look for more ways to pressure the regime to immediately release wrongfully detained political prisoners, restore internet access, and allow the Cuban people to enjoy their fundamental rights.
Jenny Anderson/WireImage

Comedian Gabriel Iglesias is updating his fans on his COVID-19 diagnosis after cutting his San Antonio stint short last week due to the illness.

The funny guy known as "Fluffy" was wrapping up a 27-show stint in the Alamo City last week when he revealed he had contracted the virus despite being vaccinated, he said in a July 15 video. Despite contracting a breakthrough case, the comedian credited the vaccine for his mild symptoms.
Conroe ISD officials announced Thursday the district plans to mandate students with COVID-19 isolate but said it was still waiting on the authority to do so.

At the districts monthly Trustee meeting on Tuesday, Conroe ISD officials explained to the board that it does not currently have the authority to send students with COVID-19 home.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Conroe ISD won't keep COVID-positive students home

The plan presented to the board has not changed, CISD spokesperson Sarah Blakelock said in an email.

The districts plan has not changed since Tuesdays presentation at the board meeting, Blakelock said. We continue to work with our health authorities and are confident a solution will be in place by the start of the school year so that students who are COVID-19 positive will be excluded from attendance until they have met the criteria to end isolation.

As of Thursday, the district is still waiting for the authority to mandate students that test positive for COVID-19 isolate. The district does not expect additional guidance from the Texas Education Agency on this matter specifically at this time but are instead waiting on state health authorities.

The Texas Administrative Code Rule 97.7 and the Texas Department of State Health Services Communicable Disease Chart and Notes for Schools and Child/Care Centers detail which illnesses may result in a student being excluded from attendance. COVID-19 is not currently listed as an exclusionary illness, Blakelock said.

CISD Superintendent Curtis Null will give an update on the return to school plan for the 2021-22 school year at 6 p.m. Wednesday through YouTube Live.

In the presentation to the board on Tuesday, CISD Executive Director of Operations Chris McCord made it clear that there will be emphasis put on the personal responsibility of each student.

Increased expectation of students and staff to take personal responsibility for health-related decisions impacting both others and themselves, is a key component of the return plan, according to McCords presentation.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Conroe ISD reverses course for handling students with COVID-19

The district also suggests that individuals who have symptoms consistent with COVID should Consider isolating to prevent the unintended transmission of the virus to others as recommended by the CDC, as well as seek medical guidance, get tested, and wear a face covering.

The districts full Roadmap to Reopening plan can be found on the CISD website at conroeisd.net/roadmap-to-reopening.

As of Thursday evening, the instructions for students who test positive for COVID-19 state that they must be fever-free for at least 24-hours without the help of medication, and must be diarrhea free for at least 24-hours without the help of medication before returning to school.

The district cannot mandate that students receive the COVID-19 vaccine or wear masks, but must allow those who choose to wear a mask to do so. CISD will be making PPE available to anyone who wants it next school year.

jamie.swinnerton@chron.com
HELENA, Mont. (AP)  Five firefighters were injured when a thunderstorm and swirling winds blew a lightning-caused fire back on them in central Montana, the Bureau of Land Management said Friday.

The federal firefighters had joined other crews working on the 375-acre Devil's Creek fire burning in rough, steep terrain about 36 miles (58 kilometers) northwest of the town of Jordan in Garfield County.
KYIV, Ukraine (AP)  Belarusian authorities on Friday announced the closure of 15 nongovernmental organizations, part of a sweeping crackdown on independent media and civil society activists that includes shutting dozens of NGOs.

The groups ordered to close include the Human Constanta human rights center, the Names charity organization, BelSetka Anti-AIDS group and an organization assisting disabled people.

The groups closure comes a day after authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko vowed to continue what he called a mopping-up operation against civil society activists whom he denounced as bandits and foreign agents.

Altogether, more than 50 NGOs are facing closure. They include the Belarusian Association of Journalists, or BAJ, the biggest and the most respected media organization in the country, and the Belarusian PEN Center, an association of writers led by Svetlana Alexievich, the winner of the 2015 Nobel Prize in literature.

Human Constanta said in a statement that the authorities didn't explain why they decided to close the group, adding that the action reflects a growing pressure on civil society in Belarus.

Also targeted is the Press-Club, an organization that offered education programs for journalists. Its head, Yulia Slutskaya, and three other workers have remained in custody since their arrest in December.

Amnesty International denounced the dissolution of Belarusian NGOs and called for a strong international response to ensure that the Belarusian authorities immediately end their vicious crackdown on civil society.

Today is another dark day that will go down in the history of Belarus," Marie Struthers, Amnesty Internationals Director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, said in a statement. Undeterred, the Belarusian authorities are pushing in their unprecedented and increasingly brutal attack on civic space, all forms of opposition or peaceful dissent.

U.S. Ambassador Julie Fisher also strongly condemned the dissolution of NGOs, tweeting that by targeting impactful NGOs focused on the disabled, arts, media, human rights and more the Belarusian authorities seek to blame others rather than acknowledge their own role in creating the crisis in Belarus.

Belarusian authorities have ramped up action against NGOs and independent media, with more than 200 raids of offices and apartments of activists and journalists so far this month, according to the Viasna human rights center.

The independent Regionalnaya Gazeta (Regional Newspaper) said Friday it was forced to halt publication following the raid of its office in Maladzyechna, 80 kilometers (50 miles) northeast of the Belarusian capital, Minsk, and the arrest of several of its journalists. Another journalist, photographer Ksenia Halubovich, was arrested Friday while she was taking pictures at a children's hospice in Minsk.

Thirty-two Belarusian journalists in total are in custody, either awaiting trial or serving their sentences.

The continued harassment of media and journalists in retaliation for their work shows yet again the deliberate intention to stomp out open debate and any views on issues of concern to citizens that are critical of the authorities, said Teresa Ribeiro, the media freedom representative of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.

Lukashenko, who faced months of protests triggered by his election to a sixth term in an August 2020 vote that the opposition and the West saw as rigged, responded to demonstrations with a massive crackdown that saw more than 35,000 people arrested and thousands beaten by police.

The relentless repressions have stifled protests, but in a rare show of defiance, a dozen protesters walked late Thursday across downtown Minsk carrying the opposition red-and-white flag. The Viasna human rights center said it marked the first public protest in a month.

Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, Lukashenkos main election challenger, who was forced to leave Belarus under official pressure after the election, visited the United States this week for meetings with officials of President Joe Biden's administration and members of Congress to rally support for the Belarusian opposition.

U.S. Under Secretary of State Uzra Zeya, who was among officials who met with Tsikhanouskaya, reaffirmed Washington's support for the Belarusians amid the crackdown and called for the "unconditional release of all political prisoners, an end to the violence and new free and fair elections.
NEW YORK (AP)  A New York City police sergeant was charged Thursday with beating two handcuffed men after they lashed out at police  one spitting at officers, the other using racial slurs  in separate incidents in the last two years.

Sgt. Phillip Wong, a supervisor in the bureau that patrols the citys transit system, was caught on body-worn and security cameras punching a 48-year-old man in the face in a Harlem holding cell in October 2019 after the man kicked the cell door and spat at officers, prosecutors said. The man required stitches for a cut above his right eye, prosecutors said.

Six months later, prosecutors said, Wong slugged a 35-year-old man in the side of the face, knelt on his back and bounced several times after the man kicked Wong and taunted him with anti-Asian slurs during an arrest at a Manhattan subway station. The man was taken to a hospital, but doctors didnt find any physical injuries, prosecutors said.

The confrontation, a month before George Floyds death from a Minneapolis police officer behaving in a similar fashion for more than eight minutes, was also captured on multiple body-worn and security cameras.

Wong, 37, pleaded not guilty Thursday to misdemeanor assault and attempted assault charges. The NYPD said it has suspended Wong without pay. He has been with the department more than 15 years. He is due back in court on Oct. 18.

At Wongs arraignment, Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. said that the sergeant grossly violated his training and the law and that the conduct of the two men hes accused of punching did not justify these violent responses.

A message seeking comment was left with the union representing NYPD sergeants. Wongs lawyer, Andrew Quinn, told WCBS-TV that the sergeant was reacting in the April 2020 incident to the mans anti-Asian vitriol.

People in this city feel its perfectly in their jurisdiction and right to simply call a cop whatever they want, and they are right, First Amendment protects free speech, Quinn told the television station. But at some point somebody has got to start to realize that cops are not getting paid enough to have racial and ethnic slurs hurled in their faces every single time they step out of a police car.

In the first incident, Wong pushed past two officers to gain access to the 48-year-old detainee, reopening the holding cell and punching him in the face after the man kicked the cell door and spat at the officers, prosecutors said.

In the second incident, in April 2020, Wong and an officer he was supervising took the 35-year-old man to the ground of an Upper West Side subway station after that man kicked Wong and yelled anti-Asian slurs while under arrest for punching a passenger, prosecutors said.

As Wong knelt on the mans back, the man shouted I cant breathe. Wong responded, I dont give a (expletive) if you can breathe or not, and then punched the man in the side of the face, prosecutors said.
SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador (AP)  Prosecutors in El Salvador have issued an arrest warrant for former president Salvador Sanchez Ceren on charges of embezzlement and money laundering.

Attorney General Rodolfo Delgado said Thursday the charges are related to crimes allegedly committed when Sanchez Ceren served as vice-president in the administration of Mauricio Funes from 2009 to 2014. Sanchez Ceren went on to serve as president from 2014 to 2019, and is also being charged with illict enrichment.

The corruption allegedly involved $351 million in government funds that were used to make illegal payments to government employees and their associates. The scam has become known as the Public Looting scandal.

Even though there was no blood spilled as in crimes like homicide, this big pile of money never reached the hospitals, schools, and never was used to buy equipment for police, said Security and Justice Minister Gustavo Villatoro.

Both Funes and Sanchez Ceren were members of the FMLN party, founded by guerrillas who fought the government in the country's 1980-1992 civil war. Funes fled to Nicaragua where he was granted asylum in 2016, allowing him to avoid facing trial back home on corruption charges.

Delgado said prosecutors also detained five other former officials of the Funes administration, including cabinet members. Some are considered top leaders of the FMLN, which along with the conservative ARENA party, governed El Salvador for many years.

Delgado denied there was any political motivation behind the arrests. He said other suspects are being sought but are believed to have fled abroad.

Both the FMLN and ARENA were reduced to a shadow of their former levels of support by the appearance of the populist New Ideas party of the current President, Nayib Bukele.

Most of the country's post-war presidents have been charged with corruption. Francisco Flores, who was president in 1999-2004, died in 2016 while awaiting trial under house arrest.

Tony Saca, president from 2004 to 2009, is serving a 10-year prison sentence for corruption and has been ordered to return some $260 million to the state. Courts ruled that Saca could not explain the origin of $6.5 million in income he made while president.
RICHMOND, Va. (AP)  A former Virginia lawyer has pleaded guilty in connection with allegations that he wrongfully obtained $4 million in funds primarily from the bankruptcy of the LandAmerica Financial Group, federal authorities said.

Bruce H. Matson faces up to five years in prison when he is sentenced on Nov. 22, the Richmond Times-Dispatch reported. He entered his plea on Thursday.
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP)  South Carolina's governor said while getting the COVID-19 vaccine was the right decision for him, other people reluctant to get the shot need to talk to friends, pastors and doctors and decide if it is best for them.

Gov. Henry McMaster's comments Thursday came as statistics show both good news and bad news with the pandemic.

The average number of new COVID-19 cases has doubled in the past two weeks to about 410 cases a day and the rate shows no sign of slowing down.

Officials reported 929 new COVID-19 cases Thursday in South Carolina, similar to the number of daily cases last seen in March just as the vaccines were being rolled out, according to Department of Health and Environmental Control data.

But health officials also announced Thursday that at least half of people in the state eligible for the vaccine have received at least one dose. That rate is better than several southern states but still in the bottom 20% of the U.S.

About 44% of South Carolinians are fully vaccinated, DHEC said.

McMaster has not discouraged anyone from getting the vaccine, although he did come out firmly against having teams go door-to-door offering doses. The 74-year-old governor is vaccinated, along with his wife.

"Its a personal decision. We made our decision. I think it was the right decision," McMaster said Thursday after a meeting of a committee reviewing how to spend federal COVID-19 relief money.

The governor said 99% of the people now in hospitals with COVID-19 are not vaccinated, showing the shots are effective. He said information is out there, but also encouraged people reluctant to get the shots to talk to friends or pastors, which may not change minds if they share the same reluctance.

They need to talk to the people they trust whether its the preacher or their doctor or neighbors or friends and make a decision," McMaster said,

Schools and colleges start back in less than a month, and health officials are concerned that may be another place for COVID-19 to spread again. The lowest vaccination rates in the state are among people ages 12 to 24, health officials said.

Already this summer, South Carolina has reported at least 150 cases with children attending summer camps or their employees, DHEC Director Dr. Edward Simmer said in a statement.

These numbers are a snapshot of what could happen in our schools this year if more parents, students, teachers, and other school officials dont get vaccinated, Simmer said. At this time last year, we did not have a solution to defeat COVID-19. Now we do."

___

Follow Jeffrey Collins on Twitter at https://twitter.com/JSCollinsAP.
HERMISTON, Ore. (AP)  Two former employees of a home manufacturing company in eastern Oregon have filed a lawsuit saying they endured anti-Black racism and discrimination, and then were fired after reporting the incidents to managers.

The lawsuit was filed in federal court by two Black women who worked for Marlette Homes in Hermiston between 2018 and 2020, Oregon Public Broadcasting reported.
HOUSTON (AP)  A Houston man was arrested Friday and charged with multiple counts from the Jan. 6 assault on the U.S. Capitol, including pepper-spraying police.

Federal prosecutors in Washington, D.C., say Andrew Quentin Taake, 32, was arrested Friday after police body-camera video showed him pepper-spraying a line of officers who were trying to keep a mob from entering the Capitol.
NEW YORK (AP)  A trove of religious artifacts stolen from Jewish synagogues and homes in Europe during the Holocaust are now in the hands of U.S. authorities who plan to return them to their communities of origin.

The authorities announced this week they had recovered 17 funeral scrolls, manuscripts and other historic records that were to go on auction in New York City. The items were traced to Jewish communities in Romania, Hungary, Ukraine and Slovakia that were ransacked during Nazi rule in World War II, federal prosecutors in Brooklyn said in a statement.

Acting U.S. Attorney Jacquelin Kasulis said they contain priceless historical information that belongs to the descendants of families that lived and flourished in Jewish communities before the Holocaust.

The auction house, Kestenbaum & Company, said it had cooperated with authorities. The sale involved a private collector known for trying to rescue and preserve Jewish historical documents that would otherwise have been lost, it said in a statement provided Friday.

When provenance claims were raised, the World Jewish Restitution Organization was consulted, after which we withdrew the property from the proposed auction," the statement added.

The case has its origins from an era when members of the Jewish communities were banished to ghettos, robbed of their belongings and deported to Nazi death camps, court papers say. When survivors returned, they found their homes emptied of anything of value, including records dating from the mid-19th century.

When the auction was scheduled, a researcher spotted that it included a forgotten relic from the city of Cluj-Napoca in Romania  a bound registry of burials between 1836 and 1899. It had an estimated value of up to $7,000 and was described as a manuscript written in Hebrew and Yiddish  with elaborate, artistic title-page poetically extolling the three leaders of the Burial Society, court papers said.

The researcher, Robert Schwartz, told The New York Times earlier this year that it was a rare find worthy of proper preservation as a local museum exhibit.

Very little belonging to the community survived World War II, Schwartz said. Its surprising that the book surfaced at auction, because no one knew anything about its existence.
NEW YORK (AP)  The judge presiding over an upcoming trial of two associates of Rudy Giuliani and a third man on charges they made illegal campaign contributions said Thursday hed be shocked if Giulianis recently confiscated phones aid a selective prosecution claim he's already rejected.

U.S. District Judge J. Paul Oetken commented as attorney Joseph Bondy pressed for assurances that prosecutors will let defense lawyers know if any phone data would help the defense of Lev Parnas, Igor Fruman and Andrey Kukushkin. All three have pleaded not guilty and are free on bail.

At one point at a pretrial hearing, the Manhattan judge asked Bondy if he thought a phone might contain something from former Attorney General William Barr saying Parnas should be arrested because he's going to turn against Trump even though he's a big Trump supporter now.

If there is such a document, I would be shocked, the judge said, though he instructed federal prosecutors to forward to him anything they might receive along those lines.

During the remotely conducted conference, Oetken said Bondy's selective prosecution argument on behalf of Parnas lacks plausibility.

He was repeating his finding from a ruling last week when he called Bondy's arguments implausible that Parnas was targeted for arrest because of his national origin, his political affiliation and a government conspiracy to prevent him from exercising his constitutional rights.

A court-appointed former federal judge is overseeing the separation of privileged materials from other data pulled from 18 phones taken during raids of Giuliani 's home and law office earlier this year. Some phones belonged to employees of the former New York mayor's firm.

Parnas and Fruman worked with Giuliani before their arrests to try to get Ukrainian officials to investigate the son of then-Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden. Giuliani has said he knew nothing about contributions by the men. He has not been charged.

Former President Donald Trumps efforts to press Ukraine for an investigation of the Bidens led the House to impeach Trump, though he was acquitted by the Senate. At the time, Giuliani was serving Trump as a personal lawyer.

Also Thursday, Oetken refused to postpone a trial scheduled for early October until February. Defense lawyers claimed that September holidays and difficulties getting children ready for a return to school necessitated a delay.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicolas Roos, though, said it was not in the public's interest to delay further a trial only expected to last a week or two.

The men are charged in a scheme to make illegal campaign donations to local and federal politicians in New York, Nevada and other states to try to win support for a new recreational marijuana business.
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP)  A lawsuit raising questions about when the state budget takes effect should be dismissed on constitutional or other grounds, attorneys for the Legislative Affairs Agency argue in a case scheduled to be heard Friday.

Alaska Attorney General Treg Taylor sued in late June, after the House failed to adopt effective date provisions for a state spending package. Gov. Mike Dunleavy said the budget was "constitutionally impaired if the goal was for it to take effect on July 1."

A week after the lawsuit was filed, and three days before the new fiscal year started on July 1, the House passed the effective date provisions. Attorneys for the Legislative Affairs Agency, in court filings, say that action itself renders the lawsuit moot.

But attorneys James Torgerson, Kevin Cuddy and Connor Smith also say the lawsuit in substance is brought in the name of the state against the Legislature, an action they say is barred by the state constitution.

Even if the judge found the lawsuit was not an action against the Legislature, the attorneys have argued the case still should be tossed because the Legislature makes appropriations decisions and the Legislative Council makes decisions about legislative business  not the Legislative Affairs Agency.

Superior Court Judge Herman Walker Jr. is set to hear arguments in Anchorage.

Attorneys for the state, Margaret Paton Walsh, William Milks and Jessie Alloway, in court filings, said the issues raised by Taylors lawsuit could come up again and that Walker should not dismiss the matter as moot.

"Indeed, all the elements that led to this litigation appear likely to persist in the near future, with the potential that this exact situation could repeat as soon as next year, they wrote. After all, there is not yet any solution to the States fiscal problems, and next years budget will be the product of negotiations between the same governor and legislature as this year.

Taylor has argued that under the state constitution, laws dont become effective until 90 days after enactment unless the Legislature with two-thirds support in each chamber provides for other effective dates. The Department of Law attorneys, in court filings, have said retroactive provisions in the budget did not provide a workaround.
EVERETT, Wash. (AP)  A Lake Stevens man has been charged with a felony hate crime for allegedly posting a photo of a gun on social media and threatening to kill people of color.

Court papers say on Jan. 28, one of Benjamin Richeys relatives, who was still a student at Marysville Pilchuck High School, had a few friends over. Documents say Richey took the phone of one of the friends without that persons knowledge and used their Snapchat account to post a photo of himself holding a BB gun with the caption killing minorities soon," The Daily Herald reported.
MARBLORO , Vt. (AP)  The Marlboro Music Festival has reached an agreement to buy the campus of the now-closed Marlboro College in Vermont, ending a year of uncertainty over the future of the campus.

Marlboro Board of Trustees chair Christopher Serkin said Thursday they came to an agreement with Democracy Builders Fund, which bought the campus following the closure of Marlboro College. The deal includes a settlement with the organization Type 1 Civilization, which has been engaged with Democracy Builders in a dispute over ownership.

The purchase price for the 533-acre campus was not released.

Serkin said the three parties would be working together to obtain any necessary approvals and he said he looked forward to a swift transfer of the property."

The amount we paid was what we felt was necessary for ensuring that the property remains intact, preserved and protected for our continuing summer program and other cultural, educational, community and conservation purposes moving forward, Serkin said in an email to the Brattleboro Reformer.

The campus has been the only home of the festival, which is holding its 70th summer of classical and chamber music with musicians from all over the world performing on the southern Vermont campus.

The agreement resolves a dispute between Democracy Builders Fund of New York and Type 1 Civilization of Toronto, Canada. Both claimed ownership of the campus, according to state lawsuits.

Democracy Builders purchased the campus from the college in 2020 and planned on offering educational programs for underprivileged students. Type 1 Civilization emerged as a financial partner of Democracy Builders with its own plans for the campus.

Over the past decade, Marlboro Music has invested more than $15 million in projects that include new housing for musicians, a new building containing chamber music rehearsal studios, a music library and other vital spaces for its musicians, staff, and the community, the Brattleboro Reformer reported.

Serkin said that after the deal is finalized they will begin working with the community and others to decide how best to make use of the campus in ways that will preserve the property, enhance the community and be consistent with Marlboro Musics mission and use of the campus.
LANSING, Mich. (AP)  Michigan on Friday reported an average of 431 new daily COVID-19 infections over three days, up 47% from the same period a week earlier.

Cases have gone up in all but one state over the past two weeks, which health officials nationally have attributed to the fast-spreading delta variant of the coronavirus. Michigan's seven-day average, 332, is double what it was two weeks ago. The test positivity rate, which also has been rising, was 4.7% on Thursday.
MARYVILLE, Mo. (AP)  A Nebraska man who set a fire that forced the evacuation of a Missouri county jail has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for arson and other charges.

Ethen Mark Bentley, 29, of Stella, Nebraska, was sentenced July 16 after pleading guilty to first-degree arson for setting a fire in his cell in January at the Nodaway County Jail. Jail officials were forced to evacuate 20 inmates through smoky, narrow hallways. No one was injured.
WARSAW, Poland (AP)  Poland's Senate on Friday approved with some amendments much-disputed changes to property restitution rules, moving them a step closer to adoption.

The draft regulations have drawn strong criticism from Israel and from Jewish organizations who say the new administrative law would prevent Jewish claims for compensation or property seized during the Holocaust and communist times.

Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid said the legislation will severely damage our relations with Poland.

If adopted, the changes would prevent property ownership and other administrative decisions from being declared void after 30 years. It affects Polish, Jewish and other property. Poland says it is a response to fraud and irregularities that have emerged in the restitution process, leading to evictions or giving real estate to property dealers.

The changes have been ordered by the Constitutional Court which ruled in 2015 that the current state of administrative regulations was against Poland's supreme law.

Poland's authorities insist restitution claims will still be possible through courts, regardless of the claimants nationality or place of residence.

The amended draft now goes to the parliaments lower chamber for approval and then will need the signature of President Andrzej Duda, who has spoken in its favor.

Gideon Taylor, Chair of Operations of the World Jewish Restitution Organization, has urged the lower chamber to reject the bill in its entirety.

He said the organization encourages Poland to once and for all settle the issue of private property by adopting comprehensive restitution legislation.

"As the remaining Holocaust survivors get older, they deserve a measure of justice in their lifetime, Taylor said.

Before World War II, Poland was home to Europes largest Jewish community of some 3.5 million people. Most were killed in the Holocaust under Nazi Germanys occupation and their property was confiscated. Polands post-war communist authorities seized those properties, along with the property of non-Jewish owners in Warsaw and other cities. The end of communism in 1989 opened the door to restitution claims, most of which would be coming from Poles.

The still unresolved matter has been a constant source of bitterness and political tension between Poland and Israel.

In 2001, a draft law foreseeing compensation for seized private property was approved in parliament but vetoed by President Aleksander Kwasniewski. He claimed it violated social equality principles and would hurt Polands economic development, implying that compensation claims would result in large payouts. He said individual claims should be made through the courts.

Poland is the only European country that has not offered any compensation for private property seized by the state in its recent history. Only the remaining communal Jewish property, like some synagogues, prayer houses and cemeteries, mostly in disrepair, have been returned where possible or compensated for.



This story has been corrected to show that Israeli minister's first name is Yair, not Yari.
ATLANTA (AP)  A suburban Atlanta congressman was among nine people arrested Thursday for blocking the door of a Senate office building in Washington while protesting inaction on Democratic voting law proposals.

U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson, a Lithonia Democrat, said in a statement after his arrest that he was protesting "Senate inaction on voting rights legislation & filibuster reform. In the spirit of my dear friend and mentor  the late Congressman John Lewis  I was getting in good trouble.
LJUBLJANA, Slovenia (AP)  Slovenia Prime Minister Janez Jansa on Friday accused a European Union official of being a liar in the wake of the publication this week of an annual report on adherence to the rule of law in the bloc that highlighted democratic challenges in the Balkan nation.

The European Commissions report said media freedom and pluralism have been deteriorating and pointed out online harassment and threats against journalists. The EU's executive arm was also concerned by the government's refusal to finance the state-run Slovenian Press Agency, or STA, for 2021.
LOS ANGELES (AP)  The chair of former President Donald Trumps inaugural committee was ordered freed Friday on $250 million bail to face charges he secretly worked as an agent for the the United Arab Emirates to influence Trumps foreign policy.

Tom Barrack, 74, will be subject to electronic monitoring and largely confined to his residence after he is arraigned Monday in a New York courtroom. He was arrested Tuesday in Los Angeles near his home.

Barrack is expected to plead not guilty to conspiring to influence U.S. policy on the UAEs behalf during Trumps 2016 campaign and while Trump was president. Barrack, the founder of private equity firm Colony Capital, was among three men charged in the case.

Prosecutors said Barrack used his long personal friendship with Trump to benefit the UAE without disclosing his ties to the U.S. government.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Patricia Donahue in Los Angeles ordered strict conditions for Barrack's release. He must surrender his passport, wear a GPS-monitor to track his whereabouts, limit travel between Southern California and New York City and obey a curfew.

Barrack is charged with conspiracy, obstruction of justice and making multiple false statements during a June 2019 interview with federal agents. Matthew Grimes, 27, a former executive at Barracks company from Aspen, Colorado, and Rashid al Malik, 43, a businessman from the United Arab Emirates who prosecutors said acted as a conduit to that nations rulers, were also charged in the seven-count indictment.

Grimes was ordered released on $5 million bail. Al Malik fled the U.S. three days after an April 2018 interview by law enforcement and remains at large, authorities said. He and is believed to be living somewhere in the Middle East.

Barrack is one of several of the former presidents associates to face criminal charges, including his former campaign chair, his former deputy campaign chair, his former chief strategist, his former national security adviser, his former personal lawyer and his companys longtime chief financial officer.

Barrack was an informal adviser to Trumps 2016 campaign before becoming the inaugural committee chair.

He raised $107 million for the lavish celebration scrutinized both for its spending and for attracting numerous foreign officials and businesspeople looking to lobby the new administration. The inaugural committee was not implicated in the indictment.

After Trump took office, Barrack informally advised senior U.S. government officials on Middle East foreign policy. He also sought appointment as special envoy to the Middle East or U.S. ambassador to the UAE, prosecutors said.

He relayed sensitive information about developments within the Trump administration to UAE officials including how senior U.S. officials felt about a yearslong boycott of Qatar conducted by the UAE and other Middle Eastern countries, prosecutors said.

He told al Malik that landing an official position within the administration would enable him to advance UAE interests, prosecutors said.

Such an appointment "would give ABU DHABI more power! he wrote to al Malik, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors originally sought to detain Barrack because they said he owned a private jet and was a flight risk. They also noted he has citizenship in Lebanon, a country with no extradition treaty with the U.S.

___

Associated Press reporter Larry Neumeister contributed from New York.
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP)  An Uber driver has been charged with sexually assaulting a customer earlier this year, according to a North Carolina sheriff's office.

A news release from the Wake County Sheriffs Office says investigators have charged Muhammad Arslan Afzal with first-degree kidnapping, second-degree forcible sexual offense, indecent exposure and sexual battery.

According to investigators, the driver stopped his car on the shoulder of Interstate 540 near Knightdale early on May 9 and asked his passenger to move to the front seat to help him with his GPS.

The sheriffs office says the driver assaulted the woman, then drove her to her destination before he fled the area. Warrants were secured on July 13 for Afzai's arrest, and with help from the Johnston County Sheriff's Office, he was located and arrested.

Afzal is being jailed under a $250,000 secured bond. It's not known if he has an attorney.

In Columbia, South Carolina, a man is on trial for kidnapping and killing a University of South Carolina student who was out with friends when she disappeared. Police have said the student got into a car she thought was an Uber ride. But instead, it was driven by the man now charged with her murder.
When police knocked on Michael Clark's door in Idaho Springs, Colo., in May, he emerged in his underwear, holding a swordlike weapon. Police ordered him to drop it, and the 75-year-old complied, placing it on a shelf several feet behind him.

"Get on the ground!" a female officer screamed, her weapon pointed at Clark.

"No," Clark said, trying to explain the dispute he was having with his neighbors.

Without warning, a male officer raised his Taser, pointed it at Clark's torso and fired. Clark fell backward into his apartment and went unconscious. The police then dragged Clark's body out of the apartment. As the two officers tried to handcuff the unresponsive Clark, the male officer placed his knee on Clark's neck.

Following the incident, Clark suffered a stroke and a burst appendix, the Associated Press reported. He was hospitalized for weeks after the incident, according to the Denver Post, and was later admitted to a nursing facility.

Sarah Schielke, Clark's lawyer, said in a Thursday statement that her client's health was "declining."

Clark has not been charged with a crime, according to the Denver Post. By contrast, the male officer, Nicholas Hanning, was charged earlier this month with assault in the third degree against an at-risk person. Hanning, a three-year veteran of the force, was fired on July 15. Idaho Springs Police Chief Nathan Buseck said Hanning's actions were "not reflective of the culture of our organization."

Body-camera footage of the May 30 incident was released on Thursday and distributed by Clark's lawyer. Schielke told The Washington Post that Clark plans to file a lawsuit "very soon."

"There is this toxic culture of never expecting to be held accountable in police forces," she told The Post. "What's happening is we're putting cameras on them, and they're not changing their behavior or attitude."

Hanning's lawyer did not respond to a request for comment late Thursday.

The incident is the latest flash point in how police use Tasers, particularly against the elderly. In March, police rushed a 67-year-old man to the hospital after using a Taser on him in Port Allen, La. The man was handcuffed at the time. In August 2018, police shocked an 87-year-old in Chatsworth, Ga., as the woman foraged for dandelions. And in October 2017, police in Kingstree, S.C., hit 86-year-old Albert Chatfield with a Taser, sending him to intensive care.

Clark's case also follows that of Karen Garner, a 73-year-old with dementia whom police in Loveland, Colo., tackled and arrested in June 2020 after she walked out of a Walmart without paying for items worth $13. Schielke is also representing Garner's family in a lawsuit.

The May 30 incident that ended in Clark getting Tasered began when his two next-door neighbors called 911 at about 10:40 p.m., according to the arrest warrant for Hanning, the police officer.

One of Clark's neighbors claimed that Clark banged on the wall and told her to be quiet. She said she was sleeping, so she knocked on Clark's door. She claimed the 75-year-old then punched her.

The body-camera footage released Thursday shows Hanning and his partner, Officer Ellie Summers, speaking with the neighbors. The woman, who had been drinking, according to her roommate, cried as she told the officers that Clark had punched her.

Hanning and Summers then knocked on Clark's door but did not identify themselves as police, according to the body-camera footage. Clark opened the door and asked: "What do you want?"

Hanning swore at Clark before moving into the apartment toward the man, telling him to put down the sword he was holding.

Clark walked to a shelf and placed it on top, then faced the police officers with his hands at his sides. Hanning ordered Clark to come out to the hall, while Summers ordered him to get on the ground.

Clark refused. "They hit that wall so hard, I thought they were going to come through the wall," Clark said, appearing to speak about his neighbors.

Within seconds, Hanning raised the Taser and fired it at Clark. He moaned and fell backward into his apartment, appearing to hit his head on a dining room chair. The officers rushed into the apartment, and when Hanning grabbed Clark's arm and pulled his body up, the man's head bumped into a bookshelf.

Hanning then dragged Clark out of the apartment by his feet, and the two officers handcuffed him.

Clark eventually regained consciousness and again tried to tell the officers his side of the story. He appeared confused about why he was Tasered and handcuffed.

After paramedics arrived several minutes later, Clark asked Hanning: "What did I do?"

"You punched that girl," Hanning told him. "You punched that girl and then answered the door with a fricking machete, man."

"No, that is absolutely false," Clark said. "I didn't come after nobody. I was just in bed."
BLY, Ore. (AP)  The nation's largest wildfire raged through southern Oregon on Friday, but crews were scaling back some night operations as hard work and weaker winds helped reduce the spread of flames even as wildfires continued to threaten homes in neighboring California.

In Montana, five firefighters remained hospitalized a day after a thunderstorm and swirling winds blew a lightning-caused wildfire back on them, federal officials said.

The five had joined other crews working on the 1,300-acre (525-hectare) Devils Creek fire burning in rough, steep terrain near the rural town of Jordan. The firefighters were building a defensive line Thursday when the weather shifted, Bureau of Land Management spokesperson Mark Jacobsen said.

Jacobsen declined to release the extent of the firefighters' injuries but said they were still being evaluated and treated Friday. The firefighters included three U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service crew members from North Dakota and two USDA Forest Service firefighters from New Mexico.

The blaze is among a number burning across the U.S. West, where extremely dry conditions and recent heat waves tied to climate change have made wildfires harder to fight.

In Oregon, the Bootleg Fire has destroyed an area half the size of Rhode Island. It was 40% surrounded after burning some 70 homes, mainly cabins, fire officials said. At least 2,000 homes were ordered evacuated at some point during the fire, and an additional 5,000 were threatened.

The upper eastern edge of the fire continued to move toward Summer Lake, jumping fire lines Thursday and prompting an evacuation order for some portions of Lake County to be raised to Go now! fire officials said.

Winds up to 10 mph (16 kph) could drive the flames through timber but not at the pace seen last week, when the wind-driven blaze grew exponentially, fire information officer Angela Goldman said.

The fire, which was ignited by lightning, had been expanding by up to 4 miles (6 kilometers) a day, pushed by strong winds and critically dry weather.

There was good news on the lower portion of the 625-square-mile (1,619-square-kilometer) blaze. Crews had locked in containment lines and on the lower southeastern side, they were able to gain a substantial foothold, allowing them to cut back to nighttime patrols from what had been a 24-7 run-and-gun fight, fire information officer Sarah Gracey said.

For us, thats a pretty big step, she said. Its not that easy to work in a pitch-black forest in the middle of the night.

On Friday, authorities said they would be keeping an eye on changing wind conditions.

The fire continues to throw challenges at us, and we are going to continue to stay vigilant, work hard and adapt," Joe Hessel, incident commander for the Oregon Department of Forestry Incident Management Team, said in a statement.

That side of the blaze also had burned into an area blackened by a previous fire, creating gaps in the fuel and reducing the spread of flames through grass, shrub and timber, Gracey said.

In California, Gov. Gavin Newsom issued a state of emergency for four northern counties because of wildfires that he said were causing conditions of extreme peril to the safety of persons and property." The proclamation opens the way for more state support.

The Tamarack Fire south of Lake Tahoe has now burned more than 92 square miles (238 square kilometers) of timber and head-high chaparral of mostly national forest land, fire officials said Friday.

The fire, sparked by lightning July 4 in Alpine County, has destroyed at least 10 buildings and forced the evacuation of more than 2,400 homes. That includes about 1,300 that were ordered evacuated for the first time Thursday when blowing embers ignited a new spot fire that jumped U.S. Highway 395 north of Topaz Lake on the California-Nevada line.

Pat Seekins, operations section chief for the Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team that was called in to manage the fire, said Friday they were shifting significant resources to its eastern flank along the state line. More than 1,300 firefighters were battling the overall fire, and more resources were on their way.

Seekins said the spot fire grew very large very quickly. It already has burned an estimated 10 square miles (26 square kilometers).

We had a really active day yesterday. It was pretty severe, he said. Its a very significant spot fire, and its going to take a lot of work. That will be a very high priority for us today.

The Douglas County Board of Commissioners in Nevada declared a state of emergency and set up evacuation sites at a senior center and the Topaz Estates community center. Neighboring Lyon County opened one at Smith Valley High School.

Crews also continue to provide structure protection farther west in California near Markleeville, Woodfords and Crystal Springs south of California Highway 88, but the worst danger has passed there, Seekins said.

Mandatory evacuation orders were issued Friday in Butte County, California, as the Dixie Fire continued to grow explosively eastward, becoming the states largest wildfire so far this year. On Thursday, officials in Plumas County in the Sierra Nevada west of the Nevada line also ordered evacuations.

The fire had burned more than 223 square miles (577 square kilometers) as of Friday evening, fire officials said. It destroyed at least eight buildings and threatened at least 1,500 more.

Climate change has made the West much warmer and drier in the past 30 years and will continue to make weather more extreme and wildfires more frequent and destructive.

___

Associated Press videographer Haven Daly contributed from Gardnerville, Nevada.
Stephen F. Austin, Donnie Darko and a person who calls himself the King of the Wild Frontier were among the first people to give money to support Gov. Greg Abbotts border wall effort after he announced he would be seeking private donations to help fund it.

But theres no way to verify if Austin, who donated $10, is of any relation to the man known as the Father of Texas, or if Darko, who gave $25, bears resemblance to the titular character in the cult film about a teenage boy who meets a man in a bunny suit who tells him the world will end in 28 days. The King of the Wild Frontier donated $50, but public records dont state where he lives.

RELATED: Can Greg Abbott actually build Trump's border wall?

Despite promises from Abbott that transparency in the crowdfunding process for the border wall would be paramount, donor information released to The Texas Tribune for the first week of collections was bereft of any way to verify the identities of the majority of the donors. Abbotts office is not disclosing the locations of donors, nor is it requiring that they identify themselves with their real names.

We expect full transparency and accountability, Abbott said in June when announcing the crowdfunding effort. So the public will know all the money coming in and how that money is being used.

The shortcomings in the donation disclosures have raised ethical concerns about the private fundraising effort for the governors major state initiative. Experts have warned that without clear disclosure rules and enforcement, the public may never truly know who is funding the states border wall. Worse, they warned, it could invite the perception of a pay to play system in which donors, who are anonymous to the public, benefit from their donations to one of Abbotts priority projects.

You dont want to have this big slush fund of money that is going to this pet project of the state executive that has zero accountability to anybody, with money coming in from who knows what and God knows who, said Beth Rotman, national director of money in politics and ethics at Common Cause, the government watchdog group.

The Tribune reviewed donations to Abbotts border wall efforts that covered the first eight days of its existence, from June 10-17. During that time, the state received more than 3,300 individual donations. The highest was $5,000.

As of Thursday, the total donations for the wall exceeded more than $873,000, but the list of individual donor names beyond the first eight days was not immediately available.

In addition to potentially fake names, the list also includes dozens of incomplete names. Donors are identified as R T, S P, Red A and A Rim.

Abbotts office did release the city and state information for just 25 donors who had sent money in the mail prior to the establishment of its online fundraising portal on June 16. All except two of those donations came from outside of Texas. One $10 donation received by mail was from American Citizen/Veteran and was listed as anonymous.

READ MORE: Abbott wants to build a border wall. South Texas landowners are divided over whether they want it.

After being presented with the Tribunes findings, Abbott spokesperson Renae Eze repeated the governors commitment to ensuring full transparency and accountability to our fellow Texans, saying Abbott had followed a process that has been around for decades to oversee gifts, grants, and donations, to establish the border walls funding mechanism.

Eze added that the donations were subject to the states public information laws and that Abbotts office was releasing the information in accordance with those laws.

Due to the sensitive nature of the personal information for the credit card transactions, and the very real fear of retaliation for donating to the border security mission, billing information is only being kept by the state agency responsible for processing the credit card financial transactions, Eze said in a statement. Until the Biden Administration starts doing their job, Texas is stepping up to secure our southern border and protect Texans and Americans alike.

The Tribune has not sought the disclosure of the donors credit card numbers, but it has asked for donor names, cities and states to aid in the verification of identities.

In a similar instance, when Arizona tried to crowdfund the legal defense of a controversial immigration law that allowed police to ask citizens for their citizenship status, the state released the names of donors and the states where they lived.

Not everyone who donated to Texas wall hid their identity.

Political consultants like Sherry Sylvester, a top aide to Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, gave at least $50, and Allen Blakemore, who advises some of the states top GOP politicians, including Patrick, donated $25.

Most people dont have a problem with it, said Robin Kolodny, chair of the political science department at Temple University. Look at the Koch brothers, [Sheldon] Adelson, Michael Bloomberg. They hide nothing. Im not saying there arent people trying to hide. But theres a lot of people who dont have a problem.

Kolodny, who has studied public disclosures in campaign financing, said people who donate to efforts like Abbotts border wall do so because they believe in the cause.

Its solidarity, she said. Its me showing Im with this.

Experts likened the fundraising effort for the wall to political contributions for campaigns and said that Abbotts office should put in place tools to reassure the public of the projects transparency.

'I'M JUST STUNNED': Texas leaders react to Abbott's announcement about border wall

You dont want to have anonymity because it raises the danger that somebody will be steering public policy, said Richard Briffault, a law professor at Columbia University.

Under Texas political reporting laws, campaigns are required to ask donors for their name, address and business occupation when asking for donations to verify their identity. But Abbotts border wall fundraising is not governed by those laws and does not have those requirements.

It makes sense, certainly, that you have an executive saying that we are going to disclose where the funds are coming from, Rotman said. But if thats not meaningful disclosure ... when its just a pledge, then its not really worth the paper that its written on.

Rotman said Abbott could start by adding language to the website asking donors to certify that they use their legal name. His office could also list donor names on the website contemporaneously for the public  as opposed to only providing them in response to open records requests  and add software that would prevent donors from listing incomplete names.

If you think its important, then you have to say Im not going to let somebody write down Donnie Darko and give me the cash, she said. There are a lot of well-developed states and a lot of well-developed models. Its very possible for Texas to do this in a way that Texans will have disclosure in the way that the governor has promised.

Beyond getting rid of the cloud of anonymity, experts also said more disclosure could help remove the perception of pay to play, in which influential donors could give money to Abbotts border wall project in the hopes of political favors or government contracts in the future.

If youre looking at lobbyists or political advisers who want him to hire them because he wants to run for president, maybe theyre all staking their claims, Kolodny said.

Abbotts office did not respond to questions about those concerns.

On the flip side, a requirement for addresses and occupations could help avoid confusion. One name among the list of early donors is Mike Toomey, who donated $100. That is the name of one of the states top lobbyists, whom Abbott tapped last year to head a strike force to reopen Texas during the coronavirus pandemic.

But Toomey, the lobbyist, said he had not donated to the border wall.

Thats not me, he said.

The system has also opened the door for creative donors to send political messages to state officials.

On June 17, one donor gave $1, the minimum amount required to donate to the campaign. Under the field for name, the donor listed StopWasting TaxpayerMoney.
Support is growing among Texas Republicans for a push to audit the results of the 2020 election in a state that former president Donald Trump won handily. But the proposal, introduced in the House earlier this month, would only re-examine votes in Texas's largest counties, most of which went for President Joe Biden.

The legislation, House Bill 241, calls for an independent third party appointed by the state's top GOP officials to conduct a forensic audit of results in counties with more than 415,000 people. Of the 13 counties that meet that criteria, ten voted for Biden last year.

RELATED: Texans not expected to lose power through the rest of the summer, regulators say

The bill's sponsor, Republican state Rep. Steve Toth, said earlier this week that his constituents are concerned about fraud in the election. In an interview, Toth added that he also became convinced an audit was needed after a meeting earlier this year with U.S. Rep. Pete Sessions, R-Tex., who claimed to have evidence of voter fraud in a 2018 race that he lost.

"No amount of fraud should be acceptable in our election system," Toth said. "I think it's important that we get to the bottom of this and make sure that people start to believe in their voting system."

But Democrats and some election officials say there is no need for an audit, pointing out that Republicans have not demonstrated any evidence of widespread fraud in the state.

"We're chasing ghosts. It has been proven, time and again, that there was no major election fraud. P.S.: Trump won Texas," said Lorena Perez McGill, a Democrat who lost to Toth in the November elections. "So I don't understand what he seeks to accomplish with this."

For now, the bill is stalled as House Democrats continue to wait out a 30-day special session in D.C., denying Republicans a quorum to continue. But the effort is the latest attempt by state lawmakers across the country clamoring for audits following Trump's false claims of mass voting fraud after his loss.

Toth's proposal has gained 26 GOP backers since Texas Democrats fled the state. Texas Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton tweeted his support for the bill Wednesday, writing, "There is no reason not to do an audit. There is no reason not to know the truth of every election."

The bill would require a forensic auditor to complete their work by Feb. 1, 2022, and report back to the legislature, "detailing any anomalies or discrepancies in voter data, ballot data or tabulation" in the 13 counties. Among the counties included is Montgomery County, where Toth himself was reelected in November; the bill's sponsor declined to say whether he believed there was fraud in his election.

MORE POLITICS: White House officials debate masking push as Covid infections spike

Some experts have argued that a statewide audit could be useful. Such audits are commonplace in close elections or in cases where discrepancies emerged after the fact.

But while Toth said he would support a statewide effort, he also argued the undertaking would be too expensive and time-consuming. Asked if he would consider including some smaller counties, Toth replied, "What's the point? I mean, all the small counties are red."

Some experts said that Toth's bill, as written, would likely fail on a technical level in a state where counties use a variety of methods, including paper ballots, preprinted ballots and digital machines.

"I think this is a very poorly thought-out piece of legislation, and a waste of time and money that could be spent on deploying trustworthy voting systems," said Philip Stark, a statistics professor at the University of California at Berkeley.

Stark worked pro-bono with others recently on a forensic audit of a November 2020 election in Windham, New Hampshire, where results from a hand count did not match a machine count. Unlike in Toth's bill, Stark said, New Hampshire legislators specified how the audit should be done.

"A forensic audit usually means that something went wrong and you're trying to do a root cause analysis," said Stark, whose team in New Hampshire found that folds in the ballots had caused the discrepancy. "This just looks like, 'Go fishing and figure out what dirt you can find on the election.'"

Some Texas election officials also criticized Toth's bill, noting that the state ran a successful election despite record numbers of voters during a pandemic. Lisa Johnson, the president of the County and District Clerk's Association of Texas, called it "unnecessary."

CAPITOL PUNISHMENT: Pelosi says 'deadly serious' Jan. 6 probe to go without GOP

"It's really frustrating to see them continually make elections more difficult to hold without feeling like you're being attacked by certain people," said Johnson, the Republican clerk in Hemphill County.

"People are looking to be relevant," said Bexar County Elections Administrator Jacquelyn Callanen, whose office is nonpartisan. "But the November elections were safe and secure."

An audit, Callanen said, "would suck up all the air" and computers for her 21-person staff. Thinking aloud about the machinery, sealed boxes and resources that would be involved, she added, "I can't imagine."
Florida, FL (34429)

Today

Mostly cloudy this evening. Scattered thunderstorms developing after midnight. Low around 75F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%..

Tonight

Mostly cloudy this evening. Scattered thunderstorms developing after midnight. Low around 75F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%.
A. There are too many interchanges planned in Citrus. This one isn't necessary.

B. Make a temporary terminus at C.R. 486 and let the community decide if it needs to stay in the future.

C. An interchange at 486 would dump traffic in an already congested area. Don't do it.

D. The proposed location is a fine, centrally located exit in Citrus.

Vote

View Results
Florida, FL (34429)

Today

Partly to mostly cloudy with scattered showers and thunderstorms developing overnight. Low near 75F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%..

Tonight

Partly to mostly cloudy with scattered showers and thunderstorms developing overnight. Low near 75F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%.
Hunting and fishing in Canada with a criminal record Rules, issues, and solutions to coming to Canada with a criminal record. Michael Schwartz Matt Hendler Aa Accessibility Font Style Serif

Sans Font Size A

A

With Canada opening its doors to American tourists in less than a month, many more people will be able to come. This article discusses the situation of one major tourist group.

On August 9, the Canadian border opens for non-essential purposes to U.S. citizens and permanent residents. These must be fully vaccinated and have waited at least two weeks since receiving their last vaccine. U.S. visitors to Canada will not have to all take a test at the border or afterwards. However, Canada may perform random inspections at the border.

Contact a criminality expert at the Law Firm of Campbell Cohen

Hunters and fishers constitute a significant amount of discretionary travelers to Canada. Many people coming to Canada, including would-be hunters and fishers, have some criminal history. This past can have a serious impact on a persons ability to come to Canada. Indeed, these situations often raise several particular and unique concerns.

About criminal inadmissibility

If a person commits or is convicted of a crime in another country, Canada will look at that countrys laws and compare it with Canadas own. If an equivalency exists, Canada will then assess whether the crime was an indictable offence which is more serious, or a summary offence which is less serious.

Generally, committing a single crime that is an indictable offence in Canada or two crimes that are summary offences in Canada will render a person inadmissible. A crime that Canadian law allows for prosecution by either summary or indictment processes  known as a hybrid offence  is an indictable offence for the purposes of criminal inadmissibility. Operating a vehicle (car, boat, motorcycle, etc.) while intoxicated is a hybrid offence in Canada. It is also important to understand that even if a person was charged but not convicted of a crime in Canada, the mere presence of the charge can render that person inadmissible.

The three main solutions to criminal inadmissibility are the temporary resident permit (TRP), criminal rehabilitation, and a legal opinion letter. Each has different requirements, functions, and benefits.

Temporary Resident Permit (TRP)

The TRP has the advantage that one can apply for it either at a designated Canadian visa office, or at a Canadian point of entry (POE), such as a border crossing. The latter option means that a person does not have to apply for a TRP in advance. There is no guarantee, however, that a request for a TRP  whether in advance or at the border  will be favourable. There is always a risk of being denied one.

A TRP application costs $200 CAD. Another factor to consider when discussing TRPs is that a TRP is generally only valid for the duration of a particular trip to Canada. As a practical matter, it is difficult for people coming to Canada to hunt or fish to obtain TRPs. A TRP that is not made at a point of entry typically takes 3-6 months to process. A TRP is, however, the only recourse available to someone who is inadmissible for criminality but for whom less than five years have passed since sentence completion.

Rehabilitation

This term refers to a process by which a person who was previously inadmissible to Canada becomes admissible again. It comes in two forms: individual and deemed.

Individual rehabilitation

Individual rehabilitation is for people with criminal records who are not currently eligible for deemed rehabilitation (see below), but who have passed more than five years from when they committed the act or completed their sentence  whichever came later. It is important to understand that the sentence is any judicial consequence resulting from a crime, including: jail time; probation; and payment of a fine.

Individual rehabilitation involves an application in which the applicant argues that at least five years have passed since they completed their sentence; that they are no longer a risk for criminality; and that their criminal conviction was an isolated event. In the event a persons record contains more than one offence, the person may have to supply further explanations to show the Canadian government the person does not pose a risk.

Deemed rehabilitation

This rehabilitation form can be automatic, based on the nature of the crime and the time that has passed since conviction or commission. If a person has been convicted of, or found to have committed a crime that, in Canada, is an indictable offence, but 10 years have elapsed since completion of sentence, with no intervening criminal offences, that person is deemed rehabilitated and eligible to come to Canada. The exception is in cases where the person was convicted of a crime that in Canadian law is an indictable offence and that has a potential punishment of more than ten years. In that case, there is no deemed rehabilitation. Deemed rehabilitation also applies to some individuals who were convicted for two or more crimes, if both of these would be summary offences in Canada. In this situation, at least five years need to have elapsed.

An attractive element of rehabilitation is that once a person is rehabilitated, they retain that status from then on  unless, of course, they wind up in trouble with the law again. But, assuming they do not, they will have their criminal history resolved. Rehabilitation is usually the most appealing and recommended option for hunters or fishers otherwise inadmissible to Canada.

Legal opinion letter

Often, a Legal Opinion Letter from a Canadian immigration lawyer can be helpful in the event you are planning on entering Canada with a pending charge. The lawyer can explain any underlying facts in the pending case, and explain why you should not be considered inadmissible.

Other Issues

Weaponry

A prospective hunter will have to demonstrate to Canada that, given his or her record, the hunter will not pose any danger to other people  be it through weapons or otherwise. Canada has strict gun laws, in general. Certain firearms that US law permits are restricted in Canada. It is imperative that someone seeking to enter Canada with any weaponry declare this weaponry at the border. They must fill out before or on arrival the Non-Resident Firearms Declaration Form. If seeking to bring in a firearm normally restricted or prohibited, they must also obtain, in advance, an Authorization To Transport (ATT). Failure to fill out the proper forms could lead to the weapons being confiscated and/or the individual facing criminal prosecution. There are also various options for foreigners to rent firearms in Canada.

Discretionary Nature of Visit

Hunting and fishing is generally considered non-essential travel. A person will have to demonstrate that the benefits that his or her trip brings to Canada outweigh any risks. All things considered, a longer trip  which involves a greater contribution to the Canadian economy  or a less severe or most distant criminal history will all work in someones favour.

Contact a criminality expert at the Law Firm of Campbell Cohen

 CIC News All Rights Reserved. Discover your Canadian immigration options at CanadaVisa.com.
The COVID-19 pandemic forced many IT leaders to reprioritize initiatives in service of better business resiliency. Sheila Jordan didnt have that luxury when she joined Honeywell as chief digital technology officer in January 2020.

Fifty-nine days into her tenure, Jordan found herself scrambling to redesign the $40 billion industrial firms network infrastructure in eight days, distribute laptops for 110,000 employees located across 83 countries, and ensure that vendors and suppliers could meet every business lines needs.

As if that wasnt enough to occupy Jordans time, she had to execute one of her other chief remits: Bolstering an IT staff rendered thin after several years of outsourcing, with nearly 70% of the tech team hailing from third-party consultants and vendors. And she had to do this amid an outbreak that crippled travel and forced wholesale changes to interviewing and onboarding.

Flipping from an outsourcing to insourcing model

To be sure, Jordans challenges echo many of her peers grappling with coronavirus disruption, as many tech chiefs raced to shore up operations. But few had to do so while learning a new corporate culture and minting a new IT staff in a tight talent market.
AI, automation, and the cloud are more than just technology trends; they are driving forces for businesses seeking to adapt to digital transformation. Cloud computing also enables the Internet of Things (IoT), which is rapidly evolving into the Internet of Everything.

FREMONT, CA: Most businesses incorporate technological innovation into their everyday operations, particularly those in fields such as energy and aerospace, which contribute significantly to the Oklahoma City economy. A recent analysis found that future-ready firms are twice as efficient and three times more profitable than their contemporaries.

The global epidemic compelled entire industries to reassess their strategy and embrace digital advances in order to stay in touch with consumers, employees, and facilities. While the future is promising, it may also be deceptive. With so much innovation happening at such a rapid pace, firms must be able to see clearly enough to construct their own digital road maps.

AI, automation, and the cloud are more than just technology trends; they are driving forces for businesses seeking to adapt to digital transformation. Cloud computing also enables the Internet of Things (IoT), which is rapidly evolving into the Internet of Everything. According to research, the number of worldwide industrial IoT connections will more than double to 36.8 billion by 2025.

Companies can consider conducting a cloud readiness assessment to identify when and how to effectively utilize cloud computing by creating a list of common tasks that could be improved with increased automation or faster connectivity.

In a post-pandemic world where individuals are rethinking their digital connections, the focus should be on consumers, and data is the key. One might anticipate a shift toward actual loyalty initiatives that encourage better continuous participation. Companies should examine their marketing mix to see if customer acquisition and retention are in sync.

Companies of all sizes should encourage their teams to foster innovation through collaboration. Business leaders can become engrossed in notions that appear new but have no practical connection to their aims. The purpose of collaboration should be to solve problems and add value.

See Also: Top Cloud Solution Companies
Support local journalism

Now, more than ever, the world needs trustworthy reportingbut good journalism isnt free. Please support us by making a contribution.
Your use of this information constitutes agreement to the following terms

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED ON THIS SITE IS PROVIDED AS A PUBLIC SERVICE ONLY AND SHOULD NOT BE USED TO THREATEN, INTIMIDATE, OR HARASS. MISUSE OF THIS INFORMATION MAY RESULT IN CRIMINAL PROSECUTION.

OSM Map

Google Map

Bing Map



Loading map, please wait... OSM Map

Google Map

Bing Map OSM Map

Google Map

Bing Map





According to our research of Iowa and other state lists, there was 1 registered sex offender living in zip code 50590 (Swea City, IA) as of July 27, 2021.

The ratio of all residents to sex offenders in zip code 50590 is 933 to 1.

The ratio of registered sex offenders to all residents in this zip code is lower than the state average.


Dupa o luna de la lansarea paginii unde puteti contribui pentru continuarea proiectului CIVIC.MD s-au gasit 13 persoane gata sa ne sustina. In aceasta luna ne-au vizitat 26 092 persoane.

Asteptarile erau mai mari

Le multumim sustinatorilor:

Ada Dulman, Constantin Curca, Marina Grosu, AO Principii Sanatoase, Vasile Vasiliev, Liliana Samcov, Elena Spinu, Anastasia Vrancean, Olga Melnic, Maria Barbalat, Georgiana Finaru, Irina Cojocaru, Aliona Turcan

Ne poti sustine si tu aici:

https://www.patreon.com/portalcivic
BEIJING (AP)  The bodies of all 14 workers trapped when a tunnel under construction was flooded last week have been recovered, authorities in southern China said Thursday.

A brief statement on the Zhuhai city governments social media site gave no further information about the cause of the July 15 disaster or the deaths.

The Shijingshan tunnel is a section of an expressway under construction that passes beneath a reservoir in the Guangdong province city that lies close to Hong Kong and Macao.

The rescue effort involved divers, remote-controlled submarines and other high-tech equipment, while workers on the surface rushed to pump out water from the tunnel. Work was hampered at times by carbon monoxide fumes from machinery being used in the tunnel as part of the operation.

While the cause remains unclear, reports said an abnormal noise was heard and bits of material started falling off one side of the two-tube tunnel. An evacuation was ordered as water rushed in, but the 14 who died were unable to escape in time.

The construction project appeared to have had safety problems for some time. In March, two workers died in another part of the tunnel.

Zhuhai is a relatively wealthy coastal city at the mouth of the Pearl River delta, which is now being heavily developed for manufacturing and high-tech industries.

It was one of Chinas early special economic zones when the ruling Communist Party started opening up the nations economy about 40 years ago.

Demands for breakneck economic growth, weak adherence to safety standards, poor maintenance and corruption among enforcement bodies are blamed for frequent industrial accidents in China.

Those responsible are often handed harsh punishments, but high demand and the desire for profits often trump safety concerns.

Among the worst accidents was a massive 2015 explosion at a chemical warehouse in the port city of Tianjin that killed 173 people, most of them firefighters and police officers. The blast was blamed on illegal construction and unsafe storage of volatile materials.

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
COVID-19 did not delay medical treatment for workers compensation claimants, but did decrease the amount of emergency care and other services provided to injured workers, a study released Thursday by the Workers Compensation Institute concludes.

Research by WCRI economist Olesya Fomenko found that there were no noticeable delays in medical treatment for injured workers when the first two quarters of 2019 are compared to the same period in 2020. In fact, there were slightly shorter waiting times for some types of services, including emergency room, physical medicine, major surgery, and neurological/neuromuscular testing.

On the other hand, WCRI did observe some decreases in the share of patients receiving particular types of services when comparing the first half of 2019 to the first half of 2020. In particular, the states hit hardest by COVID  Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Jersey  saw the share of lost-time claims with emergency services drop to 23% from 31%.

This is consistent with the expectation that people would want to avoid going to the emergency room because of fear of virus contraction, the report says.

Fomenko examined data from 27 state workers compensation systems to track changes in medical utilization. Her findings are similar to the conclusions of previous studies conducted by the National Council on Compensation Insurance and the California Workers Compensation Institute.

In general health, the coronavirus pandemic greatly reduced the use of health care services in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that 41% of adults delayed or avoided medical care because of concerns about COVID-19, the WCRI study notes.

In contrast, our results for WC show that medical treatment for injuries covered by WC did not experience any delays and actually had shorter duration for some types of services, the report says. This can potentially be explained by injuries filed with WC being more severe than general health medical conditions on average.

The study found ample evidence that workers compensation did avoid medical services in the hard-hit states. In Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Jersey, the share of claims with physical medicine dropped by 4.7 percentage points and pain management by 2.4 percentage points.

The study showed that the decrease in the share of patients using particular medical services as most pronounced in the hard-hit states. For example, nationally the share of injured workers who used emergency rooms declined by 4 percentage points, compared to 8% for Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Jersey.

Among all 27 states, the share of claims with major surgery dropped three percentage points, to 17% during the 1st quarter of 2020 from 20% during the same period of 2019. The share of claims with pain management injections dropped to 7% from 9%.

By comparison, the share of patients in the hard-hit states that received major surgery dropped six percentage points. The share of patients who had pain management injections dropped by two points in all 27 states and in the hard-hit states.

The conclusion that workers compensation medical care was not delayed defies commonly held beliefs about the impact of the virus.

Last December, MedRisk reported that injured workers were being impacted by the deferral of hospital treatments and physical therapy due to COVID-19. Some researchers predicted it would take 45 weeks to catch up with the backlog of surgeries and other medical procedures, Medrisk Chief Operating Officer Mary ODonoghue said in a company blog post.

In April 2020, Jeff Rush, workers comp program manager for the California Joint Powers Authority, wrote in the insurance pools newsletter that employees with existing claims are experiencing delays in treatment, especially if they need to undergo surgery.

In contract to those observations, NCCI reported last December that the impact of COVID on emergency room visits was only minor. NCCI said that the average time between the date of injury and the first ER encounter increased from 1.2 days in 2019 to 1.4 days in 2020.

The same report concluded that the wait time for major surgeries decreased slightly during the COVID pandemic, from 20 days in the second quarter of 2019 to 19.8 days in the second quarter of 2020.

The measure indicates that, in general, WC injured workers did not experience significant delays in major surgeries during this period based on claims that had a surgery, the report says.

Alan Pierce, a Salem, Massachusetts claimants attorney who hosts a regular podcast on workers compensation issues, said the he is pleasantly surprised by WCRIs findings.

I can think of a couple of clients right now that would have had surgery in the past year, but for COVID, he said by telephone. I can think of some who did not get MRIs and their PT was canceled.

Pierce said he would be interested to see a comparison of temporary disability duration pre- and post-pandemic. He said an increase in the amount of time injured that workers remain on TD would indicate that many delayed care and therefore recovered more slowly.
Victims and families who suffered losses in the collapse of a 12-story oceanfront Florida condominium will get a minimum of $150 million in compensation initially, a judge said Wednesday.

That sum includes insurance on the Champlain Towers South building and the expected proceeds from sale of the Surfside property where the structure once stood, Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Michael Hanzman said at a hearing.

The courts concern has always been the victims here, the judge said, adding that the group includes visitors and renters, not just condo owners. Their rights will be protected.

The $150 million does not count any proceeds from the numerous lawsuits already filed since the June 24 collapse, which killed at least 97 people. Those lawsuits are being consolidated into a single class action that would cover all victims and family members if they choose, the judge said.

I have no doubt, no stone will be left unturned, Hanzman said of the lawsuits.

A receiver appointed by Hanzman to handle the Champlain Towers boards finances said the site has been completely cleared of debris under the watchful eye of investigators from the National Institute of Standards and Technology  the agency leading a federal probe into the collapse.

Rubble considered key evidence is being stored in a Miami-area warehouse, with the rest in nearby vacant lots, said the receiver, attorney Michael Goldberg. All of that will be preserved as possible evidence for the lawsuits and for other experts to review, he said.

It may take years for their report to become public, Goldberg said of the NIST probe.

The building was just undergoing its 40-year recertification process when it collapsed. That came three years after an engineer warned of serious structural issues needing immediate attention. Most of the concrete repair and other work had yet to be started.

There remain differences of opinion among condo owners about what to do with the site. Some want the entire condo rebuilt so they can move back in. Others say it should be left as a memorial site to honor those who died. A third suggestion is to combine both.

Owner Raysa Rodriguez, whose unit was on the ninth floor, said she couldnt imagine going back into a building in a place where so many friends died.

I personally would never set foot in a building. Thats a gravesite, Rodriguez told the judge. I wake up in the middle of the night thinking of everyone who perished.

Oren Cytrynbaum, an attorney who is informally representing some fellow condo owners, said it was important to think creatively about the building sale, including whether requirements might be added such as a memorial of some kind for future developers.

It shouldnt be a traditional land sale, Cytrynbaum said. Were not on one path.

Hanzman, however, said time is of the essence because victims and families need money to begin rebuilding their lives.

This is not a case where we have time to let grass grow underneath it, he said.

Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber has offered a tract of land in his neighboring city for construction of a Surfside memorial.

All options will be considered, the judge said, adding that any memorial must be paid for with public dollars. Its going to have to be funded by the general public, not these particular victims.

About the photo: A worker jumps off a large piece of rubble on the site of the Champlain Towers South collapse, in Surfside, Fla., Monday, July 19, 2021. Two close friends and former New Yorkers are among the last of the missing as the South Florida condo search stretches into a fourth week. (Jose A Iglesias/Miami Herald via AP)

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
GARDNERVILLE, Nev. (AP)  A Northern California wildfire crossed into Nevada, prompting new evacuations, but better weather has been helping crews battling the nations largest blaze in southern Oregon.

The Tamarack Fire south of Lake Tahoe had burned more than 68 square miles (176 square kilometers) of timber and head-high chaparral in national forest land. It erupted on July 4 and was one of nearly two dozen blazes sparked by lightning strikes.

More than 1,200 firefighters were battling the Alpine County blaze, which has destroyed at least 10 buildings, forced evacuations in several communities and had closed parts of U.S. 395 in Nevada and California. Fire officials expected active or extreme fire behavior on Thursday, which could see 14-mph winds and temperatures approaching 90 degrees.

A request for voluntary evacuations was also issued for portions of Douglas County, Nevada. An evacuation center was set up at a community center in Gardnerville, Nevada.

Evacuee Morgana-Le-Fae Veatch said she already had boxed up most of her belongings because she is starting community college next week but her parents lost their house in a 1987 blaze.

So this has been really, really stressing to them, she said.

Meanwhile, Oregon on Wednesday banned all campfires on state-managed lands and in state campgrounds east of Interstate 5, the major highway that is commonly considered the dividing line between the wet western part of the state and the dry eastern half.

The nations largest wildfire, Oregons Bootleg Fire, grew to 618 square miles (1,601 square kilometers)  just over half the size of Rhode Island.

However, authorities said lower winds and temperatures allowed crews to improve fire lines. The fire also was approaching an area burned by a previous fire on its active southeastern flank, raising hopes that lack of fuel could reduce its spread.

The Oregon fire, which was sparked by lightning, has ravaged the sparsely populated southern part of the state and had been expanding by up to 4 miles (6 kilometers) a day, pushed by strong winds and critically dry weather that turned trees and undergrowth into a tinderbox.

Fire crews have had to retreat from the flames for 10 consecutive days as fireballs jump from treetop to treetop, trees explode, embers fly ahead of the fire to start new blazes and, in some cases, the infernos heat creates its own weather of shifting winds and dry lightning. Monstrous clouds of smoke and ash have risen up to 6 miles (10 kilometers) into the sky and are visible for more than 100 air miles (161 kilometers).

The blaze, which is being fought by more than 2,200 people, is about one-third contained.

At least 2,000 homes were ordered evacuated at some point during the fire and an additional 5,000 were threatened. At least 70 homes and more than 100 outbuildings have burned, but no one is known to have died.

Extremely dry conditions and recent heat waves tied to climate change have made wildfires harder to fight. Climate change has made the West much warmer and drier in the past 30 years and will continue to make weather more extreme and wildfires more frequent and destructive.

About the photo: In this photo provided by the Bootleg Fire Incident Command, a tanker drops retardant over the Mitchell Monument area at the Bootleg Fire in southern Oregon on Saturday, July 17, 2021. The 569-square-mile (1,474 square kilometers) Bootleg Fire is burning 300 miles (483 kilometers) southeast of Portland in and around the Fremont-Winema National Forest, a vast expanse of old-growth forest, lakes and wildlife refuges. (Bootleg Fire Incident Command via AP)

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Words matter.

They can mean the difference between life and death.

I love words. Ive been working as a journalist since 1986 and still read four newspapers. The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Plain Dealer and the Cleveland Jewish News still arrive on our doorstep.

Yes, the real, live, print editions. I know, thats a lot of trees to sacrifice. Truth is worth it.

But are we getting the truth?

When it comes to Black Americans, were getting it late, but were finally getting it.

On July 11, The New York Times ran a full page editorial by Brent Staples headlined, How the White Press Wrote Off Black America.

He wrote: Newspapers that championed white supremacy throughout the pre-civil rights South paved the way for lynching by declaring African Americans non-persons.

They embraced the language once used at slave auctions by denying Black citizens the courtesy titles of Mr. and Mrs., and referring to them in news stories as the negro, the negress, or the (obscenity)

These were, and are, the papers of record, the writers of history.

They depicted Black men as congenital rapists, setting the stage for them to be hanged, shot or burned alive in public squares all over the former Confederacy. And they were, all over the South.

The article says newspapers incited hellish episodes of violence during which white mobs murdered at will while sometimes destroying entire Black communities.

It names names:

The Montgomery Advertiser in Alabama acknowledges being complicit in racial terrorism.

The Lexington Herald-Leader in Kentucky confessed that it had neglected to cover the civil rights movement.

The Orlando Sentinel repented for printing a front-page editorial and cartoon with four empty electric chairs seeking the deaths of four Black defendants, the victims of a wrongful prosecution attempt.

The Los Angeles Times regretted being deeply rooted in white supremacy.

The Yankee papers werent much better. Headlines used phrases like Negro ruffian, colored cannibal and African Annie. By portraying Black people as less than human, the white popular press justified the reign of terror that the South deployed, Staples wrote.

The white press pushed for the overthrow of the interracial government of Wilmington, N.C. After a white mob burned down the Black newspaper in Wilmington, vigilantes ran loose killing unarmed African Americans. Back then, The New York Times erred by calling the overthrow necessary to restore law and order.

The day after I read that editorial, my daughter shared some posts she read by a writer who identifies himself online as 57 Black Male @absurdistwords.

He wrote: When we cannot come to terms with and acknowledge the full enormity of our actions, not only can we never be accountable to those we have harmed, but we make their pain and anger seem illegitimate and arbitrary and without cause or validity.

He posted this glossary of Clear Language on Slavery.

Slaves = Hostages

Slave Owners = Human Traffickers

Plantations = Death Camps

Mistresses = Rape Victims

Discipline = Torture/Murder

Overseers = Torturers

Trading = Kidnapping

Profit = Theft

Middle Passage = Genocide

It really changes the way we tell the story of slavery, doesnt it? I grew up learning that slavery was an economic system the South depended on, not a horrendous system of torture and human trafficking that lasted from 1619 to 1865.

He wrote, America treats slavery like an oopsie rather than a centuries-long campaign of nightmarish, brutal terrorism. America sees the systemic and sadistic destruction of Black families as an etiquette violation. Which is why it will excuse slave owners so readily.

Sometimes kidnapping and enslaving humans isnt even considered an oopsie. A few years ago when I was in Amsterdam, I took a canal boat ride through the city. A recording came on to narrate history as we flowed along. The narrator listed all the goods Amsterdam had traded in, listing slaves right up there with spices in a breezy, casual tone. There was no apology, no reckoning, no shame.

I cringed.

We all have so much to learn about how to tell the story of Black Americans. There is a lot of debate going on about what we will teach about race and racism in our schools.

For far too long, weve been told the story of Black Americans from a white-washed perspective.

Its time to open ourselves to a new telling, one that gets closer to the truth, no matter how much it hurts.

Connect with Regina Brett on Facebook at ReginaBrettFans.
Is it possible for a country to be the locus of widespread antipathy toward Jews while simultaneously maintaining relatively low levels of antisemitic hate crime? A newly published report by the Jewish community in Hungary demonstrates that it is.
Clinton, IA (52732)

Today

Scattered clouds with the possibility of an isolated thunderstorm developing late. Low 69F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 30%..

Tonight

Scattered clouds with the possibility of an isolated thunderstorm developing late. Low 69F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 30%.
Clinton, IA (52732)

Today

A few clouds with an isolated thunderstorm possible after midnight. Low around 70F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

A few clouds with an isolated thunderstorm possible after midnight. Low around 70F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 22)  Thirteen Filipino seafarers who have been stuck on a ship in China's waters for 18 months were flown back to the Philippines on Thursday, the Department of Foreign Affairs said.

The Filipinos returned Thursday morning on a flight from Ghuangzhou, a month after they appealed for help.

The crew told CNN Philippines that they have been stranded since January 2020 due to China's strict health protocols amid the COVID-19 pandemic as well as a court case involving their ship's owner. Their vessel MV Angelic Power was earlier seized by the court, according to the DFA while one of the seafarers said their passports were also taken.

The Filipinos also claimed that the company they work for, the Magsaysay Maritime Corporation, had also withheld their salary since the start of 2021.

The DFA assured that the returning Filipinos had been tested for the coronavirus on July 18, before their flight. The crew had also been replaced by Chinese seafarers in their ship after they left the vessel.

Undersecretary Sarah Lou Arriola said the department initially proposed a repatriation flight on July 15 but it had to secure approval of the court handling the disposition of the ship.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 22)  More than a year into the COVID-19 pandemic, the supply of high-quality personal protective equipment (PPE) for healthcare workers remains a problem, a Senate hearing on Thursday showed.

Asked about the quality of PPEs they have been using, Melbert Reyes, president of the Philippine Nurses Association, said it varies from one hospital to another.

There are institutions that really use yung quality, with the high standards of PPEs, but there are some po talaga na nagrereklamo (who are really complaining), Reyes said. There are some complaints even with government hospitals.

We wanted sana that this matter should be addressed para safe naman yung ating mga nurses and other healthcare professionals, he added.

Senator Koko Pimentel said this should not be happening, considering the centralized procurement of PPEs. Data from the Department of Budget and Management shows that it has procured more than 21.5 billion worth of PPEs for the Department of Health.

We should wonder how come the gap in the quality is so noticeable or observable by the user, said Pimentel, chairman of the health panels subcommittee on bills seeking to increase the countrys readiness against pandemics.

Hindi po ba dapat kritikal yung standard na hindi dapat gaanong kalaki ang gap  na merong maganda at merong kwestyonable talaga,  which ang feeling ng user it is putting him or her in danger, he added.

[Translation: "Shouldn't the standards be critical so there won't be a wide gap  that there's a high quality and there's a questionable PPE  making the user feel it is putting him or her in danger.]

Helen Ocampo, chief of the Food and Drug Administrations Product Research and Standards Development Division, said all PPEs sold in the market should be registered with the FDA. Counterfeit items are confiscated, she said.

Maria Teresita Jocson-Agoncillo, executive director of the Confederation of Wearable Exporters of the Philippines, also appealed to the Senate to look at the price difference between locally made and imported PPEs.

According to data from the Procurement Service, less than 10% or only around P2.3 billion worth of PPEs were bought from domestic bidders. In one example, the lowest foreign bid for a surgical mask is only P1.47 against the P6.50 offer of a local company.

Pimentel asked if the cheaper items from the foreign supplier are of higher quality.

During the bidding process, we only require the suppliers or the bidders to comply with the minimum technical specifications provided by the end-user, which in this case is the DOH, said Jolas Brutas, OIC-Director of the Procurement Services Operations Group.

Both the domestic bidders and foreign bidders have to comply with all the conditions and requirements, he added.

Pimentel said the committee will continue to look into issues surrounding the supply of PPE and hopes to talk to other health care workers to shed light on the matter.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) For most of his political career, Rodrigo Duterte was known as a local official who transformed Davao City from a security risk to a thriving economy.

The nation noticed his no-nonsense, unconventional governance, and in 2016 elected Duterte to the highest position in the land.

In the twilight of the chief executive's term, CNN Philippines looked back at some of his major campaign promises:

End illegal drugs and criminality

Duterte vowed to end drugs and corruption three to six months into his term. He said at the time, If I become president, there's no such thing as bloodless cleansing. I propose to get rid of drugs within three to six months.

This was translated into a bloody war on drugs a campaign that earned the ire of human rights groups.

The President also vowed to step down if he failed to deliver on this promise. However, he did not resign and, instead, asked for an extension.

I feel so bad about all of these things. Kasi nalaman ko, paano ko ma-kontrol in three to six months, ang mga generals na pulis nandiyan. Tapos yung mga Bureau of Customs na inaasahan ko, p*******ina nasa droga. How will I succeed, e nasa droga...Alam ko na nagkamali ako. Nagkamali talaga ako, Duterte said.

[Translation: I then learned, how can I control this in three to six months, the police generals are there. Those at the Bureau of Customs whom I trust, they are in drugs. How will I succeed? They are in drugs I know I made a mistake. I really made a mistake.]

Despite this, the President remained popular.

If there's one thing that set apart Duterte from past presidents, political analyst Carmela Abao said he shed light on issues close to the masses: poverty and inequality.

Abao said the president captured the imagination of Filipinos but lacked the system to put these into action.

It really reflects social problems that other presidents may not have tackled before, Abao said. Drugs, for example, has not been tackled by any other president before. Apparently, with Duterte, we are not sure hanggang saan niya talaga dadalhin (up to where he will go with this)."

She further described the president's style. "In political science, sometimes they call it, performative governance. Its in the realm of symbolic politics. You're not really doing it, but as long as your language says you are, your appearance says that you are, then you will get people to believe that you're actually delivering, Abao said.

Promise to increase salaries

Duterte also vowed to double the salary of the police and military.

He raised the pay of law enforcers, frequently visited military camps and fast-tracked modernization programs.

However, Abao differentiated law enforcement at the local and national levels.

Kung baga trinansport lang niya 'yung ginawa niya sa Davao dito sa ginawa niya sa [national level], she said.

[Translation: Its like he transported what he did in Davao here at the national level.]

Promise to end corruption

Duterte also promised to put an end to corruption within the first six months of his term and if he fails to do so, he will step down.

According to Abao, it is not as easy to strike down corruption as it seemed.

If you're really after crooks, put in a system. Make sure there's a possibility for people to go to jail," she said.

But after more than four years, Duterte would say it was impossible to leave a clean bureaucracy.

Promise to end insurgency

As the first president from Mindanao, Duterte promised to end insurgency.

To his credit, the Moro rebellion finally ended through a landmark peace deal, with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front now a key implementer of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao.

On the other hand, the peace talks with the communist rebel was a lost cause.

The unprecedented challenge

At the twilight of his term, Duterte faced the biggest challenge yet: the COVID-19 pandemic.

As in previous occasions, he delegated key tasks in the COVID-19 response to former military officials.

Defending the move, the chief executive explained they get the job done.

But Abao said government institutions may have been undermined in the process.

I think it revealed the limits of populist governance. So you're basically undermining institutions, but in a pandemic we see how important institutions are and how important systems are. Like 'yung healthcare system natin, komplikado siya e (Like our healthcare system, its complicated), Abao said.

Abao added there has to be a system and parameters when it comes to addressing a major health crisis like COVID-19.

Yung governance niya is not evidence-based. Not even evidence-informed. For example, sabihin niya, 'by the end of this year, back to normal na tayo.' Paano magbaback to normal e wala pa nga nababakunahan? Tapos 30,000 pa lang nababakunahan sasabihin mo, 'Oh its excellent.' That kind of [behavior] is not just detrimental but it has caused deaths, she added.

[Translation: His governance is not evidence-based. Not even evidence-informed. For example, he says, by the end of the year, we're back to normal. How can we go back to normal where there's no vaccination yet? And when 30,000 have been vaccinated, you say Oh, its excellent.]

Despite criticisms, Duterte scored high in independent surveys even at the latter part of his term, which is unusual for a president.

Abao said this has something to do with his father image.

[B]ecause a father can do wrong but he will always be forgiven. When you're a father, you may have done something really wrong but you will remain a father. But a government official, if you do something wrong you're not supposed to remain in government. So I think that imagery of being a tatay (father) really absolves him of so many accountabilities, she explained.

Abao said it is a political strategy combined with a social condition that makes Duterte popular despite his shortcomings.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 23)  Coronavirus infections among healthcare workers at the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) have gone down as more of them get their coronavirus shots, the country's largest COVID-19 referral facility said.

"When we were already rolling out our vaccination, we saw a significant decline (in COVID-19 cases among our healthcare workers)," PGH spokesperson Dr. Jonas del Rosario told CNN Philippines' The Final Word on Friday.

In a Facebook post, he also noted that among the 6,052 fully protected PGH staff, only 23 caught the coronavirus. This is after a recorded surge in March, when the government began its vaccination program that prioritized medical frontliners.

"Comparing the number of infections in 2020 (without vaccines) and 2021 (with vaccines) in May and June, one can conclude that the vaccine works," Del Rosario said.

Aside from fewer cases, Del Rosario said the vaccines also protected fully vaccinated hospital workers from having severe, critical, or fatal COVID-19. The workers were given either Sinovac or AstraZeneca, he added.

Del Rosario also said almost all cases were either asymptomatic or mild while some were moderate. All of them have recovered, he noted.

"We felt like the vaccine helped our healthcare workers to be able to fight off the COVID and at least be protected from severe or critical condition," he said.

Meanwhile, the PGH is not yet encouraging the use of booster shots given the results of its analysis.

"With this data, it only proves that you are protected...By doing a booster shot right now, you are depriving some of those who haven't even gotten the first dose of the vaccine," Del Rosario said.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 23)  Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade on Friday addressed criticism that President Rodrigo Duterte's administration overpromised but underdelivered in its flagship infrastructure program.

"While we overpromised as people claim, we have performed substantially," the transportation chief told CNN Philippines. "There is nothing wrong in making overpromises as you have stated, provided there is completion and accomplishment as done."

Duterte vowed a "Golden Age of Infastructure" for the country during his second State of the Nation Address in 2017, hoping this will further pump-prime national economic development. Thus came "Build, Build, Build," the administration's flagship infrastructure program.

READ: SONA 2021: Are we now in the Golden Age of Infrastructure?

The Cabinet official said 214 airport projects have been completed so far, such as the Mactan-Cebu International Airport, Bohol-Panglao International Airport, and the Clark International Airport's new passenger terminal which was just inspected recently.

Meanwhile, 451 seaport projects have been finished, including the Port of Cagayan de Oro said to be the country's "largest" port passenger terminal building.

Tugade also touted the completion of almost 500 kilometers of bike lane networks in Metro Manila, Metro Cebu, and Metro Davao along with the Paranaque Integrated Terminal Exchange and the establishment of the EDSA Busway.

"Hindi po pahuhuli 'yung railway sector (The railway sector won't be caught last). We have completed the LRT-2 East Extension while working on the LRT-1 Cavite Extension, Common Extension, Metro Manila Subway, MRT-7, and the massive rehabilitation of MRT-3, North-South Commuter Railways, and the Mindanao Railways," he explained.

The government has numerous projects up for completion and inauguration this year, added Tugade.

He also refuted claims the country's debts with China for infrastructure projects had ballooned.

"Let us take for instance the matter of rails. Most of the projects are not with China. The projects with Japan and other countries in the world," said Tugade. "To say that we are overly exposed and committed to China is a little bit erroneous and not based on facts."

Earlier, think tank InfrawatchPH criticized the Duterte administration for overpromising but underdelivering on its infrastructure goals, along with its preference for Beijing for certain projects.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 23)  The countrys pandemic response task force has specified conditions fully vaccinated international travelers must fulfill to qualify for green lanes which allow them shorter quarantine upon entering the Philippines.

Resolution No. 128-A of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases said passengers must fulfill all these conditions to be allowed a seven-day facility-based quarantine:

- Their port of origin must be a green country, or a nation with low COVID-19 risk;

- They stayed exclusively in a green country for the last fourteen days before arriving in the country;

- They have been fully vaccinated either in the Philippines or overseas;

- Their vaccination status can be independently verified or confirmed by national authorities as valid and authentic upon arrival

Travelers meeting all these prerequisites will be allowed to quarantine for a shorter period of time instead of the usual ten-days for ordinary international arriving passengers.

The latest IATF resolution also specified documents that may be used to verify and confirm travelers inoculation status.

Overseas Filipino workers and their spouses, parents, and children travelling with them shall present a certification from their respective Philippine Overseas Labor Office.

Travelers who completed their vaccination in the Philippines must show their vaccination cards issued by their respective local government units or administering hospitals. An LGU-issued vaccine certificate may also be presented provided border control authorities can verify them.

An international certificate of vaccination or prophylaxis (ICV) issued by the Bureau of Quarantine may likewise be used, the resolution said.

Meanwhile, passengers who got fully vaccinated abroad need to present their vaccination certificate issued by health authorities where they got inoculated. This is provided the document can be confirmed independently for authenticity by Philippine authorities.

The IATF also approved the Health Departments recommendation to include in the green list countries or jurisidictions that have less than 50 new cases per 100,000 population over the past 28 days.

All travelers merely transiting through a country not included in the list will not be considered as having come from that place if they stayed in the airport the whole time and were not cleared for entry into such country/jurisdiction/territory by its immigration authorities, the issuance stated.

The recent resolution supersedes Resolution No. 123-C, which was issued in June and first announced the approval of green lanes for fully vaccinated individuals.

Presidential and IATF Spokesperson Harry Roque announced on Friday that the latest guidelines will take effect on 12:01 a.m. on July 26.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 23)  The Philippines' stockpile of Sinovac COVID-19 vaccines continues to grow after a shipment carrying one million doses arrived on Friday.

This is the second Sinovac shipment that was sent to the country this week. On Thursday, the Chinese firm delivered 1.5 million vaccine shots.

These two shipments will bring the total Sinovac deliveries this July to five million. Health Undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje earlier said around six million doses from the Chinese firm will come in tranches this month.

All 26 million Sinovac doses bought by the national government are expected to be delivered by September, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles earlier said. China also earlier donated 1 million Sinovac doses.

The country has so far received over 30 million doses of various vaccine brands. Around 15.6 million shots have already been administered, with five million Filipinos now fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as of July 21.
Tiaong, Quezon (CNN Philippines, July 23)  Civil works for the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) Quezon Extension project continue despite the threats of COVID-19 pandemic and typhoons during rainy season, the Department of Public Works and Highways reports.

DPWH Secretary Mark Villar said on Friday the 20-kilometer portion from Makban in Bay, Laguna to Tiaong, Quezon will open summer of 2022. He said 21% of civil works in the Makban-Tiaong part have been completed, while over 50% of needed rights-of-way have been acquired to date.

"Kaya confident naman kami na matatapos 'yung first phase [of the road project] at aabot na sa Quezon by next year," Villar said during a progress inspection of the project in Tiaong, Quezon.

[Translation: That's why we are confident the first phase of the road project will be completed and reach Quezon province by next year.]

The 66-kilometer expressway project aims to cut travel time between Sto. Tomas, Batangas and Lucena City, Quezon from the present four hours to only 45 minutes.

From Sto. Tomas in Batangas, the four-lane toll road also known as SLEX Toll Road 4 will pass through the town of Bay and San Pablo City in Laguna.

Once it enters Quezon, the road cuts through the towns of Tiaong, Candelaria, Sariaya, Tayabas until it reaches the provincial capital Lucena City.

"Napakahalaga nitong proyektong ito dahil kasama ito sa Luzon Spine Expressway Network. Ang objective talaga is ma-connect 'yung south sa north [of Luzon]," Villar said.

[Translation: The said project is important since it's included in the so-called Luzon Spine Expressway Network. The objective really is to connect the southern to northern parts of Luzon.]

The secretary, meanwhile, is expecting the entire P13-billion SMC Infrastructure fully-funded project to be completed in the last quarter of 2024.

The DPWH chief admitted getting rights-of-way from land and subdivision owners have been posing a challenge for the ambitious expressway project.

"Marami ring kailangang kausapin [persons and corporations] para makuha 'yung right of way pero maganda naman ang partnership namin sa San Miguel [Corporation] sa acquisition of right of way at sa tingin ko kaya nating tapusin 'yung first phase [of the project] sa term ni President Duterte," Villar added.

[Translation: We have to talk to many people and corporations so we can acquire rights-of-way but we have a good partnership with San Miguel Corporation for the acquisition of right-of-way and I believe we can finish the first phase of the project within President Duterte's term.]
The Coastal Point is a local newspaper published each Friday and distributed in the Bethany Beach, South Bethany, Fenwick Island, Ocean View, Millville, Dagsboro, Frankford, Selbyville, Millsboro, Long Neck and Georgetown, Delaware areas.
This is what cyanobacteria looks like and why it can be harmful to swimmers
State College announced various planned construction projects will inhibit travel on local roads Friday and next week.

From 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, Landmark Construction LLC will occupy Cresson Alley between Calder Way and West Beaver Avenue due to curb demolition. The sidewalk and road will be closed, the release said.

Landmark Construction LLC will also occupy West College Avenue between South Atherton Street and South Burrowes Street from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Friday next week for pavement and resurfacing. The sidewalk and one travel lane will be closed, the release said.

From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday and Friday next week, Landmark Construction LLC will additionally occupy South Atherton Street between Calder Way and West College Avenue for the same work.

According to the release, motorists and pedestrians are "advised" to use caution when near construction areas.

MORE BOROUGH COVERAGE
Since the beginning of the pandemic, students have adjusted to unprecedented remote learning situations. However, normalcy is returning to campus with in-person classes this fall, so students will need to readjust again.

And, some Penn State students said they have certain concerns and anticipations about returning to campus in terms of its impact on their mental health.

Research conducted at Dartmouth College demonstrates a trend among college students and their mental states, according to The Washington Post.

The studies discovered a soaring rise of depression and anxiety disorders among college-aged individuals, especially since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, The Washington Post said.

A nationwide survey conducted by a Boston University researcher found similar findings pointing to mounting depression and anxiety within the young adult population. In fact, approximately 83% of the 33,000 participating students identified their mental health as negatively impacting their academics, the survey showed.

As the fall semester approaches, members of Penn States student body, including Maddie Dong, said theyll need to adjust to in-person classes and on-campus housing again  which may consequently impact their mental health.

Hopefully mental health will improve [within the student body] because we do have all in-person classes, Dong (senior-psychology) said. We have a little bit more freedom, and I feel like most people are moving back in, which will help with the learning environment and students positivity.

Although Dong said she believes some students mental health will improve in the coming months with in-person classes on campus, she said she also hopes people who need help seek it  whether through Penn States Counseling and Psychology Services or private resources.

A lot of people dont seem to reach out if they need help, Dong said. At the same time, I do think morale will boost up a little bit on campus and hopefully students wont [resultantly] feel as anxious.

MORE NEWS COVERAGE

On the social side  especially in terms of enthusiasm to go to school  Dong said she believes the situation will improve tremendously as she said students thrive from normal social settings. Contrarily, she said students may encounter struggles academically.

Although shes personally eager to return to in-person learning, Dong said the transition could be challenging for some students who liked online learning since classes were typically perceived as easier.

Its going to be the first time in almost a year and a half where students have to actually study and take exams without the comfort of being in their own room, Dong said. The stress of what school used to be [like] could impact students negatively, at least a little bit.

Adjusting to her old pre-pandemic studying techniques is one area of concern for Dong since shes utilized new learning methods in virtual settings.

Over the past year, Dong said shes rarely turned her camera on during Zoom lectures, like many of her fellow students. Consequently, Dong said students have missed out tremendously on social aspects of the learning experience like face-to-face interactions.

People are going to have to get used to talking now  and even having their face seen, Dong said.

To deal with her own stress, Dong said she turns to journaling, which allows her to express her thoughts and emotions and have the opportunity to later evaluate them.

Whos going to be a better listener than yourself? Dong said of journaling. I think its a really good way to read your words too because you can go back later, realize you were being irrational but feel good that you got it out.

Dong said she uses other methods to destress and manage her mental health as well.

MORE NEWS COVERAGE

Besides those tactics, especially journaling, which is my most used tactic, I also call my parents, Dong said. I know many students go to college to get away from their families, but sometimes, you just need your parents.

During the upcoming fall semester, Dong said she plans to share mental health resources and opportunities with other students through her job as a resident assistant.

For new students, Dong said she recommends The Arboretum at Penn State as an optimal on-campus location for stress relief. Not only that, but Dong also said she believes taking a walk  whether in the Arboretum or another place on campus  is just a healthy activity.

In order to distract herself when facing a stressor, Dong also said she engages in activities she enjoys or new activities shes never tried before, which are numerous on Penn States large campus.

Stretched across 7,958 acres, according to U.S. News, Penn States University Park campus contains a wide range of new opportunities for students to try when stressed or dealing with anxiety, Dong said.

Its okay to be alone and do things alone, Dong said. I know people are often scared to do those things, but I think its a big stress reliever when youre by yourself with your thoughts.

Some sophomores, like Emily Bucolo, joined the Penn State community remotely last year  deciding to live at home rather than on campus with coronavirus restrictions in full swing.

As campus begins to return to normal, students will adjust to college life amid unprecedented circumstances, which Bucolo said could be a source of anxiety for many.

My biggest worry is rolling up to campus as a sophomore and still not knowing what to do and where to go, Bucolo (sophomore-public relations) said via email. I will be right there with the freshmen learning how to navigate campus and probably using Google Maps to find my buildings for at least two weeks.

Bucolo said shes anticipating a rocky start while readjusting to in-person classes since she  like many other students  has only participated in remote and web classes since March 13, 2020.

MORE NEWS COVERAGE

Transitioning from remote learning to in-person instruction will take time, as students have grown used to the virtual learning format, she said.

Everyone is in the same boat as me, so that makes me feel better, Bucolo said. Theres less pressure because I know everyone else is also transitioning back.

Despite apprehensions about campus life, Bucolo said theres a lot to be positive about.

Im most looking forward to simply just experiencing new things with new people, whether thats in my dorm, at sporting events or in an academic setting, Bucolo said. This past year has communicated clearly that nothing is a rite of passage  and nothing is ever guaranteed  so Im ready to capitalize on that mindset during my next three years at Penn State.

Besides students in the sophomore class, who will be adapting to their first normal Penn State experience, freshmen are also at odds.

When freshmen initially move into their college dorms and away from their lifelong friends and families, they can experience negative mental health situations  like anxiety and depression, according to CNBC.

Amid the coronavirus pandemic, incoming freshmen, including Alex LeCrone, may face additional stressors during the fall semester. However, many students said theyre keeping a positive outlook for the future.

After a year of [craziness with] school, Im excited to go back to an interactive  and more normal  setting of learning, LeCrone (freshman-music education) said. Im excited about leaving and starting a new chapter of my life, but its a little scary too.

LeCrone said many first-year college students face unique struggles as they adjust to on-campus living, but she said shes most worried about three specific aspects of college life.

The biggest challenges for me are [learning to be] okay with not being perfect, hanging out with all new people and trying to stay motivated to do everything I need to [in the new environment], LeCrone said.

As the pandemic remains at the forefront of many students minds, LeCrone said shes personally not overly concerned due to vaccine rollout. However, she said she believes the pandemic could be a source of anxiety for some students.

Im vaccinated  and so is everyone I love  so Im not concerned that much with COVID, LeCrone said. I recently [caught] a cold though and forgot how terrible those are.

LeCrone said she believes students should find ways to maintain their mental health  whether that be through consultation with a therapist or simple precautionary measures taken to reduce anxiety and increase positive moods.

MORE NEWS COVERAGE

To manage her own mental health, LeCrone said she participates in a lot of grounding and breathing exercises whenever her nerves start to get to her.

According to Medical News Today, evidence proves deep breathing exercises to be effective in lessening feelings of anxiety and apprehensiveness that typically develop through the bodys fight or flight response in times of physical or emotional distress.

LeCrone also said leaving stressful situations behind  even momentarily  and hosting get-togethers and meaningful conversations with others can help peoples moods and outlooks.

Once you can prove to yourself that you can conquer your mental barriers, then anything is possible, LeCrone said.

During high school, LeCrone said many students juggle a packed schedule filled with never-ending obligations  from part-time jobs and school, to extracurricular activities and buzzing social lives.

Along with students long list of priorities during high school, she said they simultaneously deal with little freedom from adults in their lives, which prohibits personal growth.

Consequently, LeCrone said she hopes college students  especially those who complete rigorous academic schedules  are supported by faculty and the Penn State community understands that [students] are all individually unique and complex people.

Penn State has already shown more interest in my mental health than my high school did  and I havent even moved in yet, LeCrone said. Having a community where everyone is valued and [made to feel] important does so much for an individuals mental health already. I know if I ever need help, there are so many places and people I can go to.

LeCrone said attending college has finally given her the opportunity to enroll in courses that connect to her interests.

I hope that [focusing] on what I truly love to do will benefit my learning experience and my mental health, LeCrone said. This is the first time Ive ever been excited about going to school.

MORE NEWS COVERAGE
Colorado Politics is published both in print and online. Our website features subscriber-only news stories daily, designed for public policy arena professionals. Member subscribers also receive the weekly print edition of our award-winning newspaper, containing outstanding features and news stories, in their mailboxes every Saturday.
How NZ climate tech could take on the world

Along with a proliferation of xtechs (as in fintech, agritech, etc.) are the reports about them and the agencies involved to cater to them. You can rely on Computerworld New Zealand to read pretty much every tech-related report publicly released in New Zealandevery single one of themand so we come to this weeks feature xtech: cleantech, also known as climate tech and environmental technology. Callaghan Innovations report New Zealand Climate Tech for the World delves into this emerging area of specialty tech innovations.

The report is based on 98 environmental technology businesses funded by Callaghan Innovation in the 2020 financial year. According to the agency, these businesses collected $334 million in revenue, supported 1,860 jobs, and invested $95 million in R&D, with 680 high-value R&D jobs specifically. On the face of it that looks good, but its not quite good enough when it comes to export revenue.

[ Keep up on the latest thought leadership, insights, how-to, and analysis on IT through Computerworlds newsletters. ]

Callaghan Innovation environmental technology lead James Muir says there needs to be a more coordinated approach to taking on the worldand the way to do it is to look at creating innovation outposts, which in this case, would be Californias San Francisco Bay Area, Chinas Shenzen, the Netherlands, and Israel. They would focus on specific markets, and research what environmental problem large companies in these countries have and then provide the solution to it.

By they, Muir means New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, the agency charged with finding and developing global markets for local companies. What we would then get is a much greater connection between the New Zealand cleantech ecosystem and very large customers overseas. So actually solving for a problem that a large organisation owns overseas is kind of the nirvana of this. We spend quite a lot of time in New Zealand and other places creating solutions to problems that arent necessarily there, he says.

There is plenty that IT professionals can do to help in this area, such as actively seeking out local innovators to work alongside. You can find out more over at CIO New Zealand, where Muir outlines the new approach to boosting the environmental technology ecosystem.

Avoiding duplicate innovation efforts among government agencies

There are only so many tech reports the team of 5 million needs, and in reading the Callaghan environmental technology reportwhich also discusses opportunities in the agritech sector in some depththere was the sense that there might be a duplication of effort.

Not so, according to Muir. I think its a really fair question, but we work really hard to make sure thats not the case. For example, on the Agritech ITP [Industry Transformation Plan], I work very closely with the agritech team, and they have a clear strategy about cleantech, Muir says.

The report is about bringing the issues to the fore, while actually carrying out a programme of activity falls to those involved in the Agitech ITP, which is part of the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment (MBIE). Or, as Muir puts it, weve done the why and the what in this reporting piece, and they are going to the how and the when.

What is it about Israel and tech compared to NZ?

Fellow tech-report readers will have spotted Israel being mentioned as a country of interest for environmental technology innovators and not have been surprisedit usually pops up in tech ecosystem discussions. According to the Callaghan report, Israel manages its own version of environmental technology in general much better than we in New Zealand do. For example when it comes to funding innovators, Israels get 22 times more than their counterparts here.

Israel also gets an honourable mention in NZTechs report into how to brand Kiwi-made technology, a workstream in the Digital Industry Transformation Plan (basically all the xtechs except agritech) that MBIE is also overseeing. In th NZTech report, Israel is in the company of Singapore, Estonia, and Ireland as countries that deliver compelling tech and innovation stories.

Among the reasons provided for Israels tech success is its resilient economy, strong academic institutions, advanced manufacturing technologies, pro-business stance, and the idea that it is the worlds spiritual hub for innovation and a powerhouse for revolutionary R&D.

Which is probably all true, but what isnt discussed here is that Israel is a very, very different nation than New Zealand. Sure, it is considered a small, advanced economy like us, but it spends way more on military, and a lot of tech innovation comes out of defence initiatives. For example, the environmental technology report notes Israels success in agricultural drones built of a larger base of drones proficiency for the defence industry.

According to Statista, in 2020 Israel, with a population of 9.3 million people, spent US$21.7 billion (NZ$31.2 billion) on its military, while New Zealand, with a population of 5 million, spends about US$3 billion (NZ$4.3 billion) a year on its military.

Should NZ be the Canada of the Southern Hemisphere?

So maybe we should emulate Canada instead? As part of the NZTech report, international investors were invited to comment on the local tech scene, with one offering up the idea that we are almost the Canada of the Southern Hemisphere. (This comment was considered positive.)

In the negative comments section, global investors felt that times zones are bad for business, Kiwis are too relaxed, there is a lack of quality talent, our businesses have low self-confidence, and innovators often have a weak commercial orientation.

This may be a fair call, but it hurts.
07/23/2021

Photo (c) narvikk - Getty Images In a new report, Israels health ministry said Pfizers COVID-19 vaccine is just 39% effective in its country now that the Delta variant has emerged as the dominant variant. However, Israel said local data showed that the two-shot vaccine is still highly effective at preventing severe illness (88%) and in reducing the need for hospitalization (91%).

The Israeli statistics, which were published Thursday, do not align with recent data from the U.K. showing that Pfizers vaccine was 88% effective against symptomatic disease caused by the Delta variant.

Critics say Israels data could be skewed due to the fact that a significant percentage of the COVID-19 tests in the country were conducted among the elderly and in areas with high case numbers. Only a small number of young and vaccinated people were tested.

Israel, which started vaccinating its population before many other countries, has already begun administering a third dose of Pfizers vaccine to adults with compromised immune systems. At this time, U.S. officials dont think its necessary to administer booster shots to Israels general population.

Pfizer eyes booster dose authorization

Earlier this month, Pfizer said it intends to seek booster dose authorization from the FDA in light of the data coming out of Israel.

"It's a small data set, but I think the trend is accurate: Six months out, given that Delta is the most contagious variant we have seen, it can cause infections and mild disease," said Mikael Dolsten, Pfizer's chief scientific officer.

Following Pfizers announcement, U.S. health officials quickly issued a statement assuring vaccinated Americans that they remain protected against the virus. The agencies added that companies dont have the authority to decide when booster shots are needed.

"Americans who have been fully vaccinated do not need a booster shot at this time," the FDA and CDC said in a joint statement. "We continue to review any new data as it becomes available and will keep the public informed. We are prepared for booster doses if and when the science demonstrates that they are needed.

Americans who are fully vaccinated are protected from severe disease and death, including from the variants currently circulating in the country such as Delta," the agencies added.
80%

Website darul-ilmi.com uses latest and advanced technologies. It is very popular on the web, it's within the 1 million most visited websites of the world at position 139840 by Alexa. It supports HTTPS and GZIP compression. The main html page has a size of 141637 bytes (138.32 kb uncompressed) and 22520 bytes (21.99 kb compressed).

This CoolSocial report was updated on 2021-07-23, you can refresh this analysis whenever you want.
Congratulations, davila.cl got a very good Social Media Impact Score! Show it by adding this HTML code on your site:

Davila.cl scored 68 Social Media Impact. Social Media Impact score is a measure of how much a site is popular on social networks. 3.5/5.0 Stars by Social Team

This CoolSocial report was updated on 5 Jan 2013, you can refresh this analysis whenever you want.

davila.cl is very popular in Facebook and Google Plus. It is liked by 651 people on Facebook, it has 11 twitter shares and it has 30 google+ shares.

This is the sum of two values: the total number of people who shared the davila homepage on Twitter + the total number of davila followers (if davila has a Twitter account). This is the sum of two values: the total number of people who shared, liked or recommended the davila homepage on Facebook + the total number of page likes (if davila has a Facebook fan page). The total number of people who shared the davila homepage on Google Plus by a google +1 button. The total number of people who shared the davila homepage on Delicious. The total number of people who shared the davila homepage on StumbleUpon.

Basic Information

PAGE TITLE Inicio | Clinica Davila DESCRIPTION KEYWORDS OTHER KEYWORDS



The keywords meta-tag found in the head section of the homepage. The URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is the address of the site. CoolSocial advanced keyword analysis tool is able to detect and analyze every keyword on each page of a site. The description meta-tag found in the head section of the homepage. The title found in the head section of the homepage.

Domain and Server

DOCTYPE XHTML 1.0 Transitional CHARSET AND LANGUAGE Spanish (Spain, International Sort) UTF-8Spanish (Spain, International Sort) DETECTED LANGUAGE Spanish Spanish SERVER Apache/2.2.23 (Unix) mod_ssl/2.2.23 OpenSSL/1.0.0-fips mod_auth_passthrough/2.1 mod_bwlimited/1.4 FrontPage/5.0.2.2635 (PHP/5.2.17) OPERATIVE SYSTEM Linux Linux

Operative System running on the server. Represents HTML declared type (e.g.: XHTML 1.1, HTML 4.0, the new HTML 5.0) The language of davila.cl as detected by CoolSocial algorithms. Type of server and offered services. Character set and language of the site.

Site Traffic trend during the last year. Only available for sites ranked <= 100000 in the world.

Referring domains for davila.cl by MajesticSeo. High values are a sign of site importance over the web and on web engines.

Facebook link

FACEBOOK PAGE LINK NOT FOUND

The total number of people who tagged or talked about website Facebook page in the last 7-10 days. A Facebook page link can be found in the homepage or in the robots.txt file. Facebook Timeline is the new layout of Facebook pages. The type of Facebook page. The URL of the found Facebook page. The total number of people who like website Facebook page. The description of the Facebook page describes website and its services to the social media users.

Twitter account link

TWITTER PAGE LINK NOT FOUND
Gregv.us scored 42 Social Media Impact. Social Media Impact score is a measure of how much a site is popular on social networks. 2/5.0 Stars by Social Team

This CoolSocial report was updated on 14 Jan 2013, you can refresh this analysis whenever you want.

This is the sum of two values: the total number of people who shared the gregv homepage on Twitter + the total number of gregv followers (if gregv has a Twitter account). The total number of people who shared the gregv homepage on Delicious. The total number of people who shared the gregv homepage on StumbleUpon. The total number of people who shared the gregv homepage on Google Plus by a google +1 button. This is the sum of two values: the total number of people who shared, liked or recommended the gregv homepage on Facebook + the total number of page likes (if gregv has a Facebook fan page).

Basic Information

PAGE TITLE Financial Stock Review | ASX  Australian stock exchange DESCRIPTION KEYWORDS OTHER KEYWORDS posted, posted on, by admin, you are, admin, these, should



The keywords meta-tag found in the head section of the homepage. The description meta-tag found in the head section of the homepage. The title found in the head section of the homepage. CoolSocial advanced keyword analysis tool is able to detect and analyze every keyword on each page of a site. The URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is the address of the site.

Domain and Server

DOCTYPE HTML 5.0 CHARSET AND LANGUAGE English (United States) UTF-8English (United States) DETECTED LANGUAGE English English SERVER Apache/2.2.23 (Unix) mod_ssl/2.2.23 OpenSSL/0.9.8e-fips-rhel5 mod_auth_passthrough/2.1 mod_bwlimited/1.4 FrontPage/5.0.2.2635 OPERATIVE SYSTEM Linux Linux

Operative System running on the server. Type of server and offered services. Character set and language of the site. The language of gregv.us as detected by CoolSocial algorithms. Represents HTML declared type (e.g.: XHTML 1.1, HTML 4.0, the new HTML 5.0)

Site Traffic trend during the last year. Only available for sites ranked <= 100000 in the world.

Referring domains for gregv.us by MajesticSeo. High values are a sign of site importance over the web and on web engines.

Facebook link

FACEBOOK PAGE LINK NOT FOUND

The type of Facebook page. The total number of people who like website Facebook page. The description of the Facebook page describes website and its services to the social media users. Facebook Timeline is the new layout of Facebook pages. The URL of the found Facebook page. The total number of people who tagged or talked about website Facebook page in the last 7-10 days. A Facebook page link can be found in the homepage or in the robots.txt file.

Twitter account link

TWITTER PAGE LINK NOT FOUND
Roger was born in Van Couver Washington on April 25,1946. He passed away July 19, 2021at his residents at Country Meadows Nursing Home. He is preceded in death by his parents and sister and brother. Survived by sons Jason Schafer, Jeff Schafer and his wife Jennifer, Daughter Becky Chreene an
Weather Alert

...HEAT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 7 PM CDT WEDNESDAY... * WHAT...Heat index values of 105 to 110 are expected Wednesday afternoon. * WHERE...Much of central and southern Arkansas. * WHEN...From noon to 7 PM CDT Wednesday. * IMPACTS...Very warm and humid conditions will contribute to heat stress conditions. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors. Young children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles under any circumstances. Take extra precautions if you work or spend time outside. When possible reschedule strenuous activities to early morning or evening. Know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Wear lightweight and loose fitting clothing when possible. To reduce risk during outdoor work, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration recommends scheduling frequent rest breaks in shaded or air conditioned environments. Anyone overcome by heat should be moved to a cool and shaded location. Heat stroke is an emergency! Call 9 1 1. &&
Were all guilty of white lies and exaggerations to make our boring lives seem more interesting. Maybe your dispute with the parking attendant at Trader Joes didnt really spiral into an epic kung-fu battle through the mall, but people were starting to yawn at the story. What else were you supposed to do? But then there are people whose lives are so jaw-droppingly insane that they should never need to lie to get attention. And for some reason they keep doing it anyway.

4 Paula Abdul Won't Stop Saying She Was In An Entirely Undocumented Plane Crash

Its kind of forgotten just how weird Paula Abduls career was. A successful choreographer who self-funded her first recordings, she shot to fame after releasing a music video where she sang about her love for a rapping cartoon cat. She then disappeared for years before resurfacing as a tipsy, contestant-dating judge on the worlds biggest singing show. Paula Abdul is interesting. Which makes it all the weirder that she keeps talking about a plane crash that really doesnt seem like it happened.

Walt Disney Luckily, a team of imaginary rescue workers was on hand to save the day.

According to Abdul, her mid-90s career disappearance was prompted by a 1992 plane crash. In a story related on numerous talk shows, Abdul claimed to be in a small plane from St. Louis to Denver when both engines burst into flames (Abdul was probably playing Straight Up, the most fire track of the late '80s). The plane was forced to crash-land in an Iowa cornfield, doubtless converting it into delicious popcorn in the process. The seven passengers survived, although Abdul was left with life-changing injuries and forced to cancel the rest of her tour.

Want More Cracked in Your Life? Get the One Cracked Fact daily newsletter! With exclusive content & links to the best from Cracked every day, its the only email you need. SIGN ME UP

Map perverts will be aware that Iowa isnt really on the route from St. Louis to Denver, but there are way bigger problems with this story. According to a terrifyingly detailed Jezebel investigation, there appears to be no record of a plane crash fitting this description in the early 90s. And plane crashes are like escaped circus lions -- people really tend to notice them, especially when theyre carrying 80s superstar Paula Abdul. Very few corn farmers will watch the burning corpse of MC Skat Kat crash through their barn roof, then just shrug and never bring it up again.

Alan Light Some Iowa teen was staring at his Paula Abdul poster, wishing shed just show up at his house, while an ominous whistling noise got louder.

Continue Reading Below Advertisement

Abdul says she somehow persuaded the media to keep quiet about the incident (to avoid the shame of being in a plane crash, presumably), but that doesnt even come close to clearing things up. Every plane crash in America is legally required to be documented by the National Transportation Safety Board, but their database has no record of an accident matching Abduls description. And remember, this wasnt some minor oh this gauge is malfunctioning, lets land early situation. An entire wing was on fire! Did Abdul and her backup dancers just shove the plane into a deep lake and walk away or something? We hate to be negative, but either her record label infiltrated the US government to pull off a Roswell-level cover-up, or else Paula Abdul has been discussing a completely fictional plane crash for 20 years.
Richard C. Davis Sr., 83, of Cookeville, passed away Tuesday, July 20, 2021, at Cookeville Regional Medical Center. He was born May 27, 1938, in Crossville, son of the late Roba Davis and Rissie (Tabor) Davis. He worked as a sanitation worker and was of the Baptist faith. He is survived by h
Very concerned. Prices are climbing and increases will be permanent.

Somewhat concerned. Some things are getting more expensive but I expect prices to level soon..

Not concerned. This is just a blip. Costs will go back down.

Vote

View Results
Experts believe the delta variant of the coronavirus is now the dominant strain of the virus circulating in Connecticut and the rest of the United States.

The variant, first detected in India, is believed to be about 60 percent more transmissible than the alpha variant that was first found in the U.K.,which was the previously dominant variant in Connecticut and the U.S.

After an early summer lull, cases of COVID-19 have risen in every state, a trend likely fueled by delta.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now predicts the variant makes up 83 percent of new cases nationwide, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the agency's director said during a senate health committee meeting on July 20.

She called that a dramatic increase from about half of U.S. cases from earlier in July.

In some parts of the country the percentage is even higher, particularly in areas with low vaccination rates, Walensky said.

All three makers of the vaccines approved for use in the United States say their vaccines are effective against the variant.

Some areas of the country have seen full-blown outbreaks of infections as the variant has taken hold. In Connecticut, one of the most-vaccinated regions of the country, COVID-19 metrics have begun to tick upwards after remaining at some of their lowest points since the early summer.

Below is everything we know about the delta variants impact on Connecticut. This story will be periodically updated as we learn more about the variant and its potential impact on the state and region, so check back often.

How common is delta in Connecticut?

Experts believe delta is most likely the dominant strain in the state, meaning the variant makes up the majority of new cases reported in Connecticut.

In the most recent report from the Yale School of Public Health and Jackson Laboratory, both of which track variants in the state through a process known as genetic sequencing, delta made up 63.6 percent of cases sequenced in the past week.

Cases of alpha, which was previously the dominant strain in the U.S. and Connecticut, made up 27.3 percent of infections that were sequenced.

But finding the exact percentage of delta cases in the state has proven difficult in recent weeks, because overall cases of COVID-19 have been low, experts said.

Why all the concern about delta? What makes it different?

Researchers believe delta is about 60 percent more transmissible than the alpha strain that was previously the dominant strain circulating in Connecticut. That strain, which caused a second lockdown in the U.K. last fall and winter, is itself thought to be about 40 percent more infectious than the original or wild type of coronavirus that first spread around the world in early 2020.

Research has also focused on the delta strains ability to dodge antibodies, potentially blunting the effectiveness of vaccines, monoclonal antibody treatments or natural immunity in people who have recovered from the virus.

Do the vaccines work against it?

The makers of the three vaccines currently in use in the United States have all said their shots work against the variant.

Pfizer has said it intends to ask federal regulators to approve a third-dose booster shot, though the CDC and Food and Drug Administration have said those who have received both of their original shots currently do not need a booster. Pfizer has also said it is developing a vaccine targeting the delta variant.

A new study by New York University researchers also appeared to show the Johnson & Johnson vaccine may be less effective at combating delta. The researchers looked at how blood samples from vaccinated people responded to delta and other variants of concern, along with the lambda strain, which was first detected in Peru.

The study found the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines had a high level of neutralization against the variants, while the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine had significantly decreased neutralization.

The studys authors suggested those who have received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine may need a second dose to increase protection against the variants.

Will we have to wear masks again?

With delta now widespread in the U.S. and causing outbreaks in other nations, some areas have returned to requiring masks including for people who are fully-vaccinated.

In May, the CDC came out with guidance saying people who are fully vaccinated no longer needed to wear masks indoors. Connecticut followed suit shortly after, dropping its outdoor mask mandate for everyone on May 1 and its indoor mask mandate for vaccinated people on May 19. The state still requires unvaccinated people to wear a mask indoors, but most businesses have left it up to the honor system.

Some locations in Connecticut, like hospitals, prisons and public transit systems, do still require people to wear a mask even if theyre fully-vaccinated. Businesses can also opt to require everyone to wear a mask.

Los Angeles County became the first area of the country to reinstate its universal mask mandate last week. That followed a similar recommendation from the World Health Organization last month.

But so far, Gov. Ned Lamont has shown reluctance to renew COVID-19 restrictions on the state.

I dont think we need a lot of new mandates right now ... I feel like we are in a different situation. But I will watch it, if I see a steep curve, especially with hospitalizations. Thats the metric I follow, the governor said July 20.

He urged those still holding out to get vaccinated, saying it was now time to stand up.

Some experts have said people should voluntarily mask up anywhere theres a crowd.

My mantras always: do what seems right to you, said Robert Hecht, a professor of clinical epidemiology at the Yale School of Public Health. Hecht co-authored an op-ed in the Boston Globe saying those who are not yet vaccinated should run, not walk to get their shot.

What does it really cost to keep wearing a mask in a very public place or with people you dont know? he said in a July 16 interview. To me its a very small gesture to make that could really be beneficial to the people who wear the masks and to everybody else theyre with.
NORWICH  The door may be closing for sexual abuse survivors to seek restitution after the Norwich diocese announced last week it was declaring bankruptcy, experts say.

Bishop Michael Cote, of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Norwich, said a bankruptcy petition was filed because the diocese is facing nearly 60 lawsuits in connection with abuse accusations that occurred at the Mount Saint John School in Deep River.

The Mount Saint John School, which closed in 2013, was a boarding school where juvenile courts and the state Department of Children and Families referred children. The property is now vacant and for sale.

By filing for bankruptcy relief, the diocese is seeking to ensure a fair and equitable outcome for everyone involved, he wrote in the statement. That is because the bankruptcy court will centralize all litigation and oversee a settlement that ensures that all survivors are included and treated fairly. Individual private litigation could deplete the dioceses funds with the first case, leaving other survivors without any possibility of compensation.

In the filing, the diocese said it had between 50 and 99 creditors, between $10 million and $50 million in assets and between $50 million and $100 million in liabilities.

But a lawyer for some of the plaintiffs and a leader of an advocacy group for victims of abuse by clergy said once the bankruptcy is official it will prevent other victims who have not made claims from receiving restitution.

Kelly Reardon, a lawyer based in New London, said she represents six victims, four of whom have filed lawsuits against the diocese.

Those cases will become claimants, theyll become creditors, in the bankruptcy, she said. They would be able to make claims and then it would be determined what amount of compensation they would receive.

Reardon said she did not know the exact number of lawsuits filed, but there were 65 claimants as of last week. She said her clients attended Mount Saint John School during the 1990s when sexual abuse by clergy at Catholic institutions was a significant and widespread problem.

Reardon and Gail Howard, the co-leader of the Connecticut Chapter of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, said the bankruptcy filing would eliminate an avenue for many victims.

Its important for any survivor of childhood sexual abuse to come forward and ask for help in healing, Howard said. Setting the issue of financial compensation and all that aside, whatever happens in that arena, it is still possible to get help and support so that you can heal.

Lawsuits after abuse allegations

Allegations of abuse at the hands of clergy and staff of the Norwich diocese first came to light in 2018, when 24 former Mount Saint John School male students said they were sexually assaulted during the 1980s and 1990s when they were teens, court documents show.

The vast majority of the claimants experienced abuse at the hands of Brother Paul McGlade, who was running the school, Reardon said of the now approximately 60 lawsuits. However, there are other (claimants), including some of mine, who experienced abuse by teachers, by other clerical figures who were working at the school and so it all involves sexual abuse.

In 2019, diocese officials released a statement that included a list of priests who they said had credible allegations of sexual abuse against them. However, McGlade, who died in 2013, was not on the list. The officials also noted the diocese spent nearly $8 million to settle nine claims as of Jan. 31, 2019.

Norwich is not the only Connecticut Catholic diocese facing lawsuits stemming from abuse accusations. In a report provided by the Archdiocese of Hartford, it said it paid $50.6 million for 142 allegations of clergy sexual abuse of a minor involving 29 archdiocesan clergy and three priests from other dioceses.

How bankruptcy could impact victims

Reardon said Norwich is the 31st diocese in the country to declare bankruptcy after facing lawsuits alleging abuse by clergy. According to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, there are 194 archdioceses and dioceses in the United States.

Abuse is everywhere, said Howard, whose organization is a support and advocacy group for people who have survived abuse by clergy from any religious sect. It has nothing to do with celibacy rules or anything like that. It has to do with trust and access and corruption.

Howard said last week she was reviewing a bankruptcy filing for the diocese of Buffalo in New York. After filing for bankruptcy in February 2020, she said court records show the diocese has spent $3.8 million on lawyers and other bankruptcy-related costs.

My take on that is, they were going to spend more on lawyers than they would have spent on settlements, if people were able to bring suits against them, she said.

Richard Croce, a Middletown bankruptcy attorney, said bankruptcy allows claimants to get an even distribution of available funds.

Basically, if there are 10 people that want to sue you, and two of them lawyer up and sue you, and get judgments and try to collect it, they are able to collect it out of your assets, he said. The eight that had claims that didnt file their claims yet, may end up being out of luck. A bankruptcy filing brings all the creditors into one forum, so that they can all share in whatever distribution is made.

Croce said it is generally true that no one can file after a bankruptcy is made official, but the diocese will have a duty to notify as many people as possible and there will be a brief window to file a claim.

If Im advising a creditor, Im going to tell them to make their claim timely, he said. Dont blow the deadline because you may get boxed out. The law says youre boxed out, but if theres some ... legitimate reason why you did not file a claim on time, and the money hasnt been paid out, then maybe the judge will let you file that claim. Its not a risk I would take as a creditor.

joshua.labella@hearstmediact.com
GUILFORD  A Quinnipiac University professor received a troubling anonymous email after speaking about critical race theory this week at a Guilford Human Rights Commission meeting, officials said Thursday.

Angela Robinson, a lawyer, judge, diversity consultant and professor who teaches critical race theory at Quinnipiac University School of Law, discussed the topic on Tuesday and was expected to be invited back to give another presentation.

Some have said Guilford schools are teaching critical race theory, a controversial academic framework through which to view systems of racism and oppression in America. However, the superintendent and school officials have denied critical race theory is being taught in Guilford classrooms.

The issue has sparked a heated debate for months in Guilford and apparently led to the anonymous email, which was posted Wednesday on the Human Rights Commissions Facebook page.

Guilford is a community of over 96% whites, they should be taught to love their race as you expect blacks to do, the email stated, according to the Facebook post. You should be working to build up your own race, rather than tearing down the culture of other races, this is an anti-white agenda. I expect you will be met with great resistance when you are in Guilford.

First Selectman Matt Hoey called the email troubling, stating it does not represent the town.

Human Rights Commission Chair Jo Keogh, who posted the email on the Facebook page, said the anonymous email was sent using a ProtonMail account, which is encrypted and difficult to trace. However, Keogh stated Guilford police are able to trace these types of accounts, but said he did not believe they were investigating.

Guilford police did not respond to requests for comment on Thursday.

In the Facebook post, Keogh wrote that the commission condemns hate speech, harassment and intimidation and will not be swayed from bringing equality initiatives to the community.

I want to be clear that Angela did not, at any time, tear down the culture of ANY race, nor was her agenda anti-white. In fact, she stated  twice  that not everyone agrees with CRT, and that her sole agenda in teaching it is to allow people to make informed decisions about it for themselves, Keogh wrote in her statement.

Prior to the anonymous email, the Human Rights Commission voted unanimously to bring Robinson back for another educational presentation for the town. The proposal was planned to be sent to the Board of Selectmen for a vote during its August meeting.

Robinsons presentation on critical race theory

Robinson began her career in law in 1989, the same year critical race theory was first discussed during a workshop of law professors in Wisconsin.

Her presentation to the commission included details on what led her to study critical race theory. Robinson questioned why the legal field was still not diverse in 1989, why white net worth was higher than other races and why segregation was still a problem after Brown vs. Board of Education.

Critical race theory actually provides a great way to look at the problem, Robinson said. It gives you a way to answer the question why. It is an approach. Its a perspective and its a theory. Doesnt mean you have to agree with it, but it is a way to answer why these disparities have persisted.

Robinson stated during her presentation that critical race theory uses an interdisciplinary approach, drawing on social science, neuroscience, sociology, social work and health care. Critical race theory stems from critical legal studies, which believes that the law is not neutral but a tool of the wealthy to remain in power.

Critical race theory took some ideas from critical legal studies, Robinson said, but centers on racial inequity and racial hierarchy.

To Robinson, there are three unifying principles: race is a social construct, the color-blind approach does not work and that racism is pervasive, which she calls the most radical principle.

She said people mostly struggle with the idea that racism is pervasive, Robinson said.

So for critical race theorists, racism involves more than individual bad actors. The critical race theory paradigm looks beyond explanations of racial inequities that focus on individual bad actors, Robinson said.

Systemic racism is also included in critical race theory, meaning the societal norms and systems work in reinforcing ways to disadvantage people of color and racism is present in these systems.

Critical race theory challenges that whole notion that equality is equity, Robinson said. Equality, in a lot of ways, is what we have achieved in the law, right? We have gotten rid of these racial prohibitions in the law, we have said, were going to have race neutral laws, that isnt making equity for everyone.

christine.derosa@hearstmediact.com
99 cent introductory offer

Includes everything we offer online for 24-7 news. This option allows you to read unlimited stories at ctnewsonline.com, and access our e-Edition (digital replicate of the daily newspaper). $7.99 per month after the introductory offer.

This service comes with a complimentary CT Select Card allowing for local discounts.

Rates are subject to change.
In the thick of the COVID-19 pandemic, no small number of Connecticut residents found themselves in the same place as a decade earlier coming out of the Great Recession trying to push their financial cushion out by another week or two, or chip down a pile of debt by an equivalent margin.

For some, it might come as a surprise that their home state finds itself in the same place as well  as the second most prosperous in the nation, according to one think tank that advocates for pathways out of poverty.

Connecticut remains sandwiched between Massachusetts and Minnesota on the Legatum Institutes annual ranking that adds up 11 broad criteria. Broadly, the London organization defines prosperity as effective institutions, an open economy, and empowered people who are healthy and educated in its words.

While that includes economic clout, it extends to living standards and societal considerations like inclusiveness, crime and governance.

As of June, Connecticut was even with New Mexico for the highest unemployment rate in the nation, at 7.9 percent. The Bureau of Economic Analysis estimates Connecticut was ahead of only a handful of eastern states for economic growth in the first quarter of 2021 as COVID-19 vaccinations gained momentum.

Gov. Ned Lamont addressed Connecticuts long-term efforts to improve prosperity for all, in Hartford Wednesday on a new program for employers to provide detailed feedback on specific skills schools should cover in their curricula. Lamont promised Connecticut kids will be getting the most inspirational and relevant science, technology, engineering and math instruction  STEM in learning circles  that will prepare them for better paying careers.

This is a state whose jobs engine has been on stall for decades, Lamont said. Were going to make sure these are opportunities where we look back and say we gave kids ... [and] young people an opportunity they wouldnt have had otherwise. And businesses that are in a global search for talent all over the world ... know they dont have to look any further.

Another group lost out on opportunities during the pandemic, at a potential future cost  earners ready to purchase a home for the first time, who found themselves on the outside looking in as wealthy New York City residents scouted Connecticut for weekend getaways or permanent homes, outbidding rival buyers. Economists rank homeownership as a pillar of economic growth, allowing families to build equity and stability.

The Legatum Institute rated Connecticut outside the top 10 in only two of its 11 categories  economic quality and social capital which assigns values to the strength of families and civic participation, on the proposition that builds trust in communities leading to shared economic growth.

In Hartford on Wednesday, Sen. Doug McCrory (D-2nd) said Connecticut has ample room for improvement on that front as it emerges from the pandemic.

Our school systems are almost 50 percent Black and Brown children  and these children dont often get the opportunities, McCrory said. If were going to move this state forward, were going to have to move it from the bottom up, ... where people are engaged  people who normally dont get the opportunity to sit at tables and make decisions on how we are going to move forward as a state.

Alex.Soule@scni.com; 203-842-2545; @casoulman
WASHINGTON (AP)  The Biden administration and Western allies formally blamed China on Monday for a massive hack of Microsoft Exchange email server software and asserted that criminal hackers associated with the Chinese government have carried out ransomware and other illicit cyber operations.

The announcements, though not accompanied by sanctions against the Chinese government, were intended as a forceful condemnation of activities a senior Biden administration official described as part of a pattern of irresponsible behavior in cyberspace. They highlighted the ongoing threat from Chinese hackers even as the administration remains consumed with trying to curb ransomware attacks from Russia-based syndicates that have targeted critical infrastructure.

The broad range of cyberthreats from Beijing disclosed on Monday included a ransomware attack from government-affiliated hackers that targeted victims  including in the U.S.  with demands for millions of dollars. U.S officials also alleged that criminal contract hackers associated with China's Ministry of State Security have engaged in cyber extortion schemes and theft for their own profit.

Meanwhile, the Justice Department on Monday announced charges against four Chinese nationals who prosecutors said were working with the MSS in a hacking campaign that targeted dozens of computer systems, including companies, universities and government entities. The defendants are accused of targeting trade secrets and confidential business information, including scientific technologies and infectious-disease research.

Unlike in April, when public finger-pointing of Russian hacking was paired with a raft of sanctions against Moscow, the Biden administration did not announce any actions against Beijing. Nonetheless, a senior administration official who briefed reporters said that the U.S. has confronted senior Chinese officials and that the White House regards the multination shaming as sending an important message, even if no single action can change behavior.

President Joe Biden told reporters the investigation's not finished, and White House press secretary Jen Psaki did not rule out future consequences for China, saying, "This is not the conclusion of our efforts as it relates to cyber activities with China or Russia.

Even without fresh sanctions, Monday's actions are likely to exacerbate tensions with China at a delicate time. Just last week, the U.S. issued separate stark warnings against transactions with entities that operate in Chinas western Xinjiang region, where China is accused of repressing Uyghur Muslims and other minorities.

The administration also advised American firms of the deteriorating investment and commercial environment in Hong Kong, where China has been cracking down on democratic freedoms it had pledged to respect in the former British colony.

The European Union and Britain were among the allies who called out China. The EU said malicious cyber activities with significant effects that targeted government institutions, political organizations and key industries in the blocs 27 member states could be linked to Chinese hacking groups. The U.K.s National Cyber Security Centre said the groups targeted maritime industries and naval defense contractors in the U.S. and Europe and the Finnish parliament.

In a statement, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said the hacking was conducted from the territory of China for the purpose of intellectual property theft and espionage.

The Microsoft Exchange cyberattack by Chinese state-backed groups was a reckless but familiar pattern of behaviour, U.K. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said.

NATO, in its first public condemnation of China for hacking activities, called on Beijing to uphold its international commitments and obligations and to act responsibly in the international system, including in cyberspace. The alliance said it was determined to actively deter, defend against and counter the full spectrum of cyber threats.

That hackers affiliated with the Ministry of State Security were engaged in ransomware was surprising and concerning to the U.S. government, the senior administration official said. But the attack, in which an unidentified American company received a high-dollar ransom demand, also gave U.S. officials new insight into what the official said was the kind of aggressive behavior that we're seeing coming out of China.

A spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, Liu Pengyu, said in a statement that the U.S. has repeatedly made groundless attacks and malicious smear against China on cybersecurity. Now this is just another old trick, with nothing new in it. The statement called China "a severe victim of the US cyber theft, eavesdropping and surveillance."

The majority of the most damaging and high-profile recent ransomware attacks have involved Russian criminal gangs. Though the U.S. has sometimes seen connections between Russian intelligence agencies and individual hackers, the use of criminal contract hackers by the Chinese government to conduct unsanctioned cyber operations globally is distinct, the official said.

Dmitri Alperovitch, the former chief technology officer of the cybersecurity firm Crowdstrike, said the announcement makes clear that MSS contractors who for years have worked for the government and conducted operations on its behalf have over time decided  either with the approval or the blind eye of their bosses"  to start moonlighting and engaging in other activities that could put money in their pockets."

The Microsoft Exchange hack that months ago compromised tens of thousands of computers around the world was swiftly attributed to Chinese cyber spies by Microsoft.

An administration official said the government's attribution to hackers affiliated with the Ministry of State Security took until now in part because of the discovery of the ransomware and for-profit hacking operations and because the administration wanted to pair the announcement with guidance for businesses about tactics that the Chinese have been using.

Given the scope of the attack, Alperovitch said it was puzzling that the U.S. did not impose sanctions.

They certainly deserve it, and at this point, it's becoming a glaring standout that we have not, he said.

He added, in a reference to a large Russian cyberespionage operation discovered late last year, "Theres no question that the Exchange hacks have been more reckless, more dangerous and more disruptive than anything the Russians have done in SolarWinds.

___

Associated Press writers Kelvin Chan in London and Matthew Lee and Alexandra Jaffe in Washington contributed to this report.

___

Follow Eric Tucker on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/etuckerAP.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP)  A Black Army veteran who helped peacefully desegregate an Alabama city's library with a sit-in protest in 1963 has died, according to the library and an obituary published by his family.

Shelly Millender Jr. of Birmingham died on Saturday. He was 86.

Millender already was a veteran when he attended Miles College, a historically Black school where he was student government president and became active in the civil rights movement.

Recruited by Southern Christian Leadership Conference director Wyatt T. Walker, Millender was among the students who staged a sit-in at Birmingham's main downtown library on April 10, 1963, to demonstrate against a policy that banned Black people.

"Shelly Millender engaged the librarian who told him you should be going to the colored library. Shelly said, No I want to use this library, Wayne S. Wiegand, who wrote The Desegregation of Public Libraries in the Jim Crow South: Civil Rights and Local Activism, said in an interview with a library official in 2018.

The librarian must have called the police. The police came, but didnt bother to arrest them. Because they werent arrested, the students then left because they were there to be arrested, Wiegand said.

Library leaders agreed to end segregation soon after in what was described as one of the few peaceful desegregation efforts in Birmingham, a flashpoint of civil rights demonstrations because of its strict enforcement of race-based separation and oppression.

Wiegand said library leaders were worried about the reputation the city was gaining because of white segregationist Eugene Bull Connor, the police commissioner who unleashed dogs and fire hoses on civil rights demonstrators.

The fact the library became integrated peacefully in the middle of that violent summer is kind of lost on people. It was the sole site of racial conciliation in the middle of a town that was hosing African Americans and turning dogs on them, Wiegand said.

Millender spent decades selling cars and served as host of a radio show after retirement. Survivors include two sisters, three children, a lifelong companion and her son, the obituary said.
BRIDGEPORT  A Superior Court judge, following a hearing Friday morning, reserved decision on the case against Bridgeport Acting Police Chief Rebeca Garcia.

Im going to take into consideration your oral presentations. Ive looked at the written materials, I obviously need the opportunity to look at it more extensively, Judge Barry Stevens said following the hearing. He did not say when he will make a ruling.

Three police captains  Brian Fitzgerald, Steven Lougal and Roderick Porter  and Deputy Chief Anthony Armeno claim in a lawsuit against the city that the appointment of Garcia nearly two years ago to assistant chief was unlawful and invalid and in violation of the citys charter.

Its unclear what would happen should Stevens rule that Garcia was wrongly promoted to assistant chief  whether it would impact her current role as acting chief.

In December 2019, Garcia, then a captain in charge of the police academy, was appointed assistant chief by then-Police Chief Armando Perez. Garcia was then made acting police chief following the arrest of Perez by the FBI last year.

In April, Perez was sentenced to a year and a day in prison and former city personnel director David Dunn was sentenced to four months in prison after they pleaded guilty in federal court to conspiring to rig the examination process that made Perez chief and lying to the FBI about it.

During the trial on the validity of Garcias selection as assistant chief, Perez first testified he considered Fitzgerald, Lougal, Porter and Armeno for the position of assistant chief and submitted their resumes to a consultant hired by the city.

However, the following day of the trial Perez admitted he had been confused during his first day of testimony and in fact had done none of that. He said he had only considered Garcia for the position and had submitted her name to the mayor.

Thomas Bucci, who represents the captains and Armeno, claims that under the city charter the city has to generate a list of candidates for the position and the selection of assistant chief has to be made following an examination.

The selection of Assistant Chief Garcia has nothing to do with her qualifications, Bucci argued before the judge Friday. It has to do with the method of appointment. Assistant Chief Garcia was not properly selected for this position, we ask that the position be vacated and be properly filled.

The position has remained frozen since Garcias promotion, since her role as acting chief is not permanent.

But Deputy City Attorney John Bohannon Jr. told the judge that there is no requirement under civil service rules for either multiple candidates or an exam for assistant chief. He contends that the assistant chief position is filled at the discretion of the chief.

The chief should be able to select a second in command that the chief can trust, someone that the chief believes would carry out the chiefs principles and goal  thats what happened here, he said.

The arguments on Friday followed several days of testimony in April from Perez, Dunn, Garcia and Fitzgerald. Both sides also submitted lengthy written legal arguments.

Garcia testified she had been approached by Perez who asked her if she wanted to become assistant chief. She said she later met with the mayor and handed him a copy of her resume. She testified she also insisted on a contract for the position.
TRUMBULL  When creating a realistic simulated emergency, details matter.

Getting the right consistency for fake blood requires corn starch mixed with corn syrup and just the right amount of dye, according to Shannon Pranger, a nursing professor.

You mix it together, some food coloring and its ooey, gooey, Pranger said.

Pranger, a simulation faculty member for the Trumbull Emergency Medical Services, is part of the team that helped train EMS students on how to react to a mass casualty event on Friday.

The training was intentionally as realistic as possible so students can not only effectively render first aid, but also to teach them how to take command in chaotic situations. There drill consisted of 20 volunteers, including victims and first responders.

In the scenario that Trumbull EMS presented the students, a car rammed into a group of people on the street. The situation has roots in reality, as drivers have rammed into protesters over the years, including last year when protesters marched against the murder of George Floyd.

Pranger said using real-world examples makes the training more immersive.

Previous drill have had students dealing with a mass-casualty event based off the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, Florida in 2016 where 49 people were killed by a lone gunman in what is considered the deadliest attack against the LGBTQ community in American history.

Whatever we do has to be rooted in reality, Pranger said. Im not going to do a boat sinking in the parking lot.

For the drill, students and volunteers role-played as victims. This is where the fake blood comes in handy. The victims were dressed up with fake wounds and blood, and the students were required to treat the injuries while also managing crowd control. Trumbull police officers were also at the scene to provide extra realism.

Pranger said that in these types of situations, crowd dynamics are often chaotic; some people who might otherwise be physically unharmed may still react in shock.

I made a pregnancy pillow because were going to have a pregnant patient, she said before the drill. Shes one of our volunteers and wearing the pregnancy pillow. Nothing wrong with her. But its distracting, right? So the students have to realize, OK, Im freaking out. Its a pregnant lady, but shes fine, she said.

The patients behaving unpredictably was a challenge for the students, but it will make them better prepared to face similar situations if they should occur in real life, she said.

Sam Cousins, the towns public health nurse, said the best take away from these drills is to be flexible. She was assigned to play a victim. The role allowed a certain amount of ad-libbing, she said.

Your plans are never concrete, you just have to be flexible, and you just have to work with what youve got, Cousins said.

Another volunteer, Kim Siemon, who is also a nurse, also portrayed a victim, as did her two daughters, ages four and six. Their participation was a surprise to her oldest daughter, 19, who is an EMS student and was not aware her family members would be victims.

So these kids (think) they know what to expect, but they dont, Siemon said. So it gives them a more realistic feeling.

With the simulated car crashing into a crowd of people, some volunteers were made up to have cuts and others had broken bones.

The realism of the training also extends into the objectives of the drill. Pranger stressed that the aim isnt to save the life of every injured person there. Its more about learning to work as a cohesive unit under stress, she said.

This is all about teamwork, teamwork, teamwork, keeping each other safe, working together as a group, Pranger said.

Cousins said the training was beneficial to every student. It might even save a life.

They may not become medics or nurses in the future, but its a skill that they can use any and everywhere, she said.
Over the past several months its been hard to ignore the seemingly constant stream of news regarding states enacting new or updated legal cannabis programs. A notable example is March 31, 2021, when the state of New York became the 15th state to legalize recreational marijuanacreating one of the largest markets in the country. To put that into perspective, the NY marijuana industry is projected to become a $2.5 billion a year industry by 2026.

While this new legislation is expected to bring approximately $350 million a year in tax revenue to the Empire State, it highlights an issue not uncommon to states with medical-turned-recreational cannabis programs. That issue is: What do you do with all that cash?

The reality is that the majority of the legal cannabis industry remains unbanked or underbanked. And while a medical marijuana dispensary may have been able to get by without access to the financial system, the exponential growth that comes from recreational sales is difficult to manage without even the most basic banking products. This is where credit unions come in.
Cannabis banking can offer many valuable financial benefits for credit unions choosing to serve the industry. However, implementing a well-managed, compliant cannabis banking program requires considerable planning and an understanding of all potential areas of risk. This includes ensuring that the credit unions directors and officers are covered by their institutions Directors and Officers (D&O) liability insurance policy. Shield sat down with corporate and finance-focused attorney Scott Moskol, a partner of Boston-based law firm Burns & Levinson and co-chair of the firms Financial Restructuring & Distressed Transactions and Cannabis Business & Law Advisory practices. Named an inaugural Cannabis Trailblazer by The National Law Journal in 2018, Scott has been providing corporate counsel to clients in the cannabis industry since 2013 and offers his insights on this complex issue.

Shield: What do boards need to know about D&O insurance if their institution is banking or considering banking the cannabis industry?

Scott Moskol: The main thing the financial institution should know right off the bat is what type of claims are, or arent covered, under their existing Directors and Officers (D&O) liability insurance as it relates to an existing or prospective cannabis banking program. Speak to your broker as your present policies may not cover a claim related to the cannabis industry. If you identify potential vulnerabilities that make the board uncomfortable, the next step is to undergo a cost-benefit analysis to understand the costs involved to obtain extra protection through a supplemental D&O policy, on top of the additional compliance required to bank this industry.

Shield: What are some of the risks or vulnerabilities boards might face?

SM: D&O insurance is widely used throughout the industry to offer directors and officers a level of protection from lawsuits brought against the organization. We have seen some isolated lawsuits brought against a financial institution providing banking services to the industry  solely because they were banking the operator. Because cannabis is classified as a federally illegal substance, the stakes are even higher. D&O policies will often have exclusions or carve-outs which exclude claims that are the result of intentional acts. Since cannabis is federally illegal, the insurer could potentially decide not to cover a claim as the insured was involved in the federally illegal action. If the financial institution is sued for something related to its cannabis program, the insurer may not cover the lawsuit, and if they dont, they may deny coverage entirely because the lawsuit derived from a cannabis-related matter. To give you an example, a few years ago, the neighbors of a cannabis operator in Massachusetts sued the operator for creating a nuisance and bringing down property values. They also filed a civil suit against everyone connected to the business, including the city, the landlord, and even the financial institution handling its deposits. This is not a common occurrence, but it could happen. Board members of financial institutions will understandably be concerned about putting their own assets on the line, so having the right insurance coverage in place is very important.

Shield: How would federal reform, such as the passage of the SAFE Banking Act or CLAIM Act, change things when it comes to D&O insurance?

SM: These bills would provide a safe harbor for financial institutions or insurance companies and their employees to offer services to state-licensed, compliant cannabis businesses. But insurance is provided by private institutions, so until cannabis is de-scheduled or made fully legal on a federal level, I think we will still have this issue where theres a gap between what is and is not covered under a traditional D&O policy. On the other hand, the passage of the CLAIMS Act may give more insurance companies a degree of comfort in entering the market. D&O insurance is quite expensive, so we may see increased competition which could cause prices to drop. But as long as cannabis is federally illegal, I think financial institutions will still be vulnerable to exclusions in their policies. Its important to keep in mind that many of the insurers are reinsured elsewhere, often outside of the U.S., so even if the federal government fully legalizes cannabis, there may be other reasons why theres no stampede into the market.

Shield: Whats the one piece of feedback you give credit union boards contemplating entering the cannabis space?

SM: The one thing I probably would say is that whether youre going to offer depository services, lending, or any banking services, there are no shortcuts both in terms of the compliance that you need to do to keep your program up to date, but also in terms of what you need to do to protect the institution itself. You owe it not only to the institution and your fellow directors and officers to make sure your coverage is sufficient, and if its not, to get quotes for some supplemental policy coverage. Just as you need to price compliance management, like that provided by Shield, you also have to price in the cost of insurance. Dont just assume that your present insurance policies are sufficient. Review them closely, and dont be afraid to ask questions. This is a new industry, and there are many experts out there to help you and your institution manage risk, operate compliantly, and stay protected financially.
Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Major hospital systems across North Carolina will soon require workers to get a COVID-19 shot if they want to keep working at the facilities
Dalton, GA (30720)

Today

A few passing clouds, otherwise generally clear. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 71F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

A few passing clouds, otherwise generally clear. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 71F. Winds light and variable.
We have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us, but did not find one. Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription.
Advertisement

British Pound Outlook:

The British Pound has been hampered by the latest surge in COVID-19 delta variant infections, which have traders on edge that more lockdowns are possible.

Both GBP/JPY and GBP/USD have rebounded from critical technical support, suggesting that further losses may be contained.

Recent changes in r etail trader positioning suggest a mostly mixed bias for the British Pound.

Dead Cat Bounce or Second Life?

Freedom Day has come and gone for this week, but markets dont appear to be convinced that this marked the beginning of the end of the pandemic for the UK. With delta variant caseloads surging in recent weeks, the British Pound has been hampered relative to its major counterparts as traders are on edge that re-opening measures could be reversed.

But now that data are showing that vaccines are working as intended  reducing tail-risk outcomes like hospitalizations and deaths  there is a cautiously optimistic mood setting in among the GBP-crosses. While its not clear yet which way the three major pairs will shake out, clearly defined technical levels may help traders keep their risk constrained before a new trend develops for the Sterling.

GBP/USD RATE TECHNICAL ANALYSIS: DAILY CHART (March 2020 to July 2021) (CHART 1)

Earlier this week, GBP/USD rates dropped out of the broader sideways range in place since early-February, between 1.3660 and 1.4250, which encompassed price action since February. But the decline in rates was quickly reversed as support come into play around a cluster of Fibonacci levels. While the return to the multi-month range suggests a false bearish breakout may have transpired, GBP/USD has yet to clear the downtrend from the May and June swing highs. More time is needed to discern whether or not this is simply a counter-trend rebound or full-scale reversal (which would ultimately target the broader range high near 1.4250).

IG Client Sentiment Index: GBP/USD RATE Forecast (July 22, 2021) (Chart 2)

GBP/USD: Retail trader data shows 59.05% of traders are net-long with the ratio of traders long to short at 1.44 to 1. The number of traders net-long is 17.54% lower than yesterday and 1.25% lower from last week, while the number of traders net-short is 25.84% higher than yesterday and 8.38% higher from last week.

We typically take a contrarian view to crowd sentiment, and the fact traders are net-long suggests GBP/USD prices may continue to fall.

Yet traders are less net-long than yesterday and compared with last week. Recent changes in sentiment warn that the current GBP/USD price trend may soon reverse higher despite the fact traders remain net-long.

GBP/JPY RATE TECHNICAL ANALYSIS: DAILY CHART (MARCH 2020 to July 2021) (CHART 3)

GBP/JPY rates sold off precipitously at the start of the week, dropping back to the 76.4% Fibonacci retracement of the 2020 low/2021 high range at 148.91 and briefly breaching the March swing low at 148.53. However, since Monday, it appears that a morning star candle cluster has appeared, a three-candle bottoming pattern. Its possible that price action since May has been a back-and-fill after running into the descending trendline from the July 2007 (all-time high) and August 2015 highs. Like GBP/USD, more evidence is needed before confidence in a rally to the 2020 high at 156.61 takes root.

IG Client Sentiment Index: GBP/JPY Rate Forecast (July 22, 2021) (Chart 4)

GBP/JPY: Retail trader data shows 43.29% of traders are net-long with the ratio of traders short to long at 1.31 to 1. The number of traders net-long is 19.32% lower than yesterday and 26.22% higher from last week, while the number of traders net-short is 28.28% higher than yesterday and 15.84% lower from last week.

We typically take a contrarian view to crowd sentiment, and the fact traders are net-short suggests GBP/JPY prices may continue to rise.

Positioning is more net-short than yesterday but less net-short from last week. The combination of current sentiment and recent changes gives us a further mixed GBP/JPY trading bias.

EUR/GBP RATE TECHNICAL ANALYSIS: DAILY CHART (MARCH 2020 to July 2021) (CHART 5)

No change from yesterday: EUR/GBP rates continue remain extremely choppy, in a sideways range effectively since late-February. In the past few days, the pair broke above descending channel resistance in place since the start of May, nullifying the perspective that a return to the April low at 0.8472 is beginning to take shape. With momentum indicators finding no sense of agreement, this may be the one pair to stay away from over the coming days; clearer opportunities exist elsewhere.

IG Client Sentiment Index: EUR/GBP Rate Forecast (July 22, 2021) (Chart 6)

EUR/GBP: Retail trader data shows 66.48% of traders are net-long with the ratio of traders long to short at 1.98 to 1. The number of traders net-long is 27.77% higher than yesterday and 11.69% lower from last week, while the number of traders net-short is 37.34% lower than yesterday and 9.19% higher from last week.

We typically take a contrarian view to crowd sentiment, and the fact traders are net-long suggests EUR/GBP prices may continue to fall.

Positioning is more net-long than yesterday but less net-long from last week. The combination of current sentiment and recent changes gives us a further mixed EUR/GBP trading bias.

--- Written by Christopher Vecchio, CFA, Senior Currency Strategist
Stay up to date on COVID-19

Get Breaking News

Sign up now to get our FREE breaking news coverage delivered right to your inbox.
@ChescoCourtNews on Twitter

Michael P. Rellahan has been a staff reporter and editor at the Daily Local News since 1982. He has covered all kinds of news over the years but is now assigned to report on court and legal news, as well as Chester County government news and politics.
You are the owner of this article.
Six people were injured during this house fire in West Brandywine Wednesday. Three are still hospitalzied.
This is the election that will determine the future of Labour  and perhaps whether it continues to exist as a party at all.

No, not a plan to unseat Sir Keir Starmer  but the race to succeed 'Red Len' McCluskey as the leader of Unite, the 1.4-million strong trade union that the Corbyn-supporting McCluskey has controlled with an iron grip since 2010.

A storm in a far-Left teacup? Hardly. The outcome of the contest may dictate not just Starmer's survival, but Labour's position as a political force in Britain.

With the exception of Tony Blair  a hate figure for most socialists  Labour has not won a general election in 47 years.

As Lord Mandelson put it recently: 'If you take the last 11 general elections, it's lose, lose, lose, lose, Blair, Blair, Blair, lose, lose, lose, lose.'

Mandelson knows that winning elections is about appealing to the centre ground of British politics  not playing to the party faithful.

Yet while the Conservatives can drum up policies that appeal to floating voters, Labour has been hamstrung by the historical settlement of its creation  which sees it reliant on the huge sums that flow into its coffers from the trade unions.

This gives the people who run those unions huge unofficial influence over the party  and, many believe, the ability to help shape policy.

The outcome of the contest to lead Unite may dictate not just Sir Keir Starmer's survival (pictured), but Labour's position as a political force in Britain

Starmer emerged bloodied but unbowed after a narrow victory in last month's Batley and Spen by-election (a loss would likely have seen a leadership challenge.)

And now voting is under way for the leadership contest of Unite. The result, which will be revealed at the end of next month, could lead to a dramatic shift in the political landscape.

Unite is the second-largest union in the country and it wields the most power over Labour.

Without Unite's money sloshing into Labour's war chest  the union handed over 3 million to it before the last election  the party would likely be bankrupt.

Labour's reliance on Unite's money has made the 70-year-old McCluskey one of the most powerful union barons since the bad old days of the 1970s, when Britain was brought to a virtual standstill with waves of national strikes and industrial unrest.

A larger-than-life character and an accomplished media performer, the hard-Left McCluskey has relished his role and gives no sign of going quietly.

So who is next to replace him as general secretary?

At the start of the campaign, there were four candidates. But hardline Howard Beckett, who threatened to cut all funding to Labour in protest at Starmer's centrist approach, has withdrawn.

Remaining contenders are former bus conductor Steve Turner, who enjoys the endorsement of the Communist Party as well as McCluskey himself; Sharon Graham, the favourite of the Socialist Workers' Party; and finally Gerard Coyne, 58, who narrowly lost to McCluskey in 2017 and who is widely seen as the favourite of Labour's more moderate wing.

And what characters they are.

With the exception of Tony Blair  a hate figure for most socialists  Labour has not won a general election in 47 years

A trade unionist since he began working on the buses 40 years ago, Turner, 58, was a proud former member of Militant, the far-Left group that nearly destroyed Neil Kinnock's Labour during the 1980s and which brought Liverpool City Council to its knees. (Turner himself is from South London)

Having moved up the Unite hierarchy over the past three decades, Turner has a formidable grassroots operation. A teenage Trotskyite, there is little sign his views have mellowed since; Britain's Communists proudly call him 'a passionate fighter for his class'.

Turner cannot conceal his disdain for the return of Lord Mandelson, one of the key architects of New Labour, as an adviser to Starmer.

'Keir . . . stood on a programme that saw trade union members give him their vote,' Turner has said. 'He can't just bin [something] because Peter Mandelson doesn't like it. To do so is to insult those who put their trust in him.'

Sharon Graham, the favourite of the SWP and the first woman to lead Unite if she wins, left school at 16 and worked as a silver-service waitress in London. A year later, she led a successful walk-out defending the rights of casual workers.

She has fallen victim to the appalling sexism of the hard Left, caricatured as a 'Margaret Thatcher' figure despite her solid socialist credentials.

'If you're a woman in a leadership role, it's all the usual sexist stuff,' she has said. 'It will never deter me. Maybe they're worried I might win.'

Sir Keir Starmer is pinning his faith on Gerard Coyne, who lost in 2017 on a paltry turnout of under 13 per cent.

Coyne, who joined Unite as a teenager while working at a supermarket, was dramatically sacked as Unite's West Midlands organiser after being found to have inappropriately used Labour Party data to contact potential supporters.

He branded the disciplinary hearing a 'show trial'.

The new leader of the Unite union will be revealed at the end of next month

Crucially, Coyne is the only candidate willing to say he will work with and not against Starmer.

This vital election will determine whether this rich and powerful union continues to support Labour. Without it, the party may be fatally wounded and even face ruin.

Union barons can shape Labour policy in crucial ways. For the sake of the hard-Left, many of these plans for government can horrify large swathes of the electorate creating a desperate worry for Starmer if Turner or Graham wins.

Having not won an election since 2005, Labour is now facing a life-or-death struggle for political relevance, trailing the Tories in the polls despite Conservative hegemony lasting more than a decade.

One moderate Labour MP said: 'You cannot overestimate the role of McCluskey and Unite in the disasters of the last decade, including the three lost elections. It's hard to believe Corbynism could have happened without McCluskey. It's critical for our future, if we've got one, that the McCluskey era ends for good.'

Last year, McCluskey slashed Unite's funds to Labour by 150,000  in a furious warning about the party's direction.

I am told that key figures at Labour HQ are seriously considering what they call the 'masochist' option: that is, if the hard-Left Turner wins  to McCluskey's obvious delight  Starmer and his team would dramatically refuse to take Unite's millions, denying the new general secretary a voice in Labour's operation.

Masochistic? It could prove suicidal. After the doldrums of Corbynism, which saw wealthy donors fleeing the bizarre agenda of the bearded ultra socialist, Labour has virtually no business sponsorship or high-value donors.

It would have to find alternative sources of cash  and fast  in precisely the way that Blair and Mandelson managed to.

In January, Starmer surely felt relief when his ally Christina McAnea became the general secretary of Unison, Britain's biggest trade union.

Luke Akehurst, who runs the moderate Labour to Win movement and is backing Coyne, says: 'A victory for Gerard Coyne would mean Starmer had the most supportive line-up of major unions that any Labour leader has had since 1951. This would give him the support he needs to transform Labour into an election-winning party.'

The similarly centrist Labour Uncut website was even more graphic. 'Labour has spent a decade being poisoned by Unite's politics,' it said. 'If it is ever to fully recover, it must also be prepared for some drastic medicine.'

The question is: will they take a suicide pill instead?
Meghan Markle struggled to 'switch off' the American dream' and understand her 'duty was to the Queen', a US-born viscountess has claimed in a new documentary.

Meghan at 40: The Climb to Power, which airs on Channel 5 on Saturday ahead of The Duchess of Sussex' landmark birthday on 4th August, explores the former Suits star's life from being born in California to her relationship with The Firm today.

Speaking in the programme Julie Montagu, who was born in Illinois but moved to the UK 16 years ago when she married Luke Timothy Charles Montagu, Viscount Hinchingbrooke, the son of the 11th Earl of Sandwich, explained that Meghan's struggle with her in-laws came from an inability to 'let go' of American ideals.

Meghan Markle struggled to 'switch off' the American dream' and understand her 'duty was to the Queen' as US-born viscountress has claimed in a new documentary. Meghan and the Queen are pictured in 2018 at Buckingham Palace

'You can't really be anything you want to be or do anything you want to do or say anything you want to say,' Viscountess Hinchingbrooke explained.

'Your duty is to the Queen and that's very difficult for someone like Meghan.

'To switch off that American dream off and accept "now you have to do what we say" is difficult.

'It's difficult to have love and duty work simultaneously and together and that's what Harry and Meghan wanted in negations with the Queen, this synergy, that they can make work, but the Queen said no.'

Julie is pictured with her husband Luke. Viscount & Viscountess Hinchingbrooke are seen at their country seat Mapperton. Luke is the son of the 11th Earl of Sandwich

Speaking in the programme Julie Montagu (pictured) who was born in Illinois but moved to the UK 16 years ago when she married Luke Timothy Charles Montagu, Viscount Hinchingbrooke, the son of the 11th Earl of Sandwich, explained that Meghan's struggle with her in-laws came from an inability to 'let go' of American ideals.

Julie (pictured at a London party) said 'it's difficult' to 'switch off that American dream off and accept 'now you have to do what we say'

Who is Viscountess Hinchingbrooke, the glamorous yoga guru born in rural Illinois? Born as Julie Fisher in rural Illinois, Viscountess Hinchingbrooke's life in one of Britain's grandest estates is far from what it once was. Now 49, Julie was a single mother-of-two when she met her husband Luke Montagu - whose ancestor the fourth Earl of Sandwich gave his name to the popular lunch staple - at a party in 2003. They married a year later at Mapperton, the family's exquisite Jacobean family pile described by Country Life as the finest manor house in England, with Julie wearing the family tiara. In 2014 she starred in the short-lived Bravo reality series Ladies of London. She also manages the Mapperton Estate in Dorset with her husband and three sons aged between 20 and 14. Because of a lack of visitors to the estate in lockdown, Julie had to embrace savvy new business ideas to keep her manor house and the family's 15 acres of Italianate gardens afloat - including virtual tours and yoga classes. Usually boasting 200 visitors a day in high season, the estate was only able to reopen its gardens on the weekend. Advertisement

The documentary also claims that Meghan and Harry gave their 'truth bomb' interview to Oprah Winfrey because they 'expected an apology' from the royal family.

'I think she felt it was an opportunity for her to not only share it with the world, but she hoped the royal family was actually listening,' Lady Julie added.

'It's difficult to pinpoint why she did it,' Julie went on ' but I think it's clear they were angry'.

Royal author Tom Quinn also told the documentary: 'I think they were hoping for an apology, they were hoping they would phone and say, "We're sorry we push you too far, we should have sat you down and spoke about your mental health issue".

'I think she was horrified that the reaction was so negative from the family and they didn't respond in the way she wanted,' he added.

'Meghan thought when she entered the royal family she could shake things up and they would love it, they would do things Meghan's way.

'And when that didn't happen, and when she came up against what she sees as the forces of reaction, it made us so upset.

'That that interview was her way to get revenge'.

During an explosive chat with Oprah Winfrey in March, Meghan claimed her sister-in-law Kate Middleton made her cry before she married Prince Harry as the couple, there was 'concern' over Archie's skin colour from members of the royal family and that she was 'silenced' by The Firm.

'Everybody jumped on that, Meghan was silenced, it's awful,' journalist Ashley Pearson told the programme, 'but anyone that knows anything about royal history knows all the royals are silenced. None of them can say what they think. They're all silenced.

'They can't go and meet some head of state and later say "oh I didn't like him". They're all silenced. That's why they're here. That's why they never got beheaded.

'For Meghan to be silenced is no different to how Prince William is silenced, so why is it ok for them not to be able to express an opinion but not for her?'

Royal commentator Emily Andrews added that the former actress doesn't want to be 'Mrs Mountbatten-Windsor' and 'staying at home raising her chickens'.

'She wants to be superstar, she wants to be a changemaker, this disruptor'.
Subway has delighted fans by offering diners the chance to win a year's worth of free sandwiches with every purchase of 5 or more until September.

The US fast food chain is celebrating 25 years since they opened their first UK store in Brighton in 1996.

To enter the prize draw, guests must simply make a purchase of 5 or above in-store with a scan of their QR code from the app or order ahead with their Subway app.

Four winners in the UK will be gifted enough points to have breakfast, lunch or dinner sorted all year.

Subway will give customers the chance to win a year's worth of free sandwiches with every purchase of 5 or more until September

Each winner will receive a total of 182,500 Subway Rewards points, which will allow you to order 365 6-inch Subs - but can also be redeemed against any menu item of your choice - including favourites such as the Steak & Cheese and Chicken Teriyaki.

Guests hoping to luck out on their meal options will need to have a registered Subway Rewards account to enter.

New guests can also simply download the Subway app, register and activate their Subway Rewards account to get involved.

The Subway brand was started when nuclear physicist Dr. Peter Buck gave a young student Fred DeLuca the idea to open a sandwich shop to help pay his college tuition.

The US fast food chain is celebrating 25 years since they opened their first UK store in Brighton in 1996 (pictured, one of the sandwiches diners can snap up at Subway)

The pair opened Pete's Super Submarines in Bridgeport, Connecticut more than 50 years ago, with a vision for serving delicious, quality Subs  and locals loved it.

Fast forward to 2021, and Subway is now the world's largest submarine sandwich franchise with stores in over 44,000 locations around the globe.

Travelling across the Atlantic, Subway's Subs arrived on UK shores in 1996, transforming Brighton's high street and the nation's lunch options up and down the country ever since.

Mays Elansari, Head of Marketing UK & Ireland at Subway told FEMAIL: 'Since the first UK Subway store opened in Brighton 25 years ago, guests have been able to indulge in a menu with more choice, more taste and more value than ever before.

'We want to say a huge thank you to our guests for last 25 years and what better way than to offer them the chance to Win A Year Of Free Subs?!'
Advertisement

A quaint farmhouse in the Queensland countryside is drawing droves of travellers in search of quirky 'staycations' while Australia's international border remains shut.

Tucked away on a secluded plot in semirural Doonan, a 15-minute drive from Noosa, the 'Little Red Barn' is the fourth 'most wish-listed' property on Airbnb for 2021 - and it's not hard to see why.

Perched on a raised timber platform overlooking a forest, the three-bedroom retreat features a wraparound verandah with a freestanding outdoor bathtub that leads to a heated spa pool sunk into the grass.

Vaulted ceilings soar above elegant living spaces and a large chef's kitchen where guests can gather together at night.

And with a reasonable nightly rate of just $310 per booking, the charming country house is the perfect spot for families or groups of friends to escape the frenzy of big city life, for a few days at least.

This quaint farmhouse in the Queensland countryside is drawing droves of travellers in search of quirky 'staycations' while Australia's international border remains shut

The three-bedroom retreat features a wraparound verandah with a freestanding outdoor bathtub

The raised platform leads to a heated spa pool sunk into the grass

Australia's top 10 'most wish-listed' stays on Airbnb for 2021 1. The Pod, Lewisham, TAS ($280 per night) 2. Alkira Eco-Glamping Hut, Emerald, VIC ($220 per night) 3. Apple Orchard Farm Stay, Blackheath, NSW ($785 per night) 4. Little Red Barn, Doonan, QLD ($310 per night) 5. Ryans Rest Tiny House, Pemberton, WA ($185 per night) 6. The Cube, Murray River, SA ($284 per night) 7. Bruny Island Hideaway, Bruny Island, TAS ($385 per night) 8. Retro Tram and Cottage, Lauriston, VIC ($320 per night) 9. Treehouse, Blue Mountains, NSW ($1,095 per night) 10. Clouds Safari, Beechmont, QLD ($288 per night) Advertisement

Those lucky enough to stay in the master bedroom can walk directly onto the verandah through the ensuite, to enjoy spectacular views and a dip in the pool each morning.

Guests have left hundreds of glowing reviews, giving the property an overall 4.95 out of 5 star rating online.

'Cannot recommend this place enough! Absolutely stunning. The heated pool and outdoor bath were a great way to spend the day,' one woman who stayed at the house in July wrote.

A second said: 'This place is a little slice of heaven in the countryside.'

Others called the house 'absolutely perfect' and the 'ultimate way' to spend a week in the Noosa Hinterland.

One man said he can't wait to book in again.

Demand for quirky accommodation has soared since the pandemic began in early 2020, with Australian hosts of unique stays earning a collective $12.5million (AUD) between March 2020 and April 2021.

One third of Australia's 100 'most wish-listed' Airbnb properties are classified as unique stays, according to the travel platform, with a tram, a treehouse and a house that floats on the ocean among the most popular.

Searches for unique stays have nearly doubled since the Covid crisis broke out, and it seems interest is only increasing.

In the first three months of 2021, Australian searches for yurts - portable, round tents covered with skins or felt that are traditionally used as homes by nomadic groups in Central Asia - surged by 80 percent compared to the same period last year.

Demand for tiny homes increased by 76 percent, the platform reported, while searches for farm stays also skyrocketed by 66 percent.

Vaulted ceilings soar above elegant living spaces (left) and a large chef's kitchen (right) where guests can gather at night

With a reasonable nightly rate of just $310 per booking, the charming country house is the perfect spot for families or groups of friends to escape the frenzy of big city life, for a few days at least

There are three bedrooms (one left), including a master with an ensuite that leads right out onto the terrace

The barn is tucked away on a secluded plot in semirural Doonan, a 15-minute drive from Noosa

Inside Australia's most popular Airbnb unique stay A wooden box on stilts overlooking the ocean on the wild coast of southeastern Tasmania is Australia's 'most wish-listed' unique stay on Airbnb for 2021. The Pod, a box-like structure in Lewisham, 34 kilometres west of Hobart, is owned by travel writer Alice Hansen who likes to think of her property as a 'love letter' to the country's famously picturesque island state. Suspended metres above a mossy hillside, the 40sqm one-bedroom retreat is the perfect escape for couples, inspiring guests with its breathtaking views and quirky interior. The romantic getaway, which contains a freestanding outdoor bathtub and a fireplace that hangs from the ceiling, comes at a remarkably affordable price, with a nightly rate of just $280 (AUD) for two. Floor-to-ceiling windows frame sweeping views of the surrounding area, capturing a panorama that takes in Frederick Henry Bay and the Southern Ocean to the east and Mount Wellington/kunanyi to the west. It has a custom pine couch and a kitchenette kitted out with the latest appliances, according to the Airbnb listing, but you'll need to be willing to go off-grid because the Pod doesn't have WiFi. This wooden box on stilts overlooking the ocean on the wild coast of southeastern Tasmania is Australia's 'most wish-listed' unique stay on Airbnb for 2021 The Pod, a box-like structure in Lewisham, 34 kilometres west of Hobart, is owned by travel writer Alice Hansen who likes to think of her property as a 'love letter' to the country's famously picturesque island state Advertisement

Airbnb's country manager for Australia and New Zealand, Susan Wheeldon, urged Aussies with quirky properties to capitalise on the enthusiasm for domestic travel by becoming a host on the site.

'More than ever, Aussies are looking at their accommodation itself as the destination - and that means homes that are a fun, quirky adventure in their own right,' Ms Wheeldon said.

She added: 'The sky's really the limit when it comes to the types of spaces people can list on Airbnb.'
A 'hideous' shoe once dubbed a 'plastic hoof' by an influential fashion journalist dominated the Australian footwear scene in the first half of 2021.

Love them or loathe them, sales of Crocs soared 430 percent between January and July compared to the same period last year, according to The Culture Index, a trend report from designer streetwear marketplace, StockX.

The report, which analysed the performance of leading brands on a platform used by 30million shoppers in 200 countries around the world, shows an unprecedented surge in demand for the slip-on sandals with a dubious reputation.

Time magazine fashion consultant Tim Gunn once compared Crocs to 'plastic hooves' that 'can't be taken seriously', while a Washington Post article described them as 'hideous'.

Love them or loathe them, sales of Crocs (pictured) are up 430 percent in 2021

Poll Will you be wearing Crocs in 2021? Yes No Will you be wearing Crocs in 2021? Yes 209 votes

No 779 votes Now share your opinion





The shoes, which cost anywhere from $89.99 (AUD) for classic models to $740 for customised collaborations, enjoyed the third biggest sales growth year-on-year of any brand, only behind Birkenstock and French fashion house, Louis Vuitton.

Birkenstock enjoyed a surge of 610 percent, while sales of Louis Vuitton sneakers skyrocketed by 440 percent.

The move towards comfortable footwear over the past 18 months has been widely attributed to Covid lockdowns, when millions swapped fashionable shoes for something that simply felt better.

But intentionally 'ugly' shoes had secured the sartorial seal of approval long before the pandemic broke out.

Birkenstocks (left and right) enjoyed a sales surge of 610 percent in 2021

Louis Vuitton sneakers (pictured) skyrocketed by 440 percent

Australia's five best-selling shoe brands in 2021 1. Birkenstock (sales grew by 610 percent compared to the first half of 2020) 2. Louis Vuitton (sales grew by 440 percent year-on-year) 3. Crocs (sales grew by 430 percent) 4. Alexander McQueen (sales grew by 370 percent) 5. Reebok (sales grew by 210 percent) Source: StockX Advertisement

Chunky platform sandals with velcro straps that once sent shivers through the fashion industry were declared the 'must-have' shoe of 2020.

In a rare fusion of fashion and functionality, style insiders turned shoes commonly worn by long-distance hikers and middle-aged fathers into the perfect accessory for skirts, denim shorts, jeans and dresses.

Chanel gave the style its esteemed seal of approval in 2019 by releasing $1,250 (AUD) velcro sandals in a rainbow of colours including black, purple, pink and cobalt blue, which have been seen on some of the biggest names in fashion.

British model turned designer Alexa Chung wore a black pair in 2019, while Italy's Instagram queen Chiara Ferragni styled a purple pair with pink cargo pants and a floral top during lockdown at her Milanese penthouse in March 2020.

Online fashion magazine L'Officiel dubbed Chanel's 'dad slides' the 'must-have' of 2020 while Hello! hailed them the year's 'unexpected summer hit'.

The trend for 'ugly but cool' sandals started with the 2015 comeback of Birkenstocks, whose ergonomic design has become a cult classic for fashionistas almost two and a half centuries since it was founded in Germany in 1774.

But it wasn't until November 2019, with the spectacular resurrection of popular yet 'daggy' Maseurs, that ugly sandals really exploded in Australia.

'Daggy dad' sandals got Chanel's esteemed seal of approval when the French fashion house released these chunky velcro slip-ons in 2019

British model turned designer Alexa Chung wears the $1,250 Chanel velcro sandals in London in February, 2019

Italy's Instagram queen Chiara Ferragni wears the Chanel sandals in purple during lockdown at her Milanese penthouse in March 2020

Chemists and online retailers restocked the sensible slip-ons and thousands of millennials took note, flooding Instagram with carefully curated photos of the $56.99 shoes.

Maseurs were created in 1989 by Sydney designer Gabriel Eber to help people suffering from chronic foot pain.

Mr Eber claimed many 'aches, pains and circulation problems' were linked to nerve endings in the feet, and made it his mission to design a shoe that would alleviate those issues.

The sandal correctly positions feet to relieve pressure on the knees, hips and back region - just like a built-in physiotherapist - and while once seen as a 'dad shoe', is now a stylish statement just like the Birkenstock.
A man who was left covered in scars after surviving a terrifying explosion as a toddler is now sharing the importance of self-love on TikTok, having racked up 230,000 fans.

Joshua Reyes, 32, from Weslaco, Texas, was aged just two when the horrific accident happened in August 1991, during a trip to Mexico with his mother Martha, and his evangelist father, Eddie.

The family were walking outside one day during their visit when Joshua grabbed a bottle of liquid that he thought was water and poured its contents on his neck to cool down in the sweltering heat.

However, suddenly, his body started to feel even hotter and he realised something was wrong. He had unknowingly poured a flammable liquid on himself.

He threw the bottle across the room, which landed on a water heater and burst into flames before Joshua's father Eddie grabbed his family and quickly ran away from the explosion.

Sadly, Martha later died in hospital while Joshua suffered third-degree burns on 95 per cent of his body - and was told he only had one per cent chance of survival.

Joshua Reyes (pictured), 32, from Weslaco, Texas, was aged just two when the horrific accident happened in August 1991, during a trip to Mexico with his mother Martha, and his evangelist father, Eddie

The family were walking outside one day during their visit when Joshua (pictured shortly before the accident) grabbed a bottle of liquid that he thought was water and poured its contents on his neck to cool down in the sweltering heat

Joshua does not remember how he got a hold of the liquid or where he got it from.

Following the explosion, Joshua and Martha were both seriously injured and were transported to a hospital in Galveston, Texas. Sadly, Joshua's mother died in hospital due to complications.

Joshua suffered third-degree burns on 95 per cent of his body including his face, torso, arms, legs and back  with doctors giving him just a one per cent chance of survival.

'My dad heroically saved both me and my mother, who had also tried to save me as well,' Joshua recalled. 'My burns were so severe 95 per cent of my body was covered in third-degree burns.

However, suddenly, his body started to feel even hotter and he realised something was wrong. Joshua (pictured) had unknowingly poured a flammable liquid on himself

He threw the bottle across the room, which landed on a water heater and burst into flames before Joshua's father Eddie grabbed his family and quickly ran away from the explosion. Pictured, Joshua at six years old with father Eddie Reyes

'The doctor said he had never seen anything like that, and that it was the maximum he had ever seen anybody get burned.'

Incredibly, Joshua managed to beat the odds and survived the ordeal  but the recovery process was excruciating.

The survivor recalled being bathed in a medical bath at a hospital to disinfect his body in an incredibly painful ordeal.

'The recovery was pretty brutal,' Joshua explained. 'I remember how difficult it was to take my first step to walk, it was difficult to shower.

'They would give you these bed pools where they would treat skin wounds to take out dirt to disinfect your body, and it was the most painful thing you could ever feel. It was water with medicine in it, so it burns.

Sadly, Martha later died in hospital while Joshua (pictured) suffered third-degree burns on 95 per cent of his body - and was told he only had one per cent chance of survival

'Afterwards they would take you out and scrape you with a narrow-looking ice cream scooper from hell, to get all the debridement out so you can heal properly.'

Joshua spent a year and a half in the hospital recovering from his injuries and has since undergone 90 surgeries including skin grafts and operations to increase his mobility.

He underwent a spinal surgery at 20-years-old, and that was the last operation he had, considering he is now at peace with his appearance and is not interested in cosmetic surgery.

He added 'I'm happy with how I look  I'm happy with how everything is going for me, at least. I'm content in how I look. If there is any scar tissue that I can get removed to feel more comfortable, then yes I'm all for that.'

Joshua (pictured) spent a year and a half in the hospital recovering from his injuries and has since undergone 90 surgeries including skin grafts and operations to increase his mobility

Now, Joshua (pictured as a toddler) is using his TikTok page to spread happiness and positivity  urging people to love themselves inside and out

Now, he is using his TikTok page to spread happiness and positivity  urging people to love themselves inside and out.

He has amassed over 230,000 followers on the app, where he posts funny reactions to viral videos, and also teaches people lessons in self-acceptance.

'Self-acceptance is one of the most important things that we need to understand about ourselves,' Joshua said. 'True self-love is accepting who you are and what you look like.

'And it doesn't matter what anybody else says, as long as you accept and love yourself for who you are. For example, I know exactly what I look like. I tell people jokingly that I know I look like a burnt tater tot.

'But I love myself because I accept myself for who I am and what I look like, and because of that I deem myself beautiful and handsome.

'I'm not in any kind of delusion. Self-acceptance is one of the most beautiful things that you can do.'
This adorable prickly poser is certainly not camera shy.

Cinnamon is a one-year-old hedgehog with an Instagram page boasting 28,000 followers.

Owner Audrianna Martin Del Campo, 26, of Ajax, Ontario, Canada, is the mastermind behind the cute Instagram page.

The contemporary ballet dancer and photographer first met Cinnamon at the end of 2019.

From posing in a bathtub to sitting by a campfire, little Cinnamon is the perfect model.

Perfecting her prickles! Rescue hedgehog Cinnamon takes a bath surrounded by candles in an adorable photoshoot set up by her owner Audrianna Martin Del Campo, 26, of Ajax, Ontario

What a doll! Another cut photo of Cinnamon shows her [oosing on a tiny chair while clutching a cloth toy

Audrianna said: 'She's not like a dog who is treat motivated or respond to commands, so it's taken a lot of patience and allowing her to do her thing.

'Sometimes if she's grumpy or not in the mood then the shoot doesn't happen, I go off what she's feeling. I use a camera with a silent shooting mode so that the shutter sound doesn't startle or stress her out.'

The Instagram page first started in the middle of 2020, during Canada's lockdown.

Audrianna said: 'I had lots more free time on my hands as the situation made it so I couldn't go to work. Just before the pandemic hit, I visited Japan and found all these cute little props.'

Magical! Cinnamon dons a tiny witches hat as she leans over a cauldron for a Halloween-inspired snape

Doting owner Audrianna, a contemporary ballet dancer and photographer first met Cinnamon at the end of 2019, when she adopted her from an exotic animal rescue centre

'In Japan they love hedgehogs, so I found a lot of things to take home. It was this period that birthed the account.

'It was really interesting to see how much joy it brought to other people.'

Cinnamon is certainly well pampered by her creative owner.

'I have to trim her nails every other week and she gets bathed roughly every other month.'

'In the summer she will get bathed a bit more after being outside in the dirt and a bit less in the winter because of the dryness to protect her skin.'

Cinnamon posing with a sunflower: Her owner Audrianna admitted that she's not treat-motivated like a cat or dog and will only pose for photos when she's in the mood

Midsommar Cinnamon: Her owner brought back lots of cute props from a trip to Japan where hedgehogs are hugely popular

Cinnamon, pictured posing with a tiny basket of flowers, is a one-year-old hedgehog with an Instagram page boasting 28,000 followers

'She has her own enclosure both inside and outside with a wheel and a little blanket that she likes to sleep in when she is with me.'

Audrianna has always been an advocate for rescue pets.

She said: 'I didn't know if there were any sanctuaries who catered for hedgehogs, so I did some research and found a place near the border to New York, which is Niagara Falls. They have an animal sanctuary for exotic pets.'

'They rescued a hedgehog and in whilst in their care, she had a litter of baby hoglets.'

'It seemed like fate, so things fell into place really quickly, I reached out on the Friday and the following Wednesday they were making a delivery to the town beside me. They literally dropped her off at my door.'

What a pumpkin! The aesthetically pleasing photoshoots mainly follow an Autumnal trend, because this is Audrianna's favourite season.

Toasting marshmallows around the campfire. Audrianna's favourite look is an outdoor photoshoot with a woodland feel

Audrianna said her pet is low maintenance and that she visited Facebook groups to pick up tips from other owners

The aesthetically pleasing photoshoots mainly follow an Autumnal trend, as this is Audrianna's favourite season.

She added, 'The shoots evolved as I found more props, my favourite pictures are when she is outside in a woodland feel.'

Caring for a hedgehog is certainly different to a cat or a dog, but Audrianna insists it is manageable with the proper research.

'They are a very low maintenance pet, so it was not a difficult process.'

'Forming a good relationship is very important. I joined a lot of information groups on Facebook. A lot of people shared their experiences of getting their hedgehogs to warm up to them.'

Perfect poser: Audrianna said that from the outset Cinnamon was curious about her new owner and was instantly friendly

'It usually takes a while for them to get used to you, but from the first moment I got her, she looked up at me with a curious twinkle in her eye and within minutes was friendly and curious.'

'The adoption fees range anywhere from $150 to $350 and she was in the middle of this margin.'

'Her main expenses are her special exotic vet in North Toronto and the food which I buy in bulk roughly four times a year at $30 a time.'
An American woman has detailed the moment her British flatmate was left in stitches after seeing her try squash twice without adding the water needed to it.

Rebecca Frailey, 19, from Utah, moved to Birkenhead, Wirral, as part of her work with her church four weeks ago.

The Mormon missionary had been enjoying the British heatwave when she decided to try orange and pineapple squash - but was left shocked by the horrid taste.

However, her British flatmate couldn't help but laugh at Rebecca's antics after realising the American didn't add water to her drink.

'My flatmate was laughing at me because I didn't realise you had to put water in it - it is just not a thing in America,' Rebecca told The Liverpool Echo.

Rebecca Frailey (pictured), 19, from Utah, moved to Birkenhead, Wirral, as part of her work with her church four weeks ago

'I just thought we had this really weird drink. I had the orange and pineapple squash and I was just drinking it straight from the bottle.'

The astonished American admitted: 'It happened to me twice and I had to spit it out.'

Rebecca, who is a religious volunteer for the Church of Latter Day Saints, has committed to helping her church in a two-year mission away from her home.

The Mormon missionary (pictured) had been enjoying the British heatwave when she decided to try orange and pineapple squash - but was left shocked by the horrid taste

She started her trip in Wigan before moving to Birkenhead, where she praises the 'strong sense of community'.

However, she has suffered other culture shocks, including the 'heavier' Covid restrictions compared to her state and using Celsius instead of Fahrenheit.

The 19-year-old will be working for her religious organisation around the North West for the next 18 months.
Wedding anniversaries can be a bittersweet occasion when you're divorced, but Prince Andrew looked in good spirits this morning as he was spotted out horse riding at Windsor.

The Queen's son, 61, who retired from royal duties amid scandal over his friendship with paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein, would have marked his 35th wedding anniversary with ex-wife Sarah Ferguson today.

Fergie and Andrew separated in 1992 after six years of marriage and divorced four years later but their continued closeness has often prompted speculation that they would rekindle their relationship.

While his brother Prince Charles found happiness with his second wife, the Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Andrew has never remarried.

Wedding anniversaries can be a bittersweet occasion when you're divorced, but Prince Andrew (pictured right) looked in good spirits this morning as he was spotted out horse riding at Windsor

The Queen's son, 61, (pictured centre) would have marked his 35th wedding anniversary with ex-wife Sarah Ferguson today

Andrew looked in great spirits as he took an early morning ride with a female groom in the grounds of Windsor this morning.

The Duke of York donned a purple and red striped polo shirt and added a helmet and riding slacks for the outing, after driving himself to the stables from his home at the nearby Royal Lodge.

Horse riding has become an interest for the Duke since 2018 when he took riding lessons ahead of riding on horseback behind The Queens carriage for the first time at Trooping The Colour.

Today it certainly seemed to prove a fun distraction on the day he would have marked 35 years of marriage with Fergie.

The couple have been divorced for more than two decades but remain famously close and share a home at the Royal Lodge.

In an interview with the Kyle and Jackie O show in Australia in 2016, Fergie was asked by the hosts if they would ever reunite.

Fergie and Andrew (pictured on their wedding day) separated in 1992 after six years of marriage and divorced four years later but their continued closeness has often prompted speculation that they would rekindle their relationship

Andrew (pictured centre) looked in great spirits as he took an early morning ride with a female groom in the grounds of Windsor this morning

Fergie enigmatically replied: 'I always think, "have we really?". We're divorced to each other right now. We've never really left each other.'

It comes as Andrew's ex-girlfriend Lady Victoria Hervey said the abuse claims levelled against Ghislaine Maxwell in connection to paedophile Jeffrey Epstein were 'very shocking'.

Prince Andrew stepped down from royal duties in November 2019 following a disastrous interview with Newsnight and scrutiny over his friendship with the convicted paedophile.

The Duke of York donned a purple and red striped polo shirt and added a helmet and riding slacks for the outing, after driving himself (pictured) to the stables from his home at the nearby Royal Lodge

Speaking in a new documentary about Ghislaine, Lady Victoria said: 'She was always the centre of every fun party and she was a vibrant character that a lot of people wanted to be around. It was very shocking when I first heard everything about her because that was not the Ghislaine I knew.

'I think there's a lot of people in his position that like to be surrounded by young models - it didn't look that different to what I'd seen before. I was very young and very naive and didn't realise what was happening.

'[Epstein] gave her that stability of what she needed and she gave him what he needed to meet all these powerful people.

'Everybody knew Ghislaine Maxwell but no one knew him. It was a partnership they had. I think she got in way too deep and just couldn't leave.'

The Queen's second son recently became a grandfather for the first time when Princess Eugenie welcomed son August Brooksbank in February.

He'll soon welcome his second grandchild as Princess Beatrice is expecting.
The members of Sweden's Royal Family have all finally been reunited 'after a long time in different places' due to the coronavirus pandemic.

King Carl XVI Gustaf, 75, and Queen Silvia, 77, were joined by their three children and their spouses, as well as their eight grandchildren and pet dogs at Solliden Palace on Oland island, off the southeast coast of Sweden.

A sweet picture of the reunion, taken this month, was shared to the Swedish Royal Family's Instagram account, alongside the caption: 'Together on Oland again! A long-awaited reunion for the King.

'The family, which after a long time in different places, can now once again gather on the "island of the sun and the winds". A continued happy summer is wished to all.'

The members of Sweden's Royal Family (pictured) have all finally been reunited 'after a long time in different places' due to the coronavirus pandemic

Dressed in an elegant ruffled white frock, Princess Victoria, 44, beamed as she stood next to her sister-in-law Princess Sofia, who looked equally stylish in a floral maxi dress.

The family's newest addition, three-month-old Prince Julian sat contently in his mother Princess Sofia's arms, while her husband Prince Carl Philip proudly stood behind his wife and next to his second son, Prince Gabriel, three.

Prince Gabriel, sporting a purple shirt, sat on a wooden cart opposite his cousins, Princess Victoria's five-year-old son, Prince Oscar, and Princess Madeleine's daughters, Princess Leonore, seven, and Princess Adrienne, three.

It comes after Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden looked effortlessly chic in all white when joining her family in new portraits (pictured) released to celebrate her 44th birthday

Princess Madeleine and her husband, Christopher O'Neill, who are based in the US, were pictured on the right-hand side of the photograph, alongside their son Prince Nicolas.

The family-of-five returned to Sweden last month to spend part of their summer with their relatives.

Princess Victoria's husband Prince Daniel was placed behind the King and Queen, while the monarchs' granddaughter Princess Estelle, nine, sat on a bale of hay with her cousin and Princess Sofia's eldest son, five-year-old Prince Alexander.

Princess Estelle, who sported a light blue dress and a white bow in her hair, is the eldest daughter of Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel.
Lady Kitty Spencer's friends have sparked rumours she is set to marry her banking beau this weekend in Rome after sharing excited posts tagged Team Bride.

Princess Diana's niece, 30, is engaged to South Africa-born multi-millionaire, Michael Lewis, 62, but has never publicly spoken about her fiance - who is five years older than her father Charles Spencer.

The model has spent the last week in Italy with friends, with several going on to share posts that hinted that her nuptials may be imminent.

Last night, Dutch fashion model Marpessa Hennink posted a selfie with Kitty with the words: 'Team Bride. It's happening finally.'

Lady Kitty's siblings Lady Eliza and Amelia, 28, have both remained silent on social media in recent days, while her father Charles shared a video his home Althorp House this morning.

It is unlikely Lady Kitty's cousins Prince William, 39, or Prince Harry, 36, would attend the event in Italy amid the ongoing Covid-19 crisis in the UK and the US.

Lady Kitty Spencer's friends have sparked rumours she is set to marry her billionaire beau this weekend in Rome after sharing excited posts about her upcoming plans

Princess Diana 's niece, 30, is engaged to South Africa-born multi-millionaire, Michael Lewis, 62, but has never publicly spoken about her fiance - who is five years older than her father Charles Spencer

Made in Chelsea star Mark Francis Vandelli has also uploaded a coy post from Rome simply saying: 'And so it begins @kitty.spencer'.

Another friend, Simon Huck, posted a snap as he enjoyed a drink on the street in the city, writing: 'And so it begins.'

While Kitty's friends appear unable to contain their excitement about the wedding on social media, her family have remained remarkably more tight-lipped.

Lady Kitty's sister Lady Amelia and Eliza haven't shared posts for several weeks, while her father Charles Spencer posted a video of the grounds of his home Althorp House this morning.

The model has spent the last week in Italy with friends, with several going on to share posts that hinted that her nuptials may be imminent (pictured left, one shared a post captioned: 'Team Bride', and right, Mark Francis tagged Kitty in Rome, writing: 'So it begins...'

Earlier this week, Kitty shared a photograph posing in a leopard print bodycon dress as she posed for a snap on a bridge during a girl's weekend in Florence.

Several comments appear to hint at the upcoming big event, with one writing: 'Yeah, can't wait to see you!'

Meanwhile artist Piotr Kamil Kryzmowski writing: 'Can't wait!'

Previously speaking to the summer issue of Town & Country, the model cousin of Princes William and Harry said: 'It's not that I don't place an importance on love. It's because, for me, love is the most important thing in the world, and I will protect it with all my heart by not making it a topic of discussion.

'You open yourself up to other people having opinions, and it just isn't relevant to anybody's life but mine and my family's.

Despite staying tight-lipped on her beau, Kitty added: 'I just look forward to a really happy home life: a happy marriage and happy children. And I feel very at peace that things play out the way they should.'

Kitty's fiance Michael has three adult children and was previously married to a woman named Leola in 1985.

Earlier this week, Kitty shared a photograph posing in a leopard print bodycon dress as she posed for a snap on a bridge during a girl's weekend in Florence

Several comments appear to hint at the upcoming big event, with some saying they were 'so excited'

It's not yet known whether Lady Kitty will convert to Judaism, Mr Lewis' faith, before the big day.

In August 2019, Lady Kitty was seen kissing Lewis after leaving Club 55 in St Tropez.

In June, she was pictured showing off a large diamond ring on her engagement finger at London's Cash & Rocket Masquerade Ball.

Just like Diana, the London-born daughter of Diana'a brother Charles Spencer and Victoria Aitken, grew up in the Spencer family seat Althorp in Northamptonshire.

While Kitty is often spotted looking glamorous in the public, her brother Louis, 27, who is set to inherit their father's title, keeps a lower profile.

'Primogeniture can be a tricky topic, because as times are changing, attitudes are as well. We've grown up understanding that it's Louis to inherit, and Louis will do an incredible job,' Kitty added.

The Spencer siblings - including twin sisters Eliza and Amelia, 28. - all tuned heads when they attended the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in 2018. (L-R): Eliza, Louis, their mother Victoria, and Kitty

Speaking of her childhood, she went on: 'We have such an emotional attachment to Althorp.

'That's where we would have our Easter-egg hunts and our Christmases; I have my little vegetable patch, I learnt to ride a horse there, I learnt to ride a bike and to rollerblade.

'It's so lovely to look back on the history and think everybody else probably learnt to ride a horse there, too.'

The Spencer siblings - including twin sisters Eliza and Amelia - all turned heads when they attended the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in 2018.

Overnight, Kitty's Instagram following, which leapt from 37,000 to a staggering half a million

'I woke up the next day and looked at my phone and thought, 'Whoops, did I take someone else's by mistake?'. It was very weird, and a little bit overwhelming.'

Speaking about her relationship with her siblings, Eliza and Amelia, she added: 'We are a bit of a tripod. It's been horrible to be separated this year.

'They are in South Africa, which is only an hour ahead, and with two flights going there a day, you usually have the comforting thought of, 'I could always be there in the morning if I needed to be.'

Princess Diana's niece jetted off to the French Riviera earlier last summer Pictured, in Nemi in a 1,750 D&G dress

'It's been awful to be completely shut off, and thinking, come what may, we can't be there for each other...'

Despite usually living a jet-set lifestyle, Kitty has travelled much less this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Last summer, Kitty shared an insight into her very luxurious trip to the French Riveriea and Italy's Amalfi Coast and Capri, showing off delicious meals and idyllic beaches on her Instagram page.

Kitty has had a global outlook from a young age, growing up between Althorp and Cape Town, South Africa.

As well as studying at the University of Cape Town, she later studied art history and Italian in Florence,

On being a student in Italy, she added: 'Everything felt so simple and carefree, but you're still being stimulated in a culturally rich environment.

'It's just pure pleasure and learning, and being surrounded by every type of beauty. If I'm lucky enough to live to the age of retirement, Florence is where you'll find me.'
Former princess Tessy of Luxembourg married her hunky Swiss businessman fiance, Frank Floessel, in a low-key ceremony in Zurich today.

The beautiful bride, 35, wore a simple tiered midi wedding dress that featured a black ribbon under the bust, with the floaty material covering her blossoming baby bump.

The ex royal and mother-of-two is currently expecting a baby boy with her, now husband, Frank, which is due later this summer.

Taking to Instagram, she and her guests shared some behind-the-scenes shots from the ceremony which was a small and intimate gathering of close family and friends due to current Covid restrictions.

Former princess Tessy of Luxembourg married her hunky Swiss businessman fiance, Frank Floessel, in a low-key ceremony in Zurich today (pictured together after the ceremony)

Tessy's two sons Prince Gabriel of Nassau, 14, and Prince Noah of Nassau, 12, whom she shares with ex-husband Prince Louis of Luxembourg, 34, who she divorced in 2019, served as the best men while Franks daughter, Julia, was a bridesmaid.

A video shows the bride arriving at the ceremony in a white Tesla with butterfly doors, and then stepping out of the car holding her bouquet of flowers as she blows a kiss to the guests.

Tessy looked stunning as she wore her blonde locks in a sophisticated up-do and enhanced her pretty features with a touch of make-up, wearing a blush and light pink lipstick.

She also shared snaps from her wedding preparations showing her arranging her bridal bouquet and flowers as well as her appointment with hairdresser in the morning.

The beautiful bride, 35, wore a simple tiered midi wedding dress that featured a black ribbon under the bust, with the floaty material covering her blossoming baby bump

A video shows the bride arriving at the ceremony, which was a small and intimate gathering of close family and friends due to current Covid restrictions, in a white Tesla with butterfly doors

She stepped out of the car holding her bouquet of flowers and looking radiant with her blonde locks in a sophisticated up-do as she blew a kiss to the guests

The simple ceremony was a different occasion than her first wedding to Prince Louis in 2006, which took place in a modest country church, six months after giving birth to their first child, Prince Gabriel.

As only a small number of people were allowed inside the venue, with guests gathered outside watching a livestream on their phones and showered the happy couple with confetti after the ceremony.

Later, the guests were treated to a sit-down meal with gorgeous views overlooking a lake and were given traditional wedding favours of sugared almonds to take home.

Last week, Tessy revealed that her nuptials were approaching in a post saying she felt like she was living in a 'romantic movie', writing: 'Lots of exciting memories happening at the moment.

'We are getting married next week and despite loads of last minute work and other arrangements, everyone is super looking forward for Mama and Papa to formalise this relationship before little bean arrives.

'Gabriel, Noah and Julia will be the best men and bride maid. It feels like I am in a beautiful and romantic movie indeed.'

Her two sons Prince Gabriel, 14, and Prince Noah, 12, whom she shares with ex-husband Prince Louis of Luxembourg, 34, served as best men for the ceremony

With only a small number of people allowed inside the venue, guests gathered outside to watch a livestream on their phones and showered the happy couple with confetti after the ceremony

Later, the guests were treated to a sit-down meal with gorgeous views overlooking a lake and were given traditional wedding favours of sugared almonds to take home

She continued: 'It will be a very small and intimate gathering of close family and friends. We do know that many close friends from abroad, especially UK will be missed due to Corona regulations.

However, do not worry, the big wedding ceremony will be held in a few months time after baby has arrived and i am sure by then that the corona regulations should be adjusted.

Thank you all again for all your continues messages, letters, wishes and numerous gifts for little bean. We are showered with love.'

Tessy is believed to have known financier and CEO Frank Floessel, for several years, and announced her engagement to him on New Year's Eve and announced her pregnancy in February.

In May, she shared a sweet sonogram of her baby on Instagram, and revealed her adorable nickname for the baby is 'little bean', writing: '"Our life together has just begun. Youre part of me my little one".

The ex royal and mother-of-two in currently expecting a baby boy with her, now husband, Frank, which is due later this summer after announcing her pregnancy in February

Tessy is believed to have known financier and CEO Frank Floessel, for several years, and announced her engagement to him on New Year's Eve

Alongside the image of the sonogram, Tessy wrote: 'Meet little Bean. Your big brothers and sister are super excited to be meeting you in the summer for real in person and not just your strong karate kicks.'

She continued: 'Thank you all for your wishes, cards, letters, prayers, and numerous gifts already received for little bean.

'We are looking forward to be receiving more of them over the next weeks and months. We are planning on replying in July to all of them.'

She added: 'We feel very blessed and are humbled that you chose to share our joy with us in such a meaningful way. Such an act of compassion, kindness and love.'

Tessy announced her pregnancy several months ago by sharing a snap on Instagram cuddling up with Frank, while the businessman's hands gently rested on the mother-of-two's growing baby bump.

It comes after the couple announced their engagement to one another at the end of last year, with Tessy posting on Instagram : 'Yes to 2021 and many more years together.'

Frank also shared his own joy over the big news, telling RTL Today: 'After having mastered the extraordinary and difficult last year together, I took my chance to take the next step in our relationship and I am overjoyed that Tessy said yes.'

Entrepreneur Frank got his master's degree in ETH Zurich and Massachusetts Institute of Technology and is currently CEO and president of CBA Finance.

The former royal appears to have known Frank for several years, having written about his work on her blog in September 2018.

He has also acted as a trustee for the organisation Professors Without Borders, which Tessy co-founded in 2016.

In 2019, Tessy told Hello magazine that it 'took a long time' after her divorce, when she was stripped of her royal titles, explaining: 'After every relationship it takes a while to heal when the heart has been broken. It has been really, really wonderful for me to realise that I am able to trust and love again. It's nice to see that life goes on.'

Former princess Tessy announced she is expecting her first child with her hunky Swiss businessman boyfriend in February

Tessy went on to reveal how she is 'very happy' that her ex-husband Prince Louis maintains a close bond with their sons, despite the fact they can't see each other during quarantine.

She said her son's 'love and trust' with their father had 'become stronger' because of the separation during the pandemic.

Tessy has previously told how her family 'suffered greatly' when she became a princess in 2006 after marrying Prince Louis, whom she met in 2004.

Speaking on Sky News special report The Meghan Effect, Tessy explained: 'My little cousin needed to change schools twice. My twin brother was incredibly bullied at work  he still is today.

Tessy became a princess in 2006 when she married Prince Louis, six months after Tessy gave birth aged 19, to their first child

Frank was first pictured on a family hike with the proud mother and her two boys last year, with Tessy captioning the photos 'Family is all that matters' with two love heart emojis

'My sister, my parents suffered, my oldest brother doesn't talk to me anymore because of that, because it was too much for him to handle.

'That was when I married in, and when I got divorced, oh my gosh the same.'

Born a commoner, Tessy joined the Luxembourg Army in 2002 at the age of 18, rising to the rank of corporal. Two years later, when she was one of a handful of female UN peacekeepers in Kosovo, she met Prince Louis, who was visiting the army.

His family only became aware of their love affair when Tessy fell pregnant and gave birth aged 19, and unmarried, in September 2005, providing Grand Duke Henri with his first grandson.

It infuriated the royal family, and Prince Louis renounced any claim to the title of Grand Duke due to the constitutional crisis they had created by having a child out of wedlock.

When Tessy married Prince Louis in September 2006, six months after giving birth, in a modest country church wedding, the Grand Duke stripped her of any claim to his title.

The couple's fairytale marriage broke down in 2016, and they were granted a decree nisi in February 2017.

A judge ruled that Prince Louis should pay 4,000 for each child, per year, the equivalent of 75-a-week, after finding that Luxembourg's royal family could not be expected to cover the costs of the Prince's break-up.
Advertisement

The Queen has left Windsor Castle for Balmoral to start her first summer holiday in Scotland without her husband Prince Philip.

The monarch, 95, could be seen wearing a turquoise blouse as she was driven to the airport to fly to her annual summer break earlier today.

It may be a poignant journey for the royal because it marks the first time she has spent her yearly holiday in the castle without her husband the Duke of Edinburgh - who died in April at the age of 99,

Balmoral, and the land which surrounds it, is thought to be where the monarch and her late husband were at their happiest.

It is understood the royal travelled to her Scottish home 'out of season' in May to privately grieve for her beloved husband.

The Queen, 95, has left Windsor Castle for Balmoral to start her first summer holiday in Scotland without her husband the Duke of Edinburgh, who died in April

The Queen is likely to remain at the 50,000-acre estate until early October and will be joined by family members throughout her stay.

Typically the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh are joined by their children and grandchildren, as well as close friends, throughout the summer holiday.

It is likely that the Queen will be joined by other family members including the Cambridges, the Wessexes, and Prince Charles and the Duchess of Rothesay, who often stay at Birkhall, the Prince's residence on the estate and a place they too have grown inordinately fond of, choosing to spend their honeymoon there in 2005.

For much of the family, there will remain the memory of a previous, grief-stricken time at Balmoral.

It was here, early one August morning in 1997, that the young princes William and Harry, then just 15 and 12 years old, were told that their mother, Princess Diana, had been killed in Paris in a car crash  and it was where their grandparents chose to keep them, out of view and in the face of harsh public opinion, in the days that followed.

But there are many happy memories, too, stretching back through time  ones likely to be at the forefront of the Queen's mind as she settles into the modest accommodation at Craigowan Lodge with her puppies beside her.

The monarch, 95, set off from her home in Windsor earlier today and could be seen wearing a turquoise blouse as she was driven to the airport to fly to her annual summer break

Balmoral: The Royal Family's summer retreat where The Queen does the washing up and Prince Philip would BBQ Balmoral Castle has been the Scottish home of the Royal Family Balmoral Castle 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. In the autumn of 1842, two and a half years after her marriage to Prince Albert, Queen Victoria paid her first visit to Scotland. They were so struck with the Highlands that they resolved to return. A further visit to Perthshire and then Ardverikie encouraged them to seize the opportunity to purchase Balmoral. After Queen Victoria bought the Castle in 1852, plans were made to build a new castle about 100 yards north-west of the old building designed by the city of Aberdeen architect William Smith. On 28 September 1853 the foundation stone of the new Castle was laid by Queen Victoria. Prince Albert took a great interest in the design and construction which was completed by 1856, also in the Scottish Baronial style. The Castle is constructed from local granite, which was precision cut using the modern machinery of the day, producing a much smoother finish to the building than usual. Prince Albert set about landscaping the area, starting a programme of improvements lasting several years, which was done in accordance with a model he had constructed in sand. The main works were completed by 1859 and included new houses, stables, workshops and schools. Royals continue to make improvements to the castle and the ruggedly beautiful surroundings have captivated generations of royals since. The Queen has visited Balmoral almost every year of her reign and it holds a special place in her heart. Advertisement

In 1947, following their wedding, the then Princess Elizabeth and her husband Philip travelled to Balmoral for their honeymoon.

It was the first time since their wedding, the couple had time alone  or as alone as a Royal couple can possibly be  away from the prying eyes of the court.

Meanwhile the privacy at the castle also allowed the Duke of Edinburgh to have really let his hair down. A keen hunter, he was regularly to be found stalking stag or out on the grouse moor, or spending time on one of the estate's salmon beats.

He was also extremely handy on the barbecue  one he had built himself  often taking control during family picnics to cook sausages and burgers for his children, made from meat he had shot himself.

The Queen would do the washing-up.

At Balmoral Castle, on a summer's day back in 2003, the Countess of Wessex took a picture (above) of the Queen and Prince Philip enjoying the scenery and each other's company

The time at Balmoral was for the Royals, and remains, extremely private.

While never truly off duty it was the closest that the Queen and Prince Philip would come to a proper holiday. There would be raucous drink-fuelled evenings and jovial house parties, and quiet days with old-fashioned parlour games by the fire while the rain hammered down outside.

Then there was the famous ghillies' ball which took place each October, with invites extended to house and estate staff as well as neighbours and friends.

A true 'upstairs downstairs' event, it was never complete without Scottish country dancing and one could, if lucky enough to receive an invitation, quite easily find oneself being whirled around the dancefloor by the Prince himself, resplendent in a kilt and smiling.

In April, the Queen released a picture of herself and Philip ahead of his funeral.

It is likely that the Queen will be joined by other family members including the Cambridges, the Wessexes, and Prince Charles and the Duchess of Rothesay, who often stay at Birkhall, the Prince's residence on the estate and a place they too have grown inordinately fond of, choosing to spend their honeymoon there in 2005

It shows the couple at one of their 'happy places'  the Coyles of Muick hills close to Balmoral, where they enjoyed walking and picnics throughout their long lives together. The Queen so loves the place that she named her new corgi puppy after it.

The photograph  taken by their daughter-in-law the Countess of Wessex in 2003 during one of their family summer holidays  was specially chosen by Her Majesty to share ahead of the funeral.

The couple look blissfully happy and relaxed as they sit back in the heather, the Queen in her off duty Scottish dress of a woollen twinset, pearls and a tartan skirt, with Philip in country casuals and a sun hat resting on his knee.

In May, the Queen made a low-key visit to the castle, unlike the trips she often made en famille during the Royals' usual August to October Scottish break.

There will be no days out to the Highland Games at Braemar, nor visits from heads of state.

Balmoral was, for the Royals, extremely private. While never off duty it was the closest the Queen and Prince Philip (pictured at Balmoral in 1972) would come to a proper holiday

The Queen will not stay in the castle itself but at the more informal seven-bedroom Craigowan Lodge on the Balmoral Estate, far from the prying eyes of visiting tourists and a stone's throw from where, seven decades ago, the couple spent part of their honeymoon.

She will take with her a small staff, while her niece, Lady Sarah Chatto, daughter of Princess Margaret and a much-favoured family member, may join her for some of the time.

But in this solitary, sad pilgrimage to a place with so many treasured memories, the Queen will be following in the footsteps of those who went before her.

Almost 160 years ago, Queen Victoria, racked with grief over the death of Prince Albert, made the same journey to Balmoral to rage over the untimely demise of her beloved husband.
A man who was paralyzed in a tragic accident made his girlfriend's dream proposal come true when he got down on one knee and asked her to marry him using a robotic exoskeleton.

With the help of the wearable electromechanical device, Josh Smith, 30, from Richmond, Virginia, was able to surprise the love of his life, Grace Thompson, in more ways than one when he popped the question on June 25.

A video of the heartwarming proposal that was shared by Good Morning America, shows Smith on one knee with a ring box in his hand  a scene that shocked his bride-to-be.

Scroll down for video

Defying the odds: Josh Smith, 30, from Richmond, Virginia, used a robotic exoskeleton to surprise the love of his life, Grace Thompson, with her dream proposal

Surprise! A video of the heartwarming moment shows Smith  who is paralyzed from the neck down  on one knee with a ring box in his hand, a scene that shocked his bride-to-be

Engaged: Thompson responded with an enthusiastic, 'Yes!' and they shared a sweet kiss

'Are you serious?' she asked in surprise.

'I'm dead serious,' he replied. 'You are the most amazing thing in my life. I'm so glad that God put you in my life. You are the most perfect person for me, and I am so glad to have you. I just have one more question. Will you marry me?

Thompson responded with an enthusiastic, 'Yes!' and they shared a sweet kiss.

In 2014, Smith's life changed forever after an accident at Virginia Beach left him a C-6 quadriplegic.

Tragic accident: Smith's life changed forever in 2014 when he dove into a wave at Virginia Beach and hit his head on a sandbar, instantly paralyzing him from the neck down

Love at first swipe: Last February, he met Thompson on Bumble, and they had an instant connection

Dream come true: Smith was able to surprise Thompson and give her the proposal she had always envisioned with the help of the exoskeleton he uses in physical therapy

'I dove into a wave like Ive done in the past many times. This time, there was a sandbar,' he told WWBT. 'My head immediately hit the sandbar, and I was instantly paralyzed from the neck down.'

Last February, year afters his accident, he matched with Thompson on Bumble, and they had an immediate connection. Soon, they were planning their futures together.

'Any little girl when they think about getting married and stuff, youll always picture the guy on one knee,' Thompson told the news station. 'I just had to kind of change my vision.'

Smith was determined to give Thompson the proposal she had always envisioned, and thanks to his family, friends, therapists, and the exoskeleton he uses in physical therapy, he was able to pull it off.

Wedding bells: The couple said 'I do' in a small ceremony on July 19, less than a month after he proposed

Next up: Smith and Thompson plan on having a bigger wedding ceremony next year

Aww: 'I love her so much, so I want to be able to give her everything that I can,' Smith told WWBT earlier this month

'I knew I wanted to do something special for her and surprise her,' he said. 'I had used the exoskeleton that I used during the proposal a few times during therapy. I knew about the device, but I had never seen anyone use it to get on one knee.'

When Smith got down on one knee last month, he gave Thompson a ring featuring a diamond that belonged to her grandmother.

'I love her so much, so I want to be able to give her everything that I can,' he said. 'Sometimes I cant do that, but when I find areas where I can do that, I strive to my hardest to do that.'

The couple wed in a small ceremony on July 19, with plans to have a bigger wedding next year, WWBT reported.
Advertisement

Woodstock '99 is the subject of a new documentary exploring how the music festival modeled after the original in 1969 erupted into chaos that led to riots, fans rolling around puddles of human feces, mosh pit rapes, and deaths.

Premiering on Friday, HBO's Woodstock 99: Peace, Love, and Rage takes an in-depth look at the carnage from the three-day event that was arguably more disastrous than the infamous Fyre Festival that made headlines in 2017.

'In telling the story of Woodstock 99, it would have been really easy to structure this as a comedy, poking fun at all things late 1990s  the way people dressed, the music they listened to,' director Garret Price said in his introduction of the documentary. 'But in reality, as that weekend unfolded, it played out much more like a horror film.'

HBO's new documentary Woodstock 99: Peace, Love, and Rage takes an in-depth look at the carnage from the three-day music festival with interviews and archival footage

The music festival was an attempt to pay homage to the counterculture idealism that made the original Woodstock in 1969 a pivotal moment in musical history

After a long weekend of violence, vandals lit fires on the last night of the show

The nightmarish musical festival kicked off on July 22, 1999, with about 220,000 music fans arriving at a former Air Force base outside of Rome, New York, which was roughly 100 miles from the site of the original Woodstock.

Woodstock '99 was an attempt to pay homage to the counterculture idealism that made the 1969 festival a pivotal moment in musical history. Held 30 years later, it was billed as another three days of peace, love, and music  it was anything but.

'It was not your parents Woodstock,' one man explained in the trailer for the documentary, which features interviews with attendees, journalists who covered the event, and musicians who performed.

The film also relies on archival footage from the festival itself to paint a clear picture of anarchy, violence, and toxic white masculinity.

'There is a sixth sense that you develop when you spend your life going to venues. I can tell you a hundred feet away what the energy in that venue's gonna be like,' the musician Moby said in the film. 'We got off the bus, and I was like, "Something's not right."'

'We got off the bus, and I was like, "Something's not right,"' Moby (pictured) said of the disastrous concert

Temperatures soared to 100 degrees Fahrenheit, and festivalgoers were left to bake on the tarmac

Approximately 220,000 people attended Woodstock '99, but there weren't enough toilets, showers, or security for the crowds

Water bottles cost $4 apiece, and the lines for the free fountains were long because there were so few of them

Concertgoers are pictured washing up at one of the few locations with running water at Woodstock '99

Often described as 'the day the Nineties died,' the tone of the event was set by the oppressive, inescapable heat.

Temperatures soared over 100 degrees Fahrenheit with few areas of shade at the defunct Air Force base. Festivalgoers were left to bake on the scorching tarmac with little reprieve.

Corporate greed led to exorbitant prices, with people having to pay $4  approximately $7 today  for a bottle of water.

The free fountains that were on site had massive lines that led to frustrated people breaking the pipes to get water, inadvertently creating mud pits.

People were passing out because of heat exhaustion and dehydration, and archival footage shows people lying underneath trucks just to escape the blaring sun. But the heat wasn't the only damning environmental factor at play.

Porta-potties quickly became clogged and overflowing with waste, making them unusable

Broken pipes and overflowing toilets led to puddles of human sewage that people mistook for mud

Clueless festivalgoers rolled around in the muddy water, not realizing it was filled with human feces

A mud-covered concert fan is pictured posing for the camera at the festival

In Spin's 1999 story about the disastrous event, writers David Moodie, Maureen Callahan, and Mark Schone described how promoters cut corners anywhere they could.

Venders weren't provided adequate plumbing, and there weren't enough porta-potties or showers for the crowds. The toilets quickly became clogged and overflowing with waste.

Concertgoers rolled around in puddles of human sewage, mostly unaware that they were covering their bodies with feces.

Aggressive rock bands such as Limp Bizkit, Insane Clown Posse, Kid Rock, and Metallica fueled the chaotic energy in the crowds that eventually reached its breaking point.

'The laws of normal society just don't apply here,' one man explained during an interview at the festival.

Kid Rock (pictured) was one of the aggressive rock performers who riled up the audience

Injured people were carried out of the mosh pit in makeshift stretchers

One body-surfer (not pictured) was reportedly gang-raped in the mosh pit during one of the performances

Overwhelmed and understaffed security guards were unable to control the outbreaks of mayhem

Some women embraced the sexually free attitudes of the late '60s and went topless at the event

Two women posed for the camera wearing Woodstock '99 bumper stickers across their chests

'The laws of normal society just don't apply here,' one man explained during an interview at the festival that was featured in the documentary

There were countless sexual assaults over the long weekend and eight reported rapes. One gang rape was said to have occurred in the mosh pit during Korn's performance on the first night.

'At one point I saw this girl, a very petite girl, maybe 100 pounds, who was body-surfing above the crowd and either fell in or was pulled into a circle in the mosh pit,' volunteer David Schneider told MTV at the time.

'These gentlemen, probably in the 2532 age range, looked as though they were holding her down. They were holding her arms; you could see she was struggling.'

On day two, the crowd turned to violence during Limp Bizkit's performance of their song 'Break Stuff'  a sentiment that was taken literally. Injured people were carried out of the mosh pit in makeshift stretchers.

Overwhelmed and understaffed security guards were unable to control the outbreaks of mayhem, which came to a head on the festival's last night on July 25, 1999.

An anti-gun violence group known as PAX handed out 'peace candles' to people with the intention of them being lit during the Red Hot Chili Peppers' performance of the song 'Under the Bridge.'

On the last night of the festival, the crowds used 'peace candles' they were given to light bonfires that grew out of control

The Red Hot Chili Peppers were playing a cover of Jimi Hendrix's 'Fire' when the fires broke out

Two people are pictured looting an ATM machine after the chaos ensued

One man is pictured using a pipe to break into an Ace hardware tractor trailer parked in the campground

People climbed the water tower and tore it down as the rioting continued for hours

A man is pictured standing in front of an out-of-control bonfire at the festival

People are pictured sifting through garbage and wreckage for treasures or their own belongings at the end of the night

Roughly 10,000 people needed medical treatment, 44 were arrested, and two concertgoers died at Woodstock '99. One of the deaths was due to heat-related illness

However, as the band played a cover of Jimi Hendrix's 'Fire,' the crowds used the candles to light bonfires that blazed out of control. Looting soon followed as rioters set out to destroy anything and everything in their paths.

Vandals flipped over cars, climbed the speakers, and pulled down the Woodstock Peace Wall's plywood panels to feed the fires. New York State Troopers and local police officers were called in to combat the uncontrollable violence.

Roughly 10,000 people needed medical treatment, 44 were arrested, and two concertgoers died at Woodstock '99. One of the deaths was due to heat-related illness.

'It was dangerous to be around. The whole scene was scary. There were just waves of hatred bouncing around the place,' MTVs Kurt Loder told USA Today after reporting from the scene.

'It was like a concentration camp. To get in, you get frisked to make sure you're not bringing in any water or food that would prevent you from buying from their outrageously priced booths. You wallow around in garbage and human waste. There was a palpable mood of anger.'
Advisers to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have stressed the need to provide booster doses of COVID-19 vaccines to people with compromised immune systems.

The CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices panel met Thursday to consider evidence suggesting that booster doses could increase protection for immunocompromised individuals - who make up about three percent of US adults.

During the meeting the CDC's chief medical officer for vaccine policy, Amanda Cohn, confirmed that the agency is exploring options to make additional doses possible.

'I think what you're asking about is, you know, is there a way to offer a third dose to individuals  through a study, or through an investigational new drug format for this population?' Cohn told the panel.

'I will just say that we are actively looking into ways that could be done to potentially provide access earlier than any potential change in regulatory decisions.'

Advisers to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have stressed the need to provide booster doses of COVID-19 vaccines to people with compromised immune systems

The advisory committee is unable to recommend booster doses until the Food and Drug Administration gives full approval to the currently available vaccines or amends its emergency use authorization - which currently only permits a two-dose regimen of vaccines from Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna, and a single dose of Johnson & Johnson.

The CDC is also looking into another route that would allow clinicians to seek an investigational new drug application to administer booster shots prior to the FDA expanding approval, one official told the Washington Post.

Data presented ahead of Thursday's meeting noted that such people have a reduced antibody response following the recommended primary vaccination series compared with healthy individuals.

'Emerging data suggest that an additional COVID-19 vaccine dose in immunocompromised people enhances antibody response and increases the proportion who respond,' slides released ahead of the meeting showed.

The committee was not scheduled to vote on a recommendation for whether to administer additional doses. That could be decided at a later meeting.

In small studies, short-term side effects from a third dose of mRNA vaccines - such as those made by BioNTech/Pfizer Inc or Moderna Inc - were about the same as those experienced with the first two doses, the CDC said in its presentation.

An estimated 2.7 percent of US adults live with weakened immune systems, according to the CDC presentation, based on data from 2013.

The group includes people living with HIV/AIDS, cancer and people with organ transplants or autoimmune diseases who take drugs to dampen their immune response.

Those individuals are at increased risk of severe disease and death from COVID-19.

Currently in America, 48.8 percent of the total population and nearly 60 percent of adults are fully vaccinated against COVID-19

Last week, Israel began administering third doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine to immunocompromised people, including those who have had heart, lung, kidney or liver transplants and cancer patients receiving chemotherapy.

Some experts believe the CDC is nearing a similar recommendation in the United States.

The CDC has urged people with weakened immune systems to take precautions even if fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

The virus not only poses an extra health risk to these people but because it takes longer for them to clear the virus, scientists believe infections could result in new variants as the pathogen continues to replicate unchecked, which some studies have shown.

Both Pfizer and Moderna have launched clinical trials for a third dose of their vaccine.

The National Institute of Health is also testing whether mixing vaccines for the third dose - giving someone who received Pfizer for their first two doses the Moderna for their third - could be an option, or potentially even preferable, for a third dose.

Currently in America, 48.8 percent of the total population and nearly 60 percent of adults are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Albert Bourla, CEO of Pfizer - the developer of the most commonly used vaccine in the US - has repeatedly said a third dose of the vaccine may be needed for all Americans in the near future.

He has even suggested that COVID-19 vaccines may be administered annually like a flu shot.

Derrick Rossi, co-founder of Moderna, said that a third dose will 'almost certainly' be needed as well.

However, last week Dr Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said there is not enough data to suggest fully vaccinated Americans need booster shots.

The same may not hold true for those with compromised immune systems.

Cancer patients do not develop antibodies at the same level as others, and around ten percent barely develop antibodies at all after receiving the vaccine a study from May found.

A separate study last month among organ transplant recipients - who developed lower antibody levels from the initial doses of the virus - found that the third shot of the vaccine increased their antibody levels up to 687-fold.

Some organ transplant recipients did not develop antibody responses at all to the third dose, though.

Immunocompromised people are also at an increased likelihood to suffer from hospitalization or death from the virus, making immunity from the virus even more crucial to them.

People with diabetes, for example, account for 40 percent of COVID-19 deaths despite only making up ten percent of the population.

Officials from the CDC want to make sure that a third dose of the vaccine will not increase the likelihood for adverse reactions, though.
Al Sandrock (pictured), head of research and development at Biogen, penned a letter combatting 'misinformation' about his companies controversial Alzheimer's drug

Biogen has come out in strong defense of Aduhelm, its controversial Alzheimer's drug that received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval last month.

Dr Alfred Sandrock, chief of research and development for the Cambridge, Massachusetts-based company, penned an open letter on Thursday, targeting critics of the drug and saying controversy was based on 'misinformation.'

'Unfortunately, Aduhelm's approval has been the subject of extensive misinformation and misunderstanding,' Sandrock wrote in the letter, per STAT News.

'It is normal for scientists and clinicians to discuss data from experiments and clinical trials, to debate, and to disagree, on the interpretation of data. That is how science advances and we welcome these discussions.

'Recently, however, there has been a turn outside the boundaries of legitimate scientific deliberation.'

The pushback comes after two major U.S. health systems announced they will not be administering the drug to patients.

The Cleveland Clinic, one of the most well-respected systems in the country, and Mount Sinai, a New York City-based system, both said they will not prescribe patients the drug due to a potential investigation into the drug's FDA approval.

In the time since the drug's approval, three members of an advisory board have stepped down, Medicare is reviewing whether or not it will cover the drug's cost and the FDA has asked for an investigation into its own agency communications leading up to the drug's approval.

The Cleveland Clinic (pictured) and Mount Sinai will not administer the newly approved Alzheimer's drug, Aduhelm, after its controversial FDA approval

Aduhelm received FDA approval despite two failed clinical trials, and limited results that the drug worked

In a statement, the Cleveland Clinic said it 'had reviewed all available scientific evidence on this medication

'Based on the current data regarding its safety and efficacy, we have decided not to carry aducanumab at this time,' the statement read.

Doctors at the hospital will be able to prescribe Aduhelm to patients, but they will have to go elsewhere to receive the drug.

Mount Sinai said it decision to not administer the drug came after the news of the FDA investigation.

'Aduhelm will not be considered for infusion into patients on any of its campuses until and unless [an investigation by the inspector general of the Department of Health and Human Services,] affirms the integrity of the FDA-Biogen relationship and goes on to reaffirm [the basis for the FDA's approval],' Dr Sam Gandy, director of the Mount Sinai Center for Cognitive Health, wrote in an email to the New York Times.

Sandrock addressed the investigation in his letter.

'We welcome a formal review into the interactions between the FDA and Biogen on the path to the approval of aducanumab,' Sandrock wrote.

'A better understanding of the facts is good for everyone involved to assure confidence in both the therapy and the process by which it was approved as we prioritize the issues that affect patients.'

He also addressed the close working relationship between his company and the regulatory agency as well.

'It is important to recognize that collaboration between industry and regulatory agencies is common, appropriate and beneficial,' Sandrock wrote.

'That was exemplified at its best with the COVID-19 vaccine development. As a doctor, a scientist and the Head of Research and Development at Biogen, I believe scientists at regulatory agencies and drug manufacturers must work together in an effort to defeat other devastating public health threats.'

Blue Cross Blue Shield, a health insurer that covers 62 million people across the country, also announced that they do not plan to cover the drug.

Sandrock wrote that the accelerated approval the drug received, which requires the company to prove it is effective in another clinical trial by 2030, is not new, having been used 250 previous times.

Some medical experts have doubts about the drug's effectiveness.

HOW TO DETECT ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE Alzheimer's disease is a progressive brain disorder that slowly destroys memory, thinking skills and the ability to perform simple tasks. It is the cause of 60% to 70% of cases of dementia. The majority of people with Alzheimer's are age 65 and older More than six million Americans have Alzheimer's. It is unknown what causes Alzheimer's. Those who have the APOE gene are more likely to develop late-onset Alzheimer's. Signs and symptoms: Difficulty remembering newly learned information

Disorientation

Mood and behavioral changes

Suspicion about family, friends and professional caregivers

More serious memory loss

Difficulty with speaking, swallowing and walking Stages of Alzheimer's: Mild Alzheimer's (early-stage) - A person may be able to function independently but is having memory lapses

Moderate Alzheimer's (middle-stage) - Typically the longest stage, the person may confuse words, get frustrated or angry, or have sudden behavioral changes

Severe Alzheimer's disease (late-stage) - In the final stage, individuals lose the ability to respond to their environment, carry on a conversation and, eventually, control movement Advertisement

Biogen launched two clinical trials for Aduhelm in 2016.

Both were stopped midway because researchers concluded that neither trial would end up reaching its goal.

Later, the company revealed updated data from the second study showed patients had 22 percent decrease in speed of their cognitive decline.

It also showed that Aduhelm could remove amyloid beta plaques on the brain.

Some believe the removal of these plaques can stop cognitive decline, which would make the drug the only available Alzheimer's treatment to do so.

Others criticize Biogen for pulling data from a failed trial, and do not interpret the company's data in the same way.

Dr David Knopman, a neurologist with the Mayo Clinic, published an analysis of Biogen's data in November, where he disagrees with the companies conclusions on the drug's effectiveness.

Knopman was on the FDA advisory committee that voted 10-0 against approving the drug, and he later resigned in protest of the drug's approval.

A survey of neurologists by Spherix Global Insights found that neurologists only believe the drug is adequate for use in one-in-seven Alzheimer's patients.

'Regardless of pent up patient demand, expansion of the Aduhelm prescriber base will likely be slower than typically seen with other launches in the neurology market  as less than half of neurologists believe they will become adopters within the first six months of availability,' Spherix wrote in a release.

The FDA is also beginning to show doubts in their own approval of the drug.

Earlier this month, the agency revised their label of the drug, now only recommending it to people in the early stages of the condition or with a mild case of Alzheimer's.

It was previously recommended to all Alzheimer's patients.

Dr Janet Woodcock, commissioner of the FDA, even asked for the Office of the Inspector General to investigate communications between her staff and Biogen employees in the lead up to the drug's approval.

The Cleveland Clinic cites this investigation as reason for not wanting to deploy the drug.

Aduhelm has also received criticism for its large price tag.

Biogen stand by its drug. The company will charge $56,000 for a year of treatment using Aduhelm

Biogen has set a $56,000 price tag for a year of treatment.

A nonprofit think tank focused on drug pricing pegged the drug's actual value at between $3,000 and $8,400 per year.

Two congressional committees have launched investigations into the price of the drug and the large price tag it could cost Medicare.

An analysis published by the Kaiser Family Foundation estimated that if just 500,000 Medicare recipients are prescribed Aduhelm, it would cost Medicare nearly $29 billion a year, far more than any other medication.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services launched their formal process to decide whether or not the agency will cover the drug earlier this week.

A final decision will likely not be made until Spring 2021.
About 100 of the 613 US athletes descending on Tokyo for the Olympics are unvaccinated, the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee's medical chief said hours before Friday night's opening ceremony.

Medical director Jonathan Finnoff said 567 of the American athletes had filled out their health histories as they prepared for the trip, and estimated 83 percent had replied they were vaccinated.

'Eighty-three percent is actually a substantial number and we're quite happy with it,' Finnoff said.

Among the few American athletes who have publicly said they are not vaccinated are swimmer Michael Andrew, runner Cole Hocker and gymnastics alternate Leanne Wong.

So far, two American athletes - beach volleyball player Taylor Crabb and Kara Eaker, an alternate on the gymnastics team - are known to have tested positive. Both Crabb and Eaker say they were vaccinated. The IOC has reported 13 positives among all athletes in Japan.

The IOC has estimated around 85 percent of residents of the Olympic Village are vaccinated; that's based that on what each country's Olympic committee reports but is not an independently verified number.

The USOPC figure is more solid - based on questionnaires athletes were asked to fill out before they came to Japan.

About 100 of the 613 US athletes descending on Tokyo for the Olympics are unvaccinated, the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee's medical chief said hours before Friday night's opening ceremony. Pictured: Team USA walks into the opening ceremony

Swimmer Michael Andrew (left) and runner Cole Hocker (right) are among the few American athletes who have publicly said they are not vaccinated

Gymnastics alternate Leanne Wong (pictured) has also not been vaccinated

Finnoff said the committee is not differentiating its treatment of athletes based on whether they're vaccinated.

'The best thing to do is to assume everyone's at risk, and reduce risk by introducing COVID mitigation measures that we know work,' he said.

Tokyo Olympic organizers and the International Olympic Committee didn't make it mandatory for athletes to be vaccinated to compete.

Just over 20 percent of the Japanese population is fully vaccinated, compared with 48.8 percent of the US population.

Swimmer Andrew, who is viewed as a strong medal contender, revealed earlier this month that he isn't vaccinated after being asked about his status by a reporter.

'My reason behind it is, for one, it was kind of a last moment, I didn't want to put anything in my body that I didn't know how I would potentially react to,' he said.

'As an athlete on the elite level, everything we do is very calculated and understood. For me, in the training cycle, especially leading up to trials, I didn't want to risk any days out. There were periods where you take a vaccine, you have to deal with some days off.'

Andrew said he has no plans to be vaccinated in the future.

'We feel very safe and protected knowing that we're minimizing risk as much as possible,' he said, citing daily testing during the Olympics.

Swimmer Andrew (pictured competing in June) revealed earlier this month that he isn't vaccinated. 'My reason behind it is, for one, it was kind of a last moment, I didn't want to put anything in my body that I didn't know how I would potentially react to,' he said

Hocker, a 20-year-old middle-distance runner from Indianapolis, revealed he has not been vaccinated on Monday.

'I'm not really too worried about it, going in,' he said, noting that he contracted COVID-19 a few months ago.

Wong, one of four alternates on the US gymnastics team, was forced to self-isolate after fellow alternate Eaker tested positive for coronavirus upon arrival in Japan. Eaker said she was vaccinated, while Wong said she was not.

Gymnastics alternate Leanne Wong (pictured) was forced to quarantine after she was exposed to a teammate infected with coronavirus

Maya DiRado, who won two gold medals swimming for the US in 2016, attacked Andrew's decision not to get vaccinated in a Twitter thread earlier this week.

'That Michael would make a decision that puts even a bit of risk on his teammates for his own perceived well-being frustrates me,' DiRado wrote. She is one of three athlete representatives on USA Swimming's board of directors, having retired after the 2016 Rio Games.

The top Americans - Caeleb Dressel, Katie Ledecky, Lilly King and Simone Manuel - have all said they are fully vaccinated.

Former gold medalist Anthony Ervin tweeted to DiRado that Andrew had COVID-19 in December, 'and thus has a natural immunity'.

Andrew's teammate, Tom Shields, criticized DiRado's stance.

'What part of that responsibility involves shaming one of our Olympian's (sic) on the eve of competition?' Shields tweeted.

The US team's vaccination rate was the biggest news to come out of an hourlong Q&A with USOPC leadership on Friday - a far different affair from the last pre-Olympic news conference.

That one, at the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, was dominated by talk of the federation's handling of sex-abuse cases in the wake of the trial of former team doctor Larry Nassar.

The USOPC leadership has almost completely turned over since then.

Susanne Lyons is the new chair, Sarah Hirshland is the new CEO and Rick Adams is the new chief of sport performance.

Part of the USOPC's reboot involved deemphasizing the quest for medals and focusing more on athlete health and welfare. The US has led the medals table at every Summer Games since 1996, the Olympics after the old Soviet team disbanded.

But Hirshland is well aware that her performance, and the team's, will still be judged at some level on medals.

'Is the US coming here hoping to win a lot of medals? You bet we are,' Hirshland said.

All expectations, however, are tempered by the reality that a COVID outbreak could turn plans upside down.

'Athletes have adjusted to being comfortable being uncomfortable,' Adams said,. 'They've been experiencing it, and over the next 17 days, the expectation is to set expectations around things that could change.'

A total of 110 coronavirus cases have been linked directly to the Games after another 25 were reported on Thursday. Thirteen of those cases are athletes.

The opening ceremony kicked off on Friday night in Tokyo, where just 950 VIPs and world leaders gathered inside the 68,000-seat main arena to watch the display of light and color amid rising case totals in the country which forced organizers to ban crowds.

Fireworks explode over the main Olympic stadium in Tokyo as the Opening Ceremony gets underway, a year after the event was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic

Somber and socially-distanced - gone were the tightly-packed dance routines that traditionally mark opening ceremonies as directors instead made the best use of projection technology to add color and pageantry.

A large firework display did add a burst of sound to what was otherwise an eerily quiet event, after organizers opted against playing artificial crowd noises in the arena.

A moment of silence for all victims of the pandemic then followed, after which dancers representing Japanese woodworkers took the stage representing the country's history and culture.

They formed Olympic rings made from the wood of trees planted from seeds brought to the country the last time it hosted the Olympics in the 1960s, before the traditional Parade of Nations with athletes filing into the arena under the banners of their countries - though their numbers were much-reduced from previous years.

Plagued by the pandemic, scandals among officials, and strongly divided opinions among locals, Japan will hope the touching spectacle will help coalesce positive feeling around the $18billion sporting extravaganza.
Pfizer Inc and German partner BioNTech said on Friday the US government has purchased 200 million additional doses of their COVID-19 vaccine to help with pediatric vaccination as well as possible booster shots - if they are needed.

A Biden administration official with knowledge of the contract said that as part of the agreement, Pfizer will provide the United States with 65 million doses intended for children under 12, including doses available immediately after the vaccine is authorized for that age group.

The US government also has the option to buy an updated version of the vaccine targeting new variants of the virus.

The deal comes as the Delta variant of the coronavirus sweeps across the country and drives up infections, contributing to the debate over whether or not Americans will need a booster dose this fall.

It also follows the government's move in June to buy 200 million more doses of Moderna Inc's COVID-19 vaccine.

The purchase brings the total number of doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine to be supplied to the United States to 500 million, of which roughly 208 million doses have already been delivered, as of Thursday's data from the government.

However it could prove difficult to use up all of those vaccines, as a troubling new poll showed that 80 percent of unvaccinated Americans do not plan to get a shot in the future.

Pfizer Inc and German partner BioNTech said on Friday the US government has purchased 200 million additional doses of their COVID-19 vaccine to help with pediatric vaccination as well as possible booster shots - if they are needed (file photo)

It also follows the government's move in June to buy 200 million more doses of Moderna Inc's COVID-19 vaccine.

The purchase brings the total number of doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine to be supplied to the United States to 500 million, of which roughly 208 million doses have already been delivered, as of Thursday's data from the government.

'These additional doses will help the US government ensure broad vaccine access into next year,' Pfizer Chief Executive Officer Albert Bourla said in a statement.

Pfizer last year signed a deal with the US government for 100 million doses of the vaccine for nearly $2billion, with an option to buy 500 million more doses.

A majority of the new doses will be supplied by the end of the year, and the remaining 90 million will be delivered by April 30, the companies said.

Pfizer and BioNTech have designed a new version of their vaccine targeting the Delta variant, which they plan to test in the coming weeks, but have said the current vaccine could also provide protection against the variant.

Pfizer earlier this month said the companies plan to seek authorization from U.S. and European regulators for a booster dose of their COVID-19 vaccine.

The US government has said Americans who have been fully vaccinated do not need a booster COVID-19 shot at this time.

Advisers to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Thursday considered evidence suggesting that a booster dose of COVID-19 vaccines could increase protection among people with compromised immune systems.

CDC scientists told advisers that boosters for the immunocompromised would need to wait for regulatory action from the US Food and Drug Administration - either full approval of vaccines or amendments to their current emergency use authorizations - before the CDC could make a recommendation.

A poll released Friday by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research showed that most Americans who haven't been vaccinated against COVID-19 say they are unlikely to get the shots and doubt they would work against the aggressive delta variant despite evidence they do.

Among American adults who have not yet received a vaccine, 35 percent say they probably will not, and 45 percent say they definitely will not, the poll found.

Just three percent say they definitely will get the shots, though another 16 percent say they probably will.

What's more, 64 percent of unvaccinated Americans have little to no confidence the shots are effective against variants - including the delta variant that officials say is responsible for 83 percent of new cases in the US - despite evidence that they offer strong protection.

In contrast, 86 percent of those who have already been vaccinated have at least some confidence that the vaccines will work.

That means 'that there will be more preventable cases, more preventable hospitalizations and more preventable deaths,' said Dr Amesh Adalja, an infectious disease specialist at Johns Hopkins University.

'We always knew some proportion of the population would be difficult to persuade no matter what the data showed, (and) a lot of people are beyond persuasion,' said Adalja. He echoed Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Rochelle Walensky in calling the current surge 'a pandemic of the unvaccinated' because nearly all hospital admissions and deaths have been among those who weren't immunized.

The AP-NORC survey was conducted before several Republicans and conservative cable news personalities this week urged people to get vaccinated after months of stoking hesitancy. That effort comes as COVID-19 cases nearly tripled in the US over the past two weeks.

A new AP-NORC poll finds close to 9 in 10 vaccinated Americans are at least somewhat confident the COVID-19 vaccines will be effective against variants. Only about a third of unvaccinated Americans say the same

Nationally, 56.4 percent of all Americans, including children, have received at least one dose of the vaccine, according to the CDC. And White House officials said Thursday that vaccinations are beginning to increase in some states where rates are lagging behind and COVID-19 cases are rising, including in Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Missouri and Nevada.

Still, just over 40 percent of Louisiana's population has received at least one dose, and the state reported 5,388 new COVID-19 cases Wednesday - the third-highest single-day figure since the pandemic began. Hospitalizations also rose steeply in the last month.

The AP-NORC survey found that the majority of Americans - 54 percent - are at least somewhat concerned that they or someone in their family will be infected, including 27 percent who are very concerned. That's up slightly from a month ago, but far below the beginning of the year, when about 7 in 10 Americans said they were at least somewhat concerned that they or someone they knew would be infected.

Democrats are far more likely than Republicans to say they're at least somewhat concerned about someone close to them being infected, 70 percent to 38 percent.

And overall, Republicans are far more likely than Democrats to say they have not been vaccinated and definitely or probably won't be, 43 percent to 10 percent.

Views are also divided along age and education lines: Thirty-seven percent of those under age 45 say they haven't and likely won't get the shots, compared with just 16 percent of those older. And those without college degrees are more likely than those with them to say they aren't and won't be vaccinated, 30 percent to 18 percent.

Cody Johansen, who lives near Orlando, Florida, considers himself a conservative Republican, but said that had no bearing on his decision to skip vaccination.

'It hasn't really been that dangerous to people in my demographic, and I have a good immune system,' said Johansen, a 26-year-old who installs audio-visual equipment at military bases.

'Most of my friends got vaccinated, and they're a little mad at me for not getting it. There is peer pressure because they say it's a civic responsibility.'

He said it's obvious the shots have been effective, though it bothers him a little that they have only emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration.

Johansen said he approves of how President Joe Biden has handled the pandemic response, saying he has exhibited good leadership.

That reflects the poll's findings. A large majority of Americans, 66 percent, continue to approve of how Biden is handling the pandemic - higher than Biden's overall approval rating of 59 percent.

The difference is fueled largely by Republicans, 32 percent of whom say they approve of Biden's handling of COVID-19 compared with 15 percent who approve of him overall. About 9 in 10 Democrats approve of Biden overall and for his handling of the pandemic.

Jessie McMasters, an aerospace engineer who lives near Rockford, Illinois, said she got her first shot when she was 37 weeks pregnant after talking with her midwife and reading about how the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines were developed.

'That gave me high confidence that they worked,' said McMasters. Her parents both were infected but did not suffer serious illness, and both have since been vaccinated.

She said her friends and family are all over the place when it comes to their views on vaccination and other virus-prevention measures - often reflecting how such discussions have become partisan.

Some who got it are 'so far on one end that they may never give up masks because now it's a personal statement,' said McMasters, who leans Democratic, just as others won't get the shots because of their political beliefs or misinformation.

Dr Howard Koh, a professor at the Harvard Chan School of Public Health, said vaccine hesitancy is not new, but the misinformation surrounding COVID-19 and the fast-spreading variant make it imperative to reach people one-on-one to understand their concerns and provide accurate information.

He called the new surge in infections and deaths 'just heartbreaking'.

'What I learned from my patients is that when a loved one dies, that's a tragedy,' said Koh, who was a senior public health official in the Obama administration. 'But when a loved one dies and you know it could have been prevented, that tragedy haunts you forever.'
Advertisement

Alabama Governor Kay Ivey (pictured) said that 'it's time to start blaming the unvaccinated' for the new wave of COVID-19 cases

Alabama Governor Kay Ivey called out Americans who have refused to get vaccinated against coronavirus as her state and others across the South are hammered by new infections - with three states in the region now accounting for 40 percent of active cases nationwide.

'Folks are supposed to have common sense. But it's time to start blaming the unvaccinated folks, not the regular folks. It's the unvaccinated folks that are letting us down,' Ivey, a Republican, told reporters on Thursday.

Now weeks removed from the July 4 holiday, which medical professionals feared would cause a spike in coronavirus cases among the unvaccinated, the fourth wave of COVID has arrived, driven primarily by the highly-contagious Delta variant.

The vast majority of new cases have been reported in people who are not vaccinated, sparking surges in states with low vaccination rates.

Missouri, Florida and Texas now account for 40 percent of current cases nationwide, White House COVID-19 coordinator Jeff Zients said Thursday. He noted that those three have some of the lowest vaccination rates in the country with 41.4 percent, 48 percent and 43 percent of residents fully-vaccinated, respectively.

'For the second week in a row, one in five of all cases occurring in Florida alone. And within communities, these cases are primarily among unvaccinated people,' he said.

In Ivey's state of Alabama - where only 42 percent of residents are fully vaccinated - daily new cases have increased by 312 percent over the past two weeks, from 275 on July 8 to 1,133 on July 22.

Zients noted, however, that several states with the highest proportion of new infections - including Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Missouri and Nevada - are now finally beginning to see their vaccination rates rise faster than the nation as a whole - a sign that the threat of the fourth wave is finally hitting home.

In the past week more than two million Americans received their first dose of a vaccine - a 14 percent increase from the week prior.

Cases in Florida have grown by 500 percent over the past two weeks

Cases in Missouri have grown by 108 percent over the past two weeks

Cases in Texas have grown by 162 percent over the past two weeks

In the past week more than two million Americans received their first vaccine dose - a 14 percent increase from the week prior

Florida in particular accounts for nearly 20 percent of active cases.

The state recorded 12,647 new cases on Wednesday, the highest total the state has recorded since the massive winter wave of the virus.

Cases in the state have grown by nearly 500 percent in the past two weeks, with a seven day average of 1,493 new cases on July 6, and 8,912 on July 20.

A majority of the cases are among the unvaccinated as well.

'If you look at the people that are being admitted to hospitals ... over 95 percent of them are either not fully vaccinated or not vaccinated at all,' Governor Ron DeSantis said Wednesday.

'These vaccines are saving lives. They are reducing mortality.'

While DeSantis is a supporter of the vaccines, he has previously opposed vaccine mandates, even banning the use of vaccine passport in his state.

Florida has the most vaccinated population of any state in the south, though, with 56 percent of residents having received at least one shot of the virus.

The Indian Delta variant, a highly contagious strain of the virus that originated in the south Asian nation, accounts for more than 80 percent of active cases in the state as well.

Missouri was one of the first states to get hammered by the new, Delta Variant led, COVID surge sweeping across the nation.

The southwestern region of the state in particular was hammered at the start of this month.

Mercy Health and CoxHealth in Springfield, Missouri, the biggest city in the region, both were swamped with cases over July 4 weekend. Mercy in particular even faced ventilator shortages.

Missouri's situation has only gotten worse since then as well.

Cases have more than doubled over the past two weeks, from 1,077 average new daily cases on July 8 to 2,244 average new cases on July 22 - a 108 percent increase.

More than half of active cases in the state are of the Delta variant.

Many cases in the state can also be tied to Branson, Missouri, a small tourist destination is the southwest of the state without a mask mandate.

Missouri has a vaccination rate of 47 percent, a figure that Republican Governor Mike Parson is trying to raise.

On Tuesday, Parson announced that Missouri would become the latest state to launch a vaccine lottery.

Over the next three months, $10,000 each will be awarded to 900 Missourians who have gotten vaccinated against COVID-19.

'We understand that the some Missourians are hesitant towards getting the vaccine, but we must all take personal responsibility and do right by our own health and that of our friends and family by getting vaccinated,' Governor Parson said during a news conference.

'This new program will compliment our existing efforts to educate Missourians about the importance of getting the vaccine.

'Our current COVID-19 situation is serious. This Delta variant transmits faster than what we have previously seen and is more likely to impact children and the unvaccinated, so now is the perfect opportunity to get vaccinated and earn your shot at $10,000.'

Similar programs were launched in other states like Ohio, and an analysis found that these programs did little to increase vaccination rates.

In Texas, cases have increased by 162 percent over the past two weeks, from an average of 1,486 cases a day on July 6 to 3,901 on July 20.

Around 70 percent of active cases are of the Delta variant.

Like the other states, those hit hardest by the case surge are the unvaccinated.

Half of Texans have received at least one shot of a COVID-19 vaccine.

According to official state data, only 43 out of over 9,000 deaths from the virus since February are among vaccinated people.

'It's not surprising that we have [increasing COVID-19] cases,' Dr David Lakey, the chief medical officer of the University of Texas Hospital System, told the Texas Tribune.

'This delta variant spreads very rapidly among individuals, and there's only some of these individuals who have been vaccinated, and a small number of those will have severe disease. But the vast majority of the people that have severe disease will be the unvaccinated individuals.'

COVID-19 cases have increased by 312 percent in Alabama over the past two weeks

Mississippi, the least vaccinated state in America, has seen COVID cases grow by 241 percent over the last two weeks

Other southern states with low vaccination rates are getting hammered by the Delta variant as well.

Alabama, the state governed by Ivey, has seen its daily cases increase by 312 percent over the past two weeks, from 275 on July 8 to 1,133 on July 22.

At only 42 percent, Alabama has one of the lowest vaccination rates in the country.

Ivey has not presented any ideas for getting more of her residents vaccinated, though, snapping at a reporter who asked her how to get more Alabamans vaccinated with 'I don't know, you tell me.'

Mississippi has the lowest vaccination rate in the country at only 38 percent.

Like the others, the Magnolia state is also experiencing a case surge, with a 241 percent increase over the past two weeks from 207 on July 8 cases to 707 on July 24.

Tennessee (44 percent vaccination rate), Arkansas (45 percent), Georgia (45 percent), Louisiana (40 percent) are also states in the southern region with low vaccination rates currently suffering from large COVID case surges.

There are also a few high profile cases of unvaccinated people catching severe cases of COVID.

Stephen Harmon, 34, a member of the Hillsong megachurch from Sydney, Australia, died of COVID in California this week after joking on Twitter about not receiving the vaccine.

'If you're having email problems, I feel bad for you, son. I got 99 problems but a vax ain't one,' he posted on June 3.

On July 8, Harmon wrote: 'Biden's door to door vaccine 'surveyors' really should be called JaCovid Witnesses. #keepmovingdork.'

Phil Valentine, a right-wing radio host who had a show on SuperTalk 99.7 WTN in Nashville, is currently in the hospital battling the virus after pushing an anti-vaxx stance on his show.

Now, his brother Mark is asking for his fans to get vaccinated.

'Please continue to pray for his recovery and PLEASE GO GET VACCINATED!' Mark Valentine wrote in a statement asking for support for his brother.

Across the country, cases are spiking as well.

Over the past two weeks, cases have nearly tripled, growing from 16,181 average new cases on July 8 to 45,343 on July 22 - a 180 percent increase.
At least seven fully-vaccinated students at Stanford University have tested positive for coronavirus.

Officials at the elite school in California's Bay Area reported the breakthrough infections in a letter to students on Thursday.

They said all of the cases were confirmed in the last week and all seven students were symptomatic.

'As you have seen in the national news, cases of COVID-19 have been ticking upward,' officials wrote in the letter.

'We are seeing some of this in our own community, where we are experiencing an increase in the number of student COVID cases, including among fully vaccinated individuals.'

Stanford is among nearly 600 universities and colleges nationwide that have required students and faculty to be vaccinated against COVID-19 before coming back to campus this fall.

The school is enforcing its mandate by requiring proof of vaccination status and says it will offer exemptions for religious or medical reasons on a case-by-case basis.

At least seven fully-vaccinated students at Stanford University have tested positive for coronavirus, school officials announced Thursday. Pictured: Students socially distance during a class held outside in California

The likelihood of contracting coronavirus after being fully vaccinated is very low, with so-called 'breakthrough' cases representing only a small percentage of new cases reported around the US.

Experts have sought to quell concerns over such cases by reminding that COVID-19 vaccines are still highly effective in preventing severe symptoms, hospitalization and death.

Less than three percent of people hospitalized with COVID-19 are vaccinated, according to the CDC, and only 1,063 deaths have been reported among vaccinated people.

However there are fears that vaccines may not be as effective at battling new more contagious strains of the virus, including the Delta variant wreaking havoc nationwide.

At Stanford, officials have stressed the importance of vaccination while continuing to require face coverings across all open spaces on its 8,180-acre campus.

'Vaccinations are effective at preventing severe illness. However, we need everyone to be vigilant,' officials wrote in Thursday's letter. 'The variants remain of concern.'

According to the school's dashboard, some 8,300 students are fully vaccinated and 330 are partially vaccinated.

The school recently loosened its coronavirus testing requirements, allowing for vaccinated students and staff to stop submitting to weekly tests and daily check-ins if they provide proof of vaccinations.

All undergraduate students preparing to return to campus this fall are required to submit proof of vaccination by July 23.

Anyone who misses that deadline will be barred from enrolling in classes.

It is unclear whether the school has granted any exemptions from the vaccine mandate.

Stanford has reported a total of 235 confirmed coronavirus cases since last summer and 8,300 of its students are fully vaccinated as of Friday

Stanford's announcement about breakthrough cases could serve as fuel in the growing controversy over university vaccine mandates around the country.

As of Friday 592 US schools both public and private have imposed such mandates, according to the Chronicle of Higher Education.

While schools contend that they are merely protecting their communities, critics say the mandates represent a violation of personal freedom and called the efficacy of the vaccines themselves into question.

Eight states have passed laws blocking colleges from requiring vaccinations: Florida, Tennessee, Alabama, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Montana, Arizona and Utah.

A pivotal development in the case came earlier this week when a federal judge upheld Indiana University's mandate after the school was sued by eight students demanding that it be overturned.

While many schools, like Stanford, offer exemptions, it is unclear how many have actually been granted.

Olivia Sandor, 18, says she lost a $200,000 scholarship and was denied admission to Brigham Young UniversityHawaii after requesting exemption from the school's COVID-19 vaccine requirement due to a pre-existing medical condition

Olivia Sandor, an 18-year-old from Hawaii, emerged as a face of the debate this week when she shared how she was denied admission from her dream school - Brigham Young University Hawaii (BYUH) - and lost out on $200,000 in scholarships because she would not get vaccinated due to a pre-existing medical condition.

Sandor said BYUH denied her fall admission due to state and college vaccination requirements, despite the fact that they had already awarded her scholarship money.

Sandor, who suffers from Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS), told her story on Sean Hannity's Fox News program on Monday night and explained how she'd requested an exemption from the school's vaccination requirement after her team of medical providers advised against her getting the COVID-19 shot.

But the university denied her request for exemption - and told her to re-enroll after getting vaccinated.

Sandor developed GBS after receiving an influenza vaccine in 2019 and was paralyzed from the waist down for over a month as a result.

She said that while attending BYUH was her dream, the risks associated with the coronavirus vaccine do not outweigh the reward.

'I do not want to relapse and have another episode of Guillain-Barre,' she told Hannity. 'It's really, truly not worth it to me.'
Biogen is once again under fire for its controversial new Alzheimer's drug Aduhelm, but this time because of an ad campaign.

The Massachusetts-based drug maker has been accused of misleading potential patients and over-marketing Aduhelm with an online survey which critics say stokes fear that signs of normal age-related mental decline - including forgetting a word or getting lost - could be indicative of dementia.

It is the latest controversy for the drug, which, in the time since its approval on June 7, three members of an advisory board have stepped down and the FDA has asked for an investigation into its own agency communications leading up to the drug's approval.

The online quiz published by Biogen and Eisai, a Japanese company which is co-promoting the drug, asks questions regarding a person's cognitive health.

Even when a person answers that they 'never' experience any symptoms of cognitive decline, the quiz still recommends that a person talk to their doctor about a cognitive screening.

'Here are your responses to the Know Your Symptoms Quiz. Even if you answered "Never" or "Almost Never" to all questions, it's important to stay on top of your cognitive health. Talk to your doctor about any concerns you may have and ask if cognitive screening is right for you,' the quiz says on the final screen.

It also includes a downloadable 'Doctor Discussion Guide' and a link to a page that assists in finding patients a cognitive specialist.

The landing page of the online survey after a participant answers 'never' to each question. The page recommends a person to talk to their doctor despite not showing symptoms of cognitive decline

A screen shot of the first page 'Doctor Discussion Guide' provided by the website. It is a two page document

In an op-ed published in the Baltimore Sun, Dr Adriane Fugh-Berman, a pharmacology professor at Georgetown University, accused Biogen of attempting to persuade adults that they have a cognitive issue.

'Biogen may be trying to persuade adults who occasionally misplace their keys that they not only have Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), but that MCI is an early form of Alzheimers disease,' she wrote.

Dr Adriane Fugh-Berman (pictured) slammed Biogen for trying to persuade adults they are experiencing cognitive decline

'A review of medical literature suggests neither statement is true, and Biogen failed to provide any supporting information when we asked for it. In fact, there is no standardization in diagnosing MCI,' she added

'... MCI is a risk factor for Alzheimers, but it is not necessarily Alzheimers, and it does not usually lead to Alzheimers.'

'It's particularly egregious because they are trying to convince people with either normal memories or normal age-related decline that they are ill and they need a drug,' she added.

The controversy arises as the medical community seems to be already losing faith in the drug's effectiveness.

Two major U.S. health systems will not be administering the drug to patients.

The Cleveland Clinic, one of the most well-respected systems in the country, and Mount Sinai, a New York City-based system, both said they will not prescribe patients the drug due to a potential investigation into the drug's FDA approval.

The Cleveland Clinic (pictured) and Mount Sinai will not administer the newly approved Alzheimer's drug, Aduhelm, after its controversial FDA approval

Aduhelm received FDA approval despite two failed clinical trials, and limited proof that the drug worked

HOW TO DETECT ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE Alzheimer's disease is a progressive brain disorder that slowly destroys memory, thinking skills and the ability to perform simple tasks. It is the cause of 60% to 70% of cases of dementia. The majority of people with Alzheimer's are age 65 and older More than six million Americans have Alzheimers. It is unknown what causes Alzheimer's. Those who have the APOE gene are more likely to develop late-onset Alzheimer's. Signs and symptoms: Difficulty remembering newly learned information

Disorientation

Mood and behavioral changes

Suspicion about family, friends and professional caregivers

More serious memory loss

Difficulty with speaking, swallowing and walking Stages of Alzheimer's: Mild Alzheimer's (early-stage) - A person may be able to function independently but is having memory lapses

Moderate Alzheimer's (middle-stage) - Typically the longest stage, the person may confuse words, get frustrated or angry, or have sudden behavioral changes

Severe Alzheimer's disease (late-stage) - In the final stage, individuals lose the ability to respond to their environment, carry on a conversation and, eventually, control movement Advertisement

In a statement, the Cleveland Clinic said it 'had reviewed all available scientific evidence on this medication

'Based on the current data regarding its safety and efficacy, we have decided not to carry aducanumab at this time,' the statement read.

Doctors at the hospital will be able to prescribe Aduhelm to patients, but they will have to go elsewhere to receive the drug.

Mount Sinai said it decision to not administer the drug came after the news of the FDA investigation.

'Aduhelm will not be considered for infusion into patients on any of its campuses until and unless [an investigation by the inspector general of the Department of Health and Human Services,] affirms the integrity of the FDA-Biogen relationship and goes on to reaffirm [the basis for the FDA's approval],' Dr Sam Gandy, director of the Mount Sinai Center for Cognitive Health, wrote in an email to the New York Times.

Blue Cross Blue Shield, a health insurer that covers 62 million people across the country, also announced that they do not plan to cover the drug.

Biogen responded to the hospitals' decision by standing by its drug.

'Biogen continues to stand 100 percent behind Aduhelm and the clinical data that supported approval,' Biogen, which is based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, wrote in an email to the Times.

'If any patient is denied access to care, we encourage them to contact us for help as we remain committed to supporting access to Aduhelm for all appropriate patients.'

The FDA is also beginning to show doubts in their own approval of the drug.

Earlier this month, the agency revised their label of the drug, now only recommending it to people in the early stages of the condition or with a mild case of Alzheimer's.

It was previously recommended to all Alzheimer's patients.

Dr Janet Woodcock, commissioner of the FDA, even asked for the Office of the Inspector General to investigate communications between her staff and Biogen employees in the lead up to the drug's approval.

The Cleveland Clinic cites this investigation as reason for not wanting to deploy the drug.

Biogen launched two clinical trials for Aduhelm in 2016.

Both were stopped midway because researchers concluded that neither trial would end up reaching its goal.

Later, the company revealed updated data from the second study showed patients had 22 percent decrease in speed of their cognitive decline.

It also showed that Aduhelm could remove amyloid beta plaques on the brain.

Some believe the removal of these plaques can stop cognitive decline, which would make the drug the only available Alzheimer's treatment to do so.

Others criticize Biogen for pulling data from a failed trial, and do not interpret the company's data in the same way.

Biogen stand by its drug. The company will charge $56,000 for a year of treatment using Aduhelm

Dr David Knopman, a neurologist with the Mayo Clinic, published an analysis of Biogen's data in November, where he disagrees with the companies conclusions on the drug's effectiveness.

Knopman was on the FDA advisory committee that voted 10-0 against approving the drug, and he later resigned in protest of the drug's approval.

A survey of neurologists by Spherix Global Insights found that neurologists only believe the drug is adequate for use in one-in-seven Alzheimer's patients.

'Regardless of pent up patient demand, expansion of the Aduhelm prescriber base will likely be slower than typically seen with other launches in the neurology market  as less than half of neurologists believe they will become adopters within the first six months of availability,' Spherix wrote in a release.

Aduhelm has also received criticism for its large price tag.

Biogen has set a $56,000 price tag for a year of treatment.

A nonprofit think tank focused on drug pricing pegged the drug's actual value at between $3,000 and $8,400 per year.

Two congressional committees have launched investigations into the price of the drug and the large price tag it could cost Medicare.

An analysis published by the Kaiser Family Foundation estimated that if just 500,000 Medicare recipients are prescribed Aduhelm, it would cost Medicare nearly $29 billion a year, far more than any other medication.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services launched their formal process to decide whether or not the agency will cover the drug earlier this week.

A final decision will likely not be made until Spring 2021.
Brandon Antoine (pictured), 46, died of COVID-19 despite his mothers urges for him to get vaccinated

A Louisiana mother held a vaccine drive at the funeral of her son who died of COVID-19 after refusing to get vaccinated.

Brandon Antoine passed away from the virus aged 46 in Baton Rouge on June 9.

His mother, Betty Antoine, begged him to get the vaccine before he contracted the virus, though he refused.

Now she is hoping other families do not go through the same tragedy, and used her son's funeral as an opportunity to get others in her community vaccinated.

'I begged him, I said, 'You need to take the vaccine, Brandon.' 'Oh, no, mom, I'm not going to take it. And you better not take the vaccine either,'' Antoine told CBS News.

'His doctor wanted him to take the vaccine. He told her no,' she continued.

She said her son had underlying heart and lung issues that gave him an increased risk of complications from the virus.

'First of all, I was so full with... I want to say angry. I was kind of angry, not so much at him, but because he did not take the vaccine,' she said.

'And I said, right then I'm going to ask his friends and everybody to take that vaccine in honor of him.'

She gave attendees at Brandon's funeral the opportunity to get vaccinated, hoping that others could learn from her son's mistake.

Betty Antoine (pictured), urged her son, Brandon, to get vaccinated before he eventually died from the virus

Of the attendees, 13 decided to get vaccinated.

'I just wanted them to see Brandon's ashes. I wanted them to know, look, Brandon is dead because he did not take the vaccine,' she continued.

Louisiana is among the states with the lowest vaccination rates in the country, and is currently dealing with a massive COVID-19 surge.

Only 40 percent of residents of the state have received at least one dose of the vaccine, and only 36 percent are fully vaccinated.

Mississippi is the only state with a lower vaccination rate at 38 percent.

Coronavirus cases in the state are also trending in the wrong direction, rising 224 percent in the past two weeks from 619 per day on July 7 to 2,006 per day on July 21.

Hospitalizations are also at their highest since February, with 844 people currently in the hospital with the virus.

Around 70 percent of active cases in the state are of the Delta variant, a highly contagious strain that originated in India.

Health officials in the state are urging residents to get the shots to protect themselves from the virus.

Notable Republican politicians are joining the effort as well.

Rep Steve Scalise, one of the most prominent Republicans in Congress who represents Louisiana's 1st district, received the first shot of his COVID-19 vaccine earlier this week.

'Especially with the Delta variant becoming a lot more aggressive and seeing another spike, it was a good time to do it,' Scalise told NOLA.com.

'When you talk to people who run hospitals, in New Orleans or other states, 90 percent of people in hospital with delta variant have not been vaccinated. That's another signal the vaccine works.'

Antoine is hoping that other families will not suffer the same situation that hers did, and used her son's funeral as a vaccination drive

Roe said he was aware of Rep Scalise, but denied that the vaccines are proven effective, and said his opinion is unchanged.

Medical professionals are advising Louisianan's to get the shots as well, as a vast majority of people being admitted into the hospital with the virus are unvaccinated.

'I want to be clear after seeing what I've seen the past two weeks. We only have two choices: we are either going to get vaccinated and end the pandemic. Or we are going to accept death.' said Dr Catherine O'Neal, chief medical officer at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center, during a press conference Friday per a report from The Advocate.

'A lot of it, this surge, and another surge, and possibly another variant.'

Across the country, cases are spiking as well.

Over the past two weeks, cases have nearly tripled, growing from 16,181 average new cases on July 8 to 45,343 on July 22 - a 180 percent increase.
BOOK OF THE WEEK

JOHN CRAXTON: A LIFE OF GIFTS

by Ian Collins (Yale 25, 384 pp)

At last! An artist who had a happy childhood! The Craxtons of 8 Grove End Road, St Johns Wood sound like a delightfully bohemian 1920s bunch: musical parents, five sons, one daughter, piano played, trees climbed, guests visiting for a week and staying for four years, family holidays spent in a converted Army hut on the beach in Sussex.

The only fly in the ointment was that fourth son John  the subject of Ian Collinss evocative biography of the artist whom we most associate with Greece was detested by his elder brother Antony. John was dreamy, delicate, fey; Antony was ramrod-straight and would become a BBC producer and pillar of the Establishment.

One of the pleasing ironies of this story is that homophobic Antony would eventually turn out to be a repressed homosexual all along.

Ian Collins recounts the life of John Craxton in an evocative new biography. Pictured: John with Patrick Leigh Fermor

Another difficulty dreamy John had to deal with was that his intense early friendship with Lucian Freud turned sour. Very sour.

In their early 20s, the two young artists (both born in 1922) were inseparable. They shared a London studio, had a joint show in London and roamed seedy Soho pubs together.

Lucian began to drop me when he found a better painter, John later wrote. He was referring to Lucians new best friend Francis Bacon, and we know that those two would also eventually fall out. When John dared to criticise one of Lucians paintings, that was the end.

He whistled on the street outside Lucians window, as he had always done, but there was no reply and never would be again. Lucian started a campaign of disparagement against John, which poisoned his life.

This beautifully produced book is a feast for the eyes and senses, full of reproductions of Craxtons paintings of Greece, the country he loved most on earth.

Having been lucky enough to fail his Army medical (Youd be as much use to the war effort as a three-legged horse, said the sergeant), he spent the war years yearning for Greece, instinctively knowing it was his country without yet having been there.

And, indeed, it turned out to be. As soon as foreign travel was allowed, he wangled a flight with Lady Norton, the wife of the British Ambassador to Athens, whom hed met at a party. Shed borrowed a bomber plane parked in Milan, and offered to fly John to Athens.

As the pilot flew them over Venice, John asked: Could we take a little detour and have a look?

Having failed his Army medical, John escaped to Greece where he would pick up handsome sailors every night. Pictured: John Craxtons painting Still Life With Three Sailors

Lovely idea, replied Lady Norton, and they swooped down through the piazza, narrowly missing the campanili. This was absolutely typical of Craxtons charmed life. Somehow, arriving in a post-war Greece traumatised by Nazi occupation and now by incipient civil war, he managed to find beautiful lodgings with delightful locals on various islands and to spend every evening in a taverna on the harbour, where dancers not only threw plates, but lifted up chairs with their teeth and held them in the air.

Best of all, he picked up handsome sailors every night. I love soldiers and sailors and hate armies and navies, he claimed.

Like Lucian Freud, Craxton had a gift for befriending people from the highest and lowest echelons of society.

One night hed be travelling 4th class on deck with a crowd of Cretan peasants, chickens and goats; the next hed be dining with Winston Churchill and Margot Fonteyn on Aristotle Onassiss yacht, or hobnobbing with Lawrence Durrell or the Leigh Fermors in their lovely houses.

He expressed his constant state of marvel in his pictures, which evoke the light, the colours, the goats, the masculinity of the men.

John had a brief physical affair with Margot Fonteyn, however it didn't last because she needed money and he was drawn to men. Pictured: John's self-portrait

To read this book is to live in that world of sharp rocks, thorny shrubs, blazing sunlight, scraggy almond trees and gorgeous Greeks.

Craxton became allergic to England. When he was forced to go there he telegrammed friends: I AM SAD. ENGLAND IS TERRIBLE. FOG. CLOUDS. I WILL DIE.

On one trip home to design the sets for Frederick Ashtons production of Daphnis and Chloe at the Royal Opera House, he made great friends with Margot Fonteyn. The following year she and John, along with travel writer Patrick Leigh Fermor, his girlfriend Joan Eyres Monsell and Freddie Ashton himself, would go on a boating holiday to Greece together.

The fun and freedom of it all is almost unbearable to read about in this stay-at-home summer. Theres a photo of a naked Margot Fonteyn sunbathing on a roof, her feet taut in the points position.

JOHN CRAXTON: A LIFE OF GIFTS by Ian Collins (Yale 25, 384 pp)

She and John did embark on a brief physical affair, but it didnt last; Fonteyn needed money which John didnt have (he was a perpetual scrounger), and John was drawn to men.

English gay artists were being killed by repression and shaming in 1950s Britain, Collins writes, with feeling. England killed them; Greece saved Craxton.

If Craxton preserved his sanity by moving to Greece, he also sacrificed his fame. Having been a darling of Kenneth Clark, director of the National Gallery, he was later dropped, seen as an irrelevant expat whod gone adrift.

He was not included with Freud, Bacon and Ben Nicholson in the 1954 Venice Biennale. He didnt really care. Craxtons wonderfully positive life is sparklingly recounted here, and for me Collinss book was an art-history lesson on a painter I didnt know much about.

He didnt like being compartmentalised as a New Romantic. He was just John Craxton, totally uninterested in politics, just wanting to immerse himself in Greece and to immortalise it in paint. This book captures his sweet, perpetually boyish character, his talent, and his luck.
Electric car charging provision at motorway service areas, on local roads and in rural areas is inadequate and needs to be accelerated as a matter of urgency, the competition regulator has warned on Friday.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said the public charging infrastructure must be improved ahead of the 2030 ban on the sale of new cars with internal combustion engines, saying battery vehicle charging 'should be as simple as filling up with petrol or diesel' to encourage drivers to make the switch.

It expressed concern about the choice and availability of places to plug in an electric car at motorway service stations and said the rollout of on-street charging by local authorities  which many drivers without off-street parking rely on  is 'too slow', while rural areas at risk of 'being left behind' due to a lack of investment.

Competition and Markets Authority wants EV charging infrastructure improved to a level that it is 'as simple as filling up with petrol or diesel'

According to the latest figures published by Zap-Map, there are 15,805 public charging locations across the UK with 24,949 devices in total.

Some 661 new chargers have been added to the network in the last month.

However, the CMA says these figures need to grow at up to ten times the current installation pace to match the demand for EVs between now and the end of the decade.

It cited research indicating that difficulties with charging could stop motorists switching to electric cars.

Anxiety over the reliability of chargepoints, comparing prices and paying for charging 'risk reducing people's confidence and trust', the CMA said.

It comes after a new index launched by insurer LV= this week claimed that a mainstream electric family car costs 1,300 less a year on average to run compared to an equivalent petrol or diesel model, meaning the premium price paid for an expensive EV will be recovered within a seven-year ownership period.

Andrea Coscelli, the organisation's chief executive, stated that electric vehicles 'play a critical role' in reducing carbon emissions, but the challenges of 'creating an entirely new charging network should not be underestimated'.

She went on: 'Some areas of the rollout are going well and the UK's network is growing  but it's clear that other parts, like charging at motorway service stations and on-street, have much bigger hurdles to overcome.

'There needs to be action now to address the postcode lottery in electric vehicle charging as we approach the ban on sales of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030.'

Weve set out measures to ensure a national network of #EV chargepoints is in place ahead of the 2030 ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars.



The UK has around 25,000 chargepoints and forecasts suggest more than 10 times this will be needed.



 https://t.co/42v40QxFjd pic.twitter.com/8GQALKc81A  Competition & Markets Authority (@CMAgovUK) July 23, 2021

What could potentially alleviate some of the CMA's concerns regarding the motorway charging infrastructure is Gridserve's recent acquisition of the network across service stations up and down the country.

CMA warned of there being a postcode lottery for EV charging infrastructure. Latest figures show that availability of public devices in London dwarfs more rural areas. Source: Electric vehicle charging device statistics: April 2021 - GOV.UK

The British firm behind the UK's first dedicated charging forecourt for electric cars in June purchased the rights to manage all devices located at motorway services from Ecotricity, which has for years been heavily criticised by early EV adopters for providing a network of outdated and unreliable chargers.

Gridserve has announced plans to revolutionise the availability of devices on the UK's busiest routes, as part of its new Electric Highway scheme.

It will see every electric vehicle charger at motorway services replaced with more dependable and faster-charging technology by September.

The company has also confirmed that it will add 50 high power 'Electric Hubs' - each offering between six and twelve ultra-rapid 350kW chargers - at the majority of service stations up and down the country.

The hubs, which are part of a new 100million investment, will spark a significant improvement to charging on motorways after years of complaints about Dale Vince's Ecotricity firm that has monopolised 90 per cent of service stations between Land's End and John o' Groats.

Gridserve has promised to make a huge improvement to the Electric Highway network of EV chargers at motorway services, replacing all devices by September and adding 300 rapid chargers on our busiest roads

Gridserve has promised to add some 300 rapid chargers in total to 85 per cent of the UK's motorway service stations, which will allow drivers of the latest EVs to add 100 miles of range in charges taking just five minutes.

The CMA made a series of recommendations, including that the Government sets out an 'ambitious national strategy' for expanding charging infrastructure up to the end of the decade.

Whitehall should define a clear role for local authorities to manage charging in their area, and establish a pubic body to monitor the sector.

The regulator has also launched a competition law investigation into long-term exclusive arrangements for charging at motorway service areas.

Tesla Supercharger named best public charging network for EVs - and soon every EV owner will be able to use it Tesla's Supercharger network has topped a new survey of electric car owners about the best providers for charging their vehicle's batteries. Of the 1,000 EV owners who use it and completed What Car?'s survey, they rated it very highly for reliability, charging speed, ease of payment and value for money, giving it an overall score of 89.8 per cent - which is the best marks achieved by any of the 12 providers reviewed. The honour comes just over 24 hours after Tesla CEO Elon Musk confirmed the US firm would be making its Supercharger network - currently exclusive to owners of Tesla cars - accessible for all electric vehicle owners. Find out how 12 of the UK's public charging networks rated in our report.

It says drivers of the latest EVs should have access to a charging network that is as simple as filling up with petrol and diesel.

This means having a universal system that clearly highlights the locations where devices are, if they are working and whether they are available.

It also demanded for an easy pay structure, meaning a standardised pricing scheme, access for all EVs from different brands and acceptance of contactless payments.

RAC director of electric vehicles, Sarah Winward-Kotecha, said there is 'some way to go before rapid charge points are as commonplace as fuel pumps' but added that things are changing fast.

'There is a huge amount of investment taking place, particularly at motorways where older chargers are now being replaced with the latest technology which offers much faster charging.

'Wed also like to see motorway provision supplemented by many more regional hubs that give those in towns and cities, especially those for whom charging at home isnt an option, easy access to rapid charging.'

Commenting on the CMA's report, Sue Davies, head of consumer protection policy and watchdog Which?, described the UKs electric car charging network as 'confusing, disjointed and in dire need of reform to make it a viable option for all'.

She added: 'To ensure electric cars are a choice for most consumers, the government should take these recommendations seriously and take the necessary steps to make the public charging network larger, simpler and more accessible than it is today.'

Jack Cousens, head of roads policy for the AA, said concerns about a lacking public charging infrastructure 'continue to be one of the top three barriers to electric vehicle adoption'.

He says that boosting confidence in the network 'will go a long way to accelerate the uptake of electric cars'.

The AA spokesman added: 'Drivers want chargepoints to be as simple as possible to use. Having multiple membership cards and apps makes the process of recharging needlessly complex and confusing.

'While new chargepoints will allow people to use a credit or debit card, we desperately need the existing network to be upgraded to allow drivers to easily use as many chargepoints as possible.'

The CMA's call for a simpler charging infrastructure comes just a day after Mercedes-Benz owner, Daimler, outlined how it will move ahead with its electric future, promising to sell an electric version of every car in its range by 2025 - and aim to be 'ready' to be a fully-electric brand by the end of the decade.

One of the steps in its transition to EVs will arrive this year with the introduction of a 'Plug & Charge' system.

This will allow customers to plug-in, charge and unplug their electric Mercedes cars without extra steps needed for authentication and payment processing.

It will be debuted later this year when in the EQS and mean drivers will be billed directly by Mercedes for any charging sessions using public devices.
An out-of-this-world experience is the new, billionaire must-have.

This week Jeff Bezos, the Amazon chief, took a trip aboard New Shepard, a rocket built by his Blue Origin business. Sir Richard Branson was a passenger on a Virgin Galactic flight, while Elon Musk aims to orbit earth in one of his SpaceX capsules.

These missions are regarded by many as expensive joyriding.

But, as wise investors realise, billionaires tend to have an ulterior motive even when fulfilling a childhood dream.

Bezos, Branson and Musk are carrying out personal research into the 21st century space race  whose participants could be making $1 trillion in sales by 2040, or so Morgan Stanley forecasts.

The need for faster communication on this planet is the principal driver of this extraterrestrial industrial revolution, which will aid agriculture, among other industries. Crop health can be monitored from space.

Despite criticism of the environmental impact of the billionaires' jaunts, Chad Anderson of New York venture capital fund Space Capital says: 'We wouldn't know about climate change without space and wouldn't have the tools to address the greatest challenges.'

In the second quarter of this year, US space companies received a record $4.5billion in funding, according to Space Capital, which divides these businesses into three categories: infrastructure, application and distribution.

Infrastructure companies build rockets and satellites whose cost is plummeting. The price of a shoe-box sized satellite is about $100,000, meaning there may be 100,000 in space over the next decade, against about 3,400 today.

Application companies focus on services like navigation required by autonomous vehicles, drones, robots and taxis, both earthbound and flying (yes, they exist).

Distribution companies develop technologies to link terrestrial-based systems to space networks.

The impossibility of assessing the viability of the technologies behind these ventures  and the gamble involved  will be the reason why some investors never boldly go into space, except, maybe, as tourists if tickets get more affordable.

Blast off: Wise investors realise, billionaires tend to have an ulterior motive even when fulfilling a childhood dream

Rob Burgeman of Brewin Dolphin compares space to the Wild West, where great fortunes but also catastrophic losses were made. But, given the disruption the space race could bring, a small amount of exposure to the companies in this competition could update your portfolio.

Burgeman rates the following as worthy of consideration: Loral Space & Communications, a telecoms satellite business; L3 Harris Technologies, which makes space communications equipment and Lockheed Martin.

Another option is the Ark Space Exploration and Innovation ETF (exchange traded fund) run by Cathie Wood, a US manager fast turning into a celebrity.

She likens space to the development of the internet in the 1990s which changed life on earth, say ing: 'Space technology has advanced, and costs have dropped to such an extent that the commercial race is on.'

Wood's recent decision to sell the fund's stake in Virgin Galactic (in which Branson retains a 24 per cent stake) attracted publicity. Much attention is also likely to be paid to two holdings in the newly launched Seraphim Space, a UK investment trust.

They are: Arqit, a pioneering British quantum computing encryption company aiming to launch two satellites in 2023 to combat hacking of systems, and Spire Global, the global weather forecaster. Both plan to make their US stock market debut having merged with special purpose acquisition companies (Spacs). The response to these IPOs could be a test of the sentiment surrounding space.

Does the sector have infinite potential? Or is it overhyped?

Vision: Jeff Bezos

Seraphim, which was oversubscribed at its launch, is now at a 7 per cent premium to the net value of its mostly unlisted assets.

It seems that investors are happy to back businesses like the Reading-based Altitude Angel, whose systems should enable fully autonomous drones to be used in global airspace. Burgeman, however, considers the trust's promise of annual returns of 20 per cent-plus to be overblown.

David Coombs of Rathbone Investment Management is wary of the space race buzz. He argues: 'Anyone interested should remember that, as in the Gold Rush, the way to make money was to invest in picks and shovels.'

This suggests long-established aerospace groups like Raytheon Technologies with its space division. Of course, the decision to go into space may already have been taken for you if you hold certain Baillie Gifford trusts.

Edinburgh Worldwide, US Growth and Scottish Mortgage (where I am an investor) own stakes in the unlisted SpaceX. Edinburgh Worldwide also holds Spire Global. Without knowing it, you may already have crossed the final frontier.
Ultra Electronics could become the latest British firm to fall into private equity hands after it was targeted in a 2.6billion takeover swoop.

The defence group's board said it was minded to back the offer of 3500p per share from US buyout firm Advent.

The approach by Advent came through Cobham, another UK defence firm it bought last year in a bitterly-contested deal.

Swoop: Ultra's 'sonobuoys' can be dropped from Merlin helicopters (pictured) and Poseidon planes to help detect objects in the ocean

Under the proposal, Ultra chairman Tony Rice and chief executive Simon Pryce stand to get about 700,000 and 770,000 respectively for shares they own.

However, any deal is likely to trigger an official review due to the highly-sensitive technology Ultra supplies to the armed forces, particularly the Royal Navy.

Also a key supplier to the US armed forces, the firm's pioneering maritime systems are used by the Navy to patrol British waters, hunt submarines and protect aircraft carriers, among scores of other things.

In a bid to ensure the deal goes through, Advent has said it is prepared to make national security undertakings.

But the firm's ruthless dismantling of Cobham after buying the company just 18 months ago is likely to trigger fear for jobs at Ultra and Britain's defence supply chain, should the sale be approved. The swoop on Ultra comes as private equity groups scour the UK for deals with supermarket chains Asda and Morrisons and security firm G4S among those targeted.

Sir Gerald Howarth, a former Tory defence minister, said the takeover went 'to the heart of the UK's defence capabilities' and needed to face tough scrutiny from the Government.

He said: 'This is a company that is critical to the Royal Navy and to the protection of our aircraft carriers. When it comes to the defence of the realm, we simply cannot have a free-for-all where City financiers are pouncing on critical businesses, breaking them up and then flogging them to the highest bidder.

'So ministers absolutely must step in. Given everything that has happened at Cobham, we have got to be very tough.'

Admiral Lord West, the former head of the Royal Navy, also warned of 'giving up on the UK having sovereign capability in areas that are important to the security of the nation'. 'Ultra makes some really important stuff, technology at the cutting edge that allows us to beat our opponents,' he told the Telegraph. 'It's extremely troubling that the Government talks about us having sovereign capability - whether it's defence or areas such us the ability to make medicines in times of emergency - but yet again it looks like ownership that will go to the Americans.'

Following its latest approach, Cobham has until August 20 to make a formal offer for Ultra under 'put up or shut up' rules.

Shares in Ultra surged 32.4 per cent, or 800p, to a record 3270p.

Advent says it wants to merge Ultra and Cobham, which makes devices used in electronic warfare and missiles, to create a 'global defence electronics champion'.

Responding to the 3500p a share offer, Ultra said that after considering the proposal 'the board has indicated to Cobham that it is at a value the board would be minded to recommend to Ultra shareholders, subject to consideration and satisfactory resolution of other terms and arrangements'.

The Ultra spokesman said Cobham 'has indicated that it is minded to offer the UK government appropriate undertakings in respect of national security'.

Howard Wheeldon, an independent defence analyst, said it was likely that a review by the UK and other governments would have to be carried out before the deal could go ahead.

A Cobham spokesman said: 'Cobham welcomes the announcement from the board of Ultra Electronics. We have offered assurances that appropriate national security undertakings will be offered to the UK Government.'

World leader

Ultra Electronics is world leader in sonar, radar and torpedo technologies which are widely used by western countries in the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing partnership.

Set up in 1920, the company's sonar systems are used on a plethora of ships and aircraft to hunt submarines and patrol British waters.

Ultra's 'sonobuoys' can be dropped from Merlin helicopters and Poseidon planes to help detect objects in the ocean.

And the business's pioneering maritime systems are used aboard the Royal Navy's Type 23 frigates, Type 45 destroyers and the Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers.

'Step up and protect the industry'

Lady Cobham last night called on the Government to step up and protect what's left of Britain's manufacturing base.

Plea: Lady Cobham

Cobham, the company set up in 1934 by her father-in-law, the celebrated aviator Sir Alan Cobham, was bought by Advent last year.

The deal was opposed by Lady Cobham who warned the takeover would result in the break up of the company and the loss of key technologies to foreign owners.

Her grim prediction has since come to pass.

Advent has broken Cobham into nine pieces and sold many of them off, including the once-prized air-to-air refuelling business.

Last night Lady Cobham said: 'Advent carved up Cobham and sold most of it off, despite undertakings to government that it would invest in the company and protect jobs. Now is the time for the Government to step up and protect what's left of our defence manufacturing base.'

Advent insists Cobham has 'performed strongly' under its ownership and that it has invested more than 250m in research and development.
Oil traders at Vitol have shared a record bonus of 2.1billion, boosted by market volatility during the coronavirus pandemic.

The Geneva-based commodities giant celebrated its best-ever results last year  and is sharing out the plunder among around 350 of its top staff.

Boost: The Geneva-based commodities giant celebrated its best-ever results last year  and is sharing out the plunder among around 350 of its top staff

Vitol rewards those top employees and executives who own the company by buying back portions of their shares every year.

This year's sum averaged out at around 6m per person, Bloomberg reported.

Vitol, which trades more than 7m barrels of oil products every day, capitalised on wild swings in the oil market last year.
The Government is planning a major crackdown on fake reviews. Under proposals, it will become illegal to pay someone to write, or host, bogus online ratings.

How much weight should we put behind buying decisions when it comes to reviews and ratings, and what exactly are the plans to prevent this kind of consumer manipulation?

This week, Simon Lambert, Lee Boyce and Georgie Frost discuss this, along with the others measures the Government is planning, including on subscription traps and Christmas savings clubs, and how it'll be enforced.

How much are you saving? You might think a lack of a rainy day pot is solely an issue for those on low incomes, but you'd be wrong.

A quarter of Britain's wealthiest households do not have one - why is this the case?

That comes as fixed-rate deals nudge higher, but Lee warns listeners not to get too excited.

Are you paying for too much mobile phone data? And would you take part in a home swap in order to save on your summer holiday?
Advertisement

On July 29, 1981, 40 years ago this month, Lady Diana Spencer stepped out of a carriage at St Paul's Cathedral to marry Prince Charles in what would soon be known as the dress of the century.

Diana's dress featured a substantial skirt complete with a record breaking 25ft train and frothy folds of silk taffeta fit for a fairytale. 'That dress!' BBC presenter Tom Fleming exclaimed as the soon-to-be princess smoothed the dress around her. 'What a dream she looks,' commentator Angela Rippon added while noting Diana's tiny waist which had shrunk from 29in to 23in during the couples five-month engagement.

Decades later, we're re-examining everything that went into Princess Diana's legendary wedding dress, from the frock's creation and overall cost to Di's copious dress fittings and a secret back-up gown that went missing.

This is the stunning story behind the dress of the century.

Elizabeth and David Emanuel designed Princess Diana's wedding gown when they were both in their late 20s. With little instruction from Buckingham Palace or Diana, the Emanuels had Diana try on sample gowns before designing the famous wedding dress.

Who designed Princess Diana's wedding dress?

Elizabeth and David Emanuel, a husband and wife duo in their late 20s who had recently graduated from fashion school, designed Princess Diana's wedding gown. Buckingham Palace shocked the world when they announced the couple had been commissioned to create the royal wedding dress, but Lady Diana Spencer had worked with the Emanuels on several prior occasions and was a fan of their work.

How long was Diana's wedding train?

Princess Diana's waist shrank from 29in to a tiny 23.5in in the months leading up to her wedding. Designers David and Elizabeth Emanuel sewed the princess into her dress on the big day.

How much did Princess Diana's wedding dress cost?

Princess Diana's wedding train was a record breaking 25ft long. To make sure it would fit down the aisle, wedding dress designers Elizabeth and David Emanuel secretly measured St Paul's cathedral with a tape measure.

Princess Diana's ivory wedding gown cost approximately 9,000 ($12,000) in 1981 which is equivalent to about 36,800 ($50,000) today. David and Elizabeth Emanuel and their head seamstress Nina Missetzis primarily worked on the dress in addition to several additional seamstresses. In keeping with tradition, the trio sourced the fabric from within Britain before hand-embroidering 10,000 pearls and tiny sequins onto the bodice of the silk taffeta bodice and skirt.

Diana's dress also required five different bodices thanks to the bride-to-be's swift weight loss. When Lady Diana Spencer arrived at her first dress fitting her waist measured 29in. By her wedding day, however, it was a tiny 23.5in. The Emanuels sewed Diana into the dress ahead of her wedding ceremony so it wouldn't come loose.

How much did Diana's dress cost compared to Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle?

In comparison to her future daughter-in-laws, Princess Diana's dress was a steal. Kate Middleton wore a 250,000 ($342,827) wedding gown designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen when she walked down the aisle in 2011  making it the fifth most expensive dress of all time. In 2018, Meghan Markle married Prince Harry in a 200,000 ($274,240) white silk Givenchy gown. Both royal brides also donned a second dress for their evening receptions.

Princess Diana's wedding tiara, the Spencer Tiara, is a family heirloom adorned with flowers and diamonds in a silver setting. It's now owned by Diana's brother Earl Spencer.

What tiara did Princess Diana wear on her wedding day?

Princess Diana wore the Spencer Tiara when she married Prince Charles, a family heirloom that has been in the Spencer family for over 90 years. The elaborately adorned tiara which features flowers and diamonds in a silver setting was also worn by Diana's sisters on their wedding days and, in keeping with tradition, served as Diana's 'something borrowed'.

Now owned by Diana's brother, Earl Spencer, the diadem's value is unknown although another Spencer headpiece featuring over 800 diamonds sold for 185,000 ($253,764) at auction in 2018.

What happened to Diana's dress on the day of the wedding?

In addition to being sewn into the gown after losing more weight ahead of her wedding, Princess Diana accidentally spilled perfume on her dress just hours before walking down the aisle. The nervous bride-to-be dripped the scent onto her dress while applying it to her neck and wrists, but Elizabeth and David Emanuel reportedly never found out as Diana let the spoiled section of the dress air dry before 'tucking the front' to hide any residue. Her perfume of choice? Diana usually wore strong perfumes like Diorissimo by Dior but opted for Parisian perfume house Houbigant's Quelques Fleurs  a lighter fragrance with a blend of jasmine, rose and tuberose  for her wedding day.

What shoes did Princess Diana wear on her wedding day?

At 5'10", the lanky Diana wore handmade shoes with a low heel designed by celebrity cobbler Clive Shilton to avoid appearing taller than her soon-to-be husband Prince Charles on her wedding day. Shilton used silk satin, a sturdier fabric than Diana's dress for the wedding footwear, adorned with 542 sequins and 132 pearls. Additionally, the shoe's arches were painted with a secret romantic message: the letters C and D for Charles and Diana.

Princess Dianas wedding train was a record breaking 25ft long. To make sure it would fit down the aisle, the wedding dress designers Elizabeth and David Emanuel secretly measured St Pauls cathedral with a tape measure.

Did Diana have a second wedding dress?

Princess Diana had three wedding dresses: The one she wore, a backup replica dress that would later go on display at Madame Tussauds and a secret gown based on Diana's second choice design in case the actual dress was found or discovered before the official wedding day unveiling. The secret back-up dress was similar to the dress Diana wore  from its frilly sleeves to defined waist  although much plainer. The dress somehow went missing after the wedding and hasn't turned up to this day.

How did Prince Charles honor his family on his wedding day?

Charles asked Diana if the florist could include a Mountbatten rose in her bouquet in honor of his late great-uncle and mentor Lord Mountbatten whom was killed by the IRA in 1979. According to florist David Longman, who created all of the 1981 floral arrangements, Diana obliged. Following the wedding, Prince Charles and Princess Diana spent the first few days of their honeymoon at Mountbatten's estate.

Prince Charles spent much of his youth looking up to his great-uncle 'Dickie' who originally advised Charles to enjoy his 20s and play the field. Eventually, however, it was Mountbatten who urged the future king to find a 'suitable and sweet-charactered' bride. Love was not a necessity and with pressure mounting from both his uncle and his father, Charles proposed to Diana.

What was the cultural impact of the royal wedding dress?

Princess Diana's wedding dress quickly became one of the most famous garments in the world  with replica copies of the gown appearing in shop windows in London just hours after details of the gown were announced. Elsewhere, brides enamored with Diana's wedding look began requesting full skirts, frilly sleeves and defined bodices for their own weddings.

Princess Diana's gown, designed by David and Elizabeth Emanuel, is on display at Kensington Palace's current exhibition Royal Style In The Making. It's the first time the dress has been shown in public in over 25 years.

Where are David and Elizabeth Emanuel now?

David and Elizabeth Emanuel, now divorced, are currently in a legal battle over the sketches they created for Princess Diana while designing her wedding dress. Elizabeth is being sued by her ex-husband for auctioning several Diana sketches. David is suing for damages and copyright infringement issues. Elizabeth made several thousand pounds at auction for the Diana sketches.

Since the royal wedding, Elizabeth has worked in costume design in addition to launching her own label. David, on the other hand, took a more public route and transitioned his career from design to TV. He has appeared in the British reality show I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! in addition to hosting Say Yes to the Dress: UK and Say Yes to the VEGAS Dress. Most recently, David was hired by Netflix to consult on the creation of Diana's wedding dress in season two of The Crown. Elizabeth, however, has complained that her ex-husband played no role in the actual design of the famous dress, that he has taken credit for her work for decades and that she would have gotten the Netflix gig if the world knew the truth about who actually designed Princess Diana's wedding dress.

Where is Princess Diana's wedding dress now?

Princes William and Harry are in possession of their mother's wedding dress  and after several requests from the Emanuel's to display the historic gown, the brother's have agreed to lend the famous dress to a Kensington Palace exhibition entitled Royal Style In The Making. It's the first time the dress has been shown in public in over 25 years. Following her death, Diana's brother Earl Spencer stored the dress for safe keeping. Harry and William inherited the gown and Diana's other possessions when they were both in their 30s.

Diana, 5'10" wore handmade shoes with a low heel designed by celebrity cobbler Clive Shilton to avoid appearing taller than her soon-to-be husband Prince Charles on her wedding day.

The history of royal wedding dresses

From the Britain to the rest of the world, royal families are known for their spectacular celebrations and wedding gowns. In addition to Princess Diana's legendary dress, Grace Kelly wore two dresses on her wedding day  one pink and one white. Queen Elizabeth II's frock was not only embroidered, but also embellished with seed pearls.

More recently, German Claire Lademacher wed into the royal Luxembourg family in a Elie Saab gown made from Chantilly lace. And of course, both Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton stunned in their wedding dresses with Meghan wearing a 200,000 ($275,000) pure white silk Givenchy gown and Kate in a Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen lace masterpiece which cost a whopping 250,000 ($342,827).
The brother of a 54-year-old woman who is the last known victim still missing after the Miami condo collapse has spoken of his heartbreak as the wait drags on.

Estelle Hedaya is the final person unaccounted for in the rubble of the Champlain Towers South in Surfside, Florida, after two more victims were identified Wednesday taking the death toll to at least 97.

Authorities confirmed Linda March, a 58-year-old attorney who recently moved back to Miami from New York, and Anastasia Gromova, a 24-year-old who was visiting friends in the building, had been recovered. March's remains were found on July 5 and Gromova's on July 18 but both were only formally identified Wednesday.

Now, with the one-month anniversary of the June 24 collapse approaching Saturday, Hedaya's family is the only one now still waiting in agony for news.

Her younger brother Ikey Hedaya told Associated Press the wait is torture and said he 'can't believe Estelle is in there somewhere'.

The collapse site has been almost completely cleared with more than 26 million pounds of concrete rubble, mangled rebar and debris removed and much of the sifting through the debris is now taking place offsite.

Officials have said they are conducting additional searches of the debris at a separate collection site.

Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said Wednesday night the search for victims had been impeded by fire, water and other obstacles, and further identification of victims was relying heavily on the 'technical, scientific process' of pathologists.

'The enormous pressure of the weight of the collapse and the passage of time also make it more challenging,' she said.

The brother of a 54-year-old woman who is the last known victim still missing after the Miami condo collapse has spoken of his heartbreak as the wait drags on. Estelle Hedaya pictured

Estelle Hedaya (pictured) is the final person unaccounted for in the rubble of the Champlain Towers South in Surfside, Florida

Ikey, a 47-year-old real estate tax accountant from Brooklyn, said he is in disbelief that his sister is now the last victim to be found as he is still unable to find closure from the disaster.

'Hard to believe. My sister is the last one,' he said Wednesday as another day passed with no word on his sister.

Ikey said he has given his DNA, talks frequently with the medical examiner and search team, and even reluctantly visited the collapse site to see for himself what is being done to find his big sister.

He told AP he had been hesitant to visit the site and come face to face with his sister's final moments.

The balcony and living room of her sixth floor apartment were still eerily intact following the collapse.

Ikey said he found the visit too much and left.

'I can't believe Estelle is in there somewhere, and I didn't want to think about it,' he said.

But at the urging of a childhood best friend, now a rabbi, they returned to the site once more to pray in recent days.

This time, the rubble was largely gone and the collapse site mostly swept flat, with Ikey saying this is the image he'll hold onto.

Ikey told AP he is drawing his strength from his Jewish faith and said he believes God chose his sister and that 'it was her time.'

Photos released Tuesday of the site of the deadly condo collapse in Surfside, Florida showed it largely cleared of debris nearly four weeks on from the disaster

The collapse site has been almost completely cleared with more than 26 million pounds of concrete rubble, mangled rebar and debris removed

Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said Wednesday night the search for victims had been impeded by fire, water and other obstacles, and further identification of victims was relying heavily on the 'technical, scientific process' of pathologists

'I know God took care of her,' he said.

Ikey said he had sensed a shift in his sister in the six to eight months before the collapse and had just seen her in May.

'She always mentioned God anytime she was struggling with anything,' he said.

'She had reached a different level spiritually, which allowed her to excel in all other areas.'

Hedaya's boss and friends also described how she had a knack for taking life's difficulties and finding something positive.

Ikey said this is what he believes will happen after this tragedy with families now grieving and then finding the strength to 'start moving forward.'

Since he came to Florida to help in the search, several of his sister's friends have tracked him down to tell him how his sister impacted their lives, he said.

'Good things will come out in her honor. She will be responsible for all kinds of blessings and happiness,' he said.

Two more victims were identified taking the death toll to at least 97. Authorities confirmed Wednesday Linda March, 58, (right) and Anastasia Gromova, 24, (left) had been recovered

Estelle Hedaya (left) and Linda March (right) were close friends with each other. Hedaya lived on the sixth floor and March on the top floor

'When you think of all the people around the world who are going to look at themselves and improve in one way or another as a result of this, that's all on Estelle.

'That's immensely powerful.'

Hedaya, a former New Yorker, was close friends with March, who was also among the last of the missing.

Leah Sutton, a close friend of both women, described them as 'friends in life and souls in death'.

Sutton, who has known Estelle since birth and was her Miami mama, said the two women celebrated most holidays and birthdays with her family.

'It is the finality of never laughing with them again that is so heartbreaking,' said Sutton.

'Truly, amazing fearless girl. She could go travelling on vacation all by herself and make all new friends,' she said.

Hedaya's boss Joe Murphy said 'the weirdest thing about this whole thing is that Estelle's best friend in the whole building is Linda.'

Hedaya was chief operating officer for jewelry company the Continental Buying Group and was feeling especially confident after a recent weight loss, Murphy said.

She also had a blog called 'Follow The Toes' documenting her travels, fitness tips and favorite spas.

Pictures from the scene of the collapse Tuesday showed the debris almost fully cleared, with just a few walls and support beams remaining jutting from the ground.

Rubble from the site that is considered key evidence is being stored in a Miami-area warehouse, with the rest in nearby vacant lots.

All of that will be preserved as possible evidence for the lawsuits and for other experts to review, authorities said.

Medical examiners are also continuing to comb through the rubble to bring closures to the families of victims.

On Wednesday a Florida judge said victims and families of victims will receive at least $150 million in compensation.

This includes about $50 million in insurance on the Champlain Towers South building and at least $100 million in proceeds from the sale of the Surfside property where the structure once stood, Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Michael Hanzman said at a hearing.

The $150 million does not count any proceeds from the numerous lawsuits already filed since the June 24 collapse.

Almost 100 people were killed when 55 of the 136 units in the 13-story tower collapsed in the early hours of June 24. Pictured the building on June 24

US Coast Guard boats patrol in front of the partially collapsed Champlain Towers South condo building July 1

An aerial view of the site during a rescue operation of the Champlain Tower partially collapsed in Surfside, Florida, July 1

Those lawsuits are being consolidated into a single class action that will cover all victims and family members if they choose, the judge said.

Almost 100 people were killed when 55 of the 136 units in the 13-story tower collapsed at 1:25am on June 24.

The remaining section was demolished on July 4 when the site became too dangerous for rescue teams to continue searching for the missing and Tropical Storm was barreling toward south Florida, threatening to topple it entirely.

A total of 97 victims have now been pulled from the rubble, ranging in age from 1 to 92.

Now the recovery effort is winding down, investigators can focus on determining what caused the building to collapse and whether or not it could have been prevented.

Witnesses said they saw sections of the pool deck collapse into the garage below before the building fell.

Search and Rescue personnel search in the hours after the collapse on June 24. Now, 97 bodies have been found around one month on

The remains of the building were demolished on July 4 as Tropical Storm Elsa barreled toward south Florida fueling fears it would collapse

Investigators are also probing whether there was critical failures in the handling of the building's maintenance.

A consultant engineer warned in a damning October 2018 report that the Champlain Towers South had 'major structural damage' to the pool deck area and underground parking garage.

The structural field survey report specifically raised concerns about the pool deck area, in which the waterproofing was failing, and the underground parking garage which was riddled with 'abundant' cracking.

It said the tower was in need of numerous repairs around the base of the structure 'in a timely fashion.'

Meanwhile, Miami-Dade County's Unsafe Structures Board is now under pressure to speed up the process for reviewing problematic structures following the building's collapse.

Before the tower collapsed June 24, the county board already had a backlog of 1,000 unsafe-structure cases, the Miami Herald reported.

From this week, an engineer's report declaring a building structurally safe is required before an extension can be granted when recertifications are so overdue they have been referred to the unsafe structures board.

Spencer Errickson, supervisor of the county's Unsafe Structures division, said at a board meeting Wednesday that if a building can't get an engineer's endorsement that quickly, residents will now have to be evacuated.
Advertisement

Five self-proclaimed 'sovereign citizens', including a dentist and a sex offender, have been charged after they moved into a widow's $1.5 million home after she put it on the market, changed the locks and filed bogus legal documents to claim ownership.

The homeowner, who has asked not been named out of fears for her safety, had listed the property and moved out after her husband - a prominent commercial real estate broker - died last year, the Baltimore Sun reported.

But in June, squatters including an infant moved into the $1.5 million mansion on Falls Road in Baltimore.

Concerned neighbors called the owner after the squatters put up a chain across her driveway and signs warning trespassers to keep off the property.

Weeks of legal wrangling ensued, as the squatters refused to come out of the home when cops demanded they leave. Police even tried to get them to leave by deploying helicopters and armored vehicles to the property.

When they finally got a warrant to enter the home, police found a Mercedes parked in the garage.

Two of the squatters, Tessa Mona Modiri and Michael Lawrence, have now been arrested and hit with charges including burglary, the Baltimore Sun reported.

Sovereign citizens believe a decades-old conspiracy theory claiming the American government set up by the founding fathers was secretly replaced, and that laws and law enforcement are a sham that have no authority.

Five self-proclaimed sovereign citizens, including a dentist and sex offender, have been charged after they moved into a widow's $1.5 million home

Cops have since arrested two of the squatters, and hit them with charges including burglary

The mansion's listing described the home as a 'Telluride style resort lodge nestled on a hilltop site with vistas into lush woodlands'

The 2.5-story home includes a great room with vaulted wood-beamed ceilings and a stone fireplace

The three other squatters have also been hit with charges but have not yet been arrested, according to the outlet. They were identified as Ayyannaabe Cox, Cesar Tellez Zuniga and Kia Dyer.

DailyMail.com has reached out to the Baltimore Police Department and the Baltimore County Police Department for more information about the arrests.

The mansion's listing described the home as a 'Telluride style resort lodge nestled on a hilltop site with vistas into lush woodlands.'

The 2.5-story home includes a great room with vaulted wood-beamed ceilings and a stone fireplace. The home's kitchen includes a deluxe butler's pantry and an indoor pizza oven. The home also includes a wrap-around porch and a 'magical treehouse' as well as a guest suite and living space above 3.5 car garage.

The Baltimore Sun acquired a series of lawsuits filed between Modiri and the homeowner detailing the saga, as well as the charging documents for the squatters.

Modiri, 36, calls herself a 'noncitizen national' and court records list an address for her that's shared with Renu Medspa - the website of which describes her as a dentist, the outlet reported.

In June, Modiri filed a complaint against the homeowner claiming she hired a third-party real estate agency to short sell the property below market value, which is legal in Maryland though the homeowner denies the allegations.

Modiri claims the home is hers because it was 'clearly abandoned' and alleges she entered it through a broken back door.

Maryland law lets trespassers legally own a property by occupying it for 20 years, the Baltimore Sun reported.

Cops said one of the squatters allegedly posed as a buyer's agent to hire a home inspector and hired a contractor to install new security cameras.

The home also includes a wrap-around porch and a 'magical treehouse' as well as a guest suite and living space above 3.5 car garage

The home's kitchen includes a deluxe butler's pantry and an indoor pizza oven

The homeowner, who has asked not been named out of fears for her safety, had listed the property and moved out

The 2.5-story home includes a great room with vaulted wood-beamed ceilings and a stone fireplace

The squatters put up a chain across her driveway and signs warning trespassers to keep off the property while parking a Mercedes-Benz in the garage

Cops were finally granted a warrant when they identified one of the squatters, Warren, as a convicted felon during a traffic stop on June 23 when he left the property.

Warren was previously convicted for a number of sex crimes and for impersonating a lawyer, the Baltimore Sun reported.

He was arrested when cops searched the home and found a loaded handgun and ammunition in a safe. He has been hit with burglary and weapons charges and is being held without bail in the Baltimore County Detention Center.

Court records show Modiri has also filed a lawsuit trying to claim ownership of a foreclosed commercial property in Harford County.

Cops said one of the squatters allegedly posed as a buyer's agent to hire a home inspector and hired a contractor to install new security cameras

The squatters refused to come outside when cops went to the home and demanded they leave the mansion

Cops were finally granted a warrant when they identified one of the squatters, Warren, as a convicted felon
Q&A host Virginia Trioli cut off Labor frontbencher Bill Shorten after he suggested there was a 'cloud' over the AstraZeneca vaccine.

The former Opposition Leader was trying to explain a government advisory group's changing positions on the jab during a segment about how best to advertise the benefits of coronavirus vaccines.

'There's the cloud over the AZ, so that's been a problem and it has undermined confidence,' he said.

Trioli abruptly cut him off and said, 'There's not a cloud over AZ.'

Scroll down for video

Q&A host Virginia Trioli cut off Labor frontbencher Bill Shorten after he suggested there was a 'cloud' over the AstraZeneca vaccine. The former Opposition Leader was trying to explain a government advisory group's changing positions on the jab

Mr Shorten, who was visibly annoyed with his arms crossed, abruptly replied: 'Hang on, let me finish.'

Trioli suggested she didn't want anything said on the ABC show that would further jeopardise Australia's slow vaccine rollout as the more contagious Delta strain of Covid keeps 14million in lockdown in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide.

'I don't want to put anything out there that's incorrect or might stir up vaccine hesitancy,' she said.

Mr Shorten then had to defend himself by pointing out the Australian Technical Advisory Group's changing positions on AstraZeneca.

'No, I wasn't doing that,' he said.

'But what I was saying was the government changed the instructions, ATAGI changed instructions.

'They said you have to get AZ if you're 50 plus, then they changed it to 60 plus.

'That confused people.'

Bill Shorten, who was visibly annoyed with his arms crossed, abruptly replied: 'Hang on, let me finish'

In June, ATAGI recommended Pfizer over AstraZeneca for those under 60.

In April, it had recommended Pfizer instead of AstraZeneca for those under 50 after a 48-year-old NSW Central Coast woman died.

Now the Therapeutic Goods Administration has linked six deaths to AstraZeneca as a result of incredibly rare complications from thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS).

The risk of death from an AstraZeneca vaccine is rated as one in 2.5million while the probability of a blood clot is three in 100,000, based on ATAGI advice.

While Australia has plentiful supplies of AstraZeneca, just 15 per cent of Australians over 16 were fully vaccinated against Covid, as of July 21, despite the Indian Delta strain being more contagious, Department of Health data showed.

Mr Shorten then had to defend himself by pointing out the Australian Technical Advisory Group's changing positions on AstraZeneca (pictured is nurse Annabel Thomas receiving a Pfizer vaccine)

That is well below the herd immunity level of more than 80 per cent needed or the 70 per cent figure Prime Minister Scott Morrison is advocating to avoid more lockdowns.

Little more than a third or 36.6 per cent of people had received one dose.

Mr Morrison has expressed his frustration at ATAGI's changing advice and on June 28 announced doctors would be legally indemnified if they administered AstraZeneca.

Australian adults can receive AstraZeneca if they consult their GP.

NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant pleaded with people to get an AstraZeneca jab, adding she, her husband and her mother-in-law had received the vaccine.

'The Chief Health Officer would not recommend it to someone they care about if they had concerns,' she said on Friday.

'The risk of AstraZeneca were infinitesimally small compared with the benefits.

NSW Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant (left with Premier Gladys Berejiklian) pleaded with people to get an AstraZeneca jab, adding she, her husband and her mother-in-law had received the vaccine

'We need to correct the mythology about AstraZeneca. In the context of the Delta threat, I don't understand why people would not go out to get AstraZeneca in droves.'

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said she and her parents had also been vaccinated with AstraZeneca, with sufficient Pfizer doses unlikely to arrive until at least September and October.

NSW had 136 new Covid cases overnight with 53 infectious in the community.

Parts of western Sydney, in the Cumberland and Blacktown council areas, will now be put under heavier restrictions banning residents from leaving home for work unless they are employed in health or emergency services.

Residents of Fairfield, Liverpool and Canterbury-Bankstown local government areas in Sydney's south-west are already under tighter lockdown rules.

NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard expressed his frustration at the vaccine hesitancy as daily case numbers kept increasing.

'There is oceans of AstraZeneca in New South Wales,' he said.
one in 10 people aged 16 to 49 currently fully vaccinated across NSW

Gladys Berejiklian has pleaded with people under 40 to get the AstraZeneca vaccine as Sydney's lockdown shows no signs of ending.

The NSW Premier also wants to change the national vaccine rollout strategy to give more young people one dose of a jab as Sydney recorded 136 new cases of Covid-19 on Friday.

Ms Berejiklian said the city was suffering a 'national emergency' and ordered more residents in western Sydney to not leave their areas for work.

She said she wanted more vaccines going into arms in south-west and western Sydney, where the bulk of the cases are being recorded.

'We will be taking to National Cabinet, through the advise of the Chief Medical Officer, our strong recommendation that consideration be given to at least having more people having at least one dose of the vaccine which reduces transmission,' the NSW premier said.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian (pictured) has urged under 40s in her state to consider getting the AstraZeneca vaccine

Anyone aged over 40 can receive the AstraZeneca vaccine (pictured) from a NSW Health vaccination hub or approved pharmacist

The development follows NSW recording 124 locally acquired cases on Thursday.

The number of infectious cases in the community sat at 48  a figure health authorities insist must be closer to zero before restrictions are finally lifted.

The concerning rise in case numbers prompted Ms Berejiklian to warn the transmissibility of the virus is 'unlike anything seen before', with more than half of people who have contracted the Delta strain under the age of 55.

Ms Berejiklian said people should seek advice from their doctor if they are under 40 and are considering the AstraZeneca jab.

'If you're under 40 and want AstraZeneca, please, please check with your GP. If your GP gives you the green light, please get the vaccine. Please, please, come forward and get vaccinated,' she said.

Ms Berejiklian also stressed it was 'critical for us to have as much of our population vaccinated' quickly.

'We know the vaccine prevents serious illness. There is currently nobody in intensive care who has had both doses of vaccine at any age,' she said.

Currently, only 11 per cent of the total population in NSW are fully vaccinated.

Anyone aged over 40 can receive the AstraZeneca vaccine from a NSW Health vaccination hub or approved pharmacist.

NSW Health Minister Mr Hazzard urged eligible people to book appointments as soon as possible and to also consider all vaccination options, not just Pfizer.

'Right now we are in the middle of a very serious outbreak in NSW,' he said.

'We can't afford the luxury of sitting back and saying, 'I don't want to have a vaccine that has been taken by almost every country in the world and kept others safe'.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, only 58 per cent of people in NSW aged over 50 have had a single dose of a vaccine and about 75 per cent of the population above 70.

Approximately one in 10 people aged between 16 to 49 have been fully vaccinated in the state.

Vaccination experts fear the reputation of the AstraZeneca vaccine (pictured) could have been tarnished beyond repair in Australia due to misinformation from many

The Japara Corymbia aged care facility in Belrose on Sydney's northern beaches (pictured) had two confirmed positive Covid cases from staff on Thursday

Recent case numbers have spilled over from the Fairfield local government area in Sydney's southwest into neighbouring Canterbury-Bankstown and Cumberland local government areas.

Workplaces and households remain the primary locations of transmission.

The virus has also spread to staff at aged care facilities, including The Palms at Kirrawee in Sydney's south, as well as an aged care facility in Belrose, on Sydney's northern beaches.

Another five people from the Unisson Disability Parklea group home in northwest Sydney have also tested positive for Covid.

On Thursday night, more venues across Sydney were added to NSW Health's growing exposure site list, notably Woolworths in Belrose's Glenrose Village, Chemist Warehouse in Parramatta and Big W in Bonnyrigg.
The business of a Victorian woman who received more than $61,000 from generous Australians after a video of her lockdown plight went viral had been broke before Covid-19 even hit.

Carly Soderstrom's cry for help last week garnered national attention and saw a GoFundMe page erected by a kindly Victorian quickly earn her $61,119 before it was abruptly stopped.

The 35-year old's video had tugged at the heart strings of generous Australians, who put their hands in their pockets for the sole trader.

Carly Soderstrom's cry for help last week garnered national attention and saw a GoFundMe page quickly earn $61,119

Carly Soderstrom's business went broke before Covid-19 even hit Australia

Carly Soderstrom's business was doomed before Covid hit

Ms Soderstrom, who operated a photography business in Torquay, 60km from Melbourne, had claimed Victoria's fifth lockdown was responsible for her business failing.

Daily Mail Australia can reveal Ms Soderstrom's business had failed long before Victoria was hit with a single lockdown.

Her business, 21, 15, Nine, had been placed into external administration on January 16 last year after struggling through 2019.

As the sole director of the company, Ms Soderstrom was left with about $3000 in stock, a Jeep Wrangler and debts totalling $406,152.

Of that, $386,542 was owed to unsecured creditors, including ordinary Victorians who had provided either goods, services or cash to Ms Soderstrom.

One man was left $220,000 out of pocket by her failed business.

When liquidators came in last year, Ms Soderstrom owed the Australian Tax Office a whopping $64,603 - a little under the amount she has just received from struggling Australians.

Ms Soderstrom hung up the phone when contacted by Daily Mail Australia on Friday.

Founder of the Just Be Nice Project, Josh Reid Jones, exposed Ms Soderstrom in a video that is now going viral in its own right.

The charity leader accessed Ms Soderstrom's business records from the Australian Securities and Investments Commission upon watching the kindness of Australians directed to the struggling business owner.

Carly Soderstrom's tears saw kindly Australians rush to her aid.

A GoFundMe page set up for Carly Soderstrom by a well wisher earned her more than $61,000

Josh Reid Jones exposed Ms Soderstrom in a video that is now going viral in its own right.

Dog Act: Carly Soderstrom has come under fire for claiming Covid was behind her failed business

Mr Jones claimed as the sole director of a failed business, Ms Soderstrom ought not have been trading throughout the pandemic at all.

He further suggested her company had been guilty of the cardinal sin of failed business in trading while insolvent.

'Trading while insolvent is illegal. You're not allowed to do it, but the books and accounting don't appear to have been passed over during the process of the liquidation proceeding. So it's unclear,' he said.

However a preliminary view offered by the administrator stated: 'given the quantum of creditors' claims and there being minimal realisable assets, the company was likely trading while insolvent'.

While Mr Jones accepted legitimate companies were struggling under lockdown, Ms Soderstrom's business was already well and truly cooked before the pandemic hit, he claimed.

Josh Reid Jones exposed Ms Soderstrom in a video that is now going viral in its own right.

Carly Soderstrom's photography business was doomed before the pandemic struck Australia

'So this person that is claiming to be the representative of small business and the every man, freedom and all these sorts of things, is also the person that has wound up a company while owing $400,000 just at the beginning of 2020 as we go into one of the most challenging economic periods for a lot of families, individuals and small businesses,' he said.

'After liquidating a company that was unable to pay the people or companies that it had been purchasing things from to the tune of $400,000 and then asked for money from people who out of the goodness of their hearts have reached into their pockets and contributed,' he said.

'I just think that there are so many people, so many places that would benefit from that.'

Daily Mail Australia can reveal GoFundMe has been notified of Ms Soderstrom's situation and is investigating with a view to return all of the funds that were donated by Australians.

Mr Jones has been contacted by Daily Mail Australia.
A tree-lopper, his son and a woman who acted with 'breathtaking stupidity' have been jailed for murdering a teenager shot dead during a vengeful high-speed car chase.

Jesse Thompson's tragic death was the culmination of events that spiralled out of control, Justice Mark Ierace said when sentencing the trio in the NSW Supreme Court on Thursday.

John Paul Evans, 53, his son Keith Evans, 28, and a woman who cannot be named for legal reasons, were found guilty of murdering the 19-year-old, one of four passengers in the back seat of a Toyota Kluger being pursued by the trio in a dual-cab ute.

Victim Jessie Thompson, 19, (pictured) was shot to death after a high-speed car chase on Sydney's Central Coast

The son first pointed the shotgun at the other driver, before aiming it at those in the back seat.

He discharged the weapon killing Mr Thompson in July 2017 during the chase through the streets of Wyong on the NSW Central Coast.

Keith Evans also was found guilty of wounding Jayke Rodgers with intent to cause grievous bodily harm days before the shooting, an event which led to the murder.

For the two offences, Justice Ierrace jailed him for 32 years with a non-parole period of 22 years and four months.

Mr Thompson was one of four passengers in the back seat of a Toyota Kluger (pictured) when he was shot dead

He jailed his father for 31 years with a non-parole period of 22 years and six months, while the woman was jailed for 17 years with a non-parole period of 10 years and six months.

One witness said Keith Evans 'was smiling as he pulled the trigger' while the woman held out her arm and shook her fist, a move the judge described as a 'gesture of defiance or victory'.

The judge said the events began when Keith Evans discovered his long-term girlfriend, Christine, had had a covert sexual relationship with Mr Rodgers.

He lured him to their address by sending texts, pretending they were from Christine, and inflicted four wounds on his head, leading to Mr Rodgers' hospitalisation.

Mr Thompson's partner told the court the love of her life was 'hunted down and left to die like he was some kind of animal'

On his discharge, he sent texts saying Evans was 'a dead man walking' and Mr Rodgers' friends became involved.

Some of the group smashed the door of John Evans' house causing great distress to the woman, before the 'out-of-control' situation escalated to the car chase.

The judge found the trio acted with 'immaturity and breathtaking stupidity'.

He found Keith Evans discharged the gun with the intent that one or more of the passengers in the back seat would be killed.

The two co-offenders were party to a joint criminal enterprise to kill one or more of the occupants of the Kluger.

Referring to the father's actions, the judge said 'it was an appalling failure of him as a parent'.

While father and son did not have good prospects of rehabilitation, he found the woman's prospects were 'very good'.

In his victim impact statement, Jesse Thompson's future father-in-law Chris Anderson said he stopped shaving when the teenager was shot dead.

Convicted murderer Keith Evans, 28, (pictured) was found to have discharged the gun with the intent that one or more of the passengers pursued would be killed

'The length of my beard represents every single day that my daughter has been without the love of her life,' he said.

Hanna Anderson said Mr Thompson had been her best friend and the 'absolute love of my life'.

For the first 20 years of her life, she was able to feel safe and never in a million years would she have believed that one day her own family would fall victim to such horrific gun violence in Australia.

When she saw CCTV in court of some of the chase, she was in disbelief at realising the fear and pain Mr Thompson experienced in his last moments of life.

'His life was treated like some sort of game,' she said.

'He was hunted down and left to die like he was some kind of animal.'
The U.S. Capitol Police has a new chief, filling a vacancy created when his predecessor resigned over the January 6 storming of the Capitol.

J. Thomas Manger, a former police chief in Maryland and Virginia, will take up the mantel immediately, congressional officials announced Thursday.

Manger will replace Acting Chief Yogananda Pittman, who has been running the department since the riots in January.

Steven Sund, the previous chief, stepped down after being urged to do so by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi over the breakdown in security and the department's total failure to protect Congress - their sole role.

Hundreds of supporters of former President Donald Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol to block the certification of President Joe Biden's electoral victory, following a fiery speech by Trump.

Pittman was not expected to be hired permanently after steep criticism from her own officers, who said she showed little to no leadership on the day of the riot. The union voted overwhelmingly to show no confidence in her shortly afterward.

J. Thomas Manger, a former police chief in Maryland and Virginia, is the new chief of the U.S. Capitol Police, congressional officials announced Thursday

Manger will replace acting chief Yogananda Pittman (left), who was acting chief after former chief after Steven Sund (right) resigned in the wake of the riots

The U.S. Capitol Police Board, which includes the House and Senate sergeant-at-arms and the Architect of the Capitol, oversees the force and led the months-long search that brought them to Manger.

In a statement about his hiring, the board said that they are confident in his 'experience and approach in protecting the Congress - its Members, employees, visitors and facilities.'

Manger said in a statement to the Associated Press, 'I am humbled and honored to join the men and women of the US Capitol Police Department in their mission to protect the Congress, the Capitol and the federal legislative process. The challenges in protecting the Capitol campus, and everyone who works or visits there, have never been more complex.

He added, 'The courage and dedication of the men and women of this agency were on great display on Jan. 6th. It is now my job to ensure that they have the resources and support to continue to fulfill their mission in an ever increasingly difficult job.'

Manger begins his job as morale is at an all time low. At least 70 officers have resigned since the riots and others are working long overtime hours to make up for the shortage in staff.

Nearly 140 police officers were injured when the violent pro-Trump mob stormed the US Capitol on January 6

Supporters of then-President Donald Trump try to break through a police barrier at the Capitol in Washington

Pro-Trump protesters clash with D.C. police officer Michael Fanone during the riot at the Capitol

The US Department of Justice said that 81 officers from the Capitol Police and 58 members of the Washington Metropolitan Police Department were assaulted during the riots.

One of the officers, Brian Sicknick, died in the wake of the riots after suffering two strokes. Investigators had initially believed he had been struck by a fire extinguisher but that was later disproven. The District of Columbia's chief medical examiner ruled in April that he died of natural causes.

Another officer, Howard Liebengood, died by suicide in the days after the riot.

Then on April 2, a suicidal, knife wielding attacker named Noah Green mowed down two Capitol cops, killing Capitol cop Bill Evans and leaving another critically injured.

Police leaders and the lawmakers that oversee them are striving to determine the best way to secure the Capitol and what direction to take the 2,300-person force that guards the building and the lawmakers inside it.

The department has asked for more funding for more officers and better riot gear, but legislation to provide money for the force has been held up amid partisan disagreements. On July 11, fencing surrounding the perimeter of the building was finally removed.

Capitol Police officer Brian Sicknick (left) died after suffering two strokes in the wake of the riots. Investigators had initially believed he had been struck by a fire extinguisher but that was later disproven. His colleague Howard Liebengood (right) died by suicide less than a week after the insurrection

An officer in the above image was seen being dragged down steps outside the Capitol before being beaten by a mob of Trump supporters

Manger served as chief in Montgomery County, Maryland, just outside Washington, for 15 years, leaving in 2019.

Before that, he led the Fairfax County, Virginia, police department, where he had begun his career as a police officer in 1977.

Heading the two Washington-area departments, along with his leadership position in the Major Cities Chiefs Association, have made him a familiar face in law enforcement circles and on Capitol Hill.

The Capitol Police Board said Manger is 'a seasoned decision-maker who will lead with integrity' and that his 'commitment to listening, fairness and transparency will be key in rebuilding trust amongst USCP sworn officers and civilian employees.'

Senate Rules Committee Chairwoman Amy Klobuchar, a Democrat from Minnesota, said in a statement that Manger's appointment is 'an important step forward as the Capitol Police continues to make the major reforms needed to protect the Capitol Complex and support its officers.'

The Rules panel oversees the police and had recommended the appointment of a permanent chief in a report that examined the security failures on Jan. 6.

Manger's immediate predecessor, Yogananda Pittman had been in charge of intelligence leading up to the riot, which caught law enforcement badly off guard.

She conceded to Congress that multiple levels of failures allowed pro-Trump rioters to storm the building, but denied that law enforcement had failed to take the threat seriously. She noted that several days before the riot, Capitol Police had distributed an internal document warning that extremists were poised for violence.

On July 11, Fencing surrounding the perimeter of the building was finally removed

When Sund stepped down, Pittman became the first black and female police chief in the departments nearly 200-year history after becoming one of the first two black women promoted to captain.

The department has long faced allegations of racism, notably in a 2001 class-action lawsuit brought on behalf of more than 300 current and former officers who alleged they lost out on promotions and assignments to less-qualified officers and were harassed with racial epithets.

The Capitol Police board thanked Pittman 'for her dedication and focused effort over the last six months to enhance security around the Capitol Complex and begin the hard work of implementing lessons learned from January 6.'
It's been dividing opinion ever since it was first exhibited in 1825.

The poet William Wordsworth described The Red Boy as 'a wretched histrionic thing'  and there have been plenty more who have deplored what they saw as the painting's sentimentality.

But to others Sir Thomas Lawrence's portrait is a masterpiece of technique, praised by one 19th century critic as showing 'the sparkling intelligence of youth'.

Soon visitors to the National Gallery will be able to make their own minds up about a work that been featured on countless boxes of shortbread and toffee.

The poet William Wordsworth described The Red Boy as 'a wretched histrionic thing'  and there have been plenty more who have deplored what they saw as the painting's sentimentality

It has been acquired by the gallery for close to 10million. Officially titled Portrait of Charles William Lambton, it features a boy, aged six or seven, dressed in a red velvet suit and seated on a rocky promontory overlooking the sea at night.

The painting  which in 1967 became the first to be included on a British postage stamp  will go on display early next year.

It was offered from a private collection via Christie's, at a 'special price' of 9.3million. Art Fund, a charity which raises funds to help buy works for the nation, supported the acquisition with a grant of 300,000.

Soon visitors to the National Gallery (above) will be able to make their own minds up about a work that been featured on countless boxes of shortbread and toffee

Funding also came from the American Friends of the National Gallery, from individuals and charitable trusts, grants, and legacies.

Jenny Waldman, director of Art Fund, said the work is 'an outstanding and tender portrait by one of Britain's most distinguished painters at the height of his powers' while Christine Riding, who is Jacob Rothschild head of the curatorial department at the National Gallery, said the acquisition was a 'dream come true for everyone who loves British art'.

Gallery director Dr Gabriele Finaldi said the painting was 'a tour de force of technical brilliance and a moving representation of a young boy becoming self-aware'.
The notorious 'collarbomber' who broke into the home of a Sydney businessman and strapped an explosive to a schoolgirl's neck has publicly apologised to his victim a decade on.

Almost exactly 10 years ago Paul Douglas Peters, 60, broke into a Mosman home and strapped a purported collar bomb around the neck of Year 12 student Madeleine Pulver.

The city was gripped with horror for 10 hours before it was determined to be a hoax. Peters was later jailed, however his sentence is due to expire on August 14, and the State Parole Authority has indicated it has accepted expert advice recommending he be released on parole.

At the end of a brief hearing on Friday morning, Peters made a surprise bid to say sorry to his victim.

Madeleine Pulver was the victim of a terrifying 10 hour hoax bomb threat, when Paul Douglas Peters broke into her home and strapped a fake 'collarbomb' around her neck in August 2011

Paul Douglas Peters (left) has been jailed for almost a decade after he strapped a fake collarbomb around the neck of Sydney schoolgirl Madeleine Pulver

Peters began: 'If there's one thing I may say, if you don't mind. I've never had an opportunity to say in public that -'

The fake collarbomber was cut off by Judge Mark Marien, who said his lawyer had likely told the court everything that can be said on his behalf.

Peters continued: '... A deep founded apology to Madeleine Pulver, that's all'.

Ms Pulver was an 18-year-old HSC student when Peters broke into her home wearing a balaclava.

The fake bomb was attached to her, along with a note demanding money and suggesting that tampering with it would make it explode.

A file photo of the hoax 'collar bomb' made by Paul Douglas Peters, which was made up of a bicycle lock and a black metal box filled with items. A note was attached warning it contained explosives

Above is the Mosman home that became the scene of one of Sydney's most famous crimes in 2011

The State Parole Authority, the independent body which will decide Peters' fate, has received submissions from authorities, Peter's lawyer and the Community Corrections Office.

It has already received advice from the Serious Offenders Review Council which found Peters is unlikely to reoffend.

Peters claimed in his sentencing hearing that he had no memory of attaching the device to Ms Pulver's neck.

Ms Pulver and a team of police who helped her through the ordeal received bravery awards in 2017.

Judge Marien told Peters on Friday that he will be informed about what happens next prior to his parole date.
The family of missing Sarm Heslop have pleaded with her boyfriend to come forward and give them answers after she disappeared from his boat in the Caribbean.

Ryan Bane, 44, is the only person of interest in the case but has not surfaced since detectives admitted losing track of him in early July.

Heslop, 41, vanished on March 8 from Bane's boat, which was moored off the US Virgin Islands.

Her parents are appealing for Bane to come forward and answer questions about her sudden disappearance.

'They say time heals  but not when your daughter is missing. How can you move on when you have no answers?', her father Peter Heslop said.

'We want, need and deserve answers as to what happened to our daughter, sister and friend. We ask Bane to come forward to help us find those answers'.

The family of missing Sarm Heslop (pictured) have pleaded with her boyfriend to come forward and give them answers after she disappeared from his boat in the Caribbean

Heslop (left), 41, vanished on March 8 from Bane's boat, which was moored off the US Virgin Islands. The 44-year-old Bane (right) said he had last seen Heslop onboard but would not allow police to search the vessel

Heslop's mother Brenda Street said the mystery surrounding her daughters sudden disappearance was 'traumatising, confusing and upsetting'.

She called on Bane to answer for discrepancies in the case, such as the time he took to contact the coast guard and his failure to raise the alarm as soon as he realised his girlfriend was missing.

According to Bane, the couple had dinner together on March 7 at around 10pm before returning to the catamaran where they watched a movie.

He claims he woke up at around 2am by the boat's anchor alarm and found his girlfriend missing.

The US Coast Guard was alerted to Heslop's disappearance at 11.46am, when Bane phoned the station reporting that 'his girlfriend may have fallen' from the yacht.

Bane said he had last seen Heslop onboard but has never allowed police to search the vessel.

Heslop's mother Brenda Street said the mystery surrounding her daughters sudden disappearance was 'traumatising, confusing and upsetting'

Heslop, 41, vanished on March 8 from Bane's boat (pictured), which was moored off the US Virgin Islands

Pictured: A map showing where the Siren Song was moored in the US Virgin islands when Sarm Heslop, 41, was reported missing on March 8, with American Ryan Bane, 44, telling officers that she may have fallen from the couple's catamaran

But coast guard case logs and incident reports seen by The Times paint a different picture.

The documents state Bane was 'heavily intoxicated' when officers arrived on board on March 8, that he refused to provide paperwork, handed over expired credentials, blocked a doorway to prevent a search, and cited his right to remain silent.

Bane went between all the boats near his Leopard 4700 luxury catamaran off the coast of St John, asking for witnesses, but nobody was able to help, according to the logs.

However, many skippers told The Times they did not know Heslop was missing until the following day.

Police issued a fresh appeal for Bane earlier this month, asking him to explain what happened on the night Sarm Heslop disappeared.

Bane (pictured) told investigators they had returned to his catamaran that night and he awoke in the early hours to find his girlfriend gone

Ryan Bane and an unknown woman post for a photo on a dinghy

However, Bane has not surfaced since detectives admitted losing track of him in early July.

'We have been keeping track of Ryan Bane but right now we don't know where he is,' USVI police department spokesman Toby Derima said.

'I appeal to him now to contact us. I want to appeal to his conscience, to let us know what happened the night Sarm disappeared.'

Derima added that police believed Bane could be on another Caribbean island.

'He is a person of interest to us and he is the only person of interest. We are not looking for anyone else.'

His lawyer David Cattie has pushed back on claims Bane has gone 'missing', telliong Fox News he 'personally advised law enforcement of Mr. Bane's movements while in the Territory and about his departure from the U.S. Virgin Islands'.

'I further advised law enforcement that if Mr. Bane's presence is legally required in the Territory, he will return upon such a demand', he added.

In March, lawyers representing Ryan Bane said that he is 'devastated' that his girlfriend Sarm Helsop was missing, but said he would not be speaking to the media

Heslop was last seen with Bane leaving dinner at the 420 to Center bar and restaurant (pictured) on the island of St John at about 10pm on March 7

In March, lawyers representing Bane said that he is 'devastated' that his girlfriend is missing, but said he would not be speaking to the media.

A friend of Heslop's said the former flight attendant met her boyfriend 'at some point last year' while she was in quarantine having sailed to the Caribbean with two friends in 2019.

The couple then locked-down together during the coronavirus pandemic.

Police have been unable to find any evidence that Heslop, from Southampton, returned to the boat after the couple were seen leaving dinner at the 420 to Center bar and restaurant on the island of St John at about 10pm on March 7.

Nor did they find any evidence that she had gone into the water. Her phone, passport and other belongings had reportedly been found on the catamaran.

Bane, who has a conviction for assaulting his ex-wife, was charged with obstructing law agents by refusing to let US Coast Guard officials search his boat.

Ryan Bane has a conviction for assaulting his ex-wife

When the officials boarded, Bane is reported to have stood in a doorway and told them they could not enter. He was handed a citation, which does not result in a criminal record.

The investigation has been further complicated by a power outage knocking out CCTV in the bar where the couple was last seen.

Divers from various law enforcement agencies have searched hundreds of square feet of water for Heslop.

Volunteers from the Virgin Islands have also scoured the area around Cruz Bay during daylight hours, police said.

'We want more than anything to find out what happened to Sarm and to help her family,' Derima said.

Friends and family have said Heslop would not have abandoned her life freely or without contacting any of her loved ones. Some have expressed disbelief that she might have fallen overboard.

Her parents said in March that they would 'never give up' looking for her and still hoped to find her alive.

Kate Owen, a friend of the couple who moved with Heslop to the Caribbean 15 months ago, reportedly said Bane has stopped contacting her.

In May, Heslop's friends set up a GoFundMe page to provide a reward for information and to cover her parent's travel costs to reach the islands.

As of the morning of July 23, it had reached 8,691 of its 10,000 goal.
The New South Wales Covid-19 outbreak is now considered to be a 'national emergency' after the state recorded its highest daily spike with 136 new cases.

The figure prompted Gladys Berejiklian to not only announce an extension of work travel restrictions to parts of Sydney but admit that lockdown would likely not end on July 30.

Instead, Sydneysiders could be forced to live with restrictions for as long as October.

'There is no doubt that the numbers are not going in the direction we were hoping they would at this stage,' she said.

'It is fairly apparent that we will not be close to [ending lockdown] next Friday.'

The NSW Government held a crisis cabinet meeting on Friday morning where it was declared the current outbreak in south-west and western Sydney was a 'national emergency.'

Of the new cases reported, 53 were infectious in the community. An 89-year-old man has also died from the virus overnight.

The new cases surpass the record 124 infections that were announced on Thursday.

Travel restrictions have been extended to the Cumberland and Blacktown local government areas with workers now prohibited from leaving their suburb unless their job is essential.

Suburbs impacted by the tougher restrictions include Merrylands, Greystanes and Guildford.

New South Wales has recorded 136 new Covid-19 cases with the outbreak now considered to be a 'national emergency'

Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced work travel restrictions would not only be extended to parts of western Sydney but that it was unlikely lockdown would be lifted by July 30 (pictured, Sydney resident exercises at Centennial Park as the city remains plunged in lockdown)

Discussions about how restrictions may be changed to further lock down the south-west and ease pressure on areas with few cases will begin next week

'We also have to acknowledge that we need to contain the spread of the virus, and that is critical at this time,' Ms Berejiklian said.

Chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant added: 'I have advised the government today that this is a national emergency, and requires additional measures to reduce the case number.'

'What we are seeing, is that the actions we have taken to date have averted many cases, but what we are not seeing is the turnaround that we would have liked to see at this stage.'

The staggering number of cases prompted Dr Chant to call for vaccination efforts to be ramped up across the community.

'I have requested that what we urgently focus on is redirecting all of the vaccine initiatives to south-western Sydney, and western Sydney, particularly the affected local government areas.'

How does Gladys want to change jab rollout? 1. Make under 40s eligible for Pfizer in Covid-ravaged areas of Sydney 2. Delay second doses of Pfizer to six weeks to get more first doses out 3. Recommend AstraZeneca for over 40s (currently only recommended for over 60s) 4. Take supplies from other states to prioritise NSW Advertisement

Dr Kerry Chant has led by example revealing her husband and mother-in-law have both received their AstraZeneca vaccines.

'I just want to say that the Chief Health Officer would not recommend AstraZeneca to someone that they care about if they had concerns that the risks of AstraZeneca are infinitesimally small compared to the benefits,' she said.

'So can I just be very clear that we need to correct the mythology about AstraZeneca.

'And in the context of the Delta threat, I just cannot understand why people would not be taking the opportunity to go out and get AstraZeneca in droves.'

A record 87,000 residents were tested for Covid-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm on Thursday.

Of the new cases, 77 are linked to known clusters while 59 are being investigated to determine the source of infection.

There are 137 people being treated in hospital of which 32 people are intensive care and 14 are on ventilation.

Dr Chant has recommended revising medical advice regarding the window period between both doses of the Pfizer vaccine.

The chief health officer claims it might be beneficial to get the second dose six weeks apart - instead of three - to allow more people to get vaccinated in a shorter time period.

'It may be that we have to make hard choices,' Dr Chant said.

'This is a very hard situation and we may have to make decisions to delay the Pfizer interval out to six weeks, you can have it out to six weeks, to actually bring forward doses.

Of the new cases reported, 53 were infectious in the community. An 89-year-old man has also died from the virus overnight

Dr Kerry Chant has led by example revealing her husband and mother-in-law have both received their AstraZeneca vaccines (pictured, residents at Cronulla, south of Sydney)

Work travel restrictions have been extended to Cumberland and Blacktown local government areas. The NSW Government is also reportedly in talks about tightening restrictions in Fairfield, Liverpool and Canterbury-Bankstown local government areas - where the majority of infections have been recorded

'At this point, there is an urgency to get as many jabs in arms, and I think we to work creatively and pragmatically with all the states and territories in the Commonwealth on what that looks like  jabs in arms.'

Ms Berejiklian said Sydney residents had a 'national obligation' to stop the spread of the virus and that they should get vaccinated as soon as possible.

'We need to get at least the first jab for as many people as we can in those affected communities as possible, and that's why we are asking for a refocus of the national vaccination strategy,' she said.

'We've already put some request in which we understand are being considered, but we need to refocus, which means using all vaccines available, including AstraZeneca.

'I have had the AstraZeneca judge, Dr Chant has, Minister [Brad] Hazzard has and my parents have had the jab. It's a very effective vaccine.'

Ms Berejiklian warned that restrictions were likely to remain in place until most of the population was vaccinated - with a warning it could be as long as October.

Dr Chant has recommended revising medical advice and delaying the second dose of Pfizer to six weeks instead of three - this will allow more residents to get vaccinated in a shorter period of time

Sydney residents exercise at Centennial Park amid grave warnings that lockdown will be extended beyond July 30

'Our challenge is, as I said yesterday, to live as freely and as safely as possible until we get enough vaccines in arms,' she said.

'That means that we need to live as freely and as safely as possible during August, September, and October, according to the federal [government's] vaccination rollout.'

The NSW Government is reportedly in talks about tightening further restrictions in Fairfield, Liverpool and Canterbury-Bankstown local government areas - where the majority of infections have been recorded.

'We need people in south-west Sydney to stop moving around,' NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard said on The Kyle and Jackie O Show.

'We need people to understand it's a dangerous virus.'

Sources say more police patrols or the further tightening of travel rules could be on the table.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian said on Thursday that the number of new infections over the weekend will determine how restrictions in the city and surrounding regions will change after July 30, when they're currently set to end.

The staggering number of cases prompted Dr Chant to call for vaccination efforts to be ramped up across the community

A disheartened Gladys Berejiklian announced lockdown would likely not end on July 30 given the number of cases recorded in the community

Sydneysiders have been warned restrictions could remain in place until most of the population is vaccinated - which might not be until October

Work travel restrictions extended NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian announced travel restrictions would be extended to workers living in the Cumberland and Blacktown local government areas. Workers will not be able to leave their area unless their job is considered essential. Below is a list of suburbs that have been impacted by the tough, new restrictions. Cumberland (LGA): Auburn, Berala, Chester Hill, Fairfield, Girraween, Granville, Greystanes, Guildford, Guildford West, Holroyd, Homebush West, Lidcombe, Mays Hill, Merrylands, Merrylands West, Pemulwuy, Pendle Hill, Prospect, Regents Park, Rookwood, Smithfield, South Granville, South Wentworthville, Toongabbie, Wentworthville, Westmead, Woodpark and Yennora. Blacktown (LGA): Acacia Gardens, Arndell Park, Bidwill, Blackett, Blacktown, Bungarribee, Colebee, Dean Park, Dharruk, Doonside, Eastern Creek, Emerton, Glendenning, Glenwood, Hassall Grove, Hebersham, Huntingwood, Kellyville Ridge, Kings Langley, Kings Park, Lalor Park, Lethbridge Park, Marayong, Marsden Park, Minchinbury, Mount Druitt, Oakhurst, Parklea, Plumpton, Prospect, Quakers Hill, Riverstone, Rooty Hill, Ropes Crossing, Rouse Hill, Schofields, Seven Hills, Shalvey, Shanes Park, St Marys, Stanhope Gardens, The Ponds, Toongabbie, Tregear, Vineyard, Whalan, Willmot and Woodcroft. Advertisement

Discussions about how restrictions may be changed to further lock down the south-west and ease pressure on areas with few cases will begin next week, The Australian reported.

Areas flagged for eased restrictions in the overhaul include the Northern Beaches, Shellharbour and the Central Coast, which have both seen too few case numbers to warrant stay-home orders.

Shellharbour especially has not had a single case since June, but residents still face the same stay-home orders as those living in the heart of Sydney.

Kiama MP Gareth Ward urged Mr Hazzard on Thursday to rethink restrictions for the south coast.

'It is totally unreasonable to keep the people of the Shellharbour LGA in lockdown. If circumstances change, restrictions could be reconsidered,' Mr Ward wrote.

Parts of Sydney could be lifted out of lockdown sooner as the majority of cases are recorded in the south-west suburbs (pictured, swimmer at Bondi)

Restrictions are likely to be eased in areas less impacted by the current Covid-19 outbreak in New South Wales

Sources say more police patrols or the further tightening of travel rules could be on the table (pictured, two women walking down Haldon Street in Lakemba, in Sydney's south-west)

But health officials are said to be deeply concerned that the daily infection rates aren't going down in the south-west of the city, and that the number of infected people out in the community is steadily on the rise.

As it stands, five million residents of Greater Sydney are not allowed to leave their homes except to shop for groceries, go to work, meet up with one other person outside, see the GP or care for someone.

Residents have already endured almost four weeks of what was supposed to be a one week lockdown, but the city has continued to record high case numbers every day.

Despite rules dictating outdoor exercise can be done with one other person, far larger crowds have been seen hanging out in Sydney's east - where the outbreak first began on June 16 with an infected airport driver from Bondi.

While those in the city's eastern suburbs were seen out enjoying the beach on a sun-drenched Thursday, the situation in the south-west is dire.

Residents of Fairfield, Canterbury-Bankstown and Liverpool are already banned from leaving their LGAs entirely unless they are authorised workers.

Areas pegged for eased restrictions in the overhaul include the Northern Beaches, Shellharbour and the Central Coast, which have both seen too few case numbers to warrant stay-home orders (pictured, women in Bondi on the Eastern Beaches enjoy a sunny Thursday walk)

Eastern suburbs locals walking with coffees and chatting with friends (pictured on Thursday), while the city's south-western suburbs face harsher restrictions

FIND THE LATEST EXPOSURE SITES NEAR YOU

Even then, they have to present a negative Covid test every three days, which has seen hour-long queues at testing centres.

The south-west has already been subject to tougher restrictions than the rest of the city due to a disproportionate number of cases recorded in those areas.

But it could face an even tighter lockdown after this weekend with allegations some people have been untruthful about their movements when speaking with contact tracers - stymieing the effort to release accurate exposure sites, resulting in high case numbers.

Others have allegedly been working for cash or hiding information from authorities, sources claimed.

At a press conference on Thursday, NSW Executive Director Health Protection Dr Jeremy McAnulty called for higher levels of testing in south-west and western Sydney.

People flocking to Bronte Beach on Thursday morning to soak up the sun for their daily exercise (pictured)

Three women wearing face masks stop in the street in Lakemba on Thursday (pictured) with the south-western regions suffering a spike in cases

CASE NUMBERS IN THE SOUTH-WEST: Almost half the new figures from Thursday were recorded in south-west Sydney, specifically: Cumberland LGA: 23 cases Canterbury-Bankstown: 21 Blacktown: 12 Liverpool: 11 Advertisement

Areas singled out for a testing drive were Toongabbie, Mount Druitt, Rooty Hill, Fairfield, Liverpool and Bankstown as well as in high-risk areas across the city's south, including Narwee and the Georges River and Bayside LGAs.

Fairfield continues to record the highest number of cases of any local government area - with health officials finding 30 Covid-19 infections in the region in the last day alone.

Dr McAnulty said of the new cases, 23 were found in the Cumberland LGA, 21 in Canterbury-Bankstown, 12 in Blacktown and 11 in Liverpool.

Meanwhile, people at Bronte Beach in the city's east swarmed to the beach to soak up the sun, in stark contrast to the sparse and masked-up shoppers in the south-west epicentre.

Rugged up in coats and hoodies, beach dwellers could be seen standing together and chatting while holding takeaway coffees.

In her daily press conference, Ms Berejiklian warned residents to 'assume anybody you're in contact with has the virus'.

She said many Covid-positive Sydneysiders were visiting chemists, buying groceries and performing essential work.

Meanwhile, people at Bronte Beach in the city's east swarmed to the beach to soak up the sun, in stark contrast to the sparse and masked-up shoppers in the south-west epicentre (pictured, resident exercising at Bondi)

The 124 cases were detected from 85,185 tests to 8pm on Wednesday night, the most conducted in a single 24-hour period in the state during the entire pandemic.

The spike in cases is the highest during Sydney's latest outbreak; the last time there were this many infections found in NSW in one day was during the first wave in April 2020.
Australians under 40 have been taking the AstraZeneca vaccine instead of waiting for Pfizer to get protected from Covid-19 and help end lockdowns as soon as possible.

A total of 161,617 under 40s have had their first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine since March 6, according to government data seen by Daily Mail Australia.

Only two of them have suffered a rare blood clotting syndrome linked to the jab and neither have died.

Victoria is in lockdown until Wednesday. Pictured: Melbourne residents exercise with masks

Some 49,146 took the jab in New South Wales, 49,279 in Victoria and 36,170 in Queensland.

Australians under 60 are recommended the Pfizer vaccine due to a low risk of blood clots linked to AstraZeneca.

But under 40s are not yet eligible for the scarce shot, so many have been choosing AstraZeneca which is available for all over 18s.

How many under 40s have taken the AstraZeneca vaccine? ACT: 5,028 NSW: 49,146 NT: 1,460 QLD: 36,170 SA: 5,293 TAS: 1,446 VIC: 49,279 WA: 13,795 Total: 161,617 Advertisement

About 44,000 under 40s have taken the jab since Prime Minister Scott Morrison advertised that they could in a press conference on June 28.

Daily Mail Australia reporter Daniel Piotrowski was among them.

'It actually felt emotionally really good to get the vaccine and feel like you're actually doing something to get Australia out of this miserable pandemic,' he said.

Currently 14 million Australians are in lockdown across three states.

Premiers are insisting that restrictions can only be relaxed once and for all when vaccination rates are high enough.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has said 80 per cent of the population or 62 per cent of adults needed to be jabbed before she can stop resorting to lockdowns in her state.

Western Australia Premier Mark McGowan has said the rate required is 'at least' 80 per cent and possibly 90 per cent.

According to government data released on June 28, about two in 100,000 people will get a blood clot from the AstraZeneca jab and only three per cent of those affected will die, a mortality rate of 0.6 in one million.

Meanwhile, the Covid-19 mortality rate in Australia is 3.9 per cent, or 39,000 in a million.

The risk of being killed in a pedestrian accident is eight in a million and the chance of dying in a car crash is 28 in a million, about 17 times higher than the risk of dying from the AstraZeneca jab.

A total of 6.1 million AstraZeneca shots have been handed out across the nation, with only 87 cases of serious clotting - known as thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS) - and six deaths.

The risks of Covid and vaccines are different for each individual, depending on personal circumstances such as age, location and job, which is why politicians and health experts are asking people to speak to their GPs about taking the vaccine.

In April the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (Atagi) said the AstraZeneca jab was only recommended for over 50s because of a low risk of blood clots in younger people.

The average Australian is far more likely to die after catching Covid-19 than from a blood clot after taking the AstraZeneca vaccine

What are the chances of getting a blood clot? Number who get blood clots after AstraZeneca per 100,000 people: 18-29 years: 1.9 30-39 years: 1.6 40-49 years: 5.0 50-59 years: 2.7 60-69 years: 1.4 70-79 years: 1.8 80+ years: 1.9 Overall: 2.3 (0.0023%) Only three per cent of people who get the clots die Source: Atagi Advertisement

In June the body increased the minimum recommend age to 60, denting confidence and delaying the jab rollout by two months as the government scrambled to get more Pfizer into the country.

On Wednesday Prime Minster Scott Morrison also revealed he is 'constantly appealing' to health experts to recommend the AstraZeneca vaccine to younger Australians.

Ms Berejiklian on Friday called for a huge shake up of the vaccine rollout to help get Sydney out of lockdown.

She wants to make under 40s eligible for Pfizer in Covid-ravaged areas; to delay second doses of Pfizer to six weeks to get more first doses out; and to have supplies for states without outbreaks re-assigned to NSW.

The premier also called on Atagi to recommend AstraZeneca for over 40s.

Vaccine rollout boss Lieutenant General John Frewen said other states would have to agree to give up their doses.

He also said Ms Berejiklian's plan to hand out more Pfizer is not a complete solution.

'Suddenly deciding to throw a particular vaccine at one geographic area does not give you an immediate solution to a problem,' he said.

The premier urged over 40s to take the AstraZeneca vaccine and revealed she wants the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation to recommend the jab for over 40s.

'There are a lot of people in New South Wales in their 40s, 50s, and in their 60s, who don't have any vaccine.

'We say to everybody, please get vaccinated, if you have any concerns go to your GPs. We have more capacity for AstraZeneca,' she said.

On July 9, Mr Morrison announced a four stage plan to get Australia back to normal, with each step to be triggered when the vaccination rate hits a certain percentage.

The vaccination percentages required are being calculated by modelling experts at The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity and will be released at the end of July.
Police have released the heartbreaking 911 call placed by the heir of a South Carolina legal dynasty after he found his wife and son shot dead in the grounds outside the familys hunting estate in Islandton, South Carolina.

Alex Murdaugh, 53, is heard sobbing and gasping in distress as he tells the dispatcher 'my wife and child have been shot badly' and repeatedly pleads with them to 'please hurry'.

He says neither his son Paul nor wife Maggie were breathing when he found them by the kennels of their estate and that he has not seen anyone else in the area or noticed anything out of place.

Paul, 22, and Maggie, 52, were found dead from multiple gunshot wounds on June 7, while Paul was awaiting trial for the 2019 boating death of a 19-year-old woman.

More than six weeks on from the slayings, the murders remain a mystery with no arrests, suspects or persons of interest named by authorities - and no one also formally ruled out of the investigation.

Scroll down for 911 audios

Buster, Margaret 'Maggie', Paul and Richard Alex 'Alec' Murdaugh (left to right). Police have released audio of the 911 call placed by Alex after he reportedly found his wife and son shot dead in the grounds outside the familys hunting estate in Islandton, South Carolina

Investigators with the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) released the 911 call and redacted call log Thursday after coming under increasing pressure to make records relating to the high-profile murders public.

Murdaugh placed the distraught 911 call at 10.07pm after he said he had returned to the home from visiting his sick father. Maggie and Paul's time of death was placed between 9pm and 9.30pm.

In the six-minutes of audio obtained by DailyMail.com Murdaugh can be heard whimpering and wailing as he calls in the gruesome discovery.

'This is Alex Murdaugh at 4147 Moselle Road,' he tells the dispatcher.

'I need the police and an ambulance immediately. My wife and child have been shot badly.'

The dispatcher confirms the address with him, with Murdaugh repeating it back and begging 'please hurry.'

The Hampton County Dispatcher connects Murdaugh with a Colleton County dispatcher, telling him to stay on the line as he is heard gasping and sobbing.

Murdaugh says 'it's bad' as dispatcher Angel Fraser asks him questions to get more information.

Are they breathing? asks Fraser.

Murdaugh replies: No ma'am.'

Are they in a vehicle, Fraser continues.

No ma'am. Theyre on the ground out at my kennels,' Murdaugh replies sobbing.

Murdaugh is asked if he has seen anyone else around in the area and if his wife and son are breathing, to which he cries 'no.'

The dispatcher continues to ask for details about the home as law enforcement head to the scene.

Investigators with the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) released the 911 call and redacted call log Thursday after coming under increasing pressure to make records relating to the high-profile murders public

Investigators also released the CAD (Computer Aided Dispatch) report of the night of the killings. It shows police impounded a 2021 Chevrolet Suburban owned by Hampton based law firm Peters, Murdaugh, Parker, Eltzroth and Detrick - where Murdaugh and his brother work

At times, Murdaugh is unintelligible, breathless, and apparently moving around the property, while the family's dogs are heard barking in the background.

'Did you hear anything or come home and find them?' asks the dispatcher.

'No ma'am, I've been gone. I just came back,' Murdaugh replies.

'Was anyone else supposed to be at your home?' the dispatcher continues.

'No ma'am,' he replies, before again pleading: Please hurry.

When asked again if his wife and son are breathing or moving at all, Murdaugh sobs: 'Nobody [is breathing] at all.

The dispatcher asks if he notices anything out of place.

'Not particularly really, no ma'am,' he replies.

At one point he states: Ive been up to it nowIts bad.

A few minutes into the call, Murdaugh says he is 'going back down there' and appears to be moving around.

When the dispatcher tells him not to touch the bodies in case they can get any evidence, Murdaugh says: 'I already touched them to see if they were breathing.'

The dispatcher asks him to turn on the lights on his car so emergency services can find the kennels.

Murdaugh then tells the operator he needs to go to 'call some of my family.'

The SLED said in a statement that it was releasing the calls 'in the interest of transparency'.

Alex Murdaugh, 53, is heard sobbing and gasping in distress as he tells the dispatcher 'my wife and child have been shot badly' and repeatedly pleads with them to 'please hurry' to the estate (pictured above)

The bodies were said to be found near a dog kennel on the family's property on June 7

Investigators also released the CAD (Computer Aided Dispatch) report of the night of the killings.

It shows that police impounded a 2021 Chevrolet Suburban owned by Hampton based law firm Peters, Murdaugh, Parker, Eltzroth and Detrick - where both Murdaugh and his brother work.

To date, police have given little away about the investigation into the murders that have rocked the small South Carolina community.

Heavily redacted police reports and the 911 call were released only after The Post and Courier newspaper sued the SLED, saying the agency was breaking the state's open records law.

Murdaugh was interviewed by officers on June 10, three days after the murders.

Sources close to him state that he has a cast iron alibi for the night of the killings and that he was merely co-operating with the investigation to clear himself.

The Murdaugh family has loomed large over the small county seat of Hampton where their legal dynasty has dominated for the better part of a century.

Three generations of the family have held the title of solicitor, with sway over the fate of criminal cases in South Carolinas 14th Judicial Circuit and the name carries a legacy of power and influence.

Paul, Margaret, Alec and Buster. In the 911 call, Alex says neither Paul nor Maggie were breathing when he found them by the kennels of their estate and that he has not seen anyone else in the area or noticed anything out of place

Paul, 22, (left) and Maggie, 52, (right) were found dead from multiple gunshot wounds on June 7

Alec and Margaret pictured together. More than six weeks on from the slayings, the murders remain a mystery with no arrests, suspects or persons of interest named by authorities

One theory that investigators are understood to have considered is that Paul was the target of the killing and his mothers presence was unfortunate happenstance.

Paul was awaiting trial for his part in a fatal 2019 boat accident that claimed the life of 19-year-old Mallory Beach.

Paul was on a $50,000 bond and facing three felony counts  two of boating under the influence and one of causing death and bodily injury.

According to legal documents seen by DailyMail.com Paul was highly intoxicated, drunk, and belligerent, on the February night two years ago when he sped his boat into a piling on Archers Creek following an evening of drinking and an oyster roast.

State wildlife officers recently released some records from their investigation into the boat crash that included statements from nurses at the hospital where Paul and others on the boat were taken.

The nurses said Alex Murdaugh and his former prosecutor father came to the emergency room and tried to talk to everyone on the boat.

Two nurses said he was looking closely at a board staff uses to track patients.

One nurse said she told Alex to stay in his son's room or leave the hospital and told a security guard to keep an eye on him.

Investigators were trying to figure out who was driving the boat. They didn't find out it was Paul until weeks later.

Last month DailyMail.com revealed that all of the survivors of that crash and members of Beachs family voluntarily provided their DNA to police investigating the double-homicide.

Paul had been awaiting trial on charges relating to the 2019 boating death of Mallory Beach (pictured), who was thrown from the boat Paul was allegedly driving while drunk when he crashed it

All of the survivors testified to Murdaugh being drunk and there being arguments over his determination to drive his boat

Other mysterious deaths in the family's past have also come to light, with police investigating the double murder announcing they had reopened their probe of a 2015 death of a gay teen.

Stephen Smith, 19, was found dead in July 2015 in the middle of Sandy Run Road around 15 miles from the Murdaugh family's hunting lodge.

DailyMail.com revealed that despite investigators on the scene being convinced of foul play and finding no evidence of any vehicle involvement the death was written off as a hit and run.

Police said he was struck by a vehicle while walking on a two-lane road after his car ran out of gas.

Stephen's mother has always believed it was a hate crime and that her son was beaten to death, rather than being struck by a vehicle, and his murder covered up.

DailyMail.com also revealed that investigators aggressively pursued tips questioning the dead boys relationship with Pauls older brother Richard Buster Murdaugh whose name came up numerous times in case-notes we obtained.

No one has ever been arrested or charged over his death but investigators at the time received anonymous tips suggesting Paul and his older brother Buster as persons of interest, according to FITSNews.

Cops investigating the double murder have also reopened the case into a 2015 hit-and-run of teen Stephen Smith (above)

In 2018, Paul's father Richard 'Alec' Murdaugh settled a wrongful death claim in the 'trip and fall' death of their 57-year-old housekeeper Gloria Satterfield (pictured)

In 2018, Alex also settled a wrongful death claim in the 'trip and fall' death of their 57-year-old housekeeper Gloria Satterfield.

The SLED Midlands division is handling the investigation into deaths of Smith and the Murdaughs.

The agency took over the investigation into the double murder after the Colleton County Sheriff's Office handed over the case due to the Murdaugh family ties to the 14th Circuit solicitor's office.

Three generations of the family - Alex's father, grandfather and great-grandfather - ran the office nearly consecutively from 1920 through 2005, while Alex still works as a part-time prosecutor in the office.

Commenting on Paul and Maggie's murders, SLED spokesman Tommy Cosby said only: We will continue to evaluate other materials in this case and will release additional information at the appropriate time.
The teenage son of a retired NYPD commander has been arrested after allegedly driving his BMW through a group of protesters in New York City leaving an 18-year-old injured.

Justin Burgos, 18, was driving his BMW in the West Village at about 10.20pm on Wednesday when the street was blocked off by a group of protesters on bicycles.

The group was protesting near the NYPD's Sixth Precinct as they called for Sgt Joseph Cuervo to be fired following allegations he assaulted a gay black man back in 2013.

Footage taken by witnesses and shared on social media allegedly shows Burgos honking his car horn as he tried to force his way through the group of protestors blocking off the street.

Justin Burgos, 18, (pictured) was behind the wheel of his BMW, when he pierced through the group of protesters on their bicycles in the West Village at about 10:20 p.m. Wednesday night

The protesters, as well as police, could be seen circling his car as he continued to honk and appeared to gradually be inching the vehicle forward.

Eventually, a bike appeared to become stuck under the car.

An officer could be seen ripping the bike away and the driver accelerated through the crowd as he drove off.

The video shows the driver clipping two protesters as he fled the area.

Police said an 18-year-old protester was hit by the BMW and was treated at the scene for injuries to his right knee.

They arrested Burgos nearby near the intersection of Grove and Bleecker streets.

He has been charged with leaving the scene of an accident, reckless endangerment, fleeing an officer in a vehicle, in addition to other charges.

Police said the teen had become frustrated when protesters started blocking the road.

According to a police source, Burgos is the son of an NYPD deputy inspector who retired from the department in 2018.

Burgos, who lives in Staten Island, was freed without bail during his arraignment in Manhattan Criminal Court on Thursday.

Someone just ran their car into #FireCuervo protesters right outside of NYPDs 6th precinct. NYPD came & ripped a protesters bike out of the cars way before the car went through & hit protesters as it sped off. Protesters ran after the car & then cops ran after them & the car. pic.twitter.com/mmvpYDt2Rq  Ash J (@AshAgony) July 22, 2021

Footage shared on social media shows the driver honking his horn as he tries to barrel through the blockade or protestors.

Police arrested Burgos (pictured) near the intersection of Grove and Bleecker streets and charged him with leaving the scene of an accident, reckless endangerment, fleeing an officer in a vehicle, in addition to other charges

Burgos, who lives in Staten Island, was freed without bail during his arraignment in Manhattan Criminal Court on Thursday (left). Burgos is the son of an NYPD deputy inspector who retired from the department in 2018

A Twitter user who posted the video wrote: 'Someone just ran their car into #FireCuervo protesters right outside of NYPD's 6th precinct.

'NYPD came & ripped a protester's bike out of the car's way before the car went through & hit protesters as it sped off. Protesters ran after the car & then cops ran after them & the car.'

The group of protesters were near the NYPD precinct to push for the firing of Sgt. Cuervo over the 2013 incident involving Michael Watson.

Watson, a gay black man, filed a lawsuit against the NYPD officer and several others in 2015.

According to the lawsuit, Cuervo and other officers had allegedly mocked him and used homophobic slurs after finding him with a sex toy.

The ordeal allegedly unfolded during a marijuana bust.

Cuervo allegedly threw Watson to the floor and punched and kicked him when he talked back to the officers, the lawsuit says.

Watson was given a $150,000 settlement from the city in 2017 regarding the lawsuit.

The protesters were demonstrating near the NYPD's near the Sixth Precinct stationhouse over alleged abuse carried out by an officer against a black man in 2013
Top doctor Kerry Chant has rubbished the 'mythology' about the AstraZeneca vaccine and issued a passionate plea to eligible Australians to get the jab.

The NSW Chief Health Officer vented her frustration over vaccine hesitancy during Friday's press conference as Sydney recorded 136 new Covid-19 cases.

Dr Chant revealed her husband and mother-in-law had both received their AstraZeneca jabs and said the risks were 'infinitesimally small' compared to the benefits.

'I just want to say that the Chief Health Officer would not recommend AstraZeneca to someone that they care about If they had concerns that the risks of AstraZeneca are infinitesimally small compared to the benefits,' she said.

Determined to debunk fear surrounding the AstraZeneca jab, Dr Chant made clear she wouldn't recommend the vaccine to her loved ones if it presented more dangerous than the threat of Delta Variant threat itself.

'We need to correct the mythology about AstraZeneca,' she said.

'And in the context of the Delta threat, I just cannot understand why people would not be taking the opportunity to go out and get AstraZeneca in droves.'

The Chief Health Officer also stressed it was critically important for young essential workers in south-west Sydney to be offered the Pfizer vaccine.

'That is why I am arguing that we need to use Pfizer for those young people to stem the transmission chain,' she explained.

'Because we know that that will provide individual benefit to them and prevent them also from spreading it on and what we are seeing is people are bringing it into their household and then effecting their older relatives.'

Dr Chant pleaded with NSW residents waiting for access to the Pfizer jab to consider taking advantage of AstraZeneca's availability and make a booking.

'I think that regardless of your age, also consider AstraZeneca and have that risk-benefit discussion and if you are in a hot spot area and are concerned that you may bring it into your home,' she said.

'I just cannot understand why people would not be taking the opportunity to go out and get AstraZeneca in droves' says NSW Chief Health Officer Dr. Kerry Chant

A record 87,000 residents were tested for Covid-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm on Thursday.

Of the new cases, 77 are linked to known clusters while 59 are being investigated to determine the source of infection.

There are 137 people being treated in hospital of which 32 people are intensive care and 14 are on ventilation.

Ms Berejiklian said Sydney residents had a 'national obligation' to stop the spread of the virus and that they should get vaccinated as soon as possible.

'We need to get at least the first jab for as many people as we can in those affected communities as possible, and that's why we are asking for a refocus of the national vaccination strategy,' she said.

'We've already put some request in which we understand are being considered, but we need to refocus, which means using all vaccines available, including AstraZeneca.
Google co-founder Larry Page has reportedly been living off the grid for more than a year, hiding out in Fiji on isolated islands away from tourists as the pandemic swept the world.

That's in stark contrast to Google's other co-founder, Sergey Brin, 47, who was spotted enjoying a lavish vacation at Lake Como in Italy with his wife and friends.

As for Page, Fijian health officials even pressured a TV network to pull a story about him donating COVID-19 medical supplies to the country, as the tech titan went out of his way to avoid the public.

Page, 48, has become reclusive over the past several years - avoiding being photographed except for a handful of times since stepping down as CEO of Google's parent company Alphabet Inc. in 2019.

He has spent months in Fiji during the coronavirus pandemic - mostly on the island of Tavarua - and it has been rumored the billionaire has bought at least one island in the country's Mamanuca archipelago, sources told Insider.

Page has also been spotted an a smaller island called Namotu - which a sailor named Lorenzo Cipriani claimed Page bought in a blog post in August.

He had taken his private jet to donate COVID-19 medical supplies to Fiji last month as a second wave of the pandemic hit the country - which was reported by Fijian Broadcasting Company News on June 19, according to Insider.

However, that story has since disappeared from the state-owned news site - and sources told Insider that health officials in Fiji asked for it to come down, claiming that the information should not have been made public.

A source confirmed to DailyMail.com that the article had been removed after health officials asked for the story to be taken down because 'they didn't want the donation highlighted.'

Google co-founder Larry Page has reportedly been living off the grid, hiding out in Fiji

One of the Mamanuca islands juts out of the ocean in this file photo. It has been rumored Page has bought at least one island in the country's Mamanuca archipelago, Insider reported

He has spent months in Fiji during the coronavirus pandemic - mostly on the island of Tavarua - and it has been rumored the billionaire has bought at least one island in the country's Mamanuca archipelago

An aerial view of Tavarua, where Page is said to have spent most of the pandemic. The heart-shaped island is in Fiji's Mamanuca archipelago

The article appears to have also since been scrubbed from Google.

DailyMail.com has reached out to Fijian Broadcasting Company News for more information and additional comment.

According to Insider, the story had reported that Page flew from Hawaii to Fiji's Nadi International Airport to provide the country with medical supplies including masks, gowns and gloves.

A photo of Page's jet was posted to Twitter on June 19 by a Fijian journalist, who captioned the post: 'One of the Co-Founders of Google Larry Page donated cartons of COVID-19 supplies to Fiji as the country battles its second wave of the virus.'

The plane's call sign 813QS, pictured on one of its engines, is licensed to Blue City Holdings, according to the Federal Communications Commission .

Blue City Holdings manages a fleet for Page and his co-founder Sergey Brin, as well as former Google CEO Eric Schmidt, Insider reported.

According to Bloomberg Billionaires Index, Page has a net worth of approximately $117 billion making him the sixth-wealthiest person in the world, one seat above Brin and one seat below Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg.

And his wealth allowed him to enter Fiji even as the country closed its borders to traditional travelers, sources told Insider.

Fiji's 'Blue Lane' initiative lets the super wealthy visit the archipelago on their superyachts and private jets, even when other travelers were banned.

'Super yachts are welcomed with open arms for which access procedures are easier, while for sailing boats like ours it is not easy,' Lorenzo Cipriani wrote in his blog post.

'The government are promoting a campaign welcoming those who have a lot of money to spend and are awaiting the arrival of hundreds of luxury yachts.'

Another view of Tavarua Island, which is where Page is said to have spent most of the pandemic

Sources said that Page and his wife Lucinda Southworth (pictured together), who have two children, have been seen surfing on traditional and electronic surfboards

From a file photo in 2008 is a picture of Larry Page's old yacht, named Senses. Business Insider reports that he's downsized to at least one smaller yacht that is now moored in Fiji

Cipriani added: 'To give an example, Larry Page, the founder of Google, bought the island of Namotu (just a few miles in front of us), and arrived there by private jet to spend three months on vacation with 30 of his staff.'

'Whilst they are here, some local suppliers and tourism service agencies will work almost exclusively for them - escapees from the pandemic who have landed in paradise.'

Sources said that Page and his wife Lucinda Southworth, who have two children, have been seen surfing on traditional and electronic surfboards near the country's islands, and that 'he's good at it, too.'

Southworth is a research scientist and is the sister of actress Carrie Southworth.

The couple are very private and have not revealed the names of their two children who were born in 2009 and 2011.

Google's co-founders Page and Brin, who still hold incredible control over the company despite having both stepped away, have largely avoided scrutiny while stepping out of the limelight.

In recent months, Google and companies like Apple, Facebook, Twitter, and Amazon have been hit with high-profile lawsuits and made to testify during congressional hearings.

Page, pictured with his wife, flew from Hawaii to Fiji's Nadi International Airport to provide the country with medical supplies including masks, gowns and gloves

Tavarua is one of a series of islands in Fiji's Mamanuca archipelago

Earlier this month, dozens of U.S. state attorneys general filed a 144-page antitrust lawsuit in federal court against Alphabet Inc's Google on Wednesday, court documents obtained by DailyMail.com show.

It claims Google violated the Sherman Act, the federal law prohibiting monopolistic business practices.

The lawsuit reads: 'Google has employed anticompetitive tactics to diminish and disincentivize competition in Android app distribution.'

'Google has not only targeted potentially competing app stores, but also has ensured that app developers themselves have no reasonable choice but to distribute their apps through the Google Play Store,' it added.

Google requires that some apps use the company's payment tools and give Google as much as 30% of digital goods sales.

The lawsuit reads that: 'Google also requires all app developers that sell content through the Google Play Store to sell any digital in-app content through Google Play Billing.'

'Google now stringently enforces this tie by preventing apps distributed through the Google Play Store from using, directing consumers to, or even informing consumers about alternative payment processing options that may provide lower prices.'

As the new CEO of Alphabet Inc., Pichai appeared before congress in May - though Insider noted that he and Page talk regularly.

Pichai testified on a wide range of issues including extremism such as those who rioted at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, misinformation, cyberbullying, climate change and the coronavirus, the Washington Post reported.

Nell Minow, vice chair of consulting firm ValueEdge Advisors, called Page's relationship with the company he co-founded 'unusual' in comments to Insider.

'It's certainly unusual, and it's certainly not good corporate governance,' Minow said. 'You don't normally see someone who's still involved with the company hang a 'gone fishing' sign on the door and disappear.'
Shocking video has captured the moment a mattress flew off a car roof and caused 'absolute carnage' on a major motorway.

Police on Friday released footage of the incident which unfolded on the Northwestern Motorway in Auckland, New Zealand, just after 6pm on 12 June.

The video shows the mattress flying directly into the path of another car, which slams into the back of a line of traffic - causing a five-vehicle pile up.

One person was seriously injured.

The terrifying moment an unsecured mattress flies into the path of oncoming traffic on a New Zealand motorway (pictured)

Police described the crash as 'absolute carnage'.

'It's crucial to stay focused on your driving to keep yourself and others safe on our roads,' police said.

'A careless vehicle load can lead to serious injury or death of other road users.'

Police confirmed no charges have been laid in relation to the incident.

They warned all loads being transported need to be properly secured and good following distances maintained.
Rep. Hank Johnson has been arrested on Capitol Hill during a protest over voting rights, just one week after the detention of fellow Black Caucus member Joyce Beatty.

The Democratic congressman, 66, was cuffed with zip ties by Capitol police officers outside the Hart Senate Office Building Thursday where he and other voting rights advocates had gathered for Black Voters Matter's 'Brothers Day of Action'.

The protest, led by black men, called on Congress to end the filibuster and pass the For the People Act.

Police said 10 people were arrested for unlawfully demonstrating outside of the Hart Senate Office Building and were charged with crowding, obstructing or incommoding.

Johnson is the second House Democrat taken into custody for taking part in voting rights protests in as many weeks after Beatty was arrested on July 15.

Rep. Hank Johnson was arrested on Capitol Hill during a protest over voting rights Thursday

The Democratic congressman, 66, was cuffed with zip ties by Capitol police officers outside the Hart Senate Office Building Thursday

Rep. Hank Johnson, Co-founder of Black Voters Matter Cliff Albright, The Rev. Mark Thompson, host of podcast Make It Plain, Color of Change President Rashad Robinson and former President of NAACP Cornell William Brooks are seen being arrested (left to right)

Johnson posted footage of his arrest on Twitter showing him with his hands restrained behind his back while still chanting: 'Whose streets? Our streets. Whose House? Our House.'

He tweeted that he was channeling the spirit of late Congressman John Lewis by getting into 'good trouble.'

'I was arrested today protesting against Senate inaction on voting rights legislation & filibuster reform,' Johnson wrote on Twitter.

'In the spirit of my dear friend and mentor  the late Congressman John Lewis  I was getting in #goodtrouble.'

Johnson's office said in a statement that he was arrested 'along with a group of Black male voting rights activists protesting against Senate inaction on voting rights legislation and filibuster reform.'

He also attended the rally to protest against voter suppression bills and laws throughout the county, including Georgia, that target students, the elderly, and people of color,' his office told CNN.

Johnson had given a speech at the rally outside of the Supreme Court before the group marched to the Senate office building where they chanted outside the entrance.

.@BlackCaucus I was arrested today protesting against Senate inaction on voting rights legislation & filibuster reform. In the spirit of my dear friend and mentor  the late Congressman John Lewis  I was getting in #goodtrouble pic.twitter.com/JjN51mRpaC  Rep. Hank Johnson (@RepHankJohnson) July 22, 2021

Johnson tweeted that he was channeling the spirit of late Congressman John Lewis by getting into 'good trouble'

Other members of the Congressional Black Caucus including Democratic Reps. Al Green, Jamaal Bowman, Emanuel Cleaver, Troy Carter and Jackson Lee also attended the rally.

Among the other nine arrested were the cofounder of Black Voters Matter co-founder Cliff Albright, The Rev. Mark Thompson, host of podcast Make It Plain, Color of Change President Rashad Robinson and former President of NAACP Cornell William Brooks.

Robinson told CNN his arrest was 'worth the risk to use our power to demand voting rights protections for Black people, and all communities, in our country.'

He also hit out at Congress for promising to restore voting rights access and protect black voters during the elections, saying 'more than six months into this administration, we've yet to see real, meaningful action on voting rights.'

Johnson and other voting rights advocates had gathered for Black Voters Matter's 'Brothers Day of Action'

Johnson (center) and Cliff Albright (right) co-founder of Black Voters Matter, are arrested

The protest, led by black men, called on Congress to end the filibuster and pass the For the People Act

Police said 10 people were arrested for unlawfully demonstrating outside of the Hart Senate Office Building and were charged with crowding, obstructing or incommoding. Pictured Albright, Robinson, Brooks and founding partner of Davis Bozeman Law Firm Mawuli Mel Davis being arrested

Last week, Beatty was arrested during a black women-led voting rights protest when she led activists on a march inside the Senate Hart Office Building.

Eight other activists, including Women's March co-founders Linda Sarsour and Tamika Mallory, were also taken into custody for 'demonstrating in a prohibited area on Capitol Grounds.'

Following her arrest, Beatty said in a statement that she 'stand[s] in solidarity with black women and allies across the country in defense of our constitutional right to vote.'

She added: 'We have come too far and fought too hard to see everything systematically dismantled and restricted by those who wish to silence us.

'Be assured that this is just the beginning. This is our Power, our message.'

The congresswoman then tweeted: 'You can arrest me. You can't stop me. You can't silence me.'

Thursday's protest was a follow-up to the rally last week with both calling on Congress to pass the For the People Act.

Last week, Joyce Beatty was arrested during a black women-led voting rights protest when she led activists on a march inside the Senate Hart Office Building

Beatty and eight other activists were taken into custody for 'demonstrating in a prohibited area on Capitol Grounds'

The bill expands and protects voting rights across America by banning partisan gerrymandering, making voting easier and trying to make political donations more transparent.

The For the People act passed in the House in March on a near-party line as voting rights has increasingly become a partisan issue.

The bill has stalled after it was blocked by Republicans in the Senate in June.

The Senate filibuster means a 60-vote majority is needed to pass the bill.

Democrats say the For the People Act is needed to counter the raft of restrictive voting laws being implemented by Republicans in many states.

A total of 18 states have tightened voting restrictions around the likes of postal voting and ID requirements.

Republicans say the tighter rules are needed to prevent election fraud.

Meanwhile, Democrats say the rules are designed suppress turnout and make it harder for minorities to vote.

Joe Biden has condemned the changes to voting laws as a 'threat to democracy' and is urging Congress to pass the For the People Act.
A co-ed sleepaway camp located in upstate New York has said 31 of its campers between the ages of seven and 11 have tested positive for COVID-19 - but none of their vaccinated 12-and-up campers have been infected.

In a letter to parents, Camp Pontiac in Copake, said 31 of their 550 campers tested positive for the virus.

According to the letter, the first positive test case was detected on July 16, with the initial outbreak being on the girls' side.

A co-ed sleepaway camp located in upstate New York has said 31 of its campers between the ages of seven and 11 have tested positive for COVID-19 - but none of their vaccinated 12-and-up campers have been infected

In a letter to parents, Camp Pontiac in Copake, said 31 of their 550 campers tested positive for the virus

Most campers who tested positive have been sent home along with 88 people they have been in contact with, Jack Mabb, Columbia County Department of Health Director told CNN Thursday

The virus eventually spread, with the latest cases being the boy's side of the camp.

Most campers who tested positive have been sent home along with 88 people they have been in contact with, Jack Mabb, Columbia County Department of Health Director told CNN Thursday.

The few that remain at the camp 'live too far away to go home easily,' he said.

Half of Camp Pontiac's campers are 7 to 11 years old, and the other half are between 12 and 17, according to Mabb.

All but a handful of Camp Pontiac's staff and its children ages 12 and up are vaccinated.

Of the 275 staff members on-site, fewer than 10 are not vaccinated, Mabb added.

All of the campers who tested positive for the virus at the camp are under the age of 12, making them ineligible to receive the vaccine yet.

Vaccine companies are still in the process of testing the shots' effectiveness and safety for younger age groups, with a timeline for their approval being unclear.

The Delta variant now makes up 83% of all new infections

Every single state - aside from Iowa - and the District of Coluimbia are reporting increases of COVID-19 cases this week

Deaths have continued to remain relatively flat with 29 recorded on Tuesday and a seven-day rolling average of 274, 6.6% from the average of 257 recorded three weeks prior

The U.S. recorded 42,706 new cases on Tuesday with a seven-day rolling average of 37,056, which is a 244% from the 10,771 average recorded three weeks ago

Camp Pontiac's COVID-19 outbreak is among many recent camp-related Covid-19 clusters across the United States this summer.

More than 125 teenagers and adults at a church-run camp in Texas recently tested positive after an indoor event.

In addition, Kansas' health department reported numerous outbreaks linked to camps in and around the state. and in Illinois, more than 80 cases were reported at a summer camp there.

The U.S. recorded 42,706 new cases on Tuesday with a seven-day rolling average of 37,056, which is a 244 percent increase from the 10,771 average recorded three weeks ago.

Every state aside from Iowa has seen infections rise or hold steady in the last week, according to a DailyMail.com analysis of Johns Hopkins data.

Additionally, 298 COVID-19 deaths were recorded on Tuesday with a seven-day rolling average of 274.

Fatalities, which are a lagging indicator, have not dramatically risen but instead have slightly increased by 6.6 percent from the average of 257 recorded three weeks prior.

Health officials say this is because people now are protected by vaccines, though in states that have less vaccine uptake - such as Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri and Tennessee - hospitals are starting to fill up.

The surge has been blamed on the spread of the highly infectious Delta variant, which now makes up 83.2 percent of all new infections, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Health officials say nearly all new COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are among unvaccinated individuals.

At the recommendation of the state's department of health, Camp Pontiac is testing all unvaccinated campers at least twice this week

So far, the outbreak does not appear to have spread from Camp Pontiac to the surrounding community, and there do not appear to be any so-called breakthrough infections among vaccinated individuals
Lorna Jane has been fined $5million and labelled 'predatory and exploitative' by the Federal Court after the popular activewear brand falsely claimed its clothes could eliminate COVID-19 and stop it spreading.

During the deadly virus outbreak, the company claimed its anti-virus activewear had been sprayed with a substance called 'LJ Shield', which protected people against pathogens.

Advertisements on the brand's website, stores and Instagram used the tag 'Cure for the Spread of COVID-19? Lorna Jane Thinks So'.

Lorna Jane has been fined $5million by the Federal Court for claims activewear was sprayed with 'LJ Shield' that protected people from getting Covid-19

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) launched court action against Lorna Jane for allegedly making false and misleading claims.

In a decision delivered in the Federal Court on Friday, Justice Darryl Rangiah said Lorna Jane sought to 'exploit the fear and concern' surrounding the deadly outbreak.

'The advertising campaign was conducted in July 2020, at a time of considerable uncertainty, fear and concern amongst the public about the consequences and spread of COVID-19,' he said.

'Lorna Jane sought to exploit that fear and concern of the public through the use of misleading deceptive and untrue representations about the properties of LJ Shield activewear.

'Lorna Jane sought to profit from the fear with concerns of the public in a way that involves unlawful conduct in contravention of the relevant provisions of the Australian Consumer Law.

'The behaviour of Lorna Jane can only be described as exploitative, predatory and potentially dangerous.'

The court heard Lorna Jane sought to 'exploit fear and concern of the public' through the use of LJ Shield activewear

Justice Rangiah said the court must impose a substantial penalty to reflect the conduct's seriousness and demonstrate 'exploitative conduct of this kind will not pay'.

He found had not been shown the company to have actually profited from its conduct and said the $5 million fine agreed by both parties on the eve of the hearing to be appropriate.

ACCC commissioner Sarah Court previously said it was 'particularly concerning', with the company giving the impression the COVID-19 claims were based on scientific or technological evidence.

ACCC says its 'particularly concerning', the company gave the impression the COVID-19 claims were based on scientific or technological evidence

'We are particularly concerned about this because consumers often trust well-known brands and assume that their marketing claims are backed up by solid evidence.'

In July last year, Lorna Jane copped an almost $40,000 fine from the Therapeutic Goods Administration for failing to seek correct approval for the ads.

Action against company director Lorna Jane Clarkson for being 'knowingly concerned' in the conduct did not proceed.

Lorna Jane has 108 stores in Australia, plus several overseas, including in the USA and New Zealand.
New Zealand has suspended travel ties with Australia for two months as several states deal with coronavirus outbreaks.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced the decision after a cabinet meeting on Friday.

The trans-Tasman bubble will burst at 11.59pm but there will be managed return flights over the next week to allow New Zealanders to get home.

Those outside Victoria and NSW will be able to return without going through quarantine.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced the decision after a cabinet meeting on Friday

Everyone will need to obtain a negative pre-departure test.

'My strong message to every New Zealander in Australia right now who does not want to stay there long term is - come home,' Ms Ardern said.

Australia is grappling with serious coronavirus outbreaks in NSW, Victoria and South Australia, with a local case also recorded in Queensland.

More than 14 million people are in lockdown across the country.

The travel bubble began on April 19 and allowed Australians and New Zealanders to travel between the two countries without the need to quarantine.

More than 300,000 people have taken advantage of the quarantine-free travel arrangements.

However, Ms Ardern said the highly contagious Delta variant had materially changed the risk profile and Covid-19 was now widespread in Australia.

'We've always said that our response would evolve as the virus evolved,' she said.

New Zealand officials expect it will take eight weeks to bring the NSW outbreak under control

'This is not a decision we have taken lightly, but it is the right decision to keep New Zealanders safe.'

New Zealand officials expect it will take eight weeks to bring the NSW outbreak under control.

The decision could affect upcoming Bledisloe Cup Tests between the All Blacks and Wallabies, with matches slated on both sides of the ditch.

Ms Ardern said the Wallabies could utilise the seven-day window to travel to New Zealand for the Tests after applying for an exemption on economic grounds.

'However, it must be in the seven-day window, we are not making exceptions outside of that. Everyone else has to go into quarantine.'
Pregnant women have been bumped up the priority list for Pfizer vaccines.

Australia's expert medical advisory group has told a Senate committee pregnant women are now included in phase 1B of the vaccine rollout.

'There have now been quite large studies that have looked at the safety of COVID vaccines in pregnancy, as well as further data about the risks of COVID to pregnant women,' ATAGI co-chair Allen Cheng said on Friday.

Pregnant women have been bumped up the priority list for Pfizer vaccines with health authorities saying studies show the benefits now outweigh the risks

'That risk benefit is now more clearly on the side of getting pregnant women vaccinated. So pregnant women are now in phase 1B.'

The committee was also told a bulletin explaining the inclusion of pregnant women in the phase had been sent out to general practitioners.

Pregnant women and those trying to conceive were in June recommended for the Pfizer jab.

Trials of the Pfizer jab for children under 12 are ongoing to determine safety and dosage, with results due in a few months and a decision in the US expected in early 2022.

The vaccine has already been approved for children over 12 in countries such as the US, Japan, and Italy.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), which oversees Australia's medicines and vaccinations, approved the jab for teenagers on Thursday.

The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) must now give its approval before the vaccine can be rolled out out to them.

Pfizer vaccination trials for children under 12 are ongoing to determine safety and dosage, with results due in a few months and a decision in the US expected in early 2022

The news come as the New South Wales Covid-19 outbreak is now considered to be a 'national emergency' after the state recorded its highest daily spike with 136 new cases.

Of the new cases reported, 53 were infectious in the community. An 89-year-old man has also died from the virus overnight.


Donald Trump's education secretary on Thursday said her successor's policies are 'as far left as they come', and accused the Biden administration of promoting divisive and dangerous ideas.

The Biden administration promoted a handbook urging teachers to 'disrupt Whiteness and other forms of oppression' in their Department of Education guidance on reopening schools, it has been revealed. They said it was an error: Betsy DeVos disagreed

Betsy DeVos spoke after the White House was forced to admit it had made an 'error' by promoting a group that pushes teachers to 'disrupt Whiteness and oppression'.

Department of Education guidance on reopening schools had linked to the Abolitionist Teaching Network's 'Guide for Racial Justice & Abolitionist Social and Emotional Learning' in a section describing how schools are a 'microcosm of society' and conversations essential to 'race and emotional learning' should be 'anchor tenets' in schools.

DeVos said she was convinced it was not an error, and was rather a deliberate attempt to politicize the Department of Education.

'This notion that it was a mistake is an absolute falsehood,' she said.

'Having been there at the department for four years and working through the approval processes for anything that is put out from the department, I know full well that there were eyes on and full knowledge of this going on.

'We saw earlier this year, the grant process the department put out that basically was trying to bribe schools into using the 1619 Project in their materials,' she added.

'So this is just another reflection of the true nature of the Biden Department of Education. It's just preposterous.'

Betsy DeVos appeared on Fox News on Thursday to discuss the new handbook

She added: 'This Department of Education under the Biden administration is about as far left as you can imagine.'

She said parents should 'continue to raise their voices' and not give in to the officials from teaching unions.

'This ideology is insidious everywhere, and there is a lot of momentum behind it.'

Earlier on Thursday Jen Psaki, the White House press secretary, appeared to distance Biden from the group that produced the booklet even further.

'The specific site does not endorse - does not represent - the administration's view, and we don't endorse the recommendations of this group,' Psaki said, adding that the controversial mention has 'been removed or in the process of being removed.'

Psaki said the federal government does not 'dictate or recommend specific curriculum decisions' in schools, a decision she maintained was up to state and local governments.

'We believe the American people trust teachers to make those decisions, not the government,' the press secretary said.

Press Secretary Jen Psaki distanced the White House from the Abolitionist Teaching Network's controversial ideals on Thursday, but minimized the group's impact on the overall document as a 'citation in a report of which there are a thousand citations'

However, she minimized the radical group's impact on the document, categorizing it as a 'citation in a report of which there are a thousand citations.'

As the administration attempts to distance itself, a new report uncovered connections that Biden's deputy education secretary and a senior adviser to Education Secretary Miguel Cardona have to Abolitionist Teaching Network's co-founder Bettina Love.

Deputy Education chief Cindy Marten was allegedly in charge of the San Diego school system when the district paid Love more than $10,000 for a speaking event, documents obtained by Fox News purport to show.

Marten was nominated to her post in February but was only confirmed in May, a month after the DOE's handbook was published.

Senior Advisor for Policy and Planning Donna Harris-Aikens served as a senior director at teachers union National Education Association when it hosted Love as a speaker in June 2020.

The government document published this year linked to the Abolitionist Teaching Network's 'Guide for Racial Justice & Abolitionist Social and Emotional Learning' in a section describing how schools are a 'microcosm of society' and conversations essential to 'race and emotional learning' should be 'anchor tenets' in schools

Abolitionist Teaching Network says that schools should '[b]uild a school culture that engages in healing and advocacy. This requires a commitment to learning from students, families, and educators who disrupt Whiteness and other forms of oppression

Love is clearly featured on the union's event advertisements, and Harris-Aikens' LinkedIn confirms her leadership role at the time.

The Department of Education handbook on how to welcome children back to classrooms following COVID states that schools have a share of $122 billion in funding from President Joe Biden's American Rescue Plan.

Its introduction includes ways to help students 'for whom the pandemic exacerbated pre-existing inequities'.

Abolitionist Teaching Network says that schools should '[b]uild a school culture that engages in healing and advocacy. This requires a commitment to learning from students, families, and educators who disrupt Whiteness and other forms of oppression.'

Their website also has various resources that link to ideas often associated with critical race theory - however they don't mention it by name.

'Abolitionist Teaching Network's mission is to develop and support those in the struggle for educational freedom utilizing the intellectual work and direct action of Abolitionists in many forms,' the website states.

According to Fox, co-founder Love said during a webinar earlier this year she would 'create a national database of antiracist school counselors, therapists and teachers.

She also said the organization is 'dedicated to not creating new schools or reimagining schools, but destroying schools that do nothing but harm Black and brown children'.

If you don't recognize that White supremacy is in everything we do, then we got a problem,' Love said. 'I want us to be feared.'

In September 2020, according to reports, she also conducted diversity training for managers and principals during which she said schools 'didn't see Black people as humans and were anti-Black.

Two officials within Biden's Education Department are reportedly linked to the Abolitionist Teaching Network's co-founder through previously held positions. Cindy Marten (left) is deputy education secretary while Donna Harris-Aikens (right) serves as a senior adviser to Secretary Miguel Cardona

Abolitionist Teaching Network co-founder Bettina Love previously said the organization is 'dedicated to not creating new schools or reimagining schools, but destroying schools that do nothing but harm Black and brown children'
Alyssa Kent (pictured) suffered blood clots and seizures after getting the AstraZeneca vaccine

An Australian mother-of-two who suffered a stroke after getting the AstraZeneca vaccine and nearly died says she still believes every Australian should get the jab.

Alyssa Kent, 40, survived her ordeal thanks to a quick-thinking doctor who put her into a deep coma for three weeks when she started having seizures caused by the blood clots.

The Melbourne woman's condition was so serious her family was asked by the hospital at one point if they should switch off her life-support.

But despite her experience - which has left her taking 20 pills a day and doctors unsure if she will have lasting effects - she has urged the public that vaccination is essential.

'I still wholeheartedly believe that and I will at some point, get fully vaccinated,' she told the ABC.

'The only way back to normal - as normal as possible  is for us to get herd immunity and vaccination at a level that is protective of the community,' she said

She will, however, be waiting for the Pfizer vaccine.

And she added a warning for those considering what vaccine to get that while the blood-clotting complications of the AstraZeneca vaccine are extremely rare - they are also very serious.

The 40-year-old (pictured) said she still believes everyone should get vaccinated but she will definitely wait for the Pfizer jab for her second dose

Ms Kent - a biomedical scientist for the pharmaceutical industry - said she knows better than most that any medication is a calculation of the benefits versus the risks.

'Most side effects are things like a headache, nausea, diarrhea which you can manage, relatively easy [but] the consequences of [AstraZeneca] side effects are catastrophic, you know, and some people are dying from them,' she said.

Ms Kent had thyroid cancer a few years ago which qualified her for an early Covid vaccination.

She got her first AstraZeneca jab on May 17 and ten days later while at a work conference in the Hunter Valley she began having seizures.

Her husband and two daughters rushed to her side as she was transferred to hospital.

Ms Kent (pictured with her two daughters) is a biomedical scientist and said she knows any medication has a risk profile

The blood clots travelled to her brain and she only barely survived after being placed in an induced coma.

She said she woke three weeks later with no idea what had happened and was 'overwhelmed' when she was told.

While Australians over 18 can access the AstraZeneca vaccine they are required to sign a waiver saying they are aware of the risks.

Australia's peak vaccine authority, the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation also issues recommendations about who should get specific vaccines.

Their advice is that those aged 16 to 60 should get the Pfizer vaccine, though those who are in a virus hotspot can discuss with their doctor.

While their advice for those aged over 60 is the benefits of the AstraZeneca vaccine outweigh the risks.

The latest Vaccine Safety report from ATAGI said that from the 6.1million doses of AstraZeneca administered in the country, there have been 87 cases of blood clots.

She said she wants to warn people of the risks of the AstraZeneca vaccine (pictured with her husband)

What are the chances of getting a blood clot? Number who get blood clots after AstraZeneca per 100,000 people: 18-29 years: 1.9 30-39 years: 1.6 40-49 years: 5.0 50-59 years: 2.7 60-69 years: 1.4 70-79 years: 1.8 80+ years: 1.9 Overall: 2.3 (0.0023%) Only three per cent of people who get the clots die Source: Atagi Advertisement

According to government data released on June 28, about two in 100,000 people will get a blood clot from the AstraZeneca jab and only three per cent of those affected will die, a mortality rate of 0.6 in one million.

Meanwhile, the Covid-19 mortality rate in Australia is 3.9 per cent, or 39,000 in a million.

The risks of Covid and vaccines are different for each individual, depending on personal circumstances such as age, location and job, which is why politicians and health experts are asking people to speak to their GPs about taking the vaccine.

On Wednesday Prime Minster Scott Morrison also revealed he is 'constantly appealing' to health experts to recommend the AstraZeneca vaccine to younger Australians.

While NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian on Friday called for a huge shake up of the vaccine rollout to help get Sydney out of lockdown.

She wants to make under 40s eligible for Pfizer in Covid-ravaged areas; to delay second doses of Pfizer to six weeks to get more first doses out; and to have supplies for states without outbreaks re-assigned to NSW.

The premier also called on Atagi to recommend AstraZeneca for over 40s.

Vaccine rollout boss Lieutenant General John Frewen said other states would have to agree to give up their doses.

He also said Ms Berejiklian's plan to hand out more Pfizer is not a complete solution.

'Suddenly deciding to throw a particular vaccine at one geographic area does not give you an immediate solution to a problem,' he said.

The premier urged over 40s to take the AstraZeneca vaccine and revealed she wants the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation to recommend the jab for over 40s.

Victoria is in lockdown until Wednesday. Pictured: Melbourne residents exercise with masks

'There are a lot of people in New South Wales in their 40s, 50s, and in their 60s, who don't have any vaccine.

'We say to everybody, please get vaccinated, if you have any concerns go to your GPs. We have more capacity for AstraZeneca,' she said.

On July 9, Mr Morrison announced a four stage plan to get Australia back to normal, with each step to be triggered when the vaccination rate hits a certain percentage.

The vaccination percentages required are being calculated by modelling experts at The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity and will be released at the end of July.
A woman who let her dog lick peanut butter from her genitals and filmed the vile act for her boyfriend has been fined $500 but will be allowed to keep the pet.

Bethany Kemmis, filmed two 20 second videos of the vile act for her former partner, the Cairns Magistrates Court heard on Friday.

The 25-year-old Queensland woman claimed she had little to no memory of making the videos with the American staffordshire terrier after they were requested by her boyfriend.

25-year-old Bethany Kemmis filmed her American staffordshire terrier licking peanut butter from her genitals at her boyfriend's request

Footage of the disturbing act only came to the attention of police after they seized her phone during a raid at her partner's home for more serious offences.

Kemmis plead guilty to breach of duty of care by inappropriate handling, the Townsville Bulletin reported.

Police prosecutor Acting Senior Constable had asked for the dog to be taken from Kemmis, arguingthe clip 'grossly offends against morality.'

'She is not a fit and proper person to be in possession of an animal,' he said.

Dence solicitor Peter Haarsma said the dog suffered no physical harm and appeared to be well cared for after being handed vet reports.

He also claimed the woman had been 'dragged through the mud backwards' following public shaming and losing her full-time job as a manager of a gaming arcade.

The magistrate fined the woman $500, while recording no conviction and allowed Kemmis to keep the dog

'There has been serious effects on her personally and financially,' he said.

'It has had a horrendous effect on her life.'

The woman is currently unemployed and suffers from an array of mental health issues.

When handing down the fine, Magistrate Jacqueline Payne said she accepted Kemmis was 'embarrassed and remorseful' and did not record a conviction.

'There was no harm to the dog physically or, what I would say, psychologically,' the Magistrate said.
Police are currently on the hunt for four attackers who bludgeoned a 61-year-old disabled woman with a cooking pot, then ran off with her walker in New York City.

The incident occurred at 8:20pm on Thursday in the Harlem neighborhood of Manhattan.

Video released by the New York Police Department, the group can be seen in a confrontation with the victim, before one of them drags her to the ground.

Another then begins beating her with what appears to be a cooking pot as a man in a white shirt hovers nearby.

The woman is seen cowering on the floor as the beating continues.

Police say the attackers ran off with cash, credit cards and the woman's walker.

Police are currently on the hunt for four individuals who bludgeoned a 61-year-old disabled woman with a cooking pot, then ran off with her walker in New York City.

The incident occurred at 8:20 p.m. on Thursday in the Harlem neighborhood of Manhattan.

Video released by the New York Police Department, shows the victim being brought to the ground by one attacker, while another begins beating her with what appears to be a cooking pot as a man in a white shirt hovers nearby

The victim was taken to Harlem Hospital where she is recovering from her injuries.

Detectives are still hunting for the attackers.

Those with any information on the incident are encouraged to call NYPD Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-8477 (TIPS)

This is the latest attack to occur in New York City to a woman over the age of 50.

On July 2, a 76-year-old woman was seriously injured when she was shoved to the ground by a man walking a dog in Brooklyn.

Following that incident, a 70-year-old woman was attacked in the head while on her way to a doctor's appointment in the East Village on July 9.

Detectives are still hunting for the attackers, but those with information are encouraged to call NYPD Crime Stoppers 1-800-577-8477 (TIPS)

NYPD released surveillance footage of the attackers in a tweet Thursday

A few days later, a man was caught on surveillance video July 15, sucker punching a 60-year-old woman in the back of the head at the Grand Central subway station.

Then on Saturday, a 58-year-old woman was left with a critical brain injury after being dragged down stairs by a mugger at a Manhattan subway station.

The spike in of violent crime has left many New Yorkers worried that the city is sliding back to the dark days of the '70s and '80s when it earned the nickname 'Fear City'.

In the 1970s, the city faced $10billion in debt and funds were cut to the police and other services.

NYPD data shows that shootings have spiked 28.9 percent in 2021 compared to last year as of July 11, its most recent data. There have been 803 shooting incidents in 2021 compared to 623 in 2020.

Shooting victims are also up a staggering 22.2 percent year over year, with 931 people falling victim to gun crime compared to 623 by this time last year.

The number of murders has also risen from 215 to 225 in the same timeframe - a 4.7 percent rise.

Rape has surged 7.3 percent and other sex crimes 25.9 percent.

Crime in New York City has risen, specifically the number of shooting victims and murders

The biggest leap in crime rates is for hate crimes, which has surged by 118.2 percent in the last year. This data comes amid numerous random attacks on Asian Americans in the city, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Eric Adams, the ex-cop who is the Democratic candidate for New York City mayor, warned last Wednesday that 'no one is going to come back' if violence, and in particular gun violence in the Big Apple continues.

The Brooklyn borough president appeared at an event with Governor Andrew Cuomo last week as the two political leaders presented a united front in addressing the worrying rising crime.

'No one is going to come back to our multibillion-dollar tourism industry if 3-year-olds are being shot in Times Square,' Adams said.

Adams, 60, won the Democratic primary for this year's mayoral race and will become the mayor of New York if he defeats Republican Curtis Sliwa in the general election.

He ripped New York judges and bail reform laws for not doing their part to combat the rising crime rates.

He also said judges are not using tools they do have at their disposal like Kendra's Law which lets courts order mental health treatment in some cases.

'Our judges are not giving bail on cases where they are allowed to give bail. They're refusing to use Kendra's Law on mental health issues,' Adams said.

'We have thrown up our hands, and we have surrendered our city. It's time for us to ensure our city is for the working class, everyday people who are following the laws and saying that government is going to make sure we protect them.'

Cuomo admitted back in May that New York City is now in the throes of a 'major problem.'

'New Yorkers don't feel safe and they don't feel safe because the crime rate is up,' he said.

'It's not that they are being neurotic or overly sensitive - they are right.'
A picture showing how missing Ben Needham would look aged 30 has been released today - as his mother revealed she did not believe the police theory that he was killed by a digger on a Greek island.

The startling image three decades after Ben was born was created by National Crime Agency listed forensic artist Tim Widden.

It came as his mother Kerry said 'we must keep searching' ahead of the 30th anniversary of his disappearance on the island of Kos on July 24, 1991.

Police believe Ben died on the day he went missing as a result of an accident involving 'heavy machinery' as he played outside his grandparent's house.

He was staying at his grandparents' farmhouse on the Greek island when he vanished but Ms Needham believes her son is still alive.

She told the Daily Mirror: 'I still have that hope that South Yorkshire Police are wrong.

Ben Needham Ben may look, aged 31 in an age progression facial depiction made by National Crime Agency listed forensic artist Tim Widden

Ben Needham (pictured) went missing from his grandparents' farmhouse on Kos in 1991

'And while there is no evidence to show me, I have to believe he is still alive. There's not a single thread of evidence to say otherwise.'

She added she feels 'stuck' in 1991 and has devoted three decades to the search of her son. She said: 'I've never had any dreams or goals apart from finding Ben.'

Ms Needham had moved from Sheffield to start a new life with her family in Greece when she went to work and left her son with his grandparents. She never saw him again.

South Yorkshire Police twice sent a team to Kos, the last time after a witness came forward to say that, before his death, digger driver Konstantinos 'Dino' Barkas confessed to killing Ben.

Forensic scientists said in 2018 chemical traces which indicate the presence of decomposing human blood were found on a toy car and a sandal which they believe belonged to Ben

Police digs on land at the farmhouse failed to uncover remains and tests on a toy car and scrap of leather sandal did not find a DNA match with Ben.

It was this that made Ms Needham doubt the digger theory, adding that 'things don't add up'.

Detectives from South Yorkshire Police carried out a three-week search of Kos in 2016.

Speaking at the time, then Detective Inspector Jon Cousins said: 'My team and I know that machinery, including a large digger, was used to clear an area of land on 24 July 1991, behind the farmhouse that was being renovated by the Needhams.

'It is my professional belief that Ben Needham died as a result of an accident near to the farmhouse in Iraklis where he was last seen playing.

Mother Kerry Needham (pictured) believed the body was dug up and moved a second time before officers returned to search the site in 2016

'The events leading up to and following that incident have been explored by my team of experts to great lengths. The fact that we have not had a direct result during this visit to Kos does not preclude the facts that we know to be true.'

He said the investigation would not close and new information would be looked at, adding: 'We will not stop in our quest to find further answers for Ben's family.'

Ms Needham wants to go to Kos to meet a witness, a business partner of Barkas, who said he saw Ben playing on a mound of soil in the morning of his disappearance while the adults were inside.

He said Barkas told him he feared he may have run the boy over.

In September 2018, Ms Needham was told by forensic experts in Oxford they had found weak DNA profile from decomposed blood inside the car near to where Ben went missing.

Police formally ended a search on the Greek island in October 2016, saying they believe Ben died as a result of an accident involving a digger on July 24, 1991

Ms Needham wiped away tears as she spoke about trying to stay strong during the police search in 2016

She provided a DNA sample, only to be told there was no positive match.

At the time, Ms Needham said: 'If that blood is not Ben's  then who does it belong to? It's devastating. We had built ourselves up thinking it would be a positive result and would prove Ben had died.

'It would have given us closure and we would have been able to start the grieving process.

'When it came back negative it was a shock. I don't know what to think now. Is Ben dead or is he still alive?'

She added: 'I'm angry and I can't stop shaking my head.

'Some people on Kos have been lying for 27 years and we've suffered years of torture, slow torture.'

The toy car was found in 2016 by an elderly witness who told British police and told them Mr Barkasin was behind Ben's death.

Police believe Ben was crushed to death in a tragic accident close to the farmhouse where he was last seen in 1991 and where the sandal was found in 2012.

Barkas died from stomach cancer but apparently confessed on his death bed.

The witness claimed Barkas had told him he thought he killed the toddler.

Barkas allegedly said: 'I thought I heard a yelp but I thought it could have been a dog.'

The toy car thought to have belonged to Ben was found on a second dump site where the witness led them to.

Barkas' family denied his involvement in Ben's disappearance. It is thought the witness has now stopped helping police.
President Joe Biden offered an absolute guarantee Wednesday that people who get their COVID-19 vaccines are completely protected from infection, sickness and death from the coronavirus. The reality is not that cut and dried.

The vaccines are extremely effective but 'breakthrough' infections do occur and the delta variant driving cases among the unvaccinated in the U.S. is not fully understood.

Also Biden inflated the impact of his policies on U.S. jobs created in his first half-year in office, misleadingly stating his administration had done more than any other president. He neglects to mention he had population growth on his side in his comparison.

A look at his remarks in a CNN town hall:

PANDEMIC

BIDEN: 'If you're vaccinated, you're not going to be hospitalized, you're not going to be in the IC unit, and you're not going to die.'

THE FACTS: His remark accurately captures the strong protection the COVID-19 vaccines provide as cases spike among people who have resisted the shots. But it overlooks the rare exceptions.

As of July 12, the government had tallied 5,492 vaccinated people who tested positive for coronavirus and were hospitalized or died. That's out of more than 159 million fully vaccinated Americans. The director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, said '99.5 per cent of all deaths from COVID-19 are in the unvaccinated.'

___

BIDEN: 'You're not going to get COVID if you have these vaccinations.'

THE FACTS: Again, he painted with too broad a brush as he described in stark terms the disparity between those who got their shots and those who haven't. The disparity is real, but a small number of breakthrough infections happen and health officials say they are not a cause for alarm.

No vaccines are perfect, and the government is keeping a close eye on whether new coronavirus mutants start to outsmart the COVID-19 shots. But for now, federal health officials say even when breakthrough infections occur, they tend to be mild - the vaccines so far remain strongly protective against serious illness.

___

BIDEN, when asked after the town hall about vaccinated people who get infected: 'It may be possible, I know of none where they're hospitalized, in ICU and or have passed away so at a minimum I can say even if they did contract it, which I'm sorry they did, i's such a tiny percentage and it's not life threatening.'

THE FACTS: Once again, too far. That is evident from the CDC's finding that 5,492 vaccinated people who tested positive for coronavirus were hospitalized or died as of July 12. That's not 'none.' But he is correct that it is a small percentage of the more than 159 million fully vaccinated Americans.

___

BIDEN: 'Now, by the way, remember when I first got elected, the issue was, well, I said I was going to do a million shots a week, and people said, 'Biden can't do that' or "Biden team can't do that." And it was 2 million.'

FACTS: Biden's initial goal was 1 million shots a day, not a week, in his first 100 days. His target was 100 million shots in the first 100 days. He then raised it to 200 million when the administration easily reached the target.

JOBS

BIDEN: 'We've created more jobs in the first six months of our administration than any time in American history. No president, no administration, has ever created as many jobs.'

THE FACTS: His claim is misleading.

While Biden's administration in the first half year as president has seen more jobs created than any other president - just over 3 million in the five months tracked by jobs reports - that's partly because the U.S. population is larger than in the past.

When calculated as a percentage of the workforce, job growth under President Jimmy Carter increased more quickly from February through June 1977 than the same five months this year: 2.2 per cent for Carter, compared with 2.1 per cent for Biden.

Since the late 1970s, the U.S. population has grown by more than 100 million people.

It's true, though, that the economy is growing rapidly - it expanded at a 6.4 per cent annual rate in the first three months of the year - and is expected to grow this year at the fastest pace since 1984.

Biden's $1.9 trillion rescue package contributed to the vigorous growth, but much of the expansion also reflects a broader bounce-back from the unusually sharp pandemic recession, the deepest downturn since the 1930s. Even before Biden's package, for example, the International Monetary Fund was projecting U.S. growth of over 5 per cent for this year.

Biden is also leaving out the fact that the U.S. economy remains 6.8 million jobs short of its pre-pandemic level, and the unemployment rate is an elevated 5.9 per cent, up from a five-decade low of 3.5 per cent before the pandemic.

CAR PRICES

BIDEN: Said the price of a car is 'kind of' back to the same as it was 'before the pandemic'.

FACTS: New car prices are significantly higher than then they were before the onset of the pandemic. According to the Consumer Price Index, new and used cars were 20% higher in June 2020 than they were in January 2020. That was 19% higher again on prices from June 19%.

CHILD TAX CREDIT

BIDEN: 'It's called the child tax credit. If you have a child under the age of 7, you get 300 bucks a month -- 350 bucks a month. If you have a child under -- between 7 and 17, you get a total of 200 bucks a month.

FACTS: The age groups used to determine the brackets are 6 to 17 and not 7 to 17 as Biden suggested. Parents receive up to $250 a month for each child between 6 and 17 and $350 for those under 6.

NONCOMPETE CLAUSES

BIDEN: He criticized clauses in contracts that restrict employees' abilities to move jobs in a similar industry by saying, 'you have over 600,000 people out there signing - 6 million people signing a - I better check the number -- of -- signing noncompete agreements. Not because they have ... any secret, but because they were working for one fast-food restaurant, and they're told they can't get 10 cents more going across town, going to the other fast-food restaurant. Why? To keep wages down.

FACTS: The numbers he used were not close to the real figures. A White House document published on July 9 suggests there are between 36 and 60 million workers under noncompete clauses, based off figures from the Economic Policy Institute.

'UP TO 20 REPUBLICANS' SIGNING LETTER SUPPORTING INFRASTRUCTURE

BIDEN: 'You had up to 20 Republicans sign a letter saying, "We think we need this deal. We think we need this deal",' Biden said when discussing the bipartisanship in the ongoing negotiations over his infrastructure bill.

FACTS: Republican Sen. Rob Portman said 11 Republican senators sent a letter to Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer suggesting they would vote no in the procedural vote on Wednesday. All 50 Republicans ended up voting against advancing the bill. Schumer is now trying to push through negotiations to launch another vote on Monday.
Sydneysiders will have their second dose of Pfizer delayed to six weeks in a bid to partially vaccinate more people during the city's growing Covid-19 outbreak, Scott Morrison has announced.

The Prime Minister said he was in discussions with medical experts and would confirm the updated schedule for Sydney's vaccine hubs over 'the next 24 hours'.

The second dose of the Pfizer vaccine can be given anywhere between three and six weeks after the first, according to the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation.

Until now doses of the scarce jab have been given after three weeks, but this will be pushed out in Sydney to spread the vaccines across more people earlier.

Mr Morrison told locked down Sydney residents 'we will push though' and quoted radio DJ Kyle Sandilands who released a version of the song Ice Ice Baby with the lyrics changed to 'get vaxxed baby'.

'As Kyle Sandilands said ''get vaccinated, baby'',' the Prime Minister told reporters during a press conference in Canberra on Friday afternoon.

Sydney residents exercise in groups of two at Bondi Beach on Friday as lockdown continues

EXCLUSIVE MUSIC VIDEO premiere of Kyle's Vaccine Anthem "Get Vaxxed Baby"  #KJshow #covid19 Brad Hazzard pic.twitter.com/FZMmsvIEb9  Kyle and Jackie O (@kyleandjackieo) July 22, 2021

Mr Morrison confirmed Australia's suppression strategy to reduce community cases to zero would continue, meaning a prolonged lockdown of Australia's biggest city is still on the cards.

'There are no easy solutions here. There are no silver bullets. Just as there were not last year,' he said.

'This thing only gets beaten by suppressing it.'

Mr Morrison said the lockdown was working to prevent thousands of cases as happened in Melbourne during winter last year.

'In Victoria, when they went through the lockdown, they saw cases rise and rise and rise for many, many weeks while they were in lockdown,' he said.

'I would reassure people that what you are doing now is saving lives, it is working to bring this under control.'

Amid fears that Sydney could be shut down for months, Premier Gladys Berejiklian earlier called for a huge shake up of the vaccine rollout to help get the city out of lockdown.

She wanted to make under 40s eligible for Pfizer in Covid-ravaged areas; to delay second doses of Pfizer to six weeks to get more first doses out; and to have supplies for states with no cases re-assigned to NSW.

Sydneysiders will have their second dose of Pfizer delayed to six weeks. Pictured: Sydney residents at Coogee on Friday

Victoria recorded 14 new local cases, taking its cluster to 147, but Premier Daniel Andrews was hopeful lockdown could be ended on Wednesday. Pictured: Melbourne on Friday

The premier also called on the Atagi scientists to recommend the abundant AstraZeneca vaccine for over 40s.

Only her plan to delay the second doses of Pfizer was agreed at a National Cabinet meeting on Friday.

Mr Morrison said he has already brought forward 150,000 Pfizer doses to NSW but no more supply was available yet.

'More doses will be provided New South Wales as they are available,' he said.

'We will work with them on that.'

Earlier NSW Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant said delaying second doses would mean appointments are cancelled.

'Some of those changes will impact on individuals. It may be that we need to cancel your bookings.

'But we have to make these hard choices if we are going to see these [infection] numbers stabilise first and then decline,' she said.

Explaining the rationale for the move, Ms Berejiklian said: 'We would prefer to have more people have at least one dose of Pfizer and hold back the second, rather than have more people without any vaccine whatsoever.'

NSW recorded 136 new cases with 77 people infectious in the community and 59 mystery cases on Friday, taking its outbreak to 1,782 cases.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison (pictured on Friday) told locked down Sydney residents 'we will push though'

Melbourne residents line up at a Covid testing site in Prahran after a positive case attended the market

Premier Berejilikan said there was slim chance the city would be released from its five-week lockdown on July 30.

Victoria recorded 14 new local cases, taking its cluster to 147, but Premier Daniel Andrews was hopeful lockdown could be ended on Wednesday.

He called for a 'ring of steel' to be placed around Sydney to prevent residents escaping and infecting the country, saying the city was 'on fire' with Covid-19.

Mr Morrison said the city's movement restrictions were discussed at National Cabinet but only Ms Berejiklian - not other premiers - decides NSW policy.

'The only view that matters on this is the view of the NSW Premier, because they are responsible for how they manage the lockdown in NSW,' he said.

'It was a good opportunity, I think, for the NSW Premier to spell out in very specific detail the extensive lockdown that is in place in NSW.

'There is nothing light about the lockdown in Sydney, I can assure you. My family are in it,' he added.

According to government data released on June 28, about two in 100,000 people will get a blood clot from the AstraZeneca jab and only three per cent of those affected will die, a mortality rate of 0.6 in a million. Meanwhile, the Covid-19 mortality rate in Australia is 3.9 per cent, or 39,000 in a million

NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller said the state had passed on an offer for Australian Defence Force assistance made on July 7 because Covid-19 transmission was happening in households not in the streets where it could be stopped.

'It was determined the police operational response didn't require external assistance in the south western Sydney operation given the transmission of the virus was between household contacts, not primarily occurring on the streets,' a police statement read.

South Australia - which is also in lockdown until Wednesday - recorded one new local case, taking its cluster to 15.

Queensland recorded one new local case, a flight attendant in her 30s who had been infectious since July 11 during which time she had taken six regional flights and visited Dreamworld theme park on July 16.

A record 196,430 vaccines had been administered on Thursday, taking the percentage of fully jabbed over 16s to 15.44 per cent.

Premier Andrews (pictured on Friday) said there is a 'national responsibility that Sydneysiders are locked into Sydney'

Earlier on Friday Vaccine rollout boss Lieutenant General John Frewen said other states would have to agree to give up their doses to NSW.

Queensland Deputy Premier Steven Miles said his state had such 'meagre' supplies of Pfizer that it couldn't spare any.

General Frewen also said Ms Berejiklian's plan to hand out more Pfizer is not a complete solution.

'Suddenly deciding to throw a particular vaccine at one geographic area does not give you an immediate solution to a problem,' he said.

The premier urged over 40s to take the AstraZeneca vaccine and revealed she wants the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation to recommend the jab for over 40s.

How many under 40s have taken the AstraZeneca vaccine? ACT: 5,028 NSW: 49,146 NT: 1,460 QLD: 36,170 SA: 5,293 TAS: 1,446 VIC: 49,279 WA: 13,795 Total: 161,617 Advertisement

'There are a lot of people in New South Wales in their 40s, 50s, and in their 60s, who don't have any vaccine.

'We say to everybody, please get vaccinated, if you have any concerns go to your GPs. We have more capacity for AstraZeneca,' she said.

In April the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (Atagi) said the AstraZeneca jab was only recommended for over 50s because of a low risk of blood clots in younger people.

In June the body increased the minimum recommend age to 60, denting confidence and delaying the jab rollout by two months as the government scrambled to get more Pfizer into the country.

According to government data released on June 28, about two in 100,000 people will get a blood clot from the AstraZeneca jab and only three per cent of those affected will die, a mortality rate of 0.6 in one million.

Meanwhile, the Covid-19 mortality rate in Australia is 3.9 per cent, or 39,000 in a million.

The risk of being killed in a pedestrian accident is eight in a million and the chance of dying in a car crash is 28 in a million, about 17 times higher than the risk of dying from the AstraZeneca jab.

A total of 6.1 million AstraZeneca shots have been handed out across the nation, with only 87 cases of serious clotting - known as thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS) - and six deaths.

The risks of Covid and vaccines are different for each individual, depending on personal circumstances such as age, location and job, which is why politicians and health experts are asking people to speak to their GPs about taking the vaccine.

Australians under 40 have been taking the AstraZeneca vaccine instead of waiting for Pfizer to get protected from Covid-19 and help end lockdowns as soon as possible.

A total of 161,617 under 40s have had their first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine since March 6, according to government data seen by Daily Mail Australia.

Only two of them have suffered a rare blood clotting syndrome linked to the jab and neither have died.

Government experts did modelling (above) to show the risk of getting a blood clot from the Astrazeneca vaccine for each age group, compared with the benefits of getting the jab
Workers are 'trickling' back to city offices but there is 'unprecedented' interest in out-of-town locations, the head of a flexible office space provider today revealed.

IWG founder and chief executive Mark Dixon, who oversees office rental firm Regus, said there was a six per cent rise in bookings in one month as businesses move their employees back into offices.

He said there was a 'more gradual return' in big cities and 'more rapid use' of countryside office spaces after the end of restrictions on July 19.

Businesses are listening to workers' needs and providing office space in suburban areas so employees do not need to commute.

It has led to a spike in office rentals in rural communities, while growth in city centres remains slow.

Mr Dixon told BBC Radio 4's Today Programme: 'Weve signed up two million more people globally since the beginning of the year so its quite a major change.

IWG founder and chief executive Mark Dixon, who oversees office rental firm Regus, said there was a six per cent rise in bookings in one month as businesses move their employees back into offices. Pictured, commuters at London Waterloo this week

'A lot of the growth is in suburban areas. Its not about using an office or not using an office, the problem is commuting and the time it takes and cost of commuting and the inconvenience people have realised is unnecessary.

'The city centres that have long expensive commutes will continue to suffer. Liveable cities have done well during the pandemic and will do much better afterwards.'

He said Regus has seen 'record numbers of new contracts' around the world as most of the UK considers 'some form of hybrid working'.

Meanwhile, usage of London's transport and roads network failed to rise on Freedom Day on Monday despite the UK's rail network as a whole having its busiest Monday since the pandemic began as Covid restrictions lifted in England.

Transport for London said Tube travel was at 38 per cent of normal demand and unchanged from last week, with 790,000 entries and exits compared to a pre-pandemic baseline of 2.1million. Bus travel was at 68 per cent of normal, and down 4 per cent in a week, with 900,000 boarding taps compared to a 1.31million baseline.

Mr Dixon said Regus has seen 'record numbers of new contracts' around the world as most of the UK considers 'some form of hybrid working' (file image of a London Bridge Regus office)

The Government's guidance on returning to work is only around 100 words - with large swathes of questions unanswered including over social distancing, masks and health checks such as temperature taking and testing

The fall in bus usage is partially a result of schools getting towards the end of term, and the summer is generally quieter across the network. Transport bosses in the capital added that staff observed face mask compliance at around 85 per cent on Monday morning, which is roughly at the same level as has been seen in recent weeks.

Congestion on the capital's roads was at 33 per cent during rush-hour this morning - which was lower than the 8am figure last Friday (40 per cent), according to data from location technology firm TomTom.

The congestion levels suggest many Britons are still working from home despite the Government lifting its official working from home guidance.

It comes after Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick admitted the government is not in a rush to stop people working from home because empty offices will help it meet its 'housing objectives'.

An exclusive poll for MailOnline showed just a third of staff planned to return to their workplace full-time after July 19 Freedom Day ( morning commute in Waterloo, London)

And earlier this month a poll revealed workers are set to shun a full-time return to offices and factories.

An exclusive poll for MailOnline showed just a third of staff planned to return to their workplace full-time after July 19 Freedom Day.

And almost a fifth (18 per cent) of those surveyed by Redfield and Wilton Strategies said they would not be going back at all.

Mr Dixon (pictured) said there was a 'more gradual return' in big cities

More than four-in 10 said they would be only returning part-time once the long-running guidance to stay away because of the pandemic officially lapsed.

The findings caused alarm for businesses relying on the return of commuters for their trade. But they may provide a boost for those in smaller commuter towns who could see an upturn in business.

There have been widespread concerns about the economic impact of people staying at home, with town centre businesses such as cafes suffering from the lack of trade as workers have been kept away from their offices.

But Chancellor Mr Sunak said he looked forward to the shift back to offices.

He told the Daily Telegraph: 'I think for young people, especially, that ability to be in your office, be in your workplace and learn from others more directly, is something that's really important and I look forward to us slowly getting back to that.'

Mr Sunak insisted there was a benefit to workers being with their colleagues.

He said apprentices at a car mechanic training centre he met in Wolverhampton were 'super-excited to be back in their workplace'.

'They were over the moon, because they've spent six months trying to learn on Zoom and Teams and everything else, and it hasn't been great,' he said.

'They were saying actually being in, and most importantly, getting the support from their mentors, has been really valuable to them.'

Mr Sunak said it was not for ministers to tell firms what they should or should not do, adding: 'Ultimately I trust people and businesses to make decisions for themselves.'

The Trades Union Congress has written to ministers to raise concerns about the lack of consultation on plans which will affect millions of workers.

An exclusive poll for MailOnline shows that just a third of staff are planning to return to their workplace full-time after July 19 Freedom Day

TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady said: 'We all want working life to get back to business as usual.

'But as restrictions are lifted and increasing numbers return to their workplaces, it is crucial that we get workplace safety right, and give workers and members of the public confidence.'

She said the TUC has 'real fears that clear, detailed guidance for employers will be replaced by vague exhortations to employers to do the right thing, resulting in confusion'.

Ms O'Grady warned that without detailed plans the country could be 'hobbled by rising infections and enforced self-isolation' keeping workers out of action.
Sydney's fast-growing coronavirus outbreak has been declared a 'national emergency,' state leaders said on Friday, as Australia's largest city reported another record number of new infections.

Admitting a month-long lockdown had so far failed to stop a Delta-variant outbreak, the state of New South Wales pleaded for Canberra to urgently send more vaccines and resources.

Declaring the outbreak a national emergency could pave the way for more federal government involvement in stemming the crisis.

Pictured: A security guard stands in front of the Sydney Opera House during lockdown in Sydney, Australia, Friday, July 23, 2021. Sydney's fast-growing coronavirus outbreak has been declared a 'national emergency,' state leaders said Friday

'We have an obligation on behalf of the nation to contain the virus,' said New South Wales premier Gladys Berejiklian. 'There is no doubt that the numbers are not going in the right direction we were hoping they would at this stage.'

Her state on Friday reported 136 new cases, a record for this outbreak, which now totals 1,782.

The Delta variant has proved too transmissible for Australia's 'zero-covid' policy, which unlike countries in the West sees regions lockdown for even single-digit cases.

The policy also saw both Australia and New Zealand shut their borders and implement strict hotel quarantine rules for any arrivals, but it would seem the delta variant has managed to breach the nations' bubbles.

While the zero-covid approach - also adopted by New Zealand - proved effective last year, Australian officials are now struggling to contain the more infectious variant, a problem exacerbated by the country's slow vaccination programme.

With the virus 'spreading everywhere' and more than half the country's 25 million people currently in lockdown, Berejiklian said the government must 'refocus' its glacial vaccine rollout.

Pictured: Police walk past the Sydney Opera House in Circular Quay, during lockdown in Sydney, Australia, Friday, July 23, 2021. Officials on Friday admitted the lockdown had so far failed to stop the spread of the Delta Covid-19 variant

Announcing the national emergency, New South Wales premier Gladys Berejiklian (pictured) said her state has 'an obligation on behalf of the nation to contain the virus', and that the government must 'refocus' its glacial vaccine rollout

Just 12 percent of Australians have been fully vaccinated, thanks to problems with supplies of Pfizer jabs and scepticism about the safety of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

'We need, at least, more first doses of Pfizer,' Berejiklian said, while warning Sydney's five million residents that restrictions could run until October.

She also announced non-essential workers in specific areas of Sydney would now be barred from leaving, tightening a lockdown that is almost certain to be formally extended next week.

'It is fairly apparent that we will not be close to zero (cases) next Friday,' Berejiklian said. 'We will have a clearer view next week on what August, September, and October look like.'

Pictured: After successfully containing the virus since the end of the second wave in October last year, cases are now rising again in Australia thanks to an outbreak of the Delta variant

Compared to countries in the West, Australia has managed to keep the number of Covid-related deaths relatively low. The country has not seen a day with more than a single death due to covid since October last year

Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Thursday apologised for the country's slow vaccine rollout, admitting targets had not been met.

'I take responsibility for the vaccination programme. I also take responsibility for the challenges we've had,' he said. 'Obviously, some things are within our control, some things that are not.'

Total infections in Australia's worst outbreak since the peak of the pandemic last year have jumped to just over 1,900 since the first case was detected in a Sydney limousine driver transporting international flight crews in mid-June.

The outbreak of the fast-moving Delta variant was carried across borders to the neighbouring states of Victoria and South Australia, forcing authorities to put more than half the country's population in lockdown.

That has shut down large parts of the economy, even as other parts of the world, including Britain and the United States, open up.

Crucially, at least 53 of the new cases in Sydney were infectious in the community before being diagnosed. Authorities have said that figure needs to be near zero for a lockdown in the New South Wales capital to be lifted.

State chief health officer Kerry Chant (pictured on Friday) said a national vaccination programme needed to be refocused on the Sydney hotspots

State chief health officer Kerry Chant said a national vaccination programme needed to be refocused on the Sydney hotspots.

'I have advised the government today that this is a national emergency, and requires additional measures to reduce the case number,' Chant said.

A formalised 'national emergency' would typically unlock federal government funding and other assistance.

State leaders said on Friday they would have discussions later in the day on the New South Wales request to prioritise vaccines being sent to Sydney's south-west, where the majority of new cases are located.

The leader of South Australia, which is also in lockdown, immediately rejected any move to divert vaccines earmarked for his state elsewhere.

There are 137 COVID-19 cases in hospital in New South Wales, with 32 people in intensive care, 14 of whom require ventilation.

Providing some relief, Victoria state officials reported a fall in new daily cases on Friday to 14, adding that 10 of those were in quarantine during their entire infectious period.

Friday also saw New Zealand suspend travel ties with Australia for two months as several states deal with coronavirus the outbreaks.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced the decision after a cabinet meeting that will see the trans-Tasman bubble burst at 11.59pm. There will be managed return flights over the next week to allow New Zealanders to get home.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern (pictured) announced the decision to suspend travel ties with Australia for two months after a cabinet meeting on Friday

Those outside Victoria and NSW will be able to return without going through quarantine, although everyone will need to obtain a negative pre-departure test.

'My strong message to every New Zealander in Australia right now who does not want to stay there long term is - come home,' Ms Ardern said.

The travel bubble began on April 19 and allowed Australians and New Zealanders to travel between the two countries without the need to quarantine.

More than 300,000 people have taken advantage of the quarantine-free travel arrangements.

However, Ms Ardern said the highly contagious Delta variant had materially changed the risk profile and Covid-19 was now widespread in Australia.

'We've always said that our response would evolve as the virus evolved,' she said. 'This is not a decision we have taken lightly, but it is the right decision to keep New Zealanders safe.'

New Zealand officials expect it will take eight weeks to bring the NSW outbreak under control.
Violence erupted in Haiti on the eve of the funeral of slain president Jovenel Moise as protesters fired guns and blocked roads with blazing tires.

Moise was gunned down in his home in Port-au-Prince earlier this month, setting off a political crisis in the country which was already struggling with poverty and lawlessness.

A former banana exporter, the former president failed to quell gang violence that surged under his watch and faced waves of street protests over corruption allegations and his handling of the economy.

Police officers confront protesters during a day of demonstrations, in Cap-Haitien on the eve of Jovenel Moise's funeral

People take part in a day of protests going on at the same time as Haitians pay tribute to assassinated president Jovenel Moise

The former president failed to quell gang violence that surged under his watch and faced waves of street protests

Moise (pictured) was gunned down in his home in Port-au-Prince earlier this month, setting off a political crisis in the country already struggling with poverty and lawlessness

A former banana exporter, the former president failed to quell gang violence that surged under his watch

Demonstrators in Cap-Haitien vented anger over the many questions that remain unanswered over the July 7 assassination, which the government said was carried out by a team of largely Colombian mercenaries.

Wielding hammers, pick-axes and shovels, labourers scrambled to set up stages, lights and pave a brick road to the former president's mausoleum on a dusty plot of several acres enclosed by high walls in the northern city of Cap-Haitien.

Elsewhere in the city, protesters set tires on fire to block roads on Thursday afternoon.

Built on land held by Moise's family where he lived as a boy, the partly built tomb stood in the shade of fruit trees, just a few steps from a mausoleum for Moise's father, who died last year.

Demonstrators in Cap-Haitien vented anger over the many questions that remain unanswered over the July 7 assassination

Protesters set tires on fire to block roads on Thursday afternoon as demonstrations continue in the wake of the president's death

Police Director General Leon Charles walks in the streets after a press conference in Cap-Haitien on Thursday

The funeral comes days after a new prime minister supported by key international diplomats was installed in Haiti

Foreign dignitaries are flying to Cap-Haitien from around the Americas to pay their respects to Moise, joining mourners who have taken part in a string of commemorations in Haiti this week.

Banners celebrating Moise festooned buildings along the narrow streets in Cap-Haitien's old town with proclamations in Creole including, 'they killed the body, but the dream will never die,' and 'Jovenel Moise - defender of the poor.'

White T-shirts and caps emblazoned with his picture were distributed to supporters the day before what is expected to be the final ceremony to honor Moise.

'This is something that will be engraved in our memory,' said Pedro Guilloume, a Cap-Haitien resident who hoped to attend the funeral. 'Let all Haitians channel solidarity.'

The funeral comes days after a new prime minister supported by key international diplomats was installed in Haiti - a move that appeared aimed at averting a leadership struggle following Moise's assassination.

Residents come to see the preparations in front of the place where President Jovenel Moise will be buried

Foreign dignitaries are flying to Cap-Haitien from around the Americas to pay their respects to Moise

Police are still looking for several more suspects they say were involved in the assassination plot

Ariel Henry, who was designated prime minister by Moise before he was slain but never sworn in replaced interim prime minister Claude Joseph, and has promised to form a provisional consensus government until elections are held.

A priest who presided over a Mass on Thursday morning at Cap-Haitian's cathedral to honor Moise warned there was too much bloodshed in Haiti as he asked people to find peace, noting that the poorest communities are affected.

On Thursday evening, Martine Moise and her three children appeared at a small religious ceremony at a hotel in Cap-Haitien where Henry and other government officials offered their condolences.

'They took his life, but they can't take his memories,' said a priest who presided over the ceremony. 'They can't take his brain. They can't take his ideas. We are Jovenel Moise.'

Moise was sworn in as Haiti's president in February 2017 and faced increasing criticism in recent years from those who accused him of becoming increasingly authoritarian.

He had been ruling by decree for more than a year after the country failed to hold legislative elections.

Authorities have said that at least 26 suspects have been arrested in the killing, including 18 former Colombian soldiers.

Police are still looking for several more suspects they say were involved in the assassination plot, including a former rebel leader and an ex-senator.
Colorado health authorities are investigating after a 10-year-old girl died from the plague this month, the first fatality from the insect-borne disease in the state since 2015.

The plague, caused by bacteria often spread by fleas, has been confirmed in six counties: San Miguel, El Paso, La Plata, Boulder, Huerfano and Adams, according to the Colorado Department of Public Health.

The girl lived in La Plata County in the southwestern part of the state.

'We are so sad for the loss of this young Coloradan and our deepest condolences go to the family,' said state veterinarian Dr. Jennifer House in a statement published by the Associated Press.

The bacteria that causes the plague, Yersinia pestis, is usually carried by fleas

Colorado's La Plata County logged nine cases of the plague between 2005 and 2020

What is the plague and how do you get it? The plague, infamous for killing millions in Europe during the Middle Ages, is caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis. Humans usually get the plague after being bitten by a flea carrying the plague bacterium, or by handling an animal infected with plague. The most common symptom is the rapid development of a swollen and painful lymph gland called a bubo, though flu-like symptoms such as fever, headache, chills, weakness are also common It is treatable with commonly available antibiotics, though medical intervention is encouraged early for the best chance at a full recovery. In Colorado, cases usually shoot up in the summer. Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Advertisement

'Public Health is doing an epidemiological investigation and wants Coloradans to know that while this disease is very rare, it does occur sometimes, and to seek medical care if you have symptoms.'

The state reported 22 cases of the plague between 2005 to 2020.

Nine of them were in La Plata County.

In 2015, four people died of the plague nationwide, including two from Colorado: an adult in Pueblo County and a teenager in Larimer County, according to Colorado Public Radio.

Antibiotics are highly effective against the disease, but they should be administered within 24 hours of the first symptoms because infection can cause 'serious illness or death,' according to Denver Public Health.

Most symptoms are similar to those of the flu. They include fever, chills, headache, weakness and coughing.

Infection often leads to tender or swollen lymph nodes and discoloration of the skin.

Those living in the western U.S., including Colorado, are at the greatest risk of catching it, and very sick patients require 'immediate, intensive care.'

From 2005 to 2021, 568 animals tested positive for the plague in Colorado, including 104 cats and dogs.

The plague was first introduced to the US in 1900 by ratinfested steamships, mostly from Asia.

The US averages about 7 cases of the plague per year, according to the Centers for Disease Control. The last urban plague epidemic was in Los Angeles from 1924 to 1925.

Most plague cases are centered in the country's southwest, including Colorado

On May 18, DCPHE released a statement urging residents to take precaution after a squirrel was found to be infected in El Paso County.

'Plague has been present in Colorado since at least the 1940s, and cases in wild rodents in the state are reported most years,' Dr. House said.

'While we see most plague activity during the summer, the disease can be found in rodents year-round and sometimes spills over into other wildlife species as well as domestic cats and dogs.'
Professor Tim Peto said the findings 'can be applied to workplace settings'

Workers could be tested for Covid every day to avoid them needing to self-isolate if they come into contact with someone infected with the virus, a top scientist claimed today.

England's 'pingdemic' chaos has led to warnings that supermarkets may be left with empty shelves and lead to the 'most serious' food shortages since WWII.

But Oxford University researchers say the rules could be replaced with daily swabs in workplaces.

Their trial revealed the scheme was just as effective at preventing outbreaks among children as sending home an entire 'bubble' for ten days whenever someone tested positive.

Professor Tim Peto, one of the experts behind the study, said the testing approach could be applied to workplace settings.

If No10 adopted the policy, it would allow millions to return to work and would stop industries from collapsing in the face of quarantine chaos. A record 1.3million self-isolation alerts were sent out across the country last week.

It comes as ministers today revealed 10,000 critical workers will be exempted from self-isolation rules almost immediately after finally waking up to repeated warnings the pingdemic could collapse food supply chains.

Environment Secretary George Eustice revealed staff at around 500 sites including supermarket depots will no longer need to quarantine if they come into contact with a positive Covid case.

A University of Oxford study shows daily testing for schoolchildren after coming into contact with someone testing positive with Covid is just as safe as self-isolating  and it reduces absences by 39 per cent. Graph shows: The number of schoolchildren absent because of Covid in schools where isolation was enforced (blue) and where daily testing was offered (orange)

The study found there was no difference in the number of people becoming ill at schools where the alternative testing policy was being used (orange lines) compared to those following the normal self isolation policy (blue lines)

The guidance lists 16 sectors: energy, civil nuclear, digital infrastructure, food production and supply, waste, water, veterinary medicines, essential chemicals, essential transport, medicines, medical devices, clinical consumable supplies, emergency services, border control, essential defence and local government

Fury as ministers dash to exempt 10,000 critical workers from self-isolation after FINALLY waking up to threat 'pingdemic' could collapse supply chains and spark 'biggest food shortages since the war' Ministers today insisted 10,000 critical workers will be exempted from self-isolation rules almost immediately after finally waking up to warnings the 'pingdemic' could collapse food supply chains. Environment Secretary George Eustice said staff at around 500 sites including supermarket depots will no longer need to quarantine if they come into contact with a positive Covid case. He stressed that firms will not need to apply to be covered by the 'big' change, amid confusion over the emergency measures being taken by ministers to stop supply chains collapsing. Admitting that the government needed to think again after businesses raised the alarm over the sheer scale of absences, he said: 'We will never take risks with our food supply.' The Cabinet minister said the military was 'always on standby', but there were currently no plans to call on them. However, Mr Eustice risked the wrath of other sectors that are being hammered by the escalating problems as he made clear there is no prospect of hospitality staff getting the same treatment. And he declined to give a categorical commitment that fully vaccinated people will be let off isolation rules from August 16 as planned. The comments came as owners of some of the country's largest food producers including the UK's 'Chicken King' revealed they are at 'crisis point' - with a lack of poultry and milk on supermarket shelves and warnings of the 'most serious food shortages that this country has seen in over 75 years'. Advertisement

Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today Programme this morning, Professor Peto said his team's findings could be applied to other settings.

Professor Peto, a professor of medicine at Oxford University, said: 'We're learning an awful lot about the way this is transmitted.

'Only 2 per cent of our children in contact got the illness, quite a very small number.

'98 per cent who were in contact didn't, and those sorts of numbers can be applied to workplace settings.

'You have to be careful when you go from school to work to find out if it's the same or not, but what we learned from schools I think can be applied with care but properly to a workplace settings.'

Oxford scientists studied more than 220,000 pupils and staff across 201 secondary schools in England from April to June.

They asked half of pupils to follow the current guidance  self-isolating for 10 days after someone they were in contact with tested positive for Covid.

The others continued going to school, where they were tested every day.

Just 1.5 per cent of contacts in the 'daily testing' schools ended up having a positive PCR, compared with 1.6 per cent of the other group.

It means more than 98 per cent of contacts did not get Covid, and suggests daily contact testing may slightly reduce transmission.

The experts said daily testing was significantly less disruptive to children's education and could reduce days lost to self-isolation by 39 per cent.

NHS Test and Trace said the study was 'trailblazing' for showing daily testing can safely keep pupils in class.

Dr Susan Hopkins, chief medical adviser for NHS Test and Trace, called the findings 'a major breakthrough'.

Professor Jonathan Ball, a professor of molecular virology at the University of Nottingham, told the Telegraph the study showed 'unnecessary disruption' could be avoided with daily tests.

He said: 'It is always going to be tricky to define the relative effectiveness of isolation versus testing, as there are a lot of assumptions that need to be made,' he said.

'That aside, what this study shows is that daily testing rather than isolation of contacts is effective in preventing onward transmission.

'Crucially, it also highlights the unnecessary disruption that isolation rules have had on countless numbers of children. Isolation of contacts is an important weapon in infection control, but it is also crude.

'Rapid testing circumvents needless isolation, and it should be used more widely.'

Professor Peto said: 'In the school setting, it works, it's safe, and that gives comfort to people who want to work out if there's an easier way to control the transmission than having pingdemics and these rather disruptive waves of controlling the disease.'

The study, backed by the Department of Health and Department for Education, is not yet peer reviewed.

No10 will drop self-isolation rules for the fully vaccinated from August 19. But last night the Government announced staff in 16 key sectors will be exempt from today.

The Times reported the scheme is only expected to help 10,000 people, despite a record 1.3million being sent alerts last week.

Data shows 618,903 alerts were sent in England and Wales in the week ending July 14, a 17 per cent rise increase on the previous seven days and another record high. The red line show the cumulative number of tracing alerts sent throughout the pandemic, while the blue bars represent the number each week

Infections were rising in England by about 67 per cent on June 30, for example, and at the same time the number of alerts sent to phones rose by 63 per cent. Even earlier this month 'pings' were rising in line with cases  infections rose by 48 per cent on July 7 while alerts jumped by 46 per cent. But by July 14, cases across England were rising at twice the rate of alerts - with a 34 per cent increase in infections compared to the 17 per cent rise in pings that reached phones

There are fears that as the epidemic continues to grow and isolation rules aren't relaxed for double-jabbed Britons, that it is creating a lockdown by stealth. More than 1.2million adults were told to self-isolate last week. The blue bars show the number of 'pings' sent by the NHS app each week, the red bars show the number of people contacted by Test and Trace call handlers, while the yellow bars show the number of people who tested positive for Covid

Updated guidance said 'in the small number of situations where the self-isolation of close contacts would result in serious disruption to critical services, a limited number of named workers may be able to leave self-isolation under specific controls for the purpose of undertaking critical work only'.

The policy only applies to named workers if their employer has received a letter from the relevant government department. 'This is not a blanket exemption for all workers in a sector,' the guidance said.

Ministers have also announced that priority testing sites will be set up at workplaces that supply food - 500 of which are set to be operational within the next week.

The new process to allow critical workers to carry on with their jobs even if identified as a contact of a coronavirus case is intended to run until August 16, when a wider relaxation for fully vaccinated contacts is set to take effect.

But speaking on the Today programme this morning, SAGE expert Sir Jeremy Farrar called for people to keep wearing face masks and avoid mixing in groups to drive down the 'pingdemic'.

Sir Farrar, who is also the director of the Wellcome Trust, said: 'The way to prevent the so-called 'pingdemic' is to drive down transmission.

'If we have lower transmission in this country by continuing to wear masks and avoiding poorly-ventilated indoor settings as much as we can until as much as the population is vaccinated as possible, that will drive down transmission and also help reduce the number of people having to isolate.'

Asked if sticking to masks and ventilation would be enough, he added: 'Lockdowns are extreme, we've moved on from lockdowns, but lockdowns are everything thrown at it together and they do drive down transmission.

'We're not in that world now but there are things we can still do, wearing masks, yes, it makes a difference, it doesn't affect me or protect me but it makes sure that if I was infected I didn't pass it on to someone who was vulnerable.

'Avoiding poorly-ventilated settings, particularly indoors, multiple mixing of households, these are all some of the biggest risks, plus getting as many people vaccinated as possible.'

In total, when children sent home to isolate from school are included, there were up to 1.8million people told to quarantine last week - or 3 per cent of the entire population. However, some people pinged by the app would have also been contacted by Test and Trace. And some of the people who tested positive may have also been pinged or told to self-isolate

The policy proved just as effective at preventing outbreaks as sending home an entire 'bubble' for ten days when someone tested positive (file photo)
Advertisement

An inmate suffering from facial spasms, another with severe anorexia, a third who was 'constantly talking' - these women were all prisoners in brutal lunatic asylums in the 19th century.

Their haunting images are among several photographs of people who were locked up in institutions in both the UK and France which have been painstakingly colourised and enhanced.

Also seen is Harriet Jordan, a cloak and mantle maker, who was admitted to the infamous Bethlem Asylum, in London, aged 24, in May 1858 suffering from what was described as 'acute mania'.

The institution was nicknamed 'Bedlam' because it specialised in treating people who were deemed to be mad.

Constance Butterworth was a patient at Holloway Sanitorium, an upmarket lunatic asylum in North London.

Pictured in 1898, she suffered a bicycle accident which rendered her 'morose' and left her with thoughts that 'devils had taken possession of her'. She is said to have then rapidly deteriorated.

Two pictures of male inmates also feature, including Grenadier Guard William Green, who was admitted to the infamous Bethlam, in March 1857, when he was 33 after being diagnosed 'paroxysmal and intermittent mania'.

The images were colourised by Colin Webb, 40, from Aldershot, Hampshire, who runs the popular Facebook page Electric Colour.

 Slide me  Colin Webb, from Aldershot, who runs the popular Facebook page Electric Colour, has colourised a series of images of people who were inmates in lunatic asylums in the 19th century. Above: A woman suffering from facial spasms, which were deemed to be a sign of 'hysteria', at the Salpetriere Hospital in Paris in the 1880s

 Slide me  Mary Alice Thorpe, was admitted to Prestwich Asylum, Manchester, on March 7, 1901, when she was 31-years-old. She is described as being noisy and constantly talking. In her record it is written that she believes she is 'related to royalty and nobility and has friends that are very rich'

The married father-of-two said: 'I mainly use Photoshop Elements and historical research to get the colours as accurate as I can.

'It usually takes between three and six hours per image, but it can take longer depending on how much detail there is in the image.

'I've always been interested in all periods of history and I colourise photographs to make history more accessible.

'It should hopefully give people a better idea of what people in the past looked like when they were alive. It's kind of a digital time travel.'

Also seen are several patients who were inmates at the Salpetriere Hospital in Paris. One severely malnourished woman was suffering from what was described as 'anorexic emaciation' due to hysteria.

 Slide me  One severely malnourished woman being treated at Salpetriere hospital was suffering from what was described as 'anorexic emaciation' due to hysteria. She is seen above in the 1890s

 Slide me  Constance Butterworth was a patient at Holloway Sanatorium, an upmarket lunatic asylum in North London. She is pictured in 1898. Constance suffered a bicycle accident that appeared to render her 'morose' leaving her with thoughts that 'devils had taken possession of her'. She then rapidly deteriorated into 'acute mania'

 Slide me  Eva Margaret Allingham was also a patient at Holloway Sanatorium. She is pictured above in 1898. Eva is said to have suffered from delusions and voices in her head. Colouriser Mr Webb said: 'I mainly use Photoshop Elements and historical research to get the colours as accurate as I can. It usually takes between three and six hours per image, but it can take longer depending on how much detail there is in the image'

 Slide me  Another image just shows the bottom half of a woman at Salpetriere whose muscles were tightening - a condition blamed on hysteria. It was noted that she was set to have an operation

 Slide me  A colourised photograph of Harriet Jordan, a cloak and mantle maker, who was admitted to Bethlem Asylum, London, aged 24-years-old in May 1858, suffering from acute mania

Another image just showed the bottom half of a woman at Salpetriere whose muscles were tightening - a condition blamed on hysteria. It was noted that she was set to have an operation.

Although institutionalisation of patients with mental health problems was not invented in the Victorian era, there was a huge rise in the numbers of asylums and patients admitted to them in the 19th century.

The first known asylum in the UK was at Bethlem Royal Hospital in London. It had been a hospital since 1247 but began to admit patients with mental health conditions around 1407.

 Slide me  Matthew Greenwood, 45, was a farmer who was admitted to Norwich Country Asylum on December 8, 1882. He's been addicted to drink for the last two years and taken to 'wondering about and unsettled in his mind.' He'd become impoverished and his mother was also a patient at the asylum. He recovers and is discharged in April the following year

 Slide me  A female patient at the Salpetriere hospital who allegedly had hysteria-induced narcolepsy. She appears to be tied to her bed

 Slide me  William Green, a Grenadier Guard, was 33 when he was admitted to Bethlem Asylum, in March 1857. He was diagnosed with 'paroxysmal and intermittent mania'

 Slide me  Sarah Ann Russell was admitted to Prestwich Asylum, Manchester on the 17th April, 1901, when she was 24-years-old. In her notes it is written: 'She says she does not know why she refuses to take her food. She is also afraid that the people in the workhouse may kill her'

Patients were often considered as 'mad', as suggested by The Mad House Act of 1774. This was superseded in 1853 by The Lunatic Asylums Act.

Treatments included restraints and imprisonment in a padded cell, water therapy and drug treatments.

The old asylum system in the UK had become too big to manage by the 1960s and it was announced in 1961 that many would close.

To see more of Colin's colourisation work, click here.
Nearly 400 migrants were detained by Border Force officers in the last two days alone according to new Home Office figures.

On Wednesday 219 people in 11 boats were intercepted and 175 were picked up in six incidents on Thursday.

It takes the number of migrants to have been detained after reaching the UK in small boats to 8,840 - with nearly 3,000 arriving so far in July alone.

Figures for 2021 have already broken the record numbers in 2020 when 8,410 were detained.

But deteriorating weather conditions in the English Channel over the next few days including strong winds is expected to dramatically reduce crossing attempts.

An inflatable carrying migrant men, women and children cross the shipping lane yesterday

A little toddler was held by their hand as they were brought into Britain after landing

An inflatable craft carrying migrant men, women and children crosses the shipping lane

On Thursday French authorities had to rescue 11 migrants in one small rubber dinghy after they were spotted in difficulties by the crew of a cross-Channel ferry.

The P&O ferry Spirit of Britain raised the alarm after they saw the stricken inflatable off Calais.

French search and rescue vessels picked up the 11 migrants and brought them back into the harbour at Calais while towing the inflatable behin.

Dan O'Mahoney, Clandestine Channel Threat Commander, said: *'There is an unacceptable rise in dangerous small boat crossings across the channel because of a surge in illegal migration across Europe.

Child migrants wearing children's lifejackets are seen coming ashore at Dover Marina in Kent

The Border Force arrive to collect occupants of an inflatable craft carrying migrants

The Border Force arrive to collect occupants of an inflatable craft carrying migrants

Priti Patel's plan to pay France 55m to handle migrants trying to cross the Channel: Explained Priti Patel has agreed to give France another 54million to stop the growing number of migrants crossing the Channel Priti Patel has agreed to give France another 54million to stop the growing number of migrants crossing the Channel. The Home Secretary's controversial agreement with French interior minister Gerald Darmanin will see policing numbers along the French coast more than double to 200 to cover a wider area. There will also be an increased use of aerial surveillance, including drones. The two countries agreed to draw up a long-term plan for a 'smart border' using technology to identify where crossings are being attempted. But the deal failed to impress critics, who accuse the French authorities of not doing enough to stop small boats leaving their territorial waters. With UK support last year, France doubled the number of officers deployed daily on French beaches, improved intelligence sharing and purchased more cutting-edge technology. This resulted in France preventing twice as many crossings so far this year than in the same period in 2020. However, as French interceptions increased, the Home Office said that organised criminal gangs have changed their tactics, moving further up the French coast, and forcing migrants to take even longer, riskier journeys. Charities branded the measures inhumane, while refugee rights campaigner Lord Dubs said Miss Patel's plans were a 'disservice to this country's history'. Advertisement

'Earlier this week we signed a strengthened agreement with our French counterparts to increase police patrols on French beaches and enhance intelligence sharing.

This joint work has already prevented over 7,500 migrants enter the UK - nearly treble the number for the same period in 2020.

'The Government continues to take steps to tackle the unacceptable problem of illegal migration through the Nationality & Borders Bill which will protect lives and break this cycle of illegal crossings.

'The Government is also continuing to return those with no legal right to remain in the UK.'

People-smugglers have made use of the continuing good weather this week.

Scenes of scores of migrants arriving in Border Force boats has become a common sight throughout July.

There have been children too young to walk that have been had to be carried to the harbour by officials.

A record-breaking number of people have crossed the Channel already this year, with at least 8,452 people having made the trip, passing the total for all of 2020.

The fallout comes after the Government announced it will send France a further 54.2million to help stem the flow of migrants crossing the Channel in small boats.

The Home Office said the money would be spent on doubling the numbers of police patrolling France's northern beaches, improving intelligence sharing and on new technology to target people smugglers.

To tackle this the French have deployed 200 officers to march along an 85-mile stretch of coast between Boulogne and Dieppe. If they worked 24 hours a day, this works out at two policemen per mile - but critics say realistically it is only one.

Home Secretary Priti Patel was also slammed after it emerged whole hotels are being booked up to house migrants. It means those looking to get married or take a holiday there could struggle to guarantee spaces.

The Home Office is tempting hoteliers with large wads of cash for rooms for months, according to the Sun.

A source told the newspaper: 'You have to remember the industry has been devastated by Covid.

'There have been no paying guests for months.

'For a lot of hotels, it's a chance to make guaranteed money for weeks, if not months. You have to be brave not to take up that offer.'
Advertisement

A family of African elephants made a lucky escape after they became stuck in a muddy pool in Kenya.

Dr Kieran Avery, 34, was part of a small team that made the dramatic rescue of three elephants after they became stuck in the mud near a dam reservoir.

The veterinary surgeon and conservationist - who has previous experience of freeing elephants from similar situations - led the complicated rescue of the three animals after receiving a call from the community.

Pictured: A family of three elephants - a mother and two youngsters - managed to get themselves stuck in the mud in Kenya

Conservationist Dr Kieran Avery, 34, from Kenya received a call from members of the local community about the elephants stuck in the mud (pictured) and set about rescuing them from their predicament

Using a tractor (pictured in the background) and well places straps, Dr Avery said he and his team were able to free the elephants from their muddy prison. They likely got stuck in the mud when they stopped off at the water in a dam for a drink

The doctor said it took the team two hours to free the stuck elephants at Oldonyiro community conservancy, Isiolo County in Kenya, and required careful planning from the team.

Dr Avery said the process involves positioning the straps in a way that will allow the tractor to pull them out and ensuring that an elephant doesn't grab anyone with a trunk, which would result in serious injury to the team.

He added: 'We suspect that the mum or one of the youngsters fell in first, and then the others went in to see if they could help because they are so loyal to each other but ended up getting stuck as well.

Pictured: Locals (seen in the background) gather around the family of elephants that got stuck in the mud in Kenya as a rescue plan is hatched to save the struggling and exhausted animals

It is believed that one of the two younger elephants would have fallen into the muddy pool first. Elephants are loyal creatures, and the other two are believed to have fallen in themselves when they tried to help the youngster escape

The plan to save the elephants (pictured) was complicated by the fact that there was three of them, Dr Avery said. If the conservation team tried to save the beasts one at a time, the others would stop the rescuers from touching their companion

Because of the risk posed by saving the elephants (pictured) one at a time, the three elephants all had to be saved at the same time, Dr Avery said after the successful attempt

'Luckily, none were injured - they were all just exhausted, in particular the middle aged one. It required a big effort to move them all at the same time because you can't move one at a time, the others will grab you.

'We had to be very coordinated and very efficient. They were all moved out at the same time and woken up at the same time. The smallest of the group stood up straight away, it was easy for it to stand up.

'The middle-aged one took ten minutes to stand up and the mum took even longer, like 20-25 minutes.'

Pictured: Locals gather around the muddy pool in which three exhausted elephants had become trapped in Kenya

The muddy pool in which the elephants got stuck in was next to a dam reservoir (pictured in the background). The elephants (pictured) were likely going to the water's edge to drink when they got stuck in the mud

Dr Avery said the rescue process involves carefully positioning straps in a way that will allow the tractor to pull the elephants (pictured) out and ensuring that the elephant doesn't grab someone with her trunk which would result in serious injury

The rescue effort took the conservation team at Oldonyiro community conservancy, Isiolo County in Kenya two hours in total

'The two younger ones walked off together and the mum followed about 15 minutes later. They would have met up very quickly, they can communicate over big distances.

'All in all, a really successful mission. One thing to really emphasise is the team effort side of this, from a whole host of organisations with different assets and skills.

'It is really positive that the communities who own the elephants report when they are stuck like this rather than just putting them down. Really shows the promise of community conservation here in Kenya.'

Pictured: The three exhausted elephants lie on the ground after being pulled out of the muddy pool by a tractor

Pictured: Marks in the sand showed where the elephants were dragged from the muddy pool. They were seen laying in the sunshine to regain their energy after struggling in the mud

Pictured: The two youngsters were the first to get up off the ground after being freed. They waiting by the mother elephant while she lay on the ground for longer

After being rescued, the two younger elephants were seen happily trotting around the mother elephant while she lay on the ground to regain some of her energy

Pictured: One of the straps used to free the elephants is shown on the ground while the mother elephant lays on the ground

Last month, a single female elephant got stuck in the mud in the same place in Kenya, with Dr Avery also coming to the rescue with his team using the same tried and tested methods.

As of 2021, African elephants are considered to be at heavy risk of extinction, and are on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN ) Red List.

Habitat loss and fragmentation, as well as poaching for the illegal ivory trade are both major threats faced by the rare creatures.

Today, just two species make up the African elephant genus - the African bush elephant, and the smaller African forest elephant. Four other species of African elephants went extinct between the 18th and 20th centuries, with evidence of their existence found only through fossils.
A pregnant woman who was sacked because she took time off with morning sickness before later suffering a miscarriage has been awarded 65,000 in compensation.

Maya Georgiev was in the early stages of her pregnancy when she started suffering from 'dizzy spells' and vomiting while working for Hanover Insolvency Limited, based in Greater Manchester, an employment tribunal heard.

The debt drafter told the hearing she was then sacked during a 15-minute meeting despite her explaining to her boss that her two-week absence was because of morning sickness.

The panel were told she lost the baby three weeks later.

An employment tribunal has now ruled that Hanover Insolvency will have to pay her 64,783 for loss of earnings and injury to feelings.

Maya Georgiev was in the early stages of her pregnancy when she started suffering from 'dizzy spells' and vomiting while working for Hanover Insolvency Limited (pictured), based in Greater Manchester, an employment tribunal heard

Miss Geogiev began working at the personal insolvency company in July 2018.

On August 29 of that year, she left work because she was feeling unwell before discovering she was pregnant.

The panel were told she raised it with two colleagues as she was worried about not passing her probationary period but told them to not tell anyone about the pregnancy.

She later told the head of HR, Suzanne Greaves, she was just six weeks pregnant and did not want to tell anyone as she had had a miscarriage before, the tribunal heard.

Feeling 'absolutely awful' and 'really really stressing' as she could not afford the time off, Mrs Geogiev was signed off for two weeks, the hearing held in Manchester was told.

When she returned to work on October 8 - the final day of her probationary period - she was called in for a meeting with consulting managing director Daniel Morris.

Mrs Geogiev told the panel she became 'very upset' and told Mr Morris she was pregnant but he sacked her, saying 'if staff are off sick they are not making him money'.

An employment tribunal has now ruled that Hanover Insolvency will have to pay her 64,783 for loss of earnings and injury to feelings

Mr Morris told the tribunal Mrs Geogiev was to work from home on a self employed basis but not as an employee.

Mrs Geogiev later wrote a letter to the company appealing her dismissal which read: 'I feel I have been dismissed solely on the fact that I am pregnant, at no point has my performance been questioned, this was purely due to my sickness absence.

'I am sure if I had been dismissed on performance I would not have been given the opportunity to work on a self-employed basis.'

After some back and forth correspondence, Mrs Geogiev said she had 'lost all faith' in the company and was unwell and later suffered a miscarriage, the tribunal heard.

In December 2018 she was suffering from severe depression and then suffered another miscarriage, the tribunal was told.

In October 2019 Mrs Geogiev began another job with UK Debt Services.

A letter written by her GP was read at the hearing which said: 'According to Maya her symptoms have gone worse since she had an incident in her previous job where she was sacked, that put a lot of stress on her and she is not managing well ever since.'

The tribunal - headed by employment judge Hilary Slater - concluded it was the combination of Mrs Geogiev's dismissal by Hanover Insolvency and the first miscarriage which led to her 'feeling so bad'.

Judge Slater said: 'Without the acts of discrimination, we consider it unlikely Mrs Geogiev would have suffered so severely.

'She acknowledged she was upset by the miscarriage, as we would expect would be the case.

'However, miscarriage is very common in the early stages of pregnancy and, had it not been for the effects of the discrimination, we consider it likely [Mrs Georgiev] would not have reached the depths of depression which she did.

'We find, on a balance of probabilities, that, whatever the exact words used were, Daniel Morris made it clear to Mrs Geogiev within moments of the meeting starting that he was dismissing her.

'After being told she was pregnant and her absences were pregnancy related, he then confirmed she was being dismissed and that the reason for this was because of her absences.'

Mrs Geogiev will be awarded 64,783 as compensation by Hanover Insolvency.
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has filed a lawsuit on behalf of a Minnesota man who cited religious grounds as the reason for refusing his employer's requirement to be fingerprinted.

Henry Harrington, 37, of Mound, Minnesota, was ousted hours after refusing the scan as part of a background check requirements for one of the debt collection agency's clients.

The act would have violated his 'sincere religious belief that he should refrain from having his fingerprints captured,' according to court documents.

The EEOC filed the suit against Ascension Point Recovery Services on June 17 at the U.S. District Court in Minneapolis.

Henry Harrington refused to have his fingerprints taken due to a 'sincere religious belief.' Above, Atletico Madrid's security system requires fans to scan their fingers to gain entry

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is suing Henry Harrington's former employer alleging religious discrimination in violation of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which states an employer must 'reasonably accommodate' religious beliefs

'Federal law is clear: Employers cannot refuse to provide a religious accommodation unless it presents an undue hardship,' said EEOC Chicago District Director Julianne Bowman in a statement.

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination based on religion.

It requires employers to reasonably accommodate an applicant's or employee's religious practice unless it would pose an undue hardship.

The suit was filed on June 17 at the U.S. District Court in Minneapolis, Minnesota

'Despite this obligation, APRS fired this employee the same day of his accommodation request  failing to even explore readily available solutions,' Bowman said.

'When a company violates federal anti-discrimination laws this way, the EEOC will step in.'

The lawsuit alleges that the company sent Harrington, whose previous position at the company is unknown, an email requesting that he be fingerprinted in June 2017.

He replied saying that the requirement conflicted with his beliefs and requested an exemption. It is unclear what Harrington's specific aversion to fingerprints is.

During a follow-up meeting, Harington again refused to comply with the requirement.

He was fired later that day, according to the lawsuit, which claims that Ascension Point 'failed to explore any alternatives to fingerprinting as an accommodation of Harrington's religious practice.'

The EEOC is asking the company to reinstate Harrington and to provide back pay, as well as damages for lost wages, 'emotional pain, suffering, inconvenience,' punitive damages and attorney's fees.

'An employee should not have to choose between his faith and his livelihood,' said EEOC regional attorney Gregory Gochanour.

'The EEOC is committed to enforcing the rights of religious employees, and Title VII requires that an employer attempt to find a workable solution when an employee's sincerely held religious observance or practice conflicts with a work requirement.'

According to the StarTribune, a similar case was filed in Pennsylvania, where a school bus driver refused to be fingerprinted for a background check, believing it would leave the "mark of the devil" on her.

Bonnie Kaite, an evangelical Christian, sued Altoona Student Transportation Inc. in 2017.

Kaite worked for the company for 14 years before being told in 2015 that a new law meant she would need to undergo fingerprinting. She refused, saying the process could prevent her entry into heaven.

The sides reached a settlement with terms undisclosed in 2018.
Portland mayor Ted Wheeler has been mocked for hosting a 'welcome back' festival with roller-skating and music after the city was ravaged by protests and violence for more than a year.

'Welcome Back to the Heart of Portland!' includes free concerts, pop-up markets and light displays in the Oregon city which has been besieged by BLM demonstrations.

Wheeler tweeted: 'You're invited to Portland's reopening with Welcome Back to the Heart of Portland! From Friday-Sunday, Portland's central city will host free live concerts, roller skating, painting, and other fun, family friendly activities.'

Portland mayor Ted Wheeler has been mocked for hosting a 'welcome back' festival after the city was ravaged by protests and violence for more than a year

'Welcome Back to the Heart of Portland!' includes free concerts, pop-up markets and light displays in the Oregon city which has been besieged by BLM demonstrations

But many residents criticized him in the comments, saying Portland's downtown is not ready to host a family-friendly event.

One local jokingly replied: 'Who is providing armed security?'

Another wrote: 'Sad to hear that our mayor fell out of love with Portland right when we needed him.'

Monique Claiborne, president and CEO of Greater Portland Inc., said: 'Really we're one step closer to imagining a future city that's inclusive and prosperous.'

But Portland residents appeared to disagree, with some slamming the event in light of the violence that has rocked the city for months.

Many residents criticized him in the comments, saying Portland's downtown is not ready to host a family-friendly event

Police chase demonstrators after a riot was declared during a protest against the killing of Daunte Wright on April 12. The Mayor of Portland says he is determined to reclaim the city from the 'anarchistic mob' that has inflicted 'criminal intimidation and violence' on its streets

The once vibrant downtown was ravaged by the pandemic and also suffered looting and violent clashes between police and BLM protesters in the wake of George Floyd's death last year.

Wheeler acknowledged the rising crime rate on Sunday, telling Fox 12: 'We have clearly a gun violence problem in our community, we have a homicide problem in our community, and the community should expect that we will have adequate resources.

'That's the tools, the training, and personnel to be able to address the growing problem around gun violence and homicides in our community.'

It comes amid a push to force Wheeler out of office in response to the civil unrest that has gripped Portland.

Activists march towards the Multnomah County Sheriff's office during a protest against the killing of Daunte Wright on April 12. Protests over the police killing in Minneapolis soon spiraled out of control in the city's downtown

Total Recall PDX needs to collect 47,788 valid signatures, equivalent to 15 per cent of the voters in the 2018 gubernatorial election, to force a recall.

The group has until September to collect the votes and is confident of doubling the number of signatures required.

In April, Wheeler said he was determined to reclaim Portland from the 'anarchistic mob' that has inflicted 'criminal intimidation and violence' on its streets.

He praised BLM leaders for showing 'the courage to stand up to this mob' and said that all Portland residents should do the same.

Federal officers arrest a demonstrator during a Black Lives Matter protest at the Mark O. Hatfield United States Courthouse in Portland in July 2020. Portland has been the site of frequent protests since the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis in May 2020

'Together we can make a stand and take our city back,' he added.

The mayor said that the community needs to resume their lives but 'self-described anarchists who engage in regular criminal destruction don't want things to open up, to recover.'

'They want to burn, they want to bash... they want to intimidate, they want to assault,' he continued, referencing the nearly $20,000 worth of damage caused to a local Boys and Girls Club in the north east of the city.

Over the summer, there were demonstrations for more than 100 straight days.
Advertisement

A creative worker at a top advertising agency today said he felt like he had 'a target on my back' when he was fired after a gay female director vowed to 'obliterate' the firm's Mad Men reputation of being 'full of white, British, straight men.'

Chas Bayfield and colleague Dave Jenner, who were among five men axed from J. Walter Thompson (JWT) after bosses 'urgently' wanted to address its poor gender pay gap, have expressed relief after winning a sex discrimination claim against the company.

A damning gender pay gap report had sent 'shock waves' through the firm as it highlighted there was a serious lack of female representation, a tribunal heard.

Female creative director Jo Wallace, 44, was appointed to help lose the company's 'Knightsbridge Boys Club' reputation and jointly held a diversity conference called 'Crisis: The Mother of All Change'.

Ms Wallace, who introduced herself as a gay woman, told the conference: 'One thing we all agree on is that the reputation JWT once earnt - as being full of white, British, privileged [men] - has to be obliterated.'

When Mr Bayfield, who made the famous Blackcurrant Tango 'St George' ad, and Mr Jenner expressed 'valid' concerns over the safety of their jobs, bosses reacted 'furiously' and took it as a 'challenge' to their new diversity drive, then made them redundant.

Mr Bayfield told MailOnline today: 'There is a part of me that feels guilty that these laws, that were put in place to protect minorities in the workplace as they should be, have protected a couple of middle-aged, straight, British men. But it is also right the judge found in our favour because it wasn't right.

'I definitely agreed that there had to be a way to address the diversity issues, but I don't think it was gone about the right way.

'I remember feeling like I just had a target on my back. I remember thinking, if I was a black 24-year-old woman I'd be fine. If I had been gay, even better.

'But as a middle-aged white man, it felt like my job was in danger and that's why we went to a lawyer.'

A spokesman for Mr Jenner today added that he hoped the judgment would 'encourage more people to stand up to the 'Cancel Club'.'

Wunderman Thompson, which merged with JWT - the spiritual successor of Madison Avenue, home to a series of advertising agencies that inspired Mad Men, told MailOnline it would be appealing the ruling.

Ms Wallace, who used to work for Saatchi & Saatchi and lives with her fiancee in a 1.2 million house in trendy east London, wrote in an article last year: 'A hell of a lot of people are literally sleeping on the job when it comes to diversifying their creative department beyond white, pale, stale males.'

Chas Bayfield (pictured above today) and Dave Jenner won a sex discrimination claim against JWT London after being fired in November 2018 for addressing concerns about job security

Jo Wallace, who introduced herself as a gay woman at the conference, was appointed to help JWT lose its 'Knightsbridge Boys Club' reputation

Ms Wallace founded a 'Good Girls Eat Dinner' exhibition every other month, where inspirational speakers including Hollywood star Amanda Foster and C4 News presenter Cathy Newman have been invited to share their stories and advice

After graduating from Buckinghamshire Chilterns University College in 1999 with a First in graphic design and advertising, she worked as a creative writer for companies such as The AA, Tango, Pot Noodle and Guinness

Mr Bayfield made the famous and multi-award-winning Blackcurrant Tango 'St George' advert, which aired in the 1990s

Jo Wallace: The 'kick-ass Superwoman' ex-Saatchi & Saatchi director behind ads for Nestle, L'Oreal and Nivea - who boasts she hosts 'the best dinner party you'll ever go to' Ms Wallace, who introduced herself as a gay woman at a recent Creative Equals conference, is a high-profile diversity campaigner who has founded a number of programmes and events to champion women in work. In an article last December she wrote: 'A hell of a lot of people are literally sleeping on the job when it comes to diversifying their creative department beyond white, pale, stale males. 'There are still far too many creative departments with zero female or black and minority ethnic creatives.' Ms Wallace was born in June 1977 and grew up in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, where she lived with parents Catherine and Stuart, an engineer. After graduating from Buckinghamshire Chilterns University College in 1999 with a First in graphic design and advertising, she worked as a creative writer for companies such as The AA, Tango, Pot Noodle and Guinness. Jo Wallace and her fiancee Sophie Blowfield She then moved on to directing commercials and short films before landing a job at Draftfcb, where she boasts she 'played a major role in winning the US$1.4 billion NIVEA Global pitch'. While working at Saatchi & Saatchi, Ms Wallace created and co-curated the exhibition 'There's a Good Girl', which aimed to showcase and celebrate female creative talent to a wider audience. 'I didn't want to preach to the converted, I wanted to reach a wider audience with a celebration and showcase of epic female creativity,' she writes on her website. She also founded a 'Good Girls Eat Dinner' exhibition every other month, where inspirational speakers including Hollywood star Amanda Foster and C4 News presenter Cathy Newman have been invited to share their stories and advice. The networking event describes itself as providing 'inspirational, kick-ass female role models across the creative industries (where they are sadly lacking)'. Ms Wallace has previously described JWT's poor performance in the gender pay league as a much-needed 'rocket' to address the lack of diversity among senior staff. Ms Wallace then began her role at JWT, being brought in as global creative director in 2017, where she oversees the entire creative portfolio for Nestle. Records show the 44-year-old lives with her fiancee Sophie Blowfield in a 1.2 million house in a trendy part of east London. Advertisement

The pair were let go after a meeting with the company and were told to leave.

Companies can hire from under-represented communities, but cannot fire employees for race or discrimination.

Now the pair, who were behind some hugely successful TV adverts, have successfully sued Wunderman Thompson for sex discrimination.

Mr Bayfield and Mr Jenner are in line to receive compensation from Wunderman Thompson after winning claims of sex discrimination, victimisation, harassment and unfair dismissal.

They lost claims of age discrimination, race discrimination, and sexual orientation discrimination after the judge ruled they had no impact on their dismissal.

The complaint becomes a test case at a time when employers are trying to close gender wage gaps. JWT has one of the most unequal salary structures in the advertising industry, according to data released under government rules.

After the pay gap figures were published JWT implemented a plan to increase diversity through methods such as 'unconscious bias training for staff' and a 'blind recruitment policy' which would see details such as gender removed from job applications.

The male-dominated world of advertising is epitomised in the US TV drama Mad Men which portrays sharp-suited, smooth-tongued executives plying their trade on New York's Madison Avenue in the 1960s.

Mr Bayfield today said since his dismissal he has struggled to find work and Mr Jenner has left advertising, adding that they have been perceived as 'whistle-blowers' in the industry.

The married father, now 54, of Cricklewood in London, said: 'We were concerned about diversity and female and minority representation but we were also worried about our job safety - the word 'obliterated' is a powerful word.

'The gender pay gap was mortifying for the company - because it was an awful gap - and their approach was to go gung-ho on who they perceived to be the enemy. They rigged up a kangaroo court and fired us.'

Mr Jenner's lawyer told MailOnline: 'There is nothing inclusive or productive about vilifying one group of people to lift up another.

'As this decision demonstrates, there is nothing lawful about it either.

'Hopefully the judgment will encourage more people to stand up to the 'Cancel Club' and rediscover their value as individuals in promoting a tolerant and all-inclusive society.'

Three other male creatives who were sacked settled out of court, Mr Bayfield said.

The complainant said said today that his redundancy was a 'tragic' example of how the battle against discrimination was victimising 'people who aren't particularly vulnerable, like British men.'

In an exclusive interview with MailOnline, he said: 'I feel very pleased at the result. I think the agency was believing it was doing the right thing and wanted to be seen to be diverse, and on the side of all the people who have been historically overlooked.

'They had their shocking pay gap figures which were the worst in the whole industry. They wanted to so do something really quickly and there was this knee jerk reaction at a conference they spoke at.

'But I felt very much that they were taking discrimination from one place and putting it in another place which was completely the wrong way to do it. There were so many other ways they could fix that problem.

'I was fully on board with the notion that it was a problem which needed fixing and we do need to get more people from different cultures and different countries and more women in high positions.

'I ended up speaking out, saying that the tone used in that talk actually makes it sound that you are going to fix the problem by getting rid of us  British straight men of a certain age.

'That is really where it all kicked off and their response to that was really quite explosive, and two days later we were on a list to be made redundant.

'I am very glad that the tribunal looked into all the background and detail, and saw what was going on. The agency was very, very angry because they thought we were opposed to their agenda which we weren't. We were just getting clarity on, 'Where does this put us?'

'It's tragic that the legislation which was put there to protect vulnerable people is now used against people who aren't particularly vulnerable, like British men.'

He said that his former employers had six weeks to lodge an appeal if they felt the law was interpreted wrongly. But if there is no appeal, he expects the tribunal to rule on awarding payouts to him and Mr Jenner.

Mr Bayfield said he had 'not worked a huge amount' in the last three years and had 'certainly never achieved the level he was at with JWT'.

He added: 'Work has been quite scant, particularly through the pandemic.'

But he said he and his Australian-born wife Claire and their 12-year-old daughter were now preparing to emigrate in six weeks time to Hobart, Tasmania.

'I know there are some very good job opportunities out there, so I am very excited about making a new start, away from all this.'

Mr Bayfeld said his decision to emigrate was partly due to him being made redundant, but he added: 'When your wife is from Australia, it is always at the back of your mind that you might end up there. But it's been massively accelerated by the absence of work over here.

'My wife is an occupational therapist and is very employable anywhere, so she found a job very quickly.'

Mr Bayfield, pictured, told MailOnline today he felt like: 'I had a target on my back' when Ms Wallace was appointed

While working at Saatchi & Saatchi, Ms Wallace (pictured with her fiancee Sophie Blowfield) created and co-curated the exhibition 'There's a Good Girl', which aimed to showcase and celebrate female creative talent to a wider audience

Miss Wallace said she wanted to change the agency's Mad Men 'male pale and stale' image. Pictured: The cast of the series

Jo Wallace, pictured left with fiancee Sophie Blowfield, is the company's global creative director, who has won a series of awards across more than 20 years in the industry

After graduating from Buckinghamshire Chilterns University College in 1999 with a First in graphic design and advertising, she worked as a creative writer for companies such as The AA, Tango, Pot Noodle and Guinness

J. Walter Thompson: How a Civil War Marine went on to found one of the world's biggest advertising giants representing clients including Ford - and the letter from President Roosevelt asking for a job The JWT agency was born out of the Civil War in America and went on to become a global advertising giant dominating the industry for more than 150 years. It has since been taken over by Wunderman, a New York-based global marketing communications agency with 200 offices in 90 markets. It employs around 20,000 people and works with some of the biggest brands on the planet including Shell, BT, HSBC, Microsoft, Macallan, Selfridges and Nestle. Born in 1847 in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, James Walter Thompson first made his name serving as a Marine aboard the USS Saratoga during the conflict. James Walter Thompson first made his name serving as a Marine aboard the USS Saratoga In his early 20s, he was employed to sell space in religious publications, which was his first real taste of advertising - a hunger that would grow into becoming a global phenomenon. He took advantage of the Industrial Revolution by quickly associating himself with clients before buying the Carlton & Smith Agency for $500, and then eventually setting up his own firm, which would go onto become the household name that is JWT. He is said to have chosen to call him company J. Walter Thompson because there were too many James Thompsons in town. The Gilded Age, which began in the late 1870s and persisted into the 1910s, saw rapid industrialisation , groundbreaking innovations in science and technology, and the rise of big business. Thompson saw an opportunity to employ writers and artists to create interesting advertisements for these companies, thus replacing the often banal ads created by in-house businesses. It was considered a seminal moment in the history of advertising, injecting creativity into what was once mundane communications. At the end of the 19th century, Thompson pioneered the development of a creative department by hiring writers and artists to create ads in order to sell more space. He realised more space would be sold if the company could provide a service to advertisers by creating the ad content itself. Thus, the advertisers were the creators of engaging content, taking the onus off the client. His reputation rapidly grew and the first international advertising office was born when he set up shop in London at the turn of the century. Soon, Thompson was representing clients including Gerald Ford, as the age of the automobile hit the United States, as well as food giants Nestle and Kraft. He also produced The Thompson Blue and Red Books of Advertising, which provided a comprehensive guide to opportunities in all markets. Thompson died in 1928 but his legacy lived on as the company went from strength to strength, with President Franklin D. Roosevelt, unaware of his death, penning a letter to the entrepreneur asking for help in getting his son Elliot, a job in the advertising industry. In November 2018, JWT merged with fellow agency Wunderman to form Wunderman Thompson, the name it still operates under today. Advertisement

A judge ruled that JWT bosses unfairly got 'rid' of Mr Bayfield and Mr Jenner, 52 and 50 at the time, because it 'immediately assisted the gender pay gap issue'.

The London Central tribunal heard both men are straight, white and British. Their work regularly received praise from colleagues and industry peers.

In April 2018, a gender pay gap report revealed there was a pay gap of 44.7 per cent.

Ms Wallace had been brought in five months earlier 'on the need to shake up the creative team to ensure they were seen as experts in non-traditional advertising, and to lose the reputation as the 'Knightsbridge boys club'.'

Ms Wallace, who has been described as a 'fearless champion of female success', held the 'hard-hitting' diversity presentation with executive creative director Lucas Peon in May 2018.

It caused 'controversy' when Ms Wallace said JWT's reputation - 'white, British, privileged, straight men creating traditional, above the line advertising' - needed to be abolished.

Later, Mr Bayfield sent an email to a boss saying: 'I found out recently JWT did a talk off site where it vowed to obliterate white, middle-class straight people from its creative department. There are a lot of very worried people down here.'

Mr Peon and Emma Hoyle, the company's HR director, called a meeting with Mr Bayfield and Mr Jenner to discuss their concerns about job safety.

Though Mr Bayfield and Mr Jenner said they believe women and minorities should have a fair chance, they were angrily accused of challenging the diversity pledge.

Employment Judge Mark Emery said they were treated in such a hostile manner it amounted to 'victimisation'.

Judge Emery said: 'Both Ms Hoyle and Mr Peon were angry from the outset of the meeting, and it continued in this vein. Voices were raised by Mr Peon and Ms Hoyle, and Mr Bayfield and Mr Jenner were forced to defend their position.

'Their explanations were not at the time accepted and their points of view were angrily dismissed. [There was a] failure to accept that they had any valid concerns about the presentation... their views were regarded as unacceptable.'

Within two days it had been decided that Mr Bayfield and Mr Jenner would lose their jobs to redundancies.

Mr Peon had unfairly made his mind up before even carrying out an assessment of other senior creatives to see who would be axed.

He claimed their performance was at fault, but the judge ruled the work never had concerns.

Judge Emery said: 'We concluded there was a consensus amongst [the company's] senior management team that Mr Bayfield and Mr Jenner had overstepped the mark with their comments in their emails and at the meeting, that there was anger at what [the company] considered a challenge to their plans on the gender pay gap issue.'

The judge added: 'We considered that a significant factor in [the company's bosses] minds at this time was the gender pay gap issue, and that a reason for dismissing Mr Bayfield and Mr Jenner was there would be an impact, both in terms of the figures, and by the prospect of having senior positions opening which could be filled by women.

'We considered that this factor, their sex, was on the mind of [the company] when determining to dismiss them, an equal factor with that of the anger at their complaints.

'This would immediately assist the gender pay gap issue within the creative team, it would rid the team of two creative directors who were because of their sex seen as resistant to change; also female creative directors were exactly what [the company] were seeking.'

A woman in a similar position would not have faced the same backlash, the judge added.

Adrian Scotland, partner at Judge Sykes Frixou, which represented them in the case, said: 'We were always confident the Tribunal would find in our favour, but you take nothing for granted.

' I am delighted for my clients. They are courageous human beings, having risked their careers to take on a global corporation with the reach and influence of WPP.

'The experiences outlined in this case are sadly commonplace. It is a growing part of the work we do day-to-day.

'Every good thing is vulnerable to corruption and with the billions poured into the diversity economy it should be no surprise that there are more and more bad actors appearing.

'It is important that people feel able to question and challenge bad ideas, especially when they hide behind a benevolent cause.

She then moved on to directing commercials and short films before landing a job at Draftfcb, where she boasts she 'played a major role in winning the US$1.4 billion NIVEA Global pitch'

The Blackcurrant Tango 'St George' advert, created by Mr Bayfield, was hugely popular in the 1990s and won a host of awards

The Blackcurrant Tango 'St George' advert, created by Mr Bayfield, was hugely popular in the 1990s and won a host of awards

'There is nothing inclusive or productive about vilifying one group of people to lift up another. As this decision demonstrates, there is nothing lawful about it either.

Hopefully the judgment will encourage more people to stand up to the 'Cancel Club' and rediscover their value as individuals in promoting a tolerant and all-inclusive society.'

A spokesperson for Wunderman Thompson, which merged with JWT, said: 'We will be appealing the tribunal's ruling on events that took place within the J. Walter Thompson business in 2018.

'We do not tolerate any form of discrimination or harassment and are committed to providing an inclusive workplace in which everyone is treated fairly.'

Wunderman Thompson told MailOnline: 'No claim was brought against Jo Wallace in relation to the events that took place within the J. Walter Thompson business in 2018. She did not dismiss the claimants, and was not involved in the redundancy decision-making process.'
Advertisement

Covid was only the 26th leading cause of death in England in June, official data revealed today.

Just 0.9 per cent of fatalities were down to the virus last month  the equivalent of 11 per day, figures from the Office for National Statistics showed.

For comparison, heart disease  the country's leading killer  claimed 139 lives per day, 12 times more than the coronavirus.

Meanwhile, the rate of coronavirus deaths was so low in Wales they couldnt even work out where Covid ranked compared to other diseases.

Despite deaths having plummeted over the past few months because of lockdown and vaccines, the virus is still the leading killer this year.

But fatalities are starting to speed up now, with infections having soared because of the spread of the Indian Delta variant. Experts say the easing of restrictions will inevitably cause the outbreak to pick up pace.

And despite vaccines drastically slashing the risk of people falling seriously ill, they are not perfect. A proportion of people who get infected will still die, although that fraction is much smaller now than it was before the roll-out began.

Just 0.9 per cent of fatalities were down to the virus last month  the equivalent of 11 per day, figures from the Office for National Statistics showed. For comparison, heart disease  the country's leading killer  claimed 139 lives per day, 12 times more than the coronavirus

The top 26 leading causes of death in England in June Ischaemic heart diseases: 4,183 deaths Dementia and Alzheimer's disease: 3,962 deaths Malignant neoplasm of trachea, bronchus and lung: 2,241 deaths Cerebrovascular diseases: 2,123 deaths Chronic lower respiratory diseases: 1,757 deaths Malignant neoplasm of colon, sigmoid, rectum and anus: 1,122 deaths Influenza and pneumonia: 1,045 deaths Symptoms, signs and ill-defined conditions: 993 deaths Malignant neoplasms, stated or presumed to be primary of lymphoid, haematopoietic and related tissue: 922 deaths Malignant neoplasm of prostate: 815 deaths Malignant neoplasm of breast: 758 deaths Cirrhosis and other diseases of liver: 735 deaths Malignant neoplasm of pancreas: 726 deaths Heart failure and complications and ill-defined heart disease: 628 deaths Cardiac arrhythmias: 622 deaths Diseases of the urinary system: 566 deaths Hypertensive diseases: 562 deaths Diabetes: 545 deaths Malignant neoplasm of oesophagus: 541 deaths Parkinson disease: 488 deaths Pulmonary oedema and other interstitial pulmonary diseases: 469 deaths Nonrheumatic valve disorders and endocarditis: 467 deaths Malignant neoplasm of liver and intrahepatic bile ducts: 440 deaths Malignant neoplasm of bladder: 394 deaths Aortic aneurysm and dissection: 365 deaths Covid: 344 deaths Advertisement

Of the 38,611 people who died in England in June, just 344 (0.9 per cent) died from Covid.

The ONS calculates the figures based on the number of deaths where Covid was the underlying cause.

Taking into account all deaths that involved Covid, the virus was linked to 476 fatalities  1.2 per cent of all deaths in England.

The equivalent figure for Wales is 0.2 per cent, with the virus contributing to five deaths.

But Covid was only blamed for two of the 2,560 deaths registered in Wales.

The 0.1 per cent of deaths linked to the virus in Wales is the lowest proportion the country has seen so far in the pandemic. It was so low that the ONS was unable to accurately rank it against other leading causes.

Covid killed slightly more people in England in June compared to the month before, accounting for 75 deaths per million people compared to 71 per million in May.

But it was still nowhere near the scale of the crisis seen in the first wave, when figures breached 6,200 deaths for every million people.

In the second wave, Covid fatalities peaked at 5,496 per million, the same ONS data showed.

Despite low death numbers recorded in May and June, the coronavirus is still the biggest killer so far this year, accounting for 17.3 per cent of all deaths in England and 13.9 per cent of all deaths in Wales.

Meanwhile, the figures also showed deaths from flu and pneumonia were much lower than the five-year average.

The ONS team said: 'This is likely in part because of coronavirus restrictions and guidance, such as social distancing, reducing the spread of infections such as flu.'

Heart disease was the biggest killer in June, causing 4,183 deaths  equating to 10.8 per cent of all deaths in England.

It was followed by dementia and Alzheimers disease (10.3 per cent), lung cancer (5.8 per cent) and strokes and other brain diseases (5.5 per cent).

Up to the end of June, 282,754 deaths were registered in England and 18,152 in Wales.

The number of people who died in total in the country in June is 1,275 less than it was one year ago, but still 0.8 per cent above the five year average.

The ONS said the number of people who died in total in the country last month is significantly lower than it was in June 2020, with 1,275 less deaths being recorded.

But they said the number is still significantly higher (0.8 per cent) than the average than the five year average.

It comes as separate figures today showed nearly 750,000 people in England were infected with Covid last week in the highest number since the second wave was still raging in January.

The Office for National Statistics' weekly surveillance report estimated that one in 75 people had the virus in the seven days to July 17, the equivalent of 741,700, as the epidemic grew by 28 per cent.

The report was based on random testing of about 130,000 people in private homes across the country.

It means Covid is more widespread now than it has been since the last week of January, when there were estimated to be about 850,000 people infected at any given time in England.

The figures reveal that Manchester is still the country's Covid capital, with a 3.7 per cent positivity rate in the last week, suggesting one in 27 Mancunians were carrying the disease.

In England, the number of people dying from Covid dropped slightly in June compared to one month earlier, accounting for 7.5 deaths per 100,000 people, compared to 7.1 per 100,000 in May

Heart disease remained the biggest killer in England, causing 4,183 deaths  equating to 10.8 per cent of all deaths in England. Dementia and Alzheimers disease (3,962), lung cancer (2,241) and brain disease (2,123) were the next biggest killers. These were followed by chronic lower respiratory diseases (1,757), bowel cancer (1,122) and flu and pneumonia (1,045). Deaths from flu were nearly half as low as usual, with statisticians crediting lockdowns for the drop in the amount of the virus in circulation
Advertisement

Covid hospital admissions among elderly people in England are three times lower than they would have been if it wasn't for vaccines, official analysis shows.

The findings, revealed in a Public Health England report last night, provide the only official look at how well the jab roll-out is protecting the NHS amid the third wave.

About 200 over-65s were admitted to hospital with the virus on July 10, the latest date for which data is available, compared to the 750 that would have been expected without the vaccination drive.

In total, PHE estimates that more than 50,000 admissions have been prevented in England and almost 40,000 deaths.

It is likely that the jabs are performing even better than suggested within the scope of the analysis, which does not break down how many hospital patients were unvaccinated.

Sir Patrick Vallance, the countrys chief scientific adviser, said last week that about 60 per cent of people admitted to hospital have not had their jabs. A smaller proportion will have only received one dose.

AstraZeneca and Pfizers vaccines, which the majority of elderly Britons have been given, have been shown to reduce the risk of hospitalisation by more than 90 per cent, even from the Delta variant.

Among those who still catch Covid and are admitted to hospital, their illness is often milder than in previous waves and they are discharged quicker, thanks to the jabs.

PHE said that its analysis did not account for the millions of infections the vaccines have prevented, which will have also indirectly reduced hospital admissions.

Experts told MailOnline the findings were 'very important', describing them as 'clear-cut evidence' that the vaccines are doing their job in protecting the most vulnerable.

The green line shows the number of hospital admissions in the over 65 group officials would have expected by July 10 if it was not for the vaccines  roughly 750. The red line represents the actual number of over-65s admitted on that date, around 200. The other lines highlight the uptake of one (D1) or two (D2) vaccine dose in various age groups

Adults under 65 (red line) now make up a bigger proportion of hospital admissions than elderly groups (blue), who were traditionally most likely to become severely ill with Covid. Elderly groups were prioritised for the vaccines and uptake has been highest in those groups, which has caused the shift. Children (green) have always been at a very small risk of the virus

The proportion of cases is broken down by age group and highlighted as a percentage. It shows that in about March - around the time elderly groups started to enjoy protection from their second jab - young and middle aged Britons began to make up the majority of hospital admissions for the first time in the pandemic

PHE said that of the 52,600 hospital admissions prevented by the vaccines in England, 8,800 were in those aged 65 to 74, 20,300 in the 75 to 84-year-olds and 23,500 in the oldest groups.

The report added: 'There is increasing evidence that vaccines prevent infection and transmission. The indirect effects of the vaccination programme will not be incorporated in this analysis, therefore the figure of 52,600 hospitalisations averted is likely to be an underestimate.'

Cambridge University epidemiologist Dr Raghib Ali told MailOnline: 'This is very important. I very much welcome the release of this data and it really does confirm what we saw in the clinical trials [of the vaccines].

'It's the first real world evidence of the impact of the vaccines and shows clearly the effect they've had on admissions in the over-65s, most of whom by this time [July 10] had been given both doses. I'd expect similar results in all age groups.'

Brits warned not to wrangle a second Pfizer vaccine early Britons have been urged not to get their second Covid jab early because it could lead to weaker protection against the virus. A study by scientists from the country's best universities found having at least six weeks between doses of Pfizer's vaccine increases immunity, with eight weeks the 'sweet spot'. It comes amid growing concerns young people will rush to get their top-up jab prematurely so they can go on quarantine-free summer holidays to amber list destinations. Some vaccine centres offer walk-in services, which have been accepting people who had their first Pfizer jab as little as three weeks beforehand. The study of 500 NHS staff found waiting ten weeks rather than three weeks causes the body to produce more than twice as many antibodies to fight off the Indian 'Delta' Covid variant. Professor Susanna Dunachie, a medical microbiologist at the University of Oxford, and lead author of the study said: 'I think eight weeks is about the sweet spot for me. 'Because [while] people do want to get the two vaccines and there is a lot of Delta out there right now, unfortunately I can't see this virus disappearing, so you want to balance that against getting the best protection that you can. 'And there's also population level decisions as well.' The Government is also due to relax self-isolation rules for people who have had both vaccines next month, which has raised fears people will try to get their second jab too early. Advertisement

Professor Paul Hunter, an infectious disease expert at the University of East Anglia, added: 'This is absolutely evidence the vaccines are working, doing their job in keeping hospitalisations under control.

'It doesn't take into account the fact we're seeing far fewer cases than we would've been if it weren't for the jabs so it's actually an underestimate of the power of the vaccines.'

By July 10 there were roughly 30,000 daily cases across the UK and about 550 admissions of all age groups. This has risen to 45,000 infections and 750 admissions in the fortnight since.

But the vaccines have weakened the link between infection and severe illness, which is highlighted when admissions are compared to previous waves.

The last time the country was recording 45,000 cases per day was in mid-January, when there were 4,000 Covid hospitalisations each day.

Doctors are also reporting that Covid patients are less ill and stay in hospital for shorter periods than in previous waves, which is highlighted in inpatient data.

There are about 4,000 patients with Covid in hospital beds now compared to the 20,000 at the same point in the second wave.

A source who sits on one of the Government's advisory bodies told MailOnline: 'Thanks to the vaccines, admissions are not the same as they once were.

'Patients presenting now are not as demanding, they are not people who are desperately sick and need a high level of medical treatment. Of course there are still some.'

It comes after MailOnline analysis yesterday showed Covid admissions are spiking in four fifths of hospitals across England and have reached their highest level in four months.

Latest official figures show the number of coronavirus patients staying overnight in hospital beds increased 36 per cent to 3,068 in the week ending July 20.

This was the highest number since March 1 when 704 Covid patients were in hospital. In the worst affected trusts, the number of inpatients has nearly quadrupled in the most recent week.

North East Anglia NHS Foundation Trust in Cambridge saw its number of patients increase from six to 23 in a week.

For comparison, just 17 of the 126 hospitals in England that can treat Covid saw their bed usage drop.

But hospitals are yet to become overwhelmed with Covid patients. Only three trusts had 10 per cent or more of their beds filled with patients with the virus.

Government data shows that 14 per cent fewer tests were carried out compared to last week, which may be partly behind the fall

Covid admissions are spiking in four fifths of hospitals across England, official NHS data has shown as the third wave continues to pile on pressure on the NHS. Above shows the trusts which saw the largest percentage increase in admissions in the most recent week. It does not necessarily mean these hospitals were the most full

Hospitals in Kent saw nearly 45 per cent of all beds occupied by Covid-infected Brits during the darkest days of the second wave in January.

Of trusts with more than ten Covid patients, Northampton General Hospital had the second biggest jump, seeing patients increase from seven to 26 in a week.

It was followed by Chesterfield Royal Hospital, which saw a rise of 233 per cent, Royal Berkshire (200 per cent) and Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells (200 per cent) in Kent.

Regionally, the East of England saw the biggest spike in Covid patients, with the number of beds being used to treat people with the virus jumping 74 per cent to 194

The Midlands and North East and Yorkshire saw the next biggest spikes  48.6 per cent and 42 per cent respectively  with the latter also having the highest number of beds used in England, with 745.

Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust had the largest proportion of beds being used by Covid patients, with 46 of its 409 capacity being taken by people infected being treated for the virus  11.3 per cent.

Pennine Acute Hospitals Trust had the second most (10.8 per cent), while Bolton NHS Foundation Trust was the third trust to have more than one in ten of its beds used by Covid patients (10 per cent).

Eleven trusts had less than one per cent of beds being used, with Queen Victoria Hospital in West Sussex and Dorset County Hospital both having none.
The 'QAnon Shaman' who stormed the U.S. Capitol during the January 6 riot is negotiating a possible plea deal with prosecutors, after prison psychologists found he suffers from a variety of mental illnesses.

Jacob Chansley, 33, is perhaps the most recognizable of the 535 people arrested over the riot after he was photographed inside the government building in face paint and a distinctive horned headdress.

The conspiracy theorist was arrested on six federal charges, including violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds.

Chansley is facing years in prison if found guilty, and is currently being held behind bars ahead of his trial.

However, in an interview with Reuters, Chansley's defense lawyer Albert Watkins said that it's possible his client could cut a plea deal after officials at the federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) diagnosed him with transient schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression and anxiety.

Chansley, of Arizona, is a supporter of the QAnon conspiracy theory that casts President Trump as a savior figure and elite Democrats as a cabal of Satanist pedophiles and cannibals.

Watkins said his client has expressed some delusions including 'believing that he was indeed related directly to Jesus and Buddha.'

The 'QAnon Shaman' who stormed the U.S. Capitol during the January 6 riot is negotiating a possible plea deal with prosecutors, after prison psychologists found he suffers from a variety of mental illnesses

Chansley shot to worldwide infamy when he stormed the Capitol sporting face-paint, a fur hat and holding a Star-Spangled spear

Watkins says the BOP's findings, which have not yet been made public, suggest Chansley's mental condition has deteriorated due to the stress of being held in solitary confinement at a jail in Alexandria, Virginia.

Chansley, who is pictured in a February mugshot, is being held in solitary confinement at a jail in Alexandria, Virginia

'As he spent more time in solitary confinement... the decline in his acuity was noticeable, even to an untrained eye,' Watkins stated.

'What we've done is we've taken a guy who is unarmed, harmless, peaceful... with a pre-existing mental vulnerability of significance, and we've rendered him a chocolate soup mess,' Watkins said.

The BOP in 2017 was faulted by the Justice Department's inspector general for its use of special housing units to confine inmates with mental illness, and the BOP agreed to place limits on the amount of time inmates remain in restrictive housing and to ensure they have meaningful human contact.

However, the COVID-19 pandemic led the BOP to step up its use of solitary housing units as a way to quarantine inmates to contain the spread of the virus.

Chansley is facing years in prison if found guilty, and is currently being held behind bars ahead of his trial

Prosecutors said Chansley went into the Capitol carrying a US flag attached to a wooden pole topped with a spear, ignored an officer's commands to leave, went into the Senate chamber and wrote a threatening note to then-Vice President Mike Pence

Meanwhile Watkins says Chansley's 2006 mental health records from his time in the U.S. Navy show a similar diagnosis to the BOP's.

A spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's office declined to comment on the case.

Meanwhile, Watkins did not say what specific charges Chansley was considering pleading guilty to, but defendants negotiating plea deals typically seek to plead to a less serious charge to reduce their potential prison sentences.

Watkins said authorities will need to determine how Chansley can get access to the treatment he needs to 'actively participate in his own defense.' Pleading guilty to a charge negates the need for a trial, but defendants still have to be declared mentally competent to do so.

Watkins said the BOP's evaluation of his client did not declare Chansley to be mentally incompetent, and he does not expect Chansley to be ordered to undergo what is known as competency restoration treatment.

This courtroom sketch of Jacob Chansley was shown to press outside the United States District Court back in January

Federal prosecutors have arrested 535 people on charges of taking part in the violence, which saw rioters battle police, smash windows and send members of Congress and then-Vice President Mike Pence running for safety

The rioters stormed the Capitol after Trump's 'Stop The Steal' rally and during a vote to certify the Electoral College count which declared Joe Biden the winner of the 2020 Presidential Electio

Federal prosecutors have arrested 535 people on charges of taking part in the violence, which saw rioters battle police, smash windows and send members of Congress and then-Vice President Mike Pence running for safety.

About 20 defendants so far have pleaded guilty to federal charges in connection with the attack, according to a government tally.

Earlier this week, the first person sentenced to hard time for playing a role in the riot was seen saying an emotional farewell to his girlfriend just a day after he admitted his guilt in court.

Paul Hodgkins, 38, received an eight-month sentence and was ordered to pay $2,000 restitution after cutting a plea deal with prosecutors.

Prosecutors had asked for 18 months, his defense called for no prison time. The maximum sentence was 20 years.

In return for his guilty plea, prosecutors dropped charges of entering a restricted building and disorderly conduct.
Buckinghamshire police have launched an urgent appeal following the disappearance of a 15-year-old boy.

Lewis Wragg was last seen in Marlow, in the Wycombe area of the county, at around 11.25am yesterday.

He was seen wearing a black T-shirt, black jeans and was riding a bicycle.

Lewis Wragg, 15, was last seen in Marlow wearing a black T-shirt, black jeans and riding a bicycle yesterday morning at 11.25am

He is known to frequent Marlows Seymour Park and London - and Thames Valley Police believe he may have travelled into the capital.

Officers launched an appeal to find the teenager in the early hours of this morning.

High Wycombe police inspector Jason Liles said: 'We are becoming increasingly concerned for the welfare of Lewis.'

'If anyone believes they may have seen him, or if anyone knows where he is, please contact police by calling 101, quoting reference 43210326030.'
The winner of a Brazilian Miss BumBum competition who also appeared on the cover of Portuguese playboy has been jailed for eight years.

Flavia Tamayo, who also goes by the name Pamela Pantera, was found guilty of dealing drugs and prostitution after being arrested last year.

The adult film star was part of an all-women drug-trafficking scheme run by a criminal organisation set up by prostitutes.

Flavia Tamayo (pictured), who also goes by the name Pamela Pantera, was found guilty of dealing drugs and prostitution after being arrested last year

Investigators found that the pornographic actress and her accomplices had specialised in the distribution and sale of Class A narcotics, including cocaine.

She was imprisoned in the Brazilian state of Espirito Santo between June and September last year pending her trial.

The police investigators found that the group had been selling drugs to wealthy customers in the Federal District where the capital Brasilia is located.

The customers are believed to have paid between 500 and 1,000 Brazilian real (70 - 140) for the group's services.

Flavia Tamayo (left and right), also known by her adult film industry name Pamela Pantera and dubbed the 'Powder Queen' for her involvement in selling class A drugs

CCTV footage of Flavia Tamayo's arrest last year has been released showing her being taken by the arm of a plain-clothes police officer (pictured)

Tamayo, who has been dubbed the 'Powder Queen', once featured on the cover of Playboy in Portugal, and she also participated in a regional Miss BumBum contest - which rewards the women with the best buttocks - which she won in 2018.

She also featured in pornographic films, according to Brazilian online magazine Last Second, in which she went by her industry name Pamela Pantera.

Her arrest made headlines when police officers tried to apprehend her and she caused a scene at a hotel, taking her clothes off in front of the officers and guests.

Tamayo, who has been dubbed the 'Powder Queen', once featured on the cover of Playboy in Portugal (pictured)

During the raids carried out by the police on 5th June 2020, during which they served 37 arrest warrants, they seized large amounts of cocaine, firearms and ammunition.

Investigators at the time said that they believed that the criminal organisation run by the prostitutes had a 'sex programme' that involved supplying escorts and drugs to rich clients.

When she was arrested last year, she was found with a small amount of marijuana and rolled-up dollar bills which she said were used to take drugs.

CCTV footage of her arrest has now been released, showing her carrying shopping bags as she is approached by a plain-clothes officer who takes her by the arm and leads her away.

'The information we have is that she created a package, a combo of prostitution and drug sales, either for the consumption of that [sexual] relationship, or for a later,' prosecutor Rafael Correa said at the time of her arrest last year.

'She worked at first as a call girl providing drugs to people who were contracting her services,' he said. 'But there is also evidence that she also had something like a drug delivery service in the federal capital.'

While prostitution itself is not illegal in Brazil, employing sex workers and running brothels are.

The court said that the model can serve her sentence in a semi-open regime and the sentence can be appealed.
The Omagh bombing - the worst atrocity of The Troubles where 29 people were murdered and 220 were injured by republican terrorists opposed to the Good Friday Agreement - could have been prevented, a High Court judge in Belfast ruled today.

Mr Justice Mark Horner also called for new investigations on both sides of the Irish border amid claims secret service agents and police could have halted the 500lb car bombing almost 23 years ago.

On August 4 1998, 11 days before the bombing, the Royal Ulster Constabulary received an anonymous telephone call warning there would be an 'unspecified' terrorist attack on police in Omagh on August 15. But officers failed to tell the local commander.

It has also been claimed that MI5, Britain's internal security service, and Ireland's Garda special branch, starved police of intelligence from their own operatives that could have prevented the Real IRA launching the attack.

Errors on the day of the bombing also contributed, when telephoned warnings 40 minutes before the 3.10pm explosion were bungled when police inadvertently moved people towards the town centre bomb.

Today Mr Justice Mark Horner said there was a 'real prospect' the Real IRA attack in 1998 could have been prevented in a ruling sparked by a human rights complaint made by the father of one of the victims. No one has ever been convicted for the atrocity.

A high court judge has ruled that the 1998 Omagh bombing, which claimed the lives of 29 people including a woman pregnant with twins, could have been prevented

A further 220 people were injured after the bomb ripped through the town centre which was packed with Saturday afternoon shoppers

The bombing claimed the lives of 29 people including a woman pregnant with twins. Among the victims were, from top left, James Barker, Esther Gibson, Sean McGrath, Gareth Conway, Elizabeth Rush, Fred White, Lorraine Wilson; and from bottom left, Veda Short, Alan Radford, Bryan White, Brenda Logue, Deborah Cartwright, Geraldine Breslin and Oran Doherty

Michael Gallagher, pictured right, beside Stanley McCombe, took the judicial review which led to today's High Court ruling. Mr Gallagher's son Aiden, 21, was killed in the bombing. Mr McCombe's wife Ann was also murdered in the attack

The missed chances and security blunders that could have prevented the deaths of 29 Saturday shoppers at Omagh 23 years ago The suspects The same car, now carrying the fake Northern Ireland registration MDZ 5211, is driven into Market Street, Omagh, and parked outside SD Kells clothes shop. Two male occupants are seen walking away in the direction of Campsie Road. They are not pursued or the car registered checked. The THREE warning phone calls At 2.30pm on the day of the bombing a man phones Ulster Television (UTV) newsroom with a bomb warning: 'There's a bomb, courthouse, Omagh, main street, 500lb, explosion 30 minutes.' The caller gives the Real IRA codeword 'Martha Pope'. At 2.32pm the Samaritans office in Coleraine is called with another warning. 'Am I through to Omagh? This is a bomb warning. It's going to go off in 30 minutes.' The caller said the bomb was 200 yards from the courthouse. He also gave the codeword 'Martha Pope'. At 2.35pm UTV receives another phone warning: 'Bomb, Omagh town, 15 minutes.' Two of these warnings were phoned from a call box in Forkhill, south Armagh. The third was made from a phone box in Newtownhamilton, also in south Armagh. UTV and the Samaritans both place emergency calls to the Royal Ulster Constabulary control centre. The message is immediately passed to officers in Omagh and an evacuation operation commences. But a threat warning was not sent to the sub-divisional commander in Omagh. An RUC review concluded in 2000 that the information should have been passed to the commander. The evacuation There was no street named Main Street in Omagh. The only target specified was the courthouse, which was at the top of High Street at the west end of the town. The car had actually been parked at the east end of the town, on Market Street, more than 500 yards from the court. Police cordon off High Street and move shoppers and shop owners down to Market Street before commencing a search round the courthouse. As a result all the people who had been in Omagh town centre when the warning came through had now assembled in Market Street, yards from the red Cavalier. Twenty-one people are killed instantly - some of their bodies were never found, such was the force of the blast. A water main under the road ruptures. Gallons of water gushes out. Some of the dead and badly injured are washed down the hill. Eight more died of their injuries. Security services kept 'police in the dark' while Irish police 'allowed bombers across the border' MI5 withheld vital anti-terrorism intelligence just months before the Omagh bomb atrocity, it emerged after the attack. Although the agency helped thwart an attack planned on the Co Tyrone town or Londonderry at the time of the signing of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, it kept police in Northern Ireland in the dark about the bomb plot, according to authoritative security sources in the years following. Even after the outrage which killed 29 people, MI5 failed to inform Special Branch of the threat, and details have only just emerged as part of an investigation into an FBI agent who infiltrated the Real IRA, the dissident republican group, which carried out the attack. A secret transcript that emerged in 2003 allegedly exposed how high-ranking Garda detectives were alerted to a bomb attack in Northern Ireland just 24 hours before the atrocity but decided to let the bombers across the border. A master car thief who infiltrated the Real IRA, the dissident republican terrorist outfit behind the attack which killed 29 people, said the force wanted to protect him as an agent. The man, who has since fled Ireland, is said to have warned the Irish state: 'Omagh is going to blow up in their faces.' Advertisement

The attack, which took place on August 15, 1998, claimed the lives of 29 people including a woman pregnant with twins. A further 220 people were injured in the bombing which was claimed by the dissident Real IRA.

The outrage was the worst single atrocity in the history of the Northern Ireland conflict.

Eight years ago, Michael Gallagher, whose son Aiden was killed in the blast, launched the judicial review against the UK Government's refusal to order a public inquiry into security failings prior to the bombing.

Mr Justice Horner told Belfast High Court today: 'I am satisfied that certain grounds when considered separately or together give rise to plausible allegations that there was a real prospect of preventing the Omagh bombing.

'These grounds involve, inter alia, the consideration of terrorist activity on both sides of the border by prominent dissident terrorist republicans leading up to the Omagh bomb.

'I am therefore satisfied that the threshold under Article 2 ECHR (European Convention on Human Rights) to require the investigation of those allegations has been reached.'

Judge Horner said he was not going to order that the probe take the form of a public inquiry, explaining that he did not want to be 'prescriptive'.

He also said he did not have the powers to order the authorities in the Irish Republic to act, but he expressed hope the Irish Government would take a decision to order one.

'I am not going to order a public inquiry to look at the arguable grounds of preventability. I do not intend to be prescriptive. However, it is for the government(s) to hold an investigation that is Article 2 compliant and which can receive both open and closed materials.'

The judge added: 'It is not within my power to order any type of investigation to take place in the Republic of Ireland but there is a real advantage in an Article 2 compliant investigation proceeding in the Republic of Ireland simultaneously with one in Northern Ireland.

'Any investigation will have to look specifically at the issue of whether a more proactive campaign of disruption, especially if co-ordinated north and south of the border, had a real prospect of preventing the Omagh bombing, and whether, without the benefit of hindsight, the potential advantages of taking a much more aggressive approach towards the suspected terrorists outweighed the potential disadvantages inherent in such an approach.'

In a brief hearing, Mr Justice Horner only read the conclusion of his judgment to Belfast High Court on Friday.

He explained he was unable to read the full open judgment setting out his reasoning because the person whose job it was to check the document to ensure it did not contain sensitive material was self-isolating with Covid-19.

Michael Gallagher, who took the judicial review case, described the ruling as 'absolutely amazing'.

Mr Gallagher launched his action against former Northern Ireland secretary Theresa Villiers after she declined to order a public inquiry.

Ms Villiers argued a probe by former police ombudsman Dr Michael Maguire was the best way to address any outstanding issues.

In the legal case, Mr Gallagher claimed that intelligence from British security agents and Royal Ulster Constabulary officers could have been drawn together to prevent the dissident republican bombing.

The force's Special Branch, which handled intelligence from agents, took limited action on the information and a threat warning was not sent to the sub-divisional commander in Omagh, an investigation by former police ombudsman Baroness Nuala O'Loan found.

An RUC review concluded in 2000 that the information should have been passed to the commander.

According to Mr Gallagher: 'The important thing is that a senior High Court judge looked at the issues that we raised and agreed that there needs to be more done, there needs to be Article Two compliant investigation.

'So, we feel vindicated, this has been a great day for the families.

'We just hope that both the British and Irish governments, as the judge has recommended, will look at these issues and move them forward very quickly.

'We just want closure, we're not opposed to any government, we're not terrorists. We just want real answers.

'We want a public inquiry to determine whether that terrible event could have been prevented and, more importantly, learn the conclusions and put them into action so that other people who are faced with the same that they will have a better chance of surviving.'

The dissident Real IRA claimed responsibility for the attack which claimed the lives of 29 people including a woman pregnant with twins

Michael Gallagher, pictured, from County Donegal, took a judicial review over the British Government's failure to launch an investigation into the bombing and the failures of the security service in preventing the attack. Mr Gallagher's son Aiden was one of those killed in the attack. He launched his legal bid after the former Northern Ireland secretary Theresa Villiers refused to hold a public inquiry

Builder Seamus Daly, pictured, was accused of the 1998 attack. A case against him collapsed after all the charges were withdrawn

Timeline: The aftermath of the 1998 Omagh bombing - the worst atrocity of The Troubles 1998 In September, a month after the bombing, the RUC and Garda arrest 12 men in connection with the atrocity. They subsequently release all of them without charge. 1999 Seven men are arrested in a joint RUC-Garda operation. Colm Murphy is charged with conspiracy to cause an explosion likely to endanger life or cause injury. The then 48-year-old, from Ravensdale, Co Louth, is also charged with membership of an unlawful organisation - the so-called Real IRA. 2000 At the inquest into the deaths of the 29 victims, coroner John Leckey says he will press the courts to prosecute the bombers with the destruction of unborn twins. Avril Monaghan had been pregnant with twins when she was killed. Mr Leckey says he is in no doubt that 31 people were killed in the bomb and that he will write to the Director of Public Prosecutions to ask him to consider charging anyone apprehended for the bombing with child destruction. 2001 A report by the Police Ombudsman finds the RUC Special Branch failed to act on prior warnings and condemned the RUC's investigation of the bombing. 2002 Colm Murphy is found guilty by the Dublin Special Criminal Court of conspiracy to cause the Omagh bombing. He is jailed for 14 years. 2003 Alleged Real IRA leader Michael McKevitt, from Blackrock Co Louth, is found guilty of directing terrorism and membership of an illegal organisation at Dublin's Special Criminal Court. He is sentenced to 20 years. 2005 Sean Hoey, of Molly Road, Jonesborough, Co Armagh, is charged with the murder of the 29 people killed in the Omagh bomb. He is the first person to face a murder charge in relation to the attack. Murphy's conviction in the Irish courts is overturned and a new trial ordered. 2007 Hoey is found not guilty at Belfast Crown Court of 58 charges, including the murders of 29 people in the Omagh bombing. Clearing Hoey, the judge criticises police witnesses for 'deliberate and calculated deception' during the lengthy trial. 2008 The families of some of the victims of the bomb begin a landmark civil case, suing five men they claim were involved. A memorial garden is opened in Omagh to remember the victims of the blast, as well as a monument on the site where the bomb exploded. 2009 The judge in the civil trial rules McKevitt, Murphy and two others - Liam Campbell, from Dundalk, and Seamus Daly, from Monaghan - were all liable for the Omagh bomb. He orders them to pay a total of 1.6 million damages to 12 relatives who took the case. A fifth man, Seamus McKenna from Dundalk, is cleared of liability for the bombing. 2010 Murphy is cleared following a retrial after interview evidence from the Garda is ruled inadmissible. 2011 McKevitt and Campbell lose their appeal against the civil trial verdict. Murphy and Daly both win their appeals. 2013 Murphy and Daly are both found liable for the Omagh bombing after a civil retrial. McKenna dies after falling off a roof in Dundalk. Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers rules out a public inquiry, insisting a fresh investigation is unlikely to reveal anything more about the attack. Michael Gallagher, whose son Aiden died in the bombing, takes legal action against Ms Villiers's decision. 2014 Daly is charged with the murders of 29 people in the Omagh bombing. 2016 The prosecution case against Daly collapses. The Public Prosecution Service decides there is no reasonable prospect of conviction after a key witness contradicted his own previous testimony. A bid by Campbell and McKevitt to overturn the civil ruling that found them liable for the Omagh bomb is rejected by the European Court of Human Rights. 2017 Relatives of Omagh bomb victims sue PSNI Chief Constable George Hamilton for investigative failings they believe let the killers escape justice. The bereaved families issued a writ against the chief constable seeking damages and a declaration their human rights have been breached 2021 McKevitt dies. Ruling in Mr Gallagher's judicial review, a judge recommends the UK Government carries out an investigation into the Omagh bombing, and urges the Irish Government to do likewise, after finding 'plausible arguments' that there was a 'real prospect' of preventing the atrocity. Advertisement

Responding to the judgment, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Brandon Lewis said: 'The Omagh bombing was a terrible atrocity that caused untold damage to the families of the 29 people who were tragically killed and the 220 who were injured. The reverberations of that awful event were felt not just in Northern Ireland, but across the world.

'I want to put on record my deep regret that the families of those killed and wounded have had to wait so long to find out what happened on that terrible day in 1998. They deserve answers and I have great respect for their patience, grace and determination.

'We recognise that today the court has set out that there are 'plausible allegations that there was a real prospect of preventing the Omagh bombing' and that more should be done to investigate this.

'The UK Government will take time to consider the judge's statement and all its recommendations carefully as we wait for the full judgment to be published.'

Nobody has ever been convicted in a criminal court for the 1998 terrorist attack, but a landmark civil case taken by 12 relatives of the victims found four men, Michael McKevitt, Liam Campbell, Colm Murphy and Seamus Daly, liable for the bombing.

A judge in 2009 ruled the four men should pay the relatives a total of 1.6 million in damages.

A fifth man, Seamus McKenna was cleared of liability for the bombing.

McKevitt, who died in January, denied involvement in the bombing.

He was jailed for 20 years having been found guilty of directing terrorism and membership of an illegal organisation.

He was released from jail in 2016.

McKevitt, who was one of four men found liable for the Omagh bomb, had been diagnosed with terminal cancer a number of years ago.

He was released from prison in 2016 after serving a 20-year sentence for directing terrorism and membership of an illegal organisation.

The UK Government will take time to consider a High Court judge's ruling that there should be a new investigation into the Omagh bombing, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland said.

Brandon Lewis said that the Omagh families 'deserve answers' but did not immediately commit to any new probe.

Meanwhile, Taoiseach Micheal Martin said the Irish Government would do what is 'necessary' following the long-awaited ruling.

Mr Justice Horner called for fresh investigations on both sides of the Irish border into the 1998 Real IRA atrocity which killed 29 people, including a mother pregnant with twins.

Ruling in a judicial review brought over the UK Government's refusal to establish a public inquiry, the judge also said it was plausible that there was a real prospect the bombing could have been prevented by the security services

Mr Lewis said: 'The Omagh bombing was a terrible atrocity that caused untold damage to the families of the 29 people who were tragically killed and the 220 who were injured. The reverberations of that awful event were felt not just in Northern Ireland, but across the world.

'I want to put on record my deep regret that the families of those killed and wounded have had to wait so long to find out what happened on that terrible day in 1998.

'They deserve answers and I have great respect for their patience, grace and determination.'

He added: 'We recognise that today the court has set out that there are 'plausible allegations that there was a real prospect of preventing the Omagh bombing' and that more should be done to investigate this.

'The UK Government will take time to consider the judge's statement and all its recommendations carefully as we wait for the full judgment to be published.'

Mr Martin said the Irish Government had an 'open book' policy in terms of providing information.

He added: 'We will analyse that judgment and we will do what is necessary in terms of the citizens on the island of Ireland.

'I always stand ready to have an open book in terms of any atrocity that was committed which had a cross-border dimension to it in terms of following through in any way we can through the provision of information or indeed to vindicating the rights of people and citizens.

'So, a very open book in terms of how we proceed with this now but we've got to examine the options that are available to us in respect of the conclusions of the judge.'

Mr Martin continued: 'That was the single worst atrocity that occurred - it was appalling and the responsibility is on those who committed that foul act.

'So many, many people lost their lives. That said, there's an obligation on governments to examine what could have been done, if anything could have been done to prevent the atrocity with a view to informing future practice.

'But I'm in no doubt that evil people did that, it was just absolutely reckless and appalling and gave such heartache and broke so many families - a needless loss of life when we were on well on our way to a peace process and we should never lose sight of those who are ultimately responsible in the first instance.

'It's those who perpetrated the crime itself, who thought up the idea, who planted the bomb and left such devastation behind them, we can never lose sight of that, they're fundamentally guilty in terms of murdering so many people.

'But the state must always self-reflect in terms of how it acts to protect its citizens.'

Mr Martin highlighted that the Irish Government had previously fulfilled its obligations in respect of investigating crimes with a cross-border dimension when it set up the Smithwick Tribunal to probe allegations of Garda collusion in the IRA killings of two senior RUC officers during the Troubles.

'We will do so again in respect of any further investigations that we support and cooperate with,' he said.

'But I think we have to take one step at a time, we have to analyse what the implications of this are'.
The families of the victims of a house fire which killed 13 people in London's New Cross more than 40 years ago continue to believe the blaze was started by a racist arsonist.

The fire broke out in a three-storey property in south-east London during a joint teenagers' birthday party in January 1981.

No one was ever charged by the Metropolitan Police in connection with the tragedy and two inquests  in 2002 and 2004  recorded open verdicts.

But in a new BBC three-part series directed by filmmaker Steve McQueen, fire survivor George Ruddock  whose cousins Paul and Yvonne Ruddock died in hospital after the fire  said he believed '100 per cent' the fire was a 'racist attack'.

Speaking in Uprising, which aired this week, survivors and others also spoke of the racist abuse they suffered while living in 1980s London, including from members of the far-right National Front who were active in New Cross.

Mr Ruddock said his sister, who was also at the party, saw someone in a white car 'throw something at the house' shortly before the fire started.

But former officer Jackie Malton, who was then a Detective Sergeant in the Metropolitan Police, said in the programme that while investigators were aware 'that a fire bomb was possible', 'there was no forensic evidence that a missile had come through the house'.

Scroll down for videos.

The families of the victims of a house fire which killed 13 people in London's New Cross more than 40 years ago continue to believe the blaze was started by a racist arsonist. The fire broke out in a three-storey property in south-east London during joint teenagers' birthday party in January 1981

Witness Carl Wright told investigators at the time that he had seen a man emerge from a car and go towards the front door of the home  on 439 New Cross Road.

He said he then heard glass break after the man had made a throwing movement with his hand. The man was then seen driving away.

But Ms Malton, whose career in the Met inspired hit show Prime Suspect, said it was later established that the man had seen the fire breaking out and had gone to the front door to try to knock on it.

But when he encountered the heat from the flames, he recoiled and instinctively raised his arm to protect himself  making it appear as though he had made a throwing action.

The former officer said: 'The investigative team were aware that a fire bomb was possible but there was nothing found inside the house so there was no forensic evidence that a missile had come through the house, it wasn't there.

'Secondly, it was discovered the man who went to the house and drove off quickly, he had seen the fire, he stopped his car, he ran to the house, banged on the door or whatever, I think the heat was so fierce that he went like that [makes recoil action].'

No one was ever charged by the Metropolitan Police in connection with the tragedy and two inquests  in 2002 and 2004  recorded open verdicts. But in a new BBC three-part series directed by filmmaker Steve McQueen, fire survivor George Ruddock  whose cousins Paul and Yvonne Ruddock died in hospital after the fire  said he believes '100 per cent' the fire was a 'racist attack'

But former officer Jackie Malton, who was then a Detective Sergeant in the Metropolitan Police, said in the programme that while investigators were aware 'that a fire bomb was possible', 'there was no forensic evidence that a missile had come through the house'

Mr Ruddock had said: 'My sister Claudette Ruddock, before the fire started she saw somebody in a white car throw something at the house.

'So a lot of people believed it was definitely a racist fire attack on that party. That is what they believed. And all of us believed that. 100%. Well why wouldn't you?'

Activist Leila Hassan Howe helped to organise a 20,000-strong march through London known as the Black People's Day of Action in the days following the fire.

She said in Wednesday's programme: 'The black community was really clear that this was a fascist attack, and we knew that the police would be very very reluctant to actually deal with that.

'And so feelings were running extremely high.'

Defending the police response to the fire, Ms Malton said: 'I will tell you this: Every one of us, every one of us, tried our hardest to get to the bottom of it, and to find out how that fire was started and who did it.

The New Cross house fire was a fire that occurred during a party at a house in New Cross, south-east London, in the early hours of Sunday, 18 January 1981

The scene in Clifton Rise, New Cross, as police battle with National Front demonstrators and anti-fascist protestors when marchers from both groups clashed

'But it is in an atmosphere of tensions and hatred and distrust.'

Before the fire, two local night spots  the Moonshot Club and the Albany Theatre  were burnt down. The causes of both were never officially determined.

The theatre was destroyed in July 1978, shortly after it had staged productions aimed at fostering racial harmony in the area.

Fellow survivor Wayne Haynes, who tragically lost his girlfriend in the fire, spoke of the hostile atmosphere he and others faced.

He claimed: 'Back in our day the police used to pick you up as a youngster, not phoning your parents as soon as they pick you up

'They take you down the police station or they take you in the back of the van and they kick hell out of you and then just let you back out on the street.we used to get picked up just for loitering'.

Reports after the tragedy that a white man had been seen throwing something into the house led to speculation the fire - which sparked widespread unrest that led to the Brixton riots - had been racially motivated

Mr Haynes, who was severely injured when he was forced to jump out of a second-floor window to escape the flames in the house fire, claimed that racist thugs were 'taking white spirit and spraying it through letter boxes when your house was in darkness and throw a match through.'

Another interviewee, PC George Rhoden, revealed that he was once taunted with a burning a cross outside his school.

Speaking of joining the police he said: 'When I told my parents, they looked at each other, you could see there was fear in their eyes, they knew what the police where about, they knew they were racist.

'They knew but they never ever said anything all thy did was support me. When I told my friends they all just looked at me, one of them stepped forward and said 'Are you f****' mad, you're going to become a traitor'

The officer recalled getting paired with another PC who would taunt him with monkey noises through the radio.

Denise Gooding, from Camberwell, lost her 14-year-old brother Andrew in the fire, and recalled how she escaped aged just 11 on the documentary

He also spotted an officer wearing a National Front badge underneath his jacket just before he was set to police one of the group's demonstrations.

Mr Haynes was at the party after being hired to play music to mark the birthdays of Angela Jackson, who was turning 18, and Yvonne Ruddock, who was turning 16.

He recalled smelling something burning and, when he went down to look, he saw smoke and so ran back upstairs.

'Everything has gone out, there's no electric, I can't see anybody', he said.

'I don't know what's going on and all hell broke loose.

'What I remember and what I saw was like watching an old Charlie Chaplin movie, where everything looks like it's going in slow motion but it's going really fast.

'You have people screaming and shouting and trying to get out the window and other people pulling them back, the whole place just went mad and I remember it getting really hot, heat was coming up from underneath, it was just getting hotter and hotter.

'I remember wiping sweat and turns out later on that sweat was my skin that was peeling off my face, it felt like I had sand all over my face and the more I wiped it was the more skin that was coming off my face.'

PC George Rhoden told stories of abuse growing up, revealing that racists once burned a cross while wearing hoods outside his school, and within the police force in the 1970s and 80s

He was injured further when he tried to scale a drain pipe to escape the property but, when it came off the wall, he fell through the roof of an old outside toilet.

'I have landed on my right leg and my right leg ended up in my chest. I smashed my hip into a hundred odd pieces. Broke my thigh, broke my shin. Smashed my foot up,' he said.

Denise Gooding, from Camberwell, lost her 14-year-old brother Andrew in the fire, and recalled how she escaped aged just 11.

'I was at the top of the house in the back when I heard someone shout fire from downstairs as they were running up the stairs, but it all happened so quickly, she said.

'Yvonne started to run downstairs shouting for her mum, it just seemed like seconds before thick black smoke, you can't see anything you can't breathe'.

Ms Gooding remembers suddenly being lifted outside of the window: 'I was coming down the drainpipe with someone and half way down I remember someone saying 'You're on your own now' and I remember falling and hitting on my back'.

Speaking of how he escaped, Mr Ruddock told how he only injured his arm after jumping from a second-floor window.

He said: 'I jumped out of the second floor window. But I remember I crawled onto the ledge and I thought to myself "you cant jump out because at the front of the house you had spikes. So if you jumped out you could have landed on the spikes."

'So I just jumped out and I jumped straight down. I hurt my arm. That was my only injury.

'So I was like a little cat... we were lucky but other people weren't so lucky.'
Advertisement

Ganna Ziuzina, now called Julianna Moore had left Barry Pring by the roadside to return to the restaurant to pick up a glove she had left behind. A judge today ruled that she was not plotting his murder or ordered his killing

The Ukrainian ex-lap dancer wife of a millionaire Briton killed while trying to hail a cab during their first wedding anniversary celebrations was not the mastermind of any conspiracy to murder him, a coroner ruled today.

Ganna Ziuzina, now called Julianna Moore, had been blamed by Barry Pring's family after the wealthy 47-year-old IT consultant died in a Kiev hit and run by a VW Jetta with false number plates on February 16, 2008.

But in evidence earlier this week she denied organising his murder and instead claimed she would have been financially better off with him alive.

And today a second inquest into his death sided with her.

Judge Paul Matthew, sitting as a senior coroner, reached a narrative conclusion - not one of unlawful killing - following a five-day inquest at Bristol Civil Justice Centre, recording the Devon-based businessman's cause of death as multiple injuries.

He said: 'There is not a single piece of direct evidence to show that there was any such conspiracy, or that if there was, Julianna Moore was involved', adding that Barry's family's allegations that she wanted him dead for his money were based on 'circumstantial' evidence.

He added: 'Extensive police inquiries in Ukraine unfortunately failed to identify either the vehicle or the driver. No charges have ever been brought in relation to the death. Apart from the driver of the car, no other person was involved in the death of Barry Pring. In particular, there was no conspiracy to kill him.'

The inquest heard how Mr Pring, who was originally from Devon, met Ms Moore on an internet dating website and they married in Ukraine in January 2007.

Mr Pring's family told the inquest how Ms Moore seemed 'cold' and 'not loving or caring' towards her husband.

His mother Irene and brother Shaughan began suspecting foul play following his death and later accused Ms Moore of organising for him to be murdered. They hired a private investigator in Ukraine, who claimed the authorities had not investigated Mr Pring's death properly.

An inquest held at Devon County Hall in January 2017 concluded that Mr Pring was unlawfully killed, but this was later quashed by the High Court, which ordered a fresh hearing to take place.

Judge Matthews, who presided over the second inquest, said: The Pring family put forward a number of allegations based on circumstantial evidence which they say, when taken together, collectively suggest that Julianna Moore was criminally involved in organising the death of her husband Barry Pring and was indeed guilty of his murder.'

Barry Pring, who met his wife on a dating website, had been attempting to flag down a taxi to return home when he was struck down by an unknown driver in Kiev in 2008. A second inquest will try to find the cause of death after an unlawful killing was quashed by his wife Ganna Ziuzina in 2017 (pictured together on their wedding day in 2007)

The judge said that allegations of Ms Moore being 'cold' towards her husband or of him being 'besotted and manipulated', if true, were not evidence that she had murdered him.

Mr Pring owned three properties in the London area and a flat in Kiev, but the judge described him as 'not that wealthy' as these were mortgaged, which Ms Moore knew.

Giving evidence to the inquest, Ms Moore said her life would have been 'much more comfortable financially' if Mr Pring was alive, and denied any involvement in his death.

Mr Pring's family raised suspicions at the choice of restaurant for the anniversary meal, next to a fast road, but the judge said it served traditional Ukrainian food which they enjoyed.

He added there was 'no evidence' that Ms Moore had put drugs in Mr Pring's drinks that evening to incapacitate him.

Police have been unable to establish that Ms Moore made a phone call shortly before her husband's death, the judge said.

Mr Pring's family also questioned why the couple would have attempted to flag down a car on a busy road, but Judge Matthews described how there was 'clear evidence of this practice' in Kiev at the time.

The carriageway where Mr Pring and Ms Moore were waiting was heading away from the capital, but there was an option for a car to turn around and drive in the other direction a short distance away.

Ganna Ziuzina  now known as Julianne Moore  denies being behind the hit-and-run killing of her British businessman husband

Judge Matthews said: 'The family say it is suspicious Julianna Moore left Barry Pring on the hard shoulder but that is explained by the glove, which was found by a waitress under their table.'

Mr Pring's family told the inquest how Ms Moore was 'cold and hard' and 'displayed no emotion' during phone calls informing them of his death.

The judge said: 'If she was so cold and hard, why did she repatriate Barry's body at her own expense as Barry's family wanted, rather than simply having him cremated there?'

He added that he believed Ms Moore was 'trying not to upset the family' during the phone calls.

Judge Matthews questioned the timing of Mr Pring's death, given he and his wife were due to go on holiday within a few weeks.

He added: 'If this was a murder, it was a curious, risky and inept way to carry it out.

'The driver could not have been sure of hitting Barry in a high speed collision, and if he hit him, that he would kill him.

'In my view, there are too many ducks to be lined up in a row in order for this to be a sensible means of carrying out a plot to murder.

'I am not persuaded that there ever was a conspiracy to murder Barry Pring, much less that Julianna Moore was part of it.'

Mr Pring's cause of death was recorded as multiple injuries.

Barry's death was initially treated as a road accident but re-classified as a murder investigation after the family first raised concerns in 2011.

An inquest ruled in January 2017 that he had been unlawfully killed after being tricked into standing on the wrong side of the road - but Miss Moore had that inquest verdict quashed in March 2017, sparking the second inquest in Bristol which started on Monday.

Ms Moore, now 42, told the inquest: 'My life would be much better with Barry than without him. I don't know why anyone would suggest I would like to kill him to get some money.

'My life and financial means would be much more comfortable having Barry than not. If I wanted money, would it not just be easier to divorce and get 50 per cent of assets? It does not make sense.'

Ms Moore, who had previously been dubbed the 'Black Widow', said media reports that her husband, from Cullompton, Devon, was a millionaire did not take into account his mortgages.

She said: 'I knew about the large mortgages he had. Whatever media was blowing that there was millions or whatever or inheritance, it's not true.'

She also denied accusations she had 'hypnotised' Mr Pring or that he was 'besotted' with her and said she found the allegations 'hurtful'.

'Barry was a grown-up man,' she said. 'He was very strong willed. He had his own ideas about life. He wasn't a man that could easily fall under the spell. He was a very strong willed person.'

It comes after Barry's family told the inquest that Ms Moore had been 'stone cold' when she delivered the heartbreaking news about his death before branding her 'callous with no emotions'.

Ms Moore had left Barry by the roadside to return to a restaurant to pick up a glove she had left behind.

Barry was then run over by a VW Jetta on the hard shoulder of a four-lane motorway after the meal with his wife to celebrate their first wedding anniversary.

When she returned to the scene Barry was deada and the car, which had earlier been stolen, never stopped. The driver has never been traced.

The couple met online after the ex-lap dancer posted and advert and they married in 2007.

Mr Pring's mother Irene told the inquest in Bristol yesterday that her daughter in law was 'very cold' and learned of her son's death from her younger son Shaughan, who had been contacted by phone from the Ukraine by Ms Moore.

She then became suspicious about the incident and hired an private investigator, adding when they were together: 'She was not loving or caring towards him at all'.

Shaughan Pring said: 'It was just a gut feeling that something did not fit comfortably. It was the way I was informed of the death, it was cold, callous with no emotions. It was stone cold'.

Ganna Ziuzina, who has changed her name to Julianna Moore, pictured posing in a corset and with what appears to be a pistol, always denied any involvement with her late husband's death

The couple had only been married a year (pictured together in 2007) when Barry was killed in a hit and run

The family began to have suspicions about Mr Pring's death almost as soon as they were told. 'We became suspicious about what happened the night Barry died and we hired a private investigator and solicitor in the Ukraine to find out what happened,' Mrs Pring said at the inquest.

'It would appear the initial accident was not investigated as thoroughly as it should be and the police did not appear to be suspicious about the circumstances of what happened.

'Our investigation told us the car that was in collision with Barry was on false plates and had been stolen from a car park near to the apartment which was rented for Anna by Barry before they got married.'

The couple met online after the Ukrainian placed an online advert.

'I did not know then how they had met but I assumed he must have met her on his travels,' Mrs Pring said.

'Barry told us Anna's parents were poor and she was embarrassed to take Barry home to meet them.

'Her English was perfect, and Barry relied on her totally when he was in the Ukraine as he could not speak the language.

'I now know that Barry had started renting a flat for Anna. What he did not tell us was that he had met Anna on the internet after she had placed an advert.'

Mrs Pring said she and her late husband Basil had learned of her son's intention to marry Ms Moore just a few days before the ceremony in Ukraine in January 2007.

She described meeting Ms Moore for the first time in the summer of 2007 during a visit to Devon.

'I was quite surprised to see how cold she was towards Barry. You would have thought they had been married for years and not newlyweds. She was not loving or caring towards him at all,' she said.

'You would never have guessed they had been apart for months. There did not seem to be a spark between Anna or Barry and was very one-sided.'

The Prings initially suspected his brother had been murdered for his assets but the High Court hearing in 2019 brought by Miss Moore resulted in the family releasing a statement that she had not murdered him.

Irene and Shaughan Pring, the mother and brother of Barry Pring, who gave evidence at his second inquest after it opened on Monday. They are pictured together after the first inquest in 2017

Mrs Pring said when she saw the couple again at Christmas, Ms Moore was 'very cold' towards her son.

His family previously said they have fought for 'justice' for more than a decade after long suspecting foul play. But they formally withdrew the murder allegations after a High Court hearing in 2019.

The latest inquest opened on Monday in Bristol and heard from members of Barry's family about the nature of his marriage.

Brother Shaughan Pring told the coroner he first had suspicions after receiving a phone call from Miss Moore informing him about his brother's death.

He said: 'My initial concern was for Miss Moore but afterwards I was sat at my desk shaking my head dealing with shock at what I had just heard.

'It was just a gut feeling that something did not fit comfortably. It was the way I was informed of the death, it was cold, callous with no emotions. It was stone cold.

'Thinking about Barry, he was extremely careful and travelled extensively. He was not a big drinker and over the dozens of times I had been out I had never seen him not in control of himself.

'I had a gut feeling that things weren't right. I spoke to a friend and lawyer Peter Clifford who said it was possible that my brother had been murdered for his assets.'

The coroner heard that Shaughan had changed the locks to his brother's London flat to protect his assets after hearing of his death and the family hired a private investigator to examine the circumstances.

Shaughan also recovered his brother's laptop and briefcase from the flat to 'pour over emails' between the couple.

He said that the family had all met Miss Moore when she come over the previous Christmas and she seemed 'nice and polite.'

He added: 'We were aware he was going to visit Miss Moore in February for their wedding anniversary and I believe a birthday, it was going to be a double celebration.

'He said it would be a short trip but didn't specify how long for. I first heard when Miss Moore called me on February 17 and she told me, 'I've got some bad news, you better prepare yourself.' My first thought was that Barry had done something stupid.

'She went on to explain they were waiting for a taxi when he was hit and killed. She did say they had gone to a restaurant but did not say where and said they were a little drunk.

'My initial concern was for Miss Moore and I was in total shock and screamed at the top of my voice.

'In the first call she said she stood right next to Barry and I just visualised him stepping off the pavement in the city and something hit him.

'In the second conversation she said she had forgotten her glove and walked back to the restaurant to collect her gloves and then heard a loud thud or bang.'

Shaughan initially suspected his brother had been murdered for his assets but the High Court hearing in 2019 brought by Miss Moore resulted in the family releasing a statement that she had not murdered him.

The inquest heard those findings were not relevant to the latest inquest, which would fully examine the circumstances around Barry's death.

Barry, who is understood owned three properties in London and a flat in Kiev was worth around 1.5m.

The inquest, which is scheduled to last five days, continues.

Ms Moore has always denied any involvement in her husband's death.

At a 2017 inquest in Exeter she was accused by his family of being behind the hit and run.

She took legal action and a verdict that her husband was unlawfully killed was quashed at the High Court.

Eight weeks after the inquest verdict, Moore claimed costs and received 40,000 from the coroner's office.

Her husband's family were also ordered to pay her 25,000 .

The Pring family then brought a High Court action in a bid to prove she played a part in the businessman's death and stop her inheriting his fortune.

However they eventually withdrew their claims in 2019 and were believed to have reached a settlement with Moore.

Had they been able to prove she was involved in his death they planned to use a 'forfeiture rule' that stops killers from getting victims' cash. Pring died without leaving a will.
A woman who was sexually assaulted by her friend's partner after he gatecrashed their girls' night out has today spoken out about her 24-hour ordeal and told how she now suffers with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Hannah Gregory, 38, waived her right to anonymity after her attacker was jailed for three years today in a bid to encourage other victims of sexual assault to come forward.

The ex-youth offending team officer, who lives near Lancaster, exclusively revealed to MailOnline how she has been left with 'horrific nightmares' and told how the 'smell of alcohol breath and male sweat will haunt her forever'.

Her attacker, construction boss David Horton, 47, the partner of her best friend of 25 years, sexually assaulted her while his girlfriend slept in the next hotel bed during a weekend that he gatecrashed in May 2018.

They had been down to London, and visited Sushi Samba and the Star and Garter pubs in Soho that night. While taking a taxi together back to the hotel Horton reached over and grabbed her breasts.

After they all fell asleep at the four-star Apex Hotel, Ms Gregory awoke to find Horton on top of her, 'laughing' as he assaulted her with his fingers, jurors heard.

Hannah Gregory (pictured), 38, waived her right to anonymity exclusively with MailOnline to encourage other victims of sexual assault to come forward after she was left with 'horrific nightmares'

The court heard that over the course of the night, he touched her bottom, put his hand up her skirt and groped Ms Gregory repeatedly.

When the group returned to their twin room at the four-star Apex Hotel, which Horton was never booked into, Ms Gregory went to sleep to try to forget what she had been through - and planned on leaving the next day.

At 2am she woke to Horton on top of her. She knows his fingers were inside her but she doesn't know what happened before she woke up, and the impact of the night has left her with PTSD.

Horton was today jailed for three years for four counts of sexual assault and one charge of assault by penetration.

The ex youth-offending team officer (pictured right), who lives in a small village near Lancaster, was assaulted by the partner of her best friend of 25 years', David Horton (left), 47, during a London girls' weekend he crashed in May 2018

Speaking to MailOnline, she said: 'It's all been so overwhelming. I needed him to get a custodial sentence to put him in the same position of fear and vulnerability he put me.

'My motivation was always to make sure he doesn't do it to anyone else and at least now I can sleep easy knowing for the next few years that will be a certainty. It wont ruin my life, I wont let it.

'I am very relieved hes not walking out the door. Its been a really hard day. He didnt even flinch. There was absolutely no remorse.

'I am a self-assured person but Ive never felt ever in my life so stuck in a situation that I didnt know how to get out of without causing a scene which would then cause more drama.

'I wasnt screened when I gave evidence. I wanted him to see me but he sat with his mask up to his eyes and looked at the floor the entire time. I wanted eye contact just to see but I didnt get that.'

In her victim impact statement, read at Inner London Crown Court today, Ms Gregory spoke about her battle with insomnia.

She told MailOnline: 'Because its something that happened while I was asleep I do not like being woken up. If you wake me up I freak out.

'I dont like being touched when Im asleep. I still have horrific nightmares about the pressure on my chest and waking up and seeing someone in front of me.

'Sleep deprivation is awful so I have not functioned very well at all. Ive not been a mum to my kids very well. I havent been able to get out of bed. I havent been me.'

Horton (pictured) touched her bottom, put his hand up her skirt and groped Ms Gregory repeatedly over the course of the night - in scenes captured on CCTV in Soho's Sushi Samba and the Star and Garter pub

She told MailOnline she now struggles in crowds, had a panic attack on the tube because of the smell of sweat when she arrived for the trial, and had to quit her job as a parish council clerk officer because of severe fatigue.

'I will never be able to forget the smell of alcohol breathe combined with male sweat as I woke up with him assaulting me,' she said in her victim impact statement.

Ms Gregory, who has an undergraduate degree in Criminology and was always an A* student, originally failed her second year of an accountancy diploma because of her PTSD. She is yet to complete her third year.

And although Ms Gregory and her ex-boyfriend got back together following the assault - they again split when her PTSD symptoms overwhelmed the relationship.

Ms Gregory said the entire night was constructed to make her feel uncomfortable, out of control and unable to speak out against Horton's harassment.

She had been best friends with Horton's partner for 25 years - after meeting at school. She was the godmother to Ms Gregory's children and Ms Gregory was bridesmaid at her friend's previous wedding.

She only found out during the trial her best friend (pictured during the night out) had been in the hotel lobby dealing with reception after Horton soiled himself in a lift and he had used her brief absence as an opportunity

But now, other than a few brief text messages immediately following the night out, they don't speak. Her friend remains in a relationship with Horton - they were briefly engaged - and he continued to deny any knowledge of his behaviour throughout the trial.

During the night out Ms Gregory said she was consistently on the back foot. She said she and her friend had pre-agreed that as she only had cash, her friend would pay for the evening out on her card, and Ms Gregory would pay her back in cash

'My friend said she would pay for everything on card and at the end I would give her the money. I had no physical money on me, I left it in the hotel,' she said.

'She had the hotel key and I was in the middle of London. There was no way I could go "Im going to the hotel room" now without having to explain why I was leaving. I couldnt think of a response having known her 25 years that she would believe other than that there was something wrong.

'If I had said there was something wrong she would have come with me and he would have come with her. I couldnt work out how to escape. I struggled with that most. I felt trapped in there and totally out of control. I felt completely violated.'

Horton openly mocked her in court and consistently accused her of lying or of misunderstanding the evening.

She said: 'He was so confident and so knowing that hed get away with it. The laughing and joking and the creepness. Every time I said no he thought it was funny.'



A post Ms Gregory shared on Facebook following Horton's sentencing last month

Horton, then working as a company director at a construction firm, told police he thought he was touching his girlfriend, who was asleep in the adjacent single bed.

The businessman was convicted of four counts of sexual assault and one charge of assault by penetration by a jury last month.

Ms Gregory and her friend had originally travelled down to London for a girls' weekend - which involved going to see the American ventriloquist Jeff Dunham at Wembley - when her friend asked her to meet her new partner, Horton.

She initially expected him to join them in a bar for a few hours and then leave, but he stayed for the entire weekend.

'David took us to various bars buying expensive rounds of drinks and boasting about how he was an important person in London,' Ms Gregory said.

He drank to excess, with his share of the alcohol bill totalling over 400 and soiled himself in the hotel's elevator on the Saturday night after mistaking the room's door to the corridor for the toilet.

That was when his partner had to be called down to reception, and Horton launched the assault.

'I cant understand how anybody under any circumstance would think there was any consent when somebody is sleeping,' Ms Gregory added.

Her fitbit proved she was sound asleep when Horton attacked her. She added: 'It wasnt even like I thought I was asleep and I was awake. I was dead to the world asleep. I woke up with his face next to mine. I dont understand how thats justified. I dont understand what his defence is to that at all.'

Horton (pictured outside court) openly mocked Ms Gregory during the trial and consistently accused her of lying or of misunderstanding the evening

Ms Gregory wants to encourage other women who have been victims of the same type of crime to come forward.

She said: 'I can't give any words of encouragement other than it's worth the pain. It has messed my life up miserably for the time the case has taken. But I do feel like it would have been worse if I'd watched the news in 12 months' time and seen his face for doing something to another woman.

'I'd have had to live with that and I don't know what would be worse. Doing this possibly means I won't ever see that. Not talking about it and it happening to other people. I don't know how I would live with myself.'

Ms Gregory struggled immediately following the assault to get her case heard, with a trip to the local police station ending in her being sent away with the number of a London station she needed to call.

When she called the London number she was referred back to the original police station. She said the system is flawed, but she cannot fault the actual officers who took her statements and supported her throughout.

In her victim impact statement today Ms Gregory said: 'I do not consider myself a victim seeking vengeance, for me it is not possible to right the wrong, what has happened cannot be undone and the events of that day along with the ordeal of reporting it to the police and all that is associated with giving evidence at a trial will stay with me always.'

Ravinder Saimbhi, in mitigation, said Ms Gregory's friend, who is still with Horton, had written a letter explaining the trouble the trial had caused them.

She said: 'It's right that the last three years have been an ordeal for her but I do also ask you to balance the ordeal that Mr Horton and his partner has suffered.

'It's been an ordeal for a man who contested the counts.

'He has lost the reputation he has. He has lost the work that he has. He has lost the comfortable lifestyle that he had.

'He has lost his character although I appreciate he does have previous convictions for drink driving but they do not indicate a man who is in any way a predatory individual who has committed these offences.'

Passing sentence, Judge Usha Karu, Honorary Recorder of Southwark, jailed Horton for three years as well as an indefinite notification requirement and the victim surcharge.

Judge Karu said: 'You have repeatedly denied any illicit behaviour in the hotel bedroom and did not accept your wrongdoing.

Ms Gregory struggled immediately following the assault to get her case heard, with a trip to the local police station ending in her being sent away with the number of a London station she needed to call (pictured)

'The trial took place earlier this year. I have read the two victim personal statements and she has read the second statement in open court.

'Her distress and anxiety is plain to see. She explained how her life has changed forever. She now suffers from PTSD, she does not go out much and keeps to herself.

'Her mental health has suffered enormously and she continues to have flashbacks and she is not the mother that she would like to be to her children.

'Her further education has also been adversely affected her further education.

'This was persistent and sustained assaults on a woman who repeatedly rejected your advances. I have read the letter from [your partner] that describes your changed behaviour. You have lost your employment, your reputation and your hitherto good character.

'Reading the pre-sentence report that due to the failure to understand your wrongdoing you have no empathy or remorse.

'There can be no doubt these offences cross the custody threshold.'

Horton, of Rotherham, South Yorkshire, who was previously bailed to an address in Cornwall, put his head in his hands as he was told his custodial sentence.

A week after the assaults Ms Gregory was encouraged to report the allegations to police after talking to her ex-boyfriend and close friend, who was a serving soldier in the British Army.

Earlier in the evening Horton repeatedly groped the woman's bottom during a night out with his partner, a judge at Inner London Crown Court (pictured) heard

During the trial, prosecutor David Povall said: 'It became clear she that was very distressed and disturbed, not herself. It took five days after she came home before she went to the police about what had happened.'

When questioned, Horton told police he 'got to cop a feel' earlier in the day before suggesting he was 'incredibly drunk' and could not remember what happened.

He said: 'There was lots of flirty innuendos and conversation throughout the day.

'We were talking about boobs, my partner's boobs, the alleged victim's boobs, and if I remember I think I got to cop a feel of both.'

Ms Gregory explained she is open with her sexuality and was only remarking on her need to wear a padded bra, which she couldn't feel her breasts through.

Horton took this as an opportunity to touch her and it was not consensual, she said.

CCTV was played during the trial that showed Horton's hand up her skirt, filmed as the group took a smiling picture together. Ms Gregory said she was pleased the CCTV revealed what was really happening.

In his police interview, which was played to the jury, Horton said: 'We were getting in the taxi and I think I again copped a feel of the woman's boobs and my partner pulled it away.'

'Was that intentional touching of her boob?' the officer asked.

'I mean I was incredibly drunk... I only know because my partner told me,' Horton said.

Recounting his version of events in the hotel room, he told police he drunkenly 'soiled' himself and ended up asleep on the floor where he accidentally touched the woman's leg.

'Earlier in the morning I sort of woke up, again disoriented... so I put my arm up and I did touch the alleged victim's leg but I felt it move and thought "Ooh crikey, wrong side", and got back into bed with my partner.'

Giving evidence Horton told jurors the woman was being 'very flirty' and 'open' about her sexual preferences which made him feel 'titillated'.

Ms Gregory said the way Horton twisted her words made her anxious in conversations, as she worried others would misinterpret her intentions.

She said: 'Its ridiculous. Im so worried people are going to twist the stuff I say and do.'

Ms Gregory hopes she will finally be able to take her life back following the three-year ordeal, safe in the knowledge Horton is locked away.
Phil Valentine, 61, is 'fighting for his life' in a critical care unit after contracting Covid

A right-wing radio host in Tennessee, who had questioned the need for Covid-19 vaccines while promoting 'alternatives,' is 'fighting for his life' against the virus in a critical care unit.

Phil Valentine, who hosts a show on SuperTalk 99.7 WTN in Nashville, is battling 'Covid pneumonia and the attendant side effects,' his brother, Mark, said in a statement Thursday.

'Please continue to pray for his recovery and PLEASE GO GET VACCINATED!' Mark Valentine implored.

Phil Valentine, 61, appeared to be in high spirits July 12 when he told his followers in a Facebook post that he had the coronavirus.

'Unfortunately for the haters out there, it looks like I'm going to make it,' he joked.

He went back on air two days later according to his Facebook profile, striking a more grateful tone but still promoting 'alternatives.'

'Thanks for all the prayers and well-wishes,' he said. 'The good news is there are some very effective alternatives to the vaccine.

In a July 12 Facebook post, Valentine announced he had contracted the coronavirus

Two days later, he went back to hosting his radio show and promoted 'very effective alternatives to the vaccine' on Facebook

Valentine is now in a critical care unit battling Covid-related pneumonia and breathing with assistance, his family says. Above, medical staff in Airdrie, Scotland, attend to a Covid patient

'If you're high risk of dying from COVID I still strongly suggest you consider the vaccine, but this it totally your choice,' he said in a post. 'Just make sure you're prepared if you decide against the vaccine.'

Things took a turn for the worse since then.

The radio host is breathing with assistance in a critical care unit, but he is not on a ventilator, according to a family statement published by Newsweek.

Valentine repeatedly questioned the safety of vaccines and the way they are administered

Valentine's social media accounts are littered with posts questioning the safety and necessity of the vaccines.

'Ah, but I'm sure their vaccine is perfectly safe. Don't worry about it,' he tweeted on July 16, four days after announcing he had contracted the virus, above a link to an article about vaccine maker Johnson & Johnson pulling their sunscreens from shelves over cancer concerns.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention strongly urges people to get vaccinated with one of the vaccines produced by Pfizer, Moderna or Johnson & Johnson.

'They went through all the required stages of clinical trials,' the federal agency says on its website. 'Extensive testing and monitoring have shown that these vaccines are safe and effective'

The U.S. continues to lead the world with nearly 34.3 million confirmed COVID-19 infections and over 610,000 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University data.

Johnson also questioned the efficacy of masks, calling face-covering mandates an 'overreach.'

Mask mandates were also a target of skepticism in Valentine's radio show and social media

'Phil would like for his listeners to know that while he has never been an "anti-vaxxer" he regrets not being more vehemently "Pro-Vaccine,"' his brother Mark said.

Some have reacted with schadenfreude at the news of Valentine's illness.

'I got their vaccine. And I am NOT currently in the hospital getting assistance with breathing,' replied one person under Valentine's tweet slamming Johnson & Johnson.

Some have reacted with schadenfreude at the news of Valentine's serious illness

'Ah, but I'm sure you'll be fine. Don't worry about it.'

Another person asked for thoughts and prayers.

'My thoughts are vaccines work,' they continued. 'My prayers are that anyone that follows you learns a lesson from your ignorance.'

Valentine is the son of Tim Valentine, a former six-term Democratic congressman from North Carolina who died in 2015.

In 2012, Phil Valentine wrote and released the documentary An Inconsistent Truth. In the film, he tried to debunk facts presented in former Vice President Al Gore's 2006 climate-change documentary An Inconvenient Truth.


Nearly one-third of Britons believe life will not return to normal until at least a year from now, according to new figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS).

In the week of 14 to 18 July, just before most Covid restrictions were lifted on Monday, the share of adults in Great Britain who believed life would not return to normal for more than a year rose from 28 to 32 percent.

At the same time, the proportion who thought life would return to normal in less than 6 months decreased from 20 to 15 per cent.

And still, 63 per cent of adults reported always or often social distancing, similar to the week prior, and 90 per cent continued to feel compliance measures to slow the spread of Covid-19, such as wearing a mask while shopping or socially distancing from people not a part of their household or support bubble, were important.

Around 6 in 10 Britons reported meeting up outdoors with someone not from their household, up 5 per cent from the week prior. Around half (47 per cent) of adults said they met up indoors.

The figures were derived from 3,848 respondents who were randomly selected from those who had previously completed a labour market survey.

Still Britons are taking advantage of the lifting of Covid restrictions and the traveler quarantine requirement for the vaccinated returning from amber list countries, with millions expected to hit the roads and skies this weekend.

The great British summer getaway began this morning as the heatwave continued - with thousands of tourists heading to packed airports and up to 2.3million drivers set to hit the roads as the school holidays kicked off

There are fears that as the epidemic continues to grow and isolation rules aren't relaxed for double-jabbed Britons, that it is creating a lockdown by stealth. More than 1.3million self-isolation alerts were sent last week. BLUE BARS show the number of 'pings' sent by the NHS app each week; RED BARS show the number of people contacted by Test and Trace call handlers; and YELLOW BARS show the number of people who tested positive for Covid. However, some people pinged by the app would have also been contacted by Test and Trace. And some of the people who tested positive may have also been pinged or told to self-isolate

Families are keen to escape the 'pingdemic' chaos in the UK, where 1.3million people, plus nearly another million schoolchildren sent home from school, were told to self-isolate last week.

NHS data shows 618,903 alerts were sent through the NHS app across England and Wales in the week ending July 14, a 17 per cent rise on the previous seven days and another record-high.

Still, many people have deleted the NHS app to avoid being told to stay home. Self-isolation is not legally enforceable when pinged by the app.

Covid cases rose by a third in the week to 14 July, even with nearly 70 per cent of British adults fully vaccinated. The nation recorded 39,906 new Covid-19 cases on Thursday and 84 more coronavirus-related deaths.

Meanwhile, Downing Street is facing mounting pressure to ditch the quarantine requirement for those who are double-jabbed. Both Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Chancellor Rishi Sunak are currently under self-isolation after contact with Covid-positive Health Secretary Sajid Javid though they have been vaccinated.

Shelves at supermarkets lay empty this weekend as the Covid app knocked a dent in supply chains. Some shops and businesses across the UK have been shuttered due to staff being pinged into quarantine. Late Thursday No 10 released a list of critical industries whose employees could continue working if pinged by the app.
A motorist aged 91 killed a chef in a car crash after driving non-stop for 16 hours, some of it on the wrong side of the road, while he was delirious with an infection.

Billy Warwick-Jones, 20, died after a Ford Focus ploughed into his motorbike at a combined head-on collision speed of 100mph on the A3 near New Malden, Surrey, shortly before 6am on August 29 last year, an inquest heard.

The apprentice senior chef was struck by the elderly motorist - who was named in court only as Mr Woods - who had been driving down the wrong way down the main road for up to 14 miles.

A police probe found that the motorist, from Barnet, north London, may have been suffering from confusion and delirium caused by a urinary tract infection.

While waiting to determine whether to charge him with causing death by dangerous driving, Mr Woods died of Covid-19 in January this year.

In the four months after the crash, he was not arrested nor banned from driving - although he did hand his licence in to the DVLA at some point during that period.

Area Coroner Lydia Brown said she had 'grave concerns' about why a man with a history of urinary tract infections, which can cause sudden confusion in elderly people, was allowed to continue to drive.

She said she will be writing to the DVLA, the Minister for Transport, the GMC, and the GP in question in her report to prevent future deaths in which a response will be required within 56 days.

Billy Warwick-Jones, 20, died after a Ford Focus ploughed into his motorbike in Surrey

The crash happened on A3 near New Malden, Surrey, shortly before 6am on August 29, 2020

Now Billy's devastated family are calling for a law change so that over 70s have to be retested every five years.

Friends of Billy's say they met up with him at around 2.30am in Hyde Park, central London, as he was often awake during the night. Two witnesses say they saw him drink a can of Stella Artois which was unfinished by the time he went home at around 4am.

A toxicology report found Billy was just over the legal limit of alcohol and cocaine, but witnesses say that he was not riding recklessly and police confirmed this was not a contributing factor to his death.

Witnesses say the incident happened at just around dawn at around 5.40am when Billy was driving southbound near the junction of Coombe Road in Kingston-upon-Thames.

Due to the slight bend in the road, officers say Billy is likely to not have been aware of the vehicle being on the wrong side of the road and had limited time to think when the incident occurred.

The investigator officer said the 'last thing you would expect or encounter is a vehicle travelling towards you on the same carriageway'.

The court heard an off-duty paramedic stopped her car on the way to work and stopped on the carriageway to help but it soon became apparent that Billy could not be saved.

Will Holland, a police officer driving northbound a marked vehicle in the area, attempted to coordinate a response before the crash occurred but a helicopter was not available, the inquest was told.

Inquest told the driver - known only as Mr Wood - may have been delirious when he hit Billy

He said he had also completed a dynamic risk assessment and found he could not drive ahead to warn other road users, was concerned the use of blue lights would have caused the driver to speed up and drive even more dangerously, and so followed the car.

Inspector Holland said: 'There was a vehicle slowing with their hazard lights on so I felt able to stop and begin the initial triage.

'As I approached, I could see his eyes were closed and I could not see his chest rising and falling.

'Ahead I saw a female in a green London Ambulance Service uniform stop her car and help. She commenced CPR.

'The driver in the Ford Focus attempted to then start the vehicle. The male appeared elderly, incoherent, and seemingly unaware of the tragic incident around us. I took possession of his car key.'

Detective Sergeant James Hathaway, from the Met Police collision investigation unit of south west London, gave live evidence at West London Coroner's Court and said they were able to determine Billy's movements quickly.

He said: 'More complex were the movements of Mr Woods prior to the collision.

'Mr Woods was a 91-year-old male at the time of the collision. He lived in Barnet and didn't seem to have any plausible reason why he would be in that area, in southwest London at that time in the morning.

'It became apparent he lived alone, and was due to visit family, his daughter on the Friday evening.

'He had never arrived. It was believed by the family he decided to not come and didn't look further as to why he didn't arrive.

'We looked at automatic plate reading and these suggest Mr Woods had been driving around for approximately 16 hours with no obvious gap in the movement of his vehicle prior to the collision.

'It appears that the first reading we have is in the Barnet area at 1.17pm on 28 August the day before the collision. It then moves into Hertfordshire and the Hartford area, the A1 corridor northbound, and as the afternoon progresses, at 5.41pm around Euston, and in the coming hours, he travelled to King's Cross, Kennington, Hyde Park Corner.

'In the early hours of 1am and 2am, he's in Kennington High Street and then at 2.19am he's in Wimbledon and then out to Surrey towards Reigate and the Leatherhead bypass.'

He added: 'The doctor who briefly treated and saw Mr Woods at the scene described him as being in a confused state and he was found to be suffering from a urinary tract infection at the time of the collision.

'We tried to interview Mr Woods in the coming weeks and months following the collision but he was never medically well enough for us to interview him - his cognitive ability was not there.

'We visited him, myself and DC Joanne Collins at his home address. He was so confused he believed DC Collins was his daughter. That confirmed to us he was not medically or mentally well enough for us to interview him.

'We looked to work with the Crown Prosecution Service to seek some early investigative advice and it was clear someone driving the wrong way down a carriage was clearly within the bounds of dangerous driving and the dangerous driving had directly led to the death of Billy.

'We looked to instigate a prosecution without having interviewed him and we referred a file to the Crown Prosecution Service.

'One of the actions we were given by them to look into was the mental state of Mr Woods and whether he had the mental capacity to be responsible for his actions.

'While we were trying to appoint an expert, Mr Woods was admitted to hospital - Barnet General Hospital - where it was found he contracted Covid-19 and he passed away on 4 January this year.

'With his death, there was no longer any possibility of criminal proceedings against him in our investigation.'

The Coroner returned a conclusion that Billy died of a road traffic collision with multiple injuries and it is likely he died almost instantaneously 'without any pain'. He was pronounced extinct at 6.36am.

Mrs Brown said: 'There was a 91-year-old man driving around, for no reason, London, Surrey, for periods of up to 16 hours.

'When he was found, in irony, he didn't appear to have any physical injuries but he was in a confused state. He was diagnosed with a urinary tract infection and it is well recognised in the elderly and infirm population this does frequently cause confusion - the medical state of delirium.

'He was never medically well enough to even be interviewed. I have seen his medical records and I am content this was the appropriate decision.

'The CPs would have charged him with dangerous driving if he had the capacity to respond to such a charge and it is clear that his actions led to Billy's death.

'There was not any CCTV to help us to understand the precise mechanism of this accident. From Billy's point of view, he was driving in a competent appropriate manner and it was as the police said it is the last thing you would expect to see when you're driving properly down the road a vehicle coming the wrong side coming towards you at speed.

'There was probably no time for Billy to take evasive action.

'There is no and I repeat no criticism of Billy's driving that night.'

She added: 'I have grave concerns at the outcome of this tragedy that a 91-year-old man, it wasn't reported to the DVLA by Mr Woods or by his family or by his GP. I've looked very carefully at the GMC guidance for medics. I've looked carefully at the DVLA extensive guidance.

'I've looked carefully at many matters to try and consider how we have our elderly dementing population prone to infections such as these well recognised to cause very quick onset delirious behaviour.

'How it can be they still have access to vehicles that by their very nature kill other people?

'It is recognised that we have an ageing population. It is recognised that more and more people have a licence and are continuing to drive.

'I don't have to find a solution but I have to raise my concerns and I will do so with the DVLA, the GMC, the Minister for Transport and with the GP in question.'

Giving tribute, his mum Kelly said: 'Billy did not have a bad bone in him. He was so caring and thoughtful towards others.'

His sister, Amy, said: 'Billy was the biggest character and would light up any room. He could honestly have been a comedian.

'What happened is so unfair. He didn't deserve this.

'He never got half the things he would have achieved. I believe he will always live on through my children who he loved more than life itself.'
Opening statements are expected to begin on Friday in the trial of property tycoon Mohamed Hadid, whose illegally-built Los Angeles mega-mansion has been at the center of a six-year bitter neighbor dispute.

The father of supermodels Gigi and Bella Hadid was sued in a civil lawsuit brought by neighbors who claim the 'monster' home he built on a hillside overlooking their homes in upscale Bel Air, turned their lives into a 'nightmare', and put residents and their houses in danger, and are now seeking millions in damages.

The massive mansion - which is twice the size permitted under local zoning laws - still stands unfinished despite an order for it to be torn down almost two years ago by a judge who dubbed it a 'clear and present danger' to the surrounding community.

And now, lawyers of Hadid's neighbors have a filed court motion calling on the City of LA to demolish it immediately.

Mohamed Hadid was less than thrilled to talk outside a Santa Monica courthouse Thursday as he showed up for the final day of jury selection for his trial which could last four to five weeks

Opening statements are expected to begin on Friday when lawyers for Hadid's neighbors will claim how the monster property turned their lives into a 'nightmare', and put residents and their houses in danger

A judge ordered Hadid's mega-mansion to be torn down out of safety concerns, saying it was a nuisance and a danger to the public but it is yet to be demolished

Hadid's lawyers are expected respond in a counter argument claiming one of the suing neighbors, Joe Horacek, has a personal vendetta against the developer and allegedly tried to extort $3.5million from Hadid in exchange for dropping his complaints to the city.

The 72-year-old real estate mogul appeared less than thrilled to talk outside court on Thursday when he showed up for the final day of jury selection for the trial which could last four to five weeks.

He barked 'get lost' when approached by DailyMail.com for comment outside the Santa Monica courthouse.

He wore a blue mask, a dark double-breasted designer suit, with a black tie and dress shoes.

The illegally-built 'monstrosity' should have been torn down by now thanks to a demolition order made almost two years ago by a judge who declared the half-built house to be a 'clear and present danger' to the community around it.

Hadid, however, claims he doesn't have the $5million to cover the estimated cost of the demolition and a buyer who had offered $9million to purchase the property - and knock it down - recently backed out of the deal.

Hadid, pictured on Thursday, claims he doesn't have $5million to cover the estimated cost of the demolition and says a buyer who had offered $9million to purchase the property - and knock it down - recently backed out of the deal

Neighbors have been fighting for years for the demolition of the property because of all the alleged unapproved construction. The development of the home has also been an eyesore to nearby residents and now a danger due to heavy Los Angeles rain

Attorney Gary Lincenberg pointed out that according to expert opinion, piles supporting the house - which were not sunk deep enough into the hillside to comply with local building codes - 'will fail in the event of a 24-year earthquake or a 10-20-year rain event'

That has left the City of Los Angeles holding the bag - and facing a court motion demanding that the City should bring in the wrecking ball and tear the huge structure to the ground now - because of the threat it poses to the nearby homes it teeters above.

After Hadid, 72, claimed to be strapped for cash and (unsuccessfully) trying to declare bankruptcy, Judge Karlan ordered the house - which stands on a 53,000 square foot lot - to be sold.

LA developer Bruce Lifton offered $9 million for it, including the cost of demolition.

But before the deal could be sealed, LA City's Department of Building and Safety, revealed for the first time only last month that in addition to tearing down the building, the retaining walls that held back hundreds of tons of earth supporting the house, would also have to be removed, adding $1.5million to the cost of demo.

Lifton said no, sending an email to Douglas Wilson - the receiver Judge Karlan appointed to oversee the demo - saying, 'Everyone put your pencils down. The deal is dead,' according to court documents obtained by DailyMail.com.

Hadid has claimed he doesn't have $5million to pay for the demolition and a buyer who offered $9 million to purchase the property and knock it down backed out

Now, Wilson is putting the house and land up for auction in an effort to find another buyer to pay the demolition cost.

And with would-be auction buyers being offered 70 days to submit a bid, then an escrow process added, that means demo won't be able to start for several more months.

The loss of Lifton - the only serious buyer to show interest in the slowly deteriorating building site - prompted an angry reaction from long-suffering neighbors who blasted LA City for screwing up the $9 million deal that could have rid them of the house - dubbed the Starship Enterprise for its size - looming over them once and for all.

Their lead lawyer in the lawsuit, Gary Lincenberg, filed a motion last week 'requiring the City to demolish the structure at 901 Strada Vecchia (the address of Hadid's mega-mansion).'

'The City's conduct has created a situation in which there are no funds available to the receiver to demolish the structure that has been declared an imminent danger,' said Lincenberg in court papers.

'The City allowed the dangerous, non-compliant structure at 901 Strada Vecchia to be built. The City failed to ensure that the structure was safe. The City did nothing to ensure that Hadid would pay for the demolition.

Mohamed Hadid, father of supermodels Bella and Gigi Hadid, will go on trial this week over his disaster Los Angeles mega-mansion that was illegally built

Gigi and Bella Hadid's father faces $60 million in losses over his condemned Los Angeles mega-mansion

Judge Karlan ordered the home to be demolished almost two years ago and declared the half-built house to be a 'clear and present danger' to the community around it. Pictured: Judge Karlan inspecting Hadid's mansion in Bel Air in 2019

'The City's conduct contributed to the only serious potential buyer pulling out of the transaction.'

Lincenberg blasted LA's Department of Building and Safety, saying it's mission is 'to protect the lives and safety of the residents and visitors of the City of Los Angeles.

'In order to fulfill its mission, the City of Los Angeles must demolish the dangerous structure at 901 Strada Vecchia now, before the structure fails and puts the entire community at risk.'

Lincenberg pointed out that according to expert opinion, piles supporting the house - which were not sunk deep enough into the hillside to comply with local building codes - 'will fail in the event of a 24-year earthquake or a 10-20-year rain event,' bringing the house crashing down the hillside, endangering the lives of local residents in nearby homes.

'No one can predict exactly when a building with structural problems will fail,' he added. 'But the recent condominium collapse in Florida tragically showed what can happen when life safety risks are not expeditiously abated.

Attorney Gary Lincenberg filed a motion last week 'requiring the City to demolish the structure at 901 Strada Vecchia (the address of Hadid's mega-mansion)'

'Likewise, no one can predict exactly when an earthquake will hit the Los Angeles area (or whether a rainy season will be particularly strong).

'But given the massive weight of this criminally built structure, hanging over an illegally graded steep hillside, there is an enormous risk to further delaying demolition while figuring out the best way to pay for it.

'It is critical that demolition begin before any piles fail. With no buyer on the horizon and the receiver concerned that a time-consuming auction will not fetch a price sufficient to fund the demolition, the City should be ordered to perform its public safety duty and demolish the mansion.'

Hadid declared last October that he's broke - facing $60million in losses over the headline-making mega-mansion that he once hoped to sell for $100million.

The Palestinian-American developer also contended that he owes $15million in court judgements against him, he's had to 'drastically downsize' from a 48,000 square foot home to a more 'modest' one, he's made no money from the caviar and champagne products that carry his name, and his famous daughters' eyewear line - also using the Hadid brand - has gone belly up.

Hadid - who was criminally prosecuted over Illegal construction of the huge house - claimed in his written declaration, 'The stigma of the project and the impact on my life over the past six years that Joe Horacek (one of the neighbors suing him) has harassed me have been personally devastating.

'My reputation is tarnished and my ability to go out and borrow other money is fractured at best. I am 72 years old and do not have the millions of dollars needed for the demolition of Strada Vecchia.

'I may have ''paper assets'' but there are substantial loans against everything I own, thus I have no liquidity with which to fund the demolition of 901 Strada.'

Hadid puts most of the blame for his troubles on 'nightmare neighbor' Joe Horacek (pictured in front of his home with Hadid's home in the background), who he says became 'obsessed' with the case

The neighbors' legal team scoffed at his poverty-pleading statements, calling them 'blatantly and intentionally deficient' and adding, 'Hadid is now concealing his finances to avoid being called to task.'

Hadid has tried several legal moves to try to stop or delay his dream project from becoming a pile of rubble and dust.

First he filed chapter 11 bankruptcy, claiming that he 'couldn't afford' the $5 million cost of the demo. That was dismissed.

Then he filed an appeal against Judge Karlan's order to tear down the giant house. That too was denied.

In May last year he launched a desperate bid to save his building project by asking California's Supreme Court to send the case back to Judge Karlan's court.

But the state's highest court torpedoed his efforts, refusing even to hear the case.

Then, in a last-ditch move, Hadid's lawyers filed a second appeal - this time against Judge Karlan's decision to appoint a receiver to oversee destruction of the house.

He lost that appeal as well.

Hadid's mammoth house was originally permitted for 15,000 square feet but it grew to more than 30,000 square feet with much of that additional construction illegal.

He ignored orders from Los Angeles City to stop building and in December 2015, in an almost-unprecedented move, the city decided to prosecute him criminally.

He pleaded no contest to three criminal charges involving illegal construction and in July 2017 he was told he would serve a 180-day jail sentence if he didn't reduce the size of the house and bring it into compliance with city building codes - or demolish it - within the three years of probation the judge also imposed.

In addition, he was fined $3,000, ordered to pay $14,191 in fees to LA city, and serve 200 hours of community service. Hadid's probation period for that criminal case ended in July 2020 and his lawyers have since managed to have his three misdemeanor convictions expunged from his record under California court regulations.
Another fully vaccinated congressional staffer has tested positive for COVID, it was revealed on Friday, as concerns grows about the rising number of breakthrough cases inside the government.

The staffer works for Democratic Rep. Kai Kahele of Hawaii.

'Yes, a fully vaccinated member of the Congressman's office tested positive,' Kahele spokesman Michael Ahn said. 'We are in coordination with the Office of the Attending Physician, and our office policies follow all recommendations and guidelines from the CDC and OAP.'

Concern is rising on Capitol Hill after a fully-vaccinated staffer in Speaker Nancy Pelosi's office tested positive for COVID. More staff and lawmakers have been wearing face masks and there have been long lines at COVID testing centers in the Capitol.

'There is a real sense of unease, and a number of offices, even those with fully vaccinated staff, are encouraging work from home and urging folks to consider wearing masks when they're in the office,' a senior congressional aide told BuzzFeed.

More lawmakers and staff are wearing face masks in the Capitol - above Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her deputy chief of staff Drew Hammill wear face masks

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer speaks with an aide

Rep. Joyce Beatty and members of the Congressional Black Caucus hold a press conference

The attending physician of the Capitol sent updated guidance to congressional staffers earlier this week as the Delta variant was detected on Capitol Hill.

The variant has caused more than 80 per cent of new COVID cases in the country and has sent COVID cases soaring 244 percent in the last three weeks.

Officials in some states and major cities have reinstituted face mask policies.

'The Delta variant virus has been detected in Washington, DC and in the Capitol buildings,' Dr. Brian P. Monahan wrote in his memo to staff, which was obtained by DailyMail.com.

He said 'several' aides who have been vaccinated have tested positive for COVID. Republican Rep. Vern Buchanan announced on Monday he had tested positive for COVID despite being vaccinated.

'Several vaccinated Congressional staff members and 1 Member of Congress have acquired infection,' Monahan wrote.

He advised staff to consider wearing face masks as an additional source of protection but noted it is not required by the CDC.

'Vaccinated individuals seeking to further reduce their risk of disease, or further reduce potential risk of transmitting disease to vulnerable household members, may consider additional protective actions such as wearing a well-fitted, medical-grade filtration mask when they are in a crowded or interior location,' he said.

A fully-vaccinated White House staffer also tested positive for COVID it was revealed earlier this week.

After it was disclosed, the White House announced it was changing its COVID-19 disclosure policy.

In future, the White House will announce any positive tests among officials if they come into contact with President Biden, Vice President Harris or their spouses.

It comes after Press Secretary Jen Psaki admitted there had been multiple cases at the White House that had not previously been revealed.

'Because of our commitment to transparency, what were going to be providing, moving forward, are updates on any White House official who tests positive for COVID-19 that the White House medical unit deemed as having had close contact with the president, vice president, first lady, or second gentleman,' said Psaki.

White House staff have been informed, she added.

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki told reporters the White House was changing its COVID-19 disclosure policy on Wednesday and will now announce any positive tests among officials if they come into contact with President Biden, Vice President Harris or their spouses

CDC Director Rochelle Walensky also said no change in face mask policy but she noted people can make the 'personal choice' to wear one for more protection

'Id also note, today an email from our COVID-19 operations protocol team has been sent to White House staff, informing them of the official policy, that if you are in close contact with the principal and test positive for COVID-19, your case will be disclosed to press along with any other relevant details,' she told reporters traveling with the president to Cincinnati, Ohio.

Psaki said more cases are inevitable.

'We know that there will be breakthrough cases, but as this instance shows, cases in vaccinated individuals are typically mild,' she said when asked about the White House case.

Psaki on Thursday insisted there was no decision to change the administration's mask policy while the CDC said it was still optional to wear face coverings.

Psaki was countering a report the administration was considering urging vaccinated Americans to start wearing masks again given the rising number of COVID cases due to the Delta variant.

'There has been no decision to change our mask guidelines,' she said at her press briefing.

'Any decision would come from the CDC,' she noted. 'No one who has been vaccinated is being advised to wear a mask,' she said for added emphasis.

Psaki acknowledged there are ongoing conversations about the COVID pandemic and how to handle the rising case numbers that consider multiple factors.

'We never said that battle was over,' she noted. 'It should be more concerning to you, the American people, if we were not having those conversations.'

The White House has used the argument that vaccinated people don't need to wear a face mask as a way to encourage people to get their shot.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Rochelle Walensky said Thursday that the agency's recommendations on face mask have not changed.

But, she noted, people can 'make the personal choice' to wear a mask as additional protection.

'As we've said consistently, the greatest risk right now is to those who are unvaccinated,' she said.
Advertisement

An engineer is warning that the stretch of Collins Avenue next to the collapsed Champlain Towers South building in Miami might also cave in once traffic reopens if more support isn't put in to hold up the walls of the underground parking garage.

Structural engineer Allyn Kilsheimer submitted a letter to Surfside and Miami Dade officials warning them that the road was not ready to be reopened to traffic.

All that remains of the Champlain building are the walls of the underground parking garage, around a hollowed-out foundation, and Kilsheimer says that without more support for those walls, traffic could make them collapse, with parts of the street falling into the void.

'If the wall were to collapse or rotate substantially, the retained soil under the street and sidewalk could move with it,' wrote Kilsheimer, of KCE Structural Engineers.

He recommends building an earthen berm to support the walls near the street and sidewalk.

The stretch of Collins Avenue where the site is is less than 0.1miles long. But it's unclear how much of the road may cave if the walls collapse.

Structural engineer Allyn Kilsheimer was submitted a letter to Surfside and Miami Dade officials warning them that the road was not ready to be reopened to traffic. It has been closed since June 24, when the collapse happened. The avenue is one of the main roads in Miami and residents want it reopened. Collins Avenue remains closed for seven blocks (from 83rd street to 90th street). It spans 96 blocks along the coast of Florida

This is what the site looks like now. All of the debris has been cleared from the site and now the only thing there are these walls of the foundation which the engineer worries may collapse if they're not shored up. They are next to Collins Avenue

Engineers have cleaned out what was the underground parking lot and the debris. This is what the site now looks like

Miami-Dade County is bringing in crews to help shore up the remaining underground walls, Rachel Johnson, the county's communications director, told the Herald.

Structural engineer Allyn Kilsheimer submitted a letter to Surfside and Miami Dade officials warning them that the road was not ready to be reopened to traffic. He has been hired to investigate the cause of the collapse

'We are moving to procure a company to do shoring and bracing of the walls to assure there is no risk,' she said.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology, a federal agency investigating the collapse, has been monitoring the site's safety.

Collins Avenue, which is the major thoroughfare on the barrier island, has been closed to traffic near the site since June 24, when the building partially collapsed, killing at least 97 people.

Town officials had said Collins Avenue would be opening soon.

In the letter, Kilsheimer also said heavy rain would increase the risks substantially, and hurricane season in Miami is fast-approaching.

The site has now been entirely cleared of debris but emergency teams are combing through it at a different site for the remains of those who have not yet been identified.

Other residents in buildings are now fearful their homes may buckle.

The residents of Regent Palace, a 70-year-old building seven blocks north of the Champlain complex, moved out after an engineer who was hired by the board president found problems in the columns in its parking garage.

This was the scale of the debris when the building collapsed on June 24 with more than 300 people inside. 150 escaped but the others died.97 bodies have been identified so far

Those columns have been shored up and that it is safe.

The death toll from the Jun 24 collapse is currently at 97 but the remains of dozens of people are yet to be identified. The site is now completely clear of rubble and debris.

After the initial collapse of part of the building, officials took down the rest of the structure for fear that it may also collapse.

There were warnings about the concrete pillars in the underground parking garage at Champlain Towers South in 2018 but no updates were made.

The building's eight-person condo board had asked residents to pay for the $15million of repairs that were needed.
Detectives investigating the drowning of a two-year-old boy in a nature reserve lake have released an image of a dogwalker who could be key to the tragic case.

Greyson Birch was hauled out of the water by firefighters after emergency services rushed to the secluded area and took him to hospital but tragically he died four days later.

An 18-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of neglect following the distressing incident at Swanwick Lake, near Fareham, Hants, on May 30, and remains on bail.

Today Hampshire Constabulary have released CCTV video footage of a dog walker detectives would like to identify as they continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding how Greyson came to be in the water.

The clip shows a person walking with a dog on a lead down Sopwith Way before turning in to a path in the trees towards Swanwick Lakes just before the NATS site.

NATS is the main air navigation provider in the UK and its Swanwick control centre - which is next to the lake - is one of two in the country.

A spokesperson for the force said: 'We appreciate the quality is poor, but we are hoping that we can reach out to this person or anyone who knows them, as we are keen to speak to them and establish whether they saw Greyson that evening at the reserve.'

Greyson Birch, two, was hauled out of the water by firefighters at Swanwick Lake in Hampshire

Now police have released a picture from CCTV of a dogwalker they think could help them

This week detectives also released a photo of 'bubbly' Greyson, taken that day in the clothing he was wearing - a blue striped top, dark shorts, and white trainers.

Detective Inspector Matt Gillooly, who is leading the investigation, also revealed Greyson visited Lakeside Country Park in Eastleigh, Hants, shortly before visiting Swanwick Lake.

DI Gillooly said: 'Our investigation is tracing all of the steps leading up to Greyson's tragic death, and we are looking at places he may have visited prior to Swanwick Lakes.

'We want to know if anyone at Lakeside Country Park saw him that afternoon and anyone he was with.

'Please contact us if you did, as any detail around Greyson's movements that day, no matter how insignificant it may seem to you, could prove crucial in determining the full picture of this case.

'Were you there that afternoon? Do you recognise Greyson or his clothing from the photos we have released? Please contact us if you do.'

Greyson, from Southampton, Hants, was pulled from Swanwick Lake around 8.30pm on May 30 and died at Southampton General Hospital on June 3.

Police said they knew the picture quality was poor but were 'hoping that we can reach out'

Police and a forensic officer at the scene on Monday, 31st May at Swanwick Lake in Hants

Following his death, Greyson's heartbroken family released a photograph of the smiley blonde boy and paid tribute to him.

They said: 'Greyson Birch, our much loved son, brother and cherished family member who has sadly been taken from us was a character that neither family, friends or other persons will not and cannot forget.

'His bubbly personality that filled all our hearts with joy and happiness will linger in this world.

'Greyson was our light and life that will still shine to us all through our thoughts and memories. Greyson would love to dance, sing, play, just everything!

'To know that each time we hear Twinkle Twinkle or someone plays Baby Shark and he's not there dancing and clapping his hands kills us to the bottom of our hearts.

'The cheeky little smile that would grace our presence will remain in our family and friends' hearts forever. I know he is now in a safe place watching over his sibling and all that came to be a part of his short but amazing life.

'His memory will remain always and live through the smiles and joy of each individual who had the pleasure of meeting him.'

The 36 hectare site of Swanwick Lakes was once a clay pit for a local brick works.

It is described by Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust as 'a beautiful oasis for nature in an otherwise urban area. A mixture of woodland, lakes and meadows attracts a large array of species'.

The lakes and ponds around the site are said to be prime locations for dragonflies and damselflies, 'including unusual species such as the downy emerald'.
The bereft mother of a 10-year-old boy killed in a Topshop store when a 240lb metal post toppled on to him faced company representatives in court today where the business is accused over his death.

Kaden Reddick died on February 13 2017 after the queue barrier fell on his head at the Oracle Shopping Centre in Reading where he had just watched the hit film Sing with his family at a neighbouring cinema.

The owners of Arcadia, Sir Philip Green's former retail empire, collapsed last year, selling its crown jewel Topshop to Asos for 330million and Debenhams went to Boohoo for 55million.

Today the schoolboy's heartbroken mother Lisa Mallett, who had been at the store with her mother and two daughters when Kaden died, faced company representatives at Reading Crown Court.

More than four years after Kaden's death, the Arcadia Group Ltd, Realm Projects Ltd, Stoneforce Ltd and Topshop/Topman Ltd were all charged with health and safety offences in relation to the tragedy, principally through unsafe practices.

Judge Heather Norton scheduled a provisional full trial date of January 10 2022 which was listed to last for 10 weeks.

Lisa Mallett picutred with with 10-year-old son Kaden Reddick who was killed when a 240lb metal post toppled onto him while he and his family were in the TopShop in Reading in 2017

Kaden Reddick, 10, of Burghfield, Berkshire, died after being hit by a 3ft queue barrier inside a Topshop store in Reading in Topshop

Pictured: Police and paramedics at the scene of the Oracle shopping centre, in Reading, after 10-year-old Kaden was fatally injured by a queue barrier at Topshop inside in February 2017

Realm Projects was the manufacturer and Stoneforce was responsible for fitting the barrier in the store, the court heard today.

James Ageros QC, prosecuting, said: 'Kaden Reddick was killed when a barrier which he had been playing on fell on top of him causing fatal injuries.'

Following the tragedy, it was alleged that more than a dozen barriers in stores across the UK were either inadequately fastened or were not fixed at all to the floor.

Today, Judge Norton ruled that a full day hearing would be needed to debate whether Reading Borough Council had the authority to prosecute offences that were 'not on its patch.'

Kaden's family had been to see the film 'Sing' at the Vue cinema at the Oracle shopping centre before deciding to 'make a day of it' by going shopping, stopping first at Topshop (pictured)

In March last year, an inquest recorded his death as an accident, but revealed failings from staff over what was called a 'wobble test' of the barrier.

Staff across the country were told to test barriers after another incident in Glasgow where a 10-year-girl was seriously injured, just days before Kaden's death.

In delivering the verdict at the inquest the jury foreman said 'evidence shows its fixings were inadequate to hold his weight'.

However, the jury of eight men and three women decided that although the 180kg queue barrier was 'inadequately fastened,' Kaden's death was accidental.
Two brothers accused of fleeing South Africa with $3.6billion in stolen Bitcoin had bought citizenship for the Pacific Island of Vanuatu months earlier, according to a report.

Ameer and Raees Cajee, the founders of a South African cryptocurrency exchange, disappeared earlier this year after telling investors their company had been hacked.

Africrypt - one of the country's largest cryptocurrency exchanges - in April informed investors of the hack but asked that they not report it to police, saying that would slow the process of recovering their missing funds. The alleged hack came as Bitcoin's value surged to record highs.

Now it has emerged that Raees paid 95,000 for citizenship of Vanuatu in October 2020, with Ameer doing the same in January, according to documents seen by The Guardian.

Raees and Ameer, who investors' lawyers had been unable to reach for months, now claim they are victims of organised crime.

Two brothers accused of fleeing South Africa with $3.6billion in stolen Bitcoin had bought citizenship for the Pacific Island of Vanuatu months earlier, according to a report. Ameer and Raees Cajee, the founders of a South African cryptocurrency exchange, disappeared earlier this year after telling investors their company had been hacked

The Guardian reported that since January 2020, 2,000 people have purchased citizenship of Vanuatu, a remote Pacific island with a population of just 300,000 [Stock image]

Speaking to The Wall Street Journal from an unknown location, Raees said he and Ameer were forced to flee South Africa after receiving 'death threats' from what he described as 'organised crime syndicates'.

He strongly denied any allegations of wrongdoing. Raees also claimed that Africypt never had $3.6billion (2.5billion), telling the paper that the missing amount was no more than 3.6million.

The figure was initially reported by Bloomberg, which said that 69,000 coins had disappeared and estimated their worth based on the peak value of Bitcoin in April when the money went missing.

The brothers also promised to cooperate in any future enquiries and said they were preparing a dossier that would prove Africrypt had been hacked and that they had been stolen from.

Some investors retained law firm Hanekom Attorneys to investigate the incident and it discovered that Africrypt's pooled funds had been withdrawn from the local accounts and client wallets, where the coins were originally kept, then put through tumblers and mixers - a.k.a. other large pools of Bitcoin - a process that severely complicates any attempt at tracing the money.

'Africrypt employees lost access to the back-end platforms seven days before the alleged hack,' Hanekom Attorneys told Bloomberg.

The incident was reported to Hawks, an elite national police force that tackles organised crime, economic crime, corruption, and other serious crime.

Police found that the brothers shed some considerable assets in the weeks before their disappearance, selling off their Lamborghini Huracan, a luxury suite at one of South Africa's most expensive hotels and a rented beachside apartment in Durban.

Lawyers also alerted crypto exchanges worldwide to be on the lookout for attempts to convert the coins.

Raees has strongly denied any allegations of wrongdoing. He also claimed that Africypt never had $3.6billion (2.5billion), telling the paper that the missing amount was no more than 3.6million [Stock image]

South Africa's Finance Sector Conduct Authority is looking into Africrypt, but cannot launch an official probe into the incident because cryptocurrency is not considered a legal financial product in the country, Bloomberg reported citing the watchdog's head of enforcement Brandon Topham.

However, Gerhard Botha, a Johannesburg lawyer representing 58 investors, was able to obtain a provisional liquidation order against the fugitives to investigate.

If the money is not recovered, the incident would be the largest-ever cryptocurrency loss in history.

The Guardian reported that since January 2020, 2,000 people have purchased citizenship of Vanuatu, a remote Pacific island with a population of just 300,000.

The government's citizenship-by-investment (CBI) scheme allows anyone to apply for a passport by paying 95,000.

Successful applicants gain not only citizenship of the island, but also visa-free travel throughout the UK and EU.

CBI schemes are legal and relatively common in small countries including Malta and Grenada, though some larger countries such as Austria and Turkey also have such programmes in place.

According to an analysis by Investment Migration Insider, the CBI scheme earned Vanuatu 72million - 42 per cent of all government revenue in 2020.

Among those to have purchased citizenship in Vanuatu, according to The Guardian investigation, are former Indian politician Vinay Mishra, who is accused of corruption, disgraced Syrian politician Alaa Ibrahhim, and former UN-backed Libyan Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj.

In response to the investigation, Vanuatu's Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) pledged to undertake stringent checks on those named in the report.

Director Floyd Mera told the newspaper that those with 'substantial convictions' could have their citizenships revoked.

'Going forward, the FIU will conduct enhanced checks... If any of these persons have criminal convictions, FIU will promptly inform the Citizenship Office of the updated information,' he said.
A small group of Cuban Americans in Miami revved their motorboat engines early Friday and headed for international waters near Cuba to show support for those experiencing hardships on the island.

Five boats sailed off from Miami's Bayside marina just before 8 a.m. They planned to refuel in Key West before heading into the Florida Straits, said Jose Portieles, who is helping organize the effort.

He said they would stay in international waters, some 15 miles off the coast of Havana, one of the cities on the Communist-run island where residents have taken to the streets to protest shortages of basic goods, longtime limitations on civil liberties and the handling of the COVID-19 epidemic.

'We also want to draw the attention to the United States government that they have to do something,' Portieles said. We 'identified with what is happening in the protests in Cuba, we could be the ones who are there.'

The Cuban government considers the caravan, which was originally scheduled for Monday, a provocation.

Cuban Foreign Affairs Minister Bruno Rodriguez called the flotilla illegal and urged the United States government to shut down the boats 'to avoid incidents which are not in anyone's best interest.'

Three of the five boats that formed part of the 'Flotilla To Cuba' departed from Miami on Friday morning and headed to international waters in a show of solidarity for residents in Cuba protesting against the Communist regime

A boat arrives at Bayfront Park dock to sail in a flotilla towards Cuba on Friday in support of Cuban protesters against its deteriorating economy

The U.S. Coast Guard advised against going near Cuban waters and while also giving safety reminders for those who would ignore that advice.

Cuban flag waves in a boat docked at Bayfront Park before it joins a flotilla in support of Cuban demonstrators who since July 11 have taken to the streets and demanded an end to shortages of basic goods while bashing the government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic

Last Friday, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security warned the participants that they were required to obtain permission from the U.S. Coast Guard to enter Cuban territorial waters.

'It is illegal for boaters to depart with the intent to travel to Cuba for any purpose without a permit,' the advisory said.

Violators risked facing fines of $25,000 a day and 10 years in prison, according to the notice.

People bringing foreign nationals into the U.S. illegally risk fines of up to $250,000 a day and five years in prison, the department said.

A boats with Cuban and United States flags is part of a Cuban support flotilla that departed from Bayside in downtown Miami for Cuba on Friday

Ramon Saul Sanchez, right, leader of the nonprofit group Movimiento Democracia that launched several flotillas in the past, shakes hands with boater Alain Dennes before Dennes departs from Miami to international waters outside Cuba to show support for people experiencing hardships on the island

According to Portieles, the group is armed. The majority of them aren't activists, but rather Cuban-American entrepreneurs who know each other from the South Florida boating community and share a desire to see a free Cuba.

The boaters planned to reach the closest point to Cuba by 5 p.m. Friday, before heading back to Miami, arriving home by midday Saturday.

Ramon Saul Sanchez, leader of the nonprofit group Movimiento Democracia that has launched several flotillas in the past, was at Bayside to see them off.

He advised them not to use flares to draw the attention of the Cuban government, and to go no closer than 15 miles from the coast.

A docked boat is seen at Bayfront Park before sailing in a flotilla toward Cuba in support of Cuban protesters against the Communist government

The flotilla plans to stay in international waters off Cuba to let island residents know they have support in Florida

The U.S. Treasury announced a series of sanctions targeting the Interior Ministry security unit and General Alvaro Lopez Miera, minister of the Revolutionary Armed Forces, which it said 'engaged in serious human rights abuse.'

President Biden blasted the Cuban government's 'mass detentions and sham trials.'

'This is just the beginning,' Biden said in a statement. 'The United States will continue to sanction individuals responsible for oppression of the Cuban people.'

The White House said on Tuesday that Biden would form a working group to examine remittances to Cuba in the wake of the protests. The aim is to determine how Cuban-Americans can send money to families on the island while keeping the funds out of the hands of the Cuban government.

Biden also reiterated on Thursday that his administration is looking for ways to help ordinary Cubans regain internet access after Havana restricted social media and messaging platforms including Facebook and WhatsApp.

The never-before-seen protests on the Caribbean island nation have been ongoing since July 11 and have included clashes between police and demonstrators, captured on video and shared across social media networks.

President Miguel Diaz and his government blamed the anti-government backlash on U.S.-financed 'counter-revolutionaries' exploiting economic hardship caused by U.S. sanctions.

He followed by shutting off internet access across the island, although residents have found ways to continue to share videos of rallies and incidents with security forces.

In turn, Republican Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, fellow GOP politicians and leaders within the Cuban-American community in Florida urged Biden to search for ways to restore access.

The Cuban government has temporarily lifted restrictions on the amount of food, medicine and hygiene products that travelers are allowed to bring into the country after the widespread protests.
Kamala Harris is facing a steep uphill battle if she wants to succeed her boss Joe Biden in 2024.

Recent poll numbers show the vice president - and Biden's heir apparent - hovering at just 44.3 percent favorability, according to poll aggregator RealClearPolitics. Her unfavorability is slightly higher at 46.3 percent.

Plagued by years' worth of accounts of a toxic work culture under her watch, as well as her very public missteps while handling the monumental task of fixing the border crisis, Harris' weaknesses are even apparent to Biden's supporters.

The same aggregator site showed Biden with 51.8 percent favorability against 42.8 percent, and almost one in five people who supported Biden last fall did not think highly of Harris or did not have an opinion of her.

Harris' favorability is two points lower than her unfavorability, according to RealClearPolitics

A majority of people in almost every age group ranked the struggling vice president as 'very unfavorable,' according to a new YouGov survey. The exception was 18 to 29-year-olds, who mostly (32 percent) said their opinion of Harris was 'somewhat favorable.'

Only 13 percent of the same age group showed stronger support.

Data shows Harris' unpopularity is strongest among those aged 65 and up and white men without college degrees - with both numbers hovering above 50 percent.

The majority of both men and women surveyed ranked their opinion of Harris as 'very unfavorable' - 41 percent of males and 34 percent of females.

Less than half of Democrats surveyed (49 percent) found Harris 'very favorable,' while a whopping 87 percent of Republicans chose 'very unfavorable.'

Harris is facing an uphill battle if she wants to succeed Biden in 2024

Suffolk University Political Research Center Director David Paleologos suggest Biden be 'more supportive publicly and engage with Vice President Harris so that he can at least shore up his own voters,' in an interview with the Washington Examiner.

The politics expert said it was clear that some people who voted for Biden in 2020 'thought there was a better pick or they're not convinced that they like her.'

Harris has also reportedly been unpopular among her own staff. A damning Politico report from late June uncovered allegations of 'an abusive environment' they say 'starts at the top.'

'It's not a healthy environment and people often feel mistreated. It's not a place where people feel supported but a place where people feel treated like s---,' a source with direct knowledge of how Harris' office is run told the outlet.

A Harvard/Harris poll from June before Harris' trip to the southern border showed voters' discontent at her handling of the crisis, which Biden tapped her to lead the response to.

A Harvard/Harris poll from June 15 - 17 2021 reflected Americans' discontent with the VP's handling of the border crisis

People surveyed said Harris made no progress on her trip to Central America, before she traveled to the southern border

Harris' trip to Guatemala to tackle the 'root causes' of the crisis was criticized when she bluntly announced during a speech 'do not come' to the US.

In a contentious interview with NBC's Lester Holt during the trip, Harris appeared to dodge the anchor's attempts to press her on visiting the border.

At one point Harris told Holt 'we've been to the border,' to which he pointed out she herself had not - prompting a somewhat confusing response.

'And I haven't been to Europe,' Harris said. 'And I mean, I don't understand the point that you're making. I'm not discounting the importance of the border.'

Biden's approval rating on immigration comes despite apparent discontent in Harris' handling of the border crisis, according to numbers from just before her southern border visit (pictured July 22)

The majority of Americans polled by Harvard at the time said Harris was doing a bad job handling the root causes of illegal immigration.

The vice president made 'no progress' on that trip, 40 percent said, and nearly three-quarters say she should have visited the border on the same trip.

The survey also showed Biden had more than 50 percent support on the topic of immigration in June 2021.

Republicans also got a bump - GOP approval saw a 10 percent increase from January to June, with 53 percent of Americans viewing them favorably against 47 percent unfavorable.
A Michigan man was sentenced to four years in federal prison Thursday for stealing $125,740 from 300 VIP gamblers in Michigan and Kansas while using elaborate disguises to pass as an elderly man - and sometimes a woman.

John Christopher Colletti, 56, wore full prosthetic face masks, hats, glasses, surgical masks and used a walker to transform into an unassuming elderly person during his crime sprees.

When he was found, he had the personal information of 300 victims, as well as several face masks - including one of a woman.

The conman stole names, driver's license numbers, and the last four digits of people's Social Security numbers to access the bank accounts of VIP gamblers using Global Payments Gaming Services kiosks at various casinos.

John Christopher Colletti, 56, was sentenced to four years in federal prison for stealing $125K from VIP gamblers in casinos in Michigan and Kansas

He was arrested at the Prairie Band Casino and Resort in Mayetta, Kansas, on March 12, 2020

While disguised as an elderly person, Colletti used the stolen personal information at the casino kiosks which offer jackpot processing, e-check, ATM and cash advance services.

On March 12, 2020, he was arrested at the Prairie Band Casino and Resort in Mayetta, Kansas, when multiple large cash withdrawals drew the attention of law enforcement.

At the time, he was dressed as an elderly man, wearing a straw hat and glasses, and using a walker as he made more than $20,000 in cash withdrawals.

After being questioned by security about the large withdrawals, Colletti immediately headed to the restroom where he removed his disguise and 'exited the casino with a noticeable bulge down the front of his pants, believed to be the prosthetic face mask,' according to FBI reports.

Investigators caught up with him after finding his clothes, walker, $11,000 cash, and two Michigan driver's licenses in the bathroom. The licenses belonged to two known victims and had sticky notes attached with the victims Social Security numbers and telephone numbers. The photos on the licenses had been altered to show an individual wearing a prosthetic face mask.

FBI agents found driver's licenses altered with photos of Colletti wearing multiple prosthetic face masks and sticky notes with Social Security and telephone numbers attached to the back

When he was arrested, police found more evidence in his car, including multiple prosthetic face masks, 83 driver's licenses, a straw hat with a black ribbon, a counterfeit $100 bill, surgical masks, and 'books on how to get away with committing crime.'

A recovered flash drive contained forgery documents, background checks on various people, tutorials on how to counterfeit money, and Excel spreadsheets with more than 1,000 names, according to reports.

An electronic paper trail and his known tactics then connected law enforcement to his crimes in Michigan at the MGM Grand Casino in Detroit. In May 2019, MGM Grand investigators found at least 10 identity theft victims who lost $98,840 at the casino. The incidents were then reported to the Michigan State Police Gaming Section.

MGM casino security cameras captured a disguised Colletti making large cash withdrawals from several kiosks. Each time, Colletti inserted a counterfeit driver's license for the victim and looked down at a piece of paper, which authorities believe contained the stolen personal information needed to complete the transaction.

Colletti used the altered driver's licenses and stolen personal information at the casino kiosks to withdrawal large amounts of cash

From 2019 to 2020 the conman collected $125,740 from the bank accounts of 300 VIP gamblers at the Prairie Band Casino and Resort in Kansas and the MGM Grand in Michigan

On May 23, 2019, cameras at the MGM Grand Detroit recorded Colletti wearing a prosthetic mask, blue jacket, dark cap, blue jeans and sunglasses while making 15 cash withdrawals totaling $30,000 in less than half an hour.

He then got a cab to the Greektown neighborhood. Still in disguise, Colletti went into the bathroom at the Pegasus Taverna Restaurant, leaving ten minutes later in a white T-shirt, blue jeans and dark shoes, and carrying a black plastic bag.

Colletti was hoping for the minimum sentence imposed under the terms of his plea agreement - 24-months - due to his relatively clean background with only one prior conviction in 2007.

Stacey Studnicki, his court-appointed lawyer, suggested that mental health treatment would be the best option for her client. She wrote in court documents, 'He has recently witnessed the dissolution of his marriage, and his immediate family also has withdrawn their support of him.'

His court appointed lawyer attempted to send him to a mental health facility to avoid prison pointing to his recent divorce and the separation from his immediate family

But on Thursday he was ordered to pay back the $125,740 along with serving a four-year federal prison sentence

However, prosecutors were unmoved suggesting the judge sentence Colletti to 51 months, arguing he 'orchestrated an ingenious, elaborate scheme' to steal money from casino patrons 'while clad in Hollywood-esque disguises' and that they did not believe that he would stop until he was caught.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Particka has argued that 'Colletti has essentially zero employment history from the past 20 years and is unable to explain how he supported himself, leading her to question his clean criminal history.

GSPS has assumed the loss on behalf of Colletti's victims but he has been ordered to pay back the money that he stole in addition to the prison term.
Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman's father-in-law will most likely be serving his entire 10-year sentence after a court panel, citing behavioral issues, rejected his bid for early release.

Ines Coronel, whose daughter Emma Coronel is in prison awaiting sentencing in the United States, has been petitioning Mexican courts for early release since March 2019. However, his legal staff has been unable to convince courts to let him walk out of a Mexico prison.

Mexican digital news outlet La Silla Rota first reported on Ines Coronel's failed bid for release Thursday.

SEE VIDEO BELOW

Ines Coronel, whose daughter Emma Coronel is married to Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman, has filed several petitions for an early release after he was sentenced by a Mexican court in April 2017 to 10 years and five months in prison for illegal possession of firearms and smuggling drugs to the Unites States

Emma Coronel is awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty in June to charges in the U.S. and admitting that she helped her husband, El Chapo, run his multibillion-dollar criminal empire

Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman is serving a life sentence in the United States

Coronel, a 53-year-old former high-ranking leader within El Chapo's Sinaloa Cartel, was arrested April 30, 2013 at a home in the northern border town of Agua Prieta, Sonora, across from Douglas, Arizona.

He was found guilty of illegal possession of firearms and smuggling drugs to the United States. Coronel was sentenced on April 28, 2017 to 10 years and five months in prison. He also was ordered to pay a $900 fine.

Attempts to have the sentence reduced have failed on several occasions.

According to legal documents reviewed by La Silla Rota, Coronel's legal team applied for his discharge March 12, 2019, citing a 'partial remission of the sentence, preparatory release and conditional release.'

However, the court shot down the request on February 19, 2020, ruling that Coronel 'incurred in acts and conduct contrary to morals or good customs' during an incident at the prison on June 20, 2015.

The court also cited items found in Coronel's prison cell on July 19, 2017 that jeopardized the 'security of the prison and/or the life of a person' and 'malicious behaviors that affect that operation of services or the provision of supplies in the penitentiary.'

Ines Coronel is a former operative within the Sinaloa Cartel, co-founded by his son-in-law, El Chapo's. Coronel, the father of Emma Coronel, El Chapo's wife, was arrested and found guilty of illegal possession of firearms and smuggling drugs to the United States, and was sentenced on April 28, 2017 to 10 years and five months in prison.

The 31-year-old Emma Coronel was 18 at the time she married El Chapo. She was arrested in February at Dulles International Airport in Virginia and has been jailed since then

In its opinion, the court said that Coronel had 'not shown adequate learning' at the prison and that the 'possible benefit of early release (was) unfavorable.'

Coronel's attorneys filed two other appeals in February and March 2020, before the Third Unitary Court in Criminal Matters in Mexico City. Both were rejected December 2020. After another appeal in a different court, on May 30, the Third Unitary Court in Criminal Matters in Mexico City supported rejecting Coronel's release.

While Coronel languishes in prison, his oldest child, Omar, who also was arrested with him in 2013, is serving a nine-year prison sentence for possession of marijuana with the intent to sell and illegal possession of military firearms.

Coronel's former beauty queen daughter and mother of El Chapo's twin daughters is awaiting sentencing. She acknowledged in June helping her husband run his multibillion-dollar criminal empire.

Emma Coronel, who holds dual Mexico-US citizenship, pleaded guilty to three federal offenses as part of a plea deal with federal prosecutors.

The charges include knowingly and willfully conspiring to distribute heroin, cocaine, marijuana and methamphetamine for several years. She also pleaded guilty to a money-laundering conspiracy charge and to engaging in transactions with a foreign narcotics trafficker.

Emma Coronel Aispuro, according to U.S. prosecutor Anthony Nardozzi, 'aided and abetted' the Sinaloa Cartel's objectives to smuggle drugs into the U.S. and helped to import more than 450,000 kilograms of cocaine, 90,000 kilograms of heroin, 45,000 kilograms of methamphetamine and about 90,000 kilograms of marijuana

The 31-year-old, who was 18 when she married El Chapo, was arrested in February at Dulles International Airport in Virginia and has been jailed since then.

El Chapo, the co-founder of the Sinaloa Cartel, was responsible for smuggling cocaine and other drugs into the United States during his 25-year reign, prosecutors said. They also said his 'army of sicarios,' or 'hit men,' was under orders to kidnap, torture and kill anyone who got in his way.

The notorious drug lord is serving a life sentence in Colorado.

Prosecutor Anthony Nardozzi said Emma Coronel 'aided and abetted' the Sinaloa Cartel's objectives to smuggle drugs into the U.S. and helped to import more than 450,000 kilograms of cocaine, 90,000 kilograms of heroin, 45,000 kilograms of methamphetamine and about 90,000 kilograms of marijuana.

Her lawyer, Jeffrey Lichtman argued that Coronel was a 'very minimal participant' and 'was a very small part of this much larger thing.'

Her arrest earlier this year was a surprise in part because authorities hadn't moved to arrest her over the past two years, even though she was implicated in her husband's crimes. During El Chapo' trial in 2019, prosecutors said she helped orchestrate his two prison breaks in Mexico.
A German TV reporter has apologised after she was caught smearing herself in mud before filming a report in a flood-devastated town this week.

Susanna Ohlen, 39, has been suspended amid claims she attempted to mislead viewers by suggesting she had lent a hand with the clean-up effort in Bad Munstereifel following heavy flooding that claimed at least 128 lives in Germany.

In an Instagram post on Friday, Ohlen said she had helped out in previous days and was 'ashamed' to appear before aid workers with a clean body on the day of the live broadcast.

'After I had already privately helped out in the region on previous days, on that morning I was ashamed to appear on camera in front of the other aid workers with a clean upper body,' she wrote in German.

'So I unthinkingly smeared mud on my clothing. This should never have happened to me as a journalist. It happened to me as a person whose heart was touched by the suffering of all those affected.'

RTL.de had published an article titled 'Cleaning up after the flood: RTL presenter lends a hand in Bad Munstereifel', which featured Ohlen.

However it was removed from the website after a video emerged days later, apparently filmed from a nearby building, that appeared to show her scooping muddy water off a street and smearing it on her cheeks.

RTL said: 'Our reporter's approach clearly contradicts journalistic principles and our own standards. We therefore gave her a leave of absence on Monday after we heard about it.'

RTL presenter Susanna Ohlen has apologised after she was caught smearing herself in mud before filming a report in a flood devastated town this week

Ohlen was caught smearing herself in mud before filming a report in Bad Munstereifel

She muddied herself, apparently to pretend she had lent a hand with the clean up effort in Bad Munstereifel following heavy flooding that claimed at least 128 lives in Germany

Hier ist das fleiige Bienchen mit ihrem Marchen das sie mit angepackt hat  pic.twitter.com/brdhofXl5k  BockwurstMitSauerkraut (@Michael45644934) July 22, 2021

The video appears to show Ohlen in a blue shirt, hat, and boots, bend down, pick up some mud, and smear it on her clothes while surrounded by flood damaged houses and debris.

She then bends down a second time, this time wiping the mud on her face.

The onlooker can be heard laughing in the background as the reporter then turns back to face her camera crew.

Ohlen had worked at RTL since 2008 and presented Good Evening RTL, and Point 12, among others. She currently presents the channel's flagship Good Morning Germany programme.

Ohlen was suspended by RTL after she was caught smearing herself in mud before filming a report in a flood devastated town this week

Ohlen had worked at RTL since 2008 and presented Good Evening RTL and Point 12, among others. She currently presents the channel's flagship Good Morning Germany programme

Footage appears to show Ohlen in a blue shirt, hat, and boots, bend down, pick up some mud, and smear it on her clothes while surrounded by flood damaged houses and debris

Ohlen then appears to bend down a second time, this time wiping the mud on her face, before turning back to camera to film the segment

Ohlen's actions came after Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, and France were hit by days heavy rainfall and fooding last week.

The floods have now claimed at least 196 lives across worst-hit Germany and Belgium and are expected to leave billions of euros worth of damages.

In the Ahrweiler area of western Germany's Rhineland-Palatinate state, the number of recorded deaths has surpassed 110 and police fear that figure may still rise.

In neighbouring North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany's most populous state, 46 people were confirmed dead, including four firefighters, while Belgium has confirmed 31 casualties.

Desperate relatives released images of missing loved ones over the weekend as floodwaters receded and the hope of finding survivors faded.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and Belgian King Phillippe and Queen Mathilde have all visited the disaster zone.

Pictured: A destroyed railway track, building and highway are visible between Rech and MAyschoss in Ahrweiler, Germany on Friday following devastating flooding

Residents in Ahrweiler, western Germany, start the clean up after heavy rains caused mudslides and flooding in the region

Residents survey the damage caused by days of heavy rainfall and flooding in Pepinster, Belgium, on Saturday

Wrecked cars and trucks are flooded on the B265 federal highway in Erftstadt, Germany

A view of destroyed houses in Erftstadt-Blessem, Germany, which were destroyed after the ground beneath them collapsed into a nearby gravel pit

Workers clear a destroyed street after the floods caused major damage in Schuld near Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler
The wife of an Alabama councilman who was caught on camera saying the N-word during a council meeting says she is now frightened someone is going to kill him and that he has been wearing a bulletproof vest.

Tommy Bryant, 76, has refused to apologize after he was filmed saying the N-word during a Tarrant City Council meeting on Monday night.

Video from the meeting showed Bryant standing up and saying: 'Do we have a house n****r in here?'. It appears he was referring to black female council member, Veronica Freeman.

Bryant insists his words were taken out of context and claims he was repeating what he heard the city's black mayor, Wayman Newton, say about Freeman at an earlier meeting.

His wife, Nancy Mahler Bryant, told TMZ that she fears they will be retaliated against.

Tommy Bryant, 76, has refused to apologize after he was filmed saying the N-word during a Tarrant City Council meeting on Monday night

His wife, Nancy Mahler Bryant, said she now fears they will be retaliated against. She said her husband is wearing a bulletproof vest when he leaves the house and that he has given her a gun in case someone tries to break into their home

She said her husband is wearing a bulletproof vest when he leaves the house and that he has given her a gun in case someone tries to break into their home.

Nancy said she and her 92-year-old mother, who lives with him, are not leaving the house and that they are keeping the blinds shut all day.

She said she is afraid that someone might try and shoot if they spot her husband inside the house.

Bryant's wife said they had received more than 400 threatening calls at their home since the video emerged.

Nancy said the callers, who are from right across the country, have called them racist and made threats against them.

Despite the threats, Bryant told local news outlets on Wednesday that he would not apologize for the comments he made during the council meeting.

He claimed he only repeated the same sentence that was made by Mayor Newton about fellow council member Freeman.

Bryant also claimed that he and Freeman were allies and that they had been working together in recent months to block proposals that Mayor Newton has initiated.

Video from the meeting showed Bryant standing up and saying: 'Do we have a house n****r in here?'. It appears he was referring to black female council member, Veronica Freeman (left). Bryant claims he was repeating what he heard the city's black mayor, Wayman Newton, (right) say about Freeman at an earlier meeting

Alabama's Democratic Party has called upon Bryant to resign. Alabama's GOP has released a statement saying the remark is 'completely unacceptable'. The council members are pictured above during Monday's meeting

'I did what needed to be done. It needed to be brought to light what kind of a person the mayor is,' Bryant told WVTM-TV.

Newton - a black Republican - has denied ever using the slur against Freeman.

'They are trying to expose me for saying something I did not say,' Newton told AL.com. 'All of that was a political stunt that they did not do very well.

'Veronica and Tommy, they've basically been working against me since I got in office.

'I never used that phrase to speak about her. Ask them to produce the video. They record everything. They should have their own recording. They want me out. He [Bryant] wants to run for mayor.'

Freeman has not commented on Bryant repeating the racial slur during the council meeting.

However, Alabama's Democratic Party have called upon Bryant to resign.

Alabama's GOP has released a statement saying the remark is 'completely unacceptable.'

Bryant says he is refusing to budge and insists he is not racist.

'What a lot of the public's definition is, I might be a racist. But according to what the true definition of a racist is, absolutely not,' he said.

Tarrant, which adjoins the city of Birmingham, has a population of about 6,100 and is about 53 percent black, census statistics show.
Hundreds of shoppers are in self-isolation after a Sydney Woolworths worker tested positive to coronavirus - as a NSW regional town with no known Covid cases is on high alert after virus fragments were found in sewage water.

Dozens of venues from the Illawarra region to Goulburn - 200km southwest of Sydney - were on Friday night added to the ever-growing list of sites across the state exposed to the virus as the city recorded another 136 new cases of the Delta strain.

NSW Health released two exposure site lists overnight, which included 12 Woolworths supermarkets. Stores at Wollongong and Tahmoor south of Sydney were listed as casual contact sites.

In Sydney, a further 10 Woolworths locations were identified as casual contact locations: Ashfield, Wetherill Park, Greystanes, Kirawee, Lakemba, Granville, Pemulwuy, Revesby, Campsie and Toongabbie.

Kirrawee Woolworths in Sydney's south sent residents a letter informing them a staff member, who last worked July 13 from 3.45pm to 5.15pm, had tested positive and is now in isolation.

Visitors to casual contact sites who entered the locations at the listed times must get tested and isolate until they receive a negative result.

The list also included grocers, cafes, pharmacies, liquor stores, takeaway food stores, automotive outlets, banks and petrol stations.

Meanwhile Moss Vale, in the New South Wales Southern Highlands, is the latest regional location under threat after the NSW Health sewage surveillance program found fragments of the virus at the town's treatment plant on Friday.

Moss Vale, in the New South Wales Southern Highlands, is the latest regional location under threat after the NSW Health sewage surveillance program found the virus at the town's sewage treatment plant on Friday

Twelve different Woolworths supermarkets are now on alert as Covid exposure sites - including 10 in Sydney, one at Wollongong and one at Tahmoor

Pedestrians are pictured wearing face masks. Hundreds of shoppers have been sent into self-isolation after a Sydney Woolworths worker tested positive to coronavirus

A NSW Health statement released late on Friday urged Moss Vale residents to isolate and get tested until they receive a negative result should they experience 'any symptoms that could signal Covid-19'.

'There are no known cases in this area, which is of great concern,' the statement said.

New close contact sites listed by NSW Health included venues in south-western Sydney including the Afford Disability services at Belmore anytime between Monday and Thursday, Campsie Family Medical Practice on Tuesday, Lakemba Westpac on Wednesday.

Close contact sites were also identified south of Sydney. They were Bunnings at Goulburn and KFC at Marulan.

Anyone who was at any close contact site at specified times (check the full list below) must get tested and self-isolate for 14 days regardless of their Covid test result.

NEW NSW VENUES ON COVID ALERT - FRIDAY UPDATE CLOSE CONTACT LOCATIONS Anyone who attended the following venues at the times listed is a close contact and must get tested and isolate for 14 days, regardless of a Covid test result: Goulburn, Bunnings Warehouse Goulburn on Tuesday 20 July, 12.30pm to 12.45pm Marulan, KFC Marulan on Tuesday 20 July, 1.30pm to 1.50pm Belmore, Rust Bucket, Saturday 17 July from 11.05am to 11.25am Belmore, Afford Disability, all day Monday 19 July, Tuesday 20 July, Wednesday 21 July and Thursday 22 July Earlwood, Mr Liquor, Saturday 17 July from 5.30pm to 5.40pm Campsie, 85C Daily Cafe, Sunday 18 July from 7.35am to 7.55am Campsie, Family Medical Practice, Tuesday 20 July from 10am to 11am Campsie, Man Hing Chinese Takeaway, Tuesday 20 July from 11am to 11.10am Burwood, Leaf Cafe, Sunday 18 July from 1pm to 1.05pm and Monday 19 July from 12.15pm to 12.35pm Burwood, Pharmacy 4 Less, Monday 19 July from 12.50pm to 1pm Belrose, BWS, Wednesday 21 July from 2pm to 10pm Lakemba, Pharmacy 4 Less, Sunday 18 July from 5.30pm to 6.30pm Lakemba, Afghan Sufra, Sunday 18 July from 12pm to 1pm Lakemba, Paradise Grocery, Sunday 18 July from 12pm to 1pm Lakemba, Westpac, Wednesday 21 July from 12.20pm to 1.45pm Ultimo, Microseconds on Monday 19 July, 1.00pm to 1.30pm Lakemba, Pharmacy 4 Less on Sunday 18 July, 5.30pm to 6.30pm CASUAL CONTACT LOCATIONS Anyone who attended the following venues at the times listed must immediately get tested and isolate until a negative result: Dee Why, Chemist Warehouse, Dee Why Plaza on Tuesday 20 July, 12.00pm to 12.30pm Liverpool, Chemist Warehouse on Saturday 17 July, 10.15am to 10.45am Double Bay, Savoy Hotel on Thursday 15 July, all day, Friday 16 July, all day Plumpton, Terry White Chemmart on Tuesday 13 July, 7.35pm to 7.55pm Ashfield, Ashfield Mall on Saturday 17 July, 12.20pm to 1.15pm Ashfield, Aldi on Saturday 17 July 12.25pm to 12.55pm Ashfield, Woolworths Ashfield on Saturday 17 July 12.50pm to 1.15pm Liverpool, Pep's Auto Spares on Sunday 18 July, 12.00pm to 12.15pm, Monday 19 July, 12.00pm to 12.15pm, Tuesday 20 July, 12.00pm to 12.15pm Liverpool, Shell Liverpool on Tuesday 20 July, 10.00pm to 10.30pm Liverpool, Aldi Liverpool on Wednesday 21 July, 6.30pm to 7.00pm Wetherill Park, Woolworths on Sunday 18 July, 3.55pm to 4.05pm Liverpool, Chemist Warehouse Liverpool on Tuesday 20 July, 11.00am to 12.00pm Blacktown, Blacktown Family Medical Centre on Tuesday 20 July, 4.30pm to 5.00pm Wolli Creek, Junction Espresso Bar on Sunday 18 July, 10.00am to 10.10am Oatley, Kobito Sushi on Thursday 15 July, 1.35pm to 1.45pm Lakemba Woolworths, Tuesday 13 July from 4.35pm to 4.55pm Lakemba Aldi, Wednesday 14 July from 6.55pm to 7.15pm Liverpool, Oliver Brown, Level 2, Westfield Liverpool on Tuesday 20 July, 9.15am to 9.30am, Wednesday 21 July 9.50am to 10.05am Liverpool, BankWest, Westfield on Wednesday 21 July, 10.00am to 10.10am Fairfield Heights, Shawarma Today on Monday 19 July, 2.30pm to 3.00pm Fairfield, Coles, Fairfield Forum on Tuesday 20 July, 2.00pm to 2.15pm Fairfield, Aldi Fairfield Forum on Tuesday 20 July, 2.15pm to 2.30pm Fairfield, Fairfield Fruitland on Tuesday 20 July, 11.15am to 11.35am and 2.30pm to 2.45pm Greystanes, Woolworths, Greystanes Shopping Centre on Sunday 18 July, 1.00pm to 2.00pm Greystanes, Chemist King Pharmacy on Tuesday 20 July, 6.10pm to 6.20pm Guildford, Westpac on Wednesday 14 July 9.55am to 10.20am Kirrawee Woolworths, Tuesday 13 July from 3.45pm to 5.15pm Campsie Big W Campsie, Wednesday 14 July from 11.15am to 11.30am Campsie Chemist Warehouse, Wednesday 14 July from 11.35am to 11.55am Campsie Woolworths, Tuesday July 20 from 10am to 11am Pemulwuy Woolworths, Thursday 15 July from 6.30pm to 7.30pm and Friday 16 July from 6.50pm to 7.30pm Granville Woolworths, Wednesday 14 July from 12.15pm to 12.25pm, Thursday 15 July from 4.50pm to 5.05pm and Saturday 17 July from 4pm to 4.15pm Macquarie Park Vaccination Centre, Friday July 16 from 6.50pm to 8.30pm South Windsor Messina Pizza and Pasta, Saturday 17 July from 3.30pm to 9pm, Sunday 18 July from 3.30pm to 9pm and Monday 19 July from 3.45pm to 8.30pm Revesby Western Union, Sunday 18 July from 10am to 11am Revesby Woolworths, Sunday 18 July from 1pm to 1.30pm Castle Hill Chemist Warehouse, Monday 19 July from 9.50am to 10.05am Wollongong Woolworths, Monday 19 July from 4.30pm to 6pm Pheasants Nest, Caltex, Tuesday 20 July from 7.45am to 7.55am Casula, Costco Fuel, Tuesday 20 July from 8.30am to 8.40am Toongabbie Woolworths, Tuesday 20 July from 10.55am to 11.20am Merrylands, Triple 333 Medical Centre, Tuesday 20 July from 11.45am to 12.15pm Tahmoor, Woolworths, Tuesday July 20 from 12pm to 12.30pm Tahmoor, Subway, Tuesday July 20 from 12.10pm to 12.25pm West Hoxton, Campisi Continental Butchery, Tuesday 20 July from 2pm to 2.10pm Mittagong, Station Coffee House, Wednesday 21 July from 6.30am to 8am Mittagong Cakes and Pies, Wednesday 21 July from 6.30am to 8am Fairfield Heights, Yanni Al Basha, Tuesday July 20 from 2pm to 2.10pm Fairfield, Commonwealth Bank, Tuesday 13 July from 1.10pm to 1.40pm Fairfield, Ozie Spares, Friday July 16 from 2pm to 3pm Advertisement

Any customers who visited BWS at Belrose on Wednesday 21 July from 2pm to 10pm is now considered a close contact and must get tested and isolate for 14 days regardless of their Covid test result

Anyone who visited the Campsie Family Medical Practice, on Tuesday 20 July from 10am to 11am is a close contact and must get tested and isolate for 14 days regardless of their Covid test result

The new venues were announced by NSW Health on Friday night after Premier Gladys Berejiklian revealed the 136 cases included 53 who were infectious while in the community.

An 89-year-old man died from the virus overnight on Thursday - with NSW now considered to be in the midst of a 'national emergency'.

The continued spread of the Delta variant prompted Ms Berejiklian to not only announce an extension of work travel restrictions to parts of Sydney but admit that lockdown would likely not end on July 30.

Another 28 venues have been added to New South Wales ' growing list of exposure sites including pharmacies, supermarkets and a regional Bunnings Warehouse

The Bunnings Warehouse in Goulburn, almost 200km southwest of Sydney, was exposed to the virus on Tuesday July 20 between 12.30pm and 12.45pm

Instead, Sydneysiders could be forced to live with restrictions for as long as October.

'There is no doubt that the numbers are not going in the direction we were hoping they would at this stage,' she said.

'It is fairly apparent that we will not be close to [ending lockdown] next Friday.'

Travel restrictions have been extended to the Cumberland and Blacktown local government areas with workers now prohibited from leaving their suburb unless their job is essential.

The KFC in Marulan, NSW was also exposed to the virus on Tuesday July 20 from 1.30pm to 1.50pm. Anyone who visited the restaurant during these times must isolate for 14 days regardless of a Covid test result

FIND THE LATEST EXPOSURE SITES NEAR YOU

The new venues were announced by NSW Health on Friday night following 136 new cases being recorded in the community (pictured residents in Bondi Beach)

Tougher restrictions may be imposed across Greater Sydney as cases continue to skyrocket (pictured Bondi Beach)

Suburbs impacted by the tougher restrictions include Merrylands, Greystanes and Guildford.

'I have advised the government today that this is a national emergency, and requires additional measures to reduce the case number,' Chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant said on Friday.

'What we are seeing, is that the actions we have taken to date have averted many cases, but what we are not seeing is the turnaround that we would have liked to see at this stage.'

The staggering number of cases prompted Dr Chant to call for vaccination efforts to be ramped up across the community.

Of the new cases, 77 are linked to known clusters while 59 are being investigated to determine the source of infection.

There are 137 people being treated in hospital with 32 in intensive care and 14 on ventilators.

A Coogee resident is seen exercising on Friday. Covid cases continue to climb across Sydney

Ms Berejiklian said Sydney residents had a 'national obligation' to stop the spread of the virus and that they should get vaccinated as soon as possible.

'We need to get at least the first jab for as many people as we can in those affected communities as possible, and that's why we are asking for a refocus of the national vaccination strategy,' she said.

'We've already put some request in which we understand are being considered, but we need to refocus, which means using all vaccines available, including AstraZeneca.'

As it stands, five million residents of Greater Sydney are not allowed to leave their homes except to shop for groceries, go to work, meet up with one other person outside, see the GP or care for someone.

Residents have already endured almost four weeks of what was supposed to be a one week lockdown, but the city has continued to record high case numbers every day.
A murderer who spent 35 years behind bars for drowning a sex worker in a bath has carried out another heinous attack - just months after he was released on license.

Alphonso Frederick, now 65, carried out the sadistic killing of his first victim, Patricia Gammon, at a flat in Leeds, West Yorkshire, in 1984 in what became known as the 'body in the bath' murder.

He served more than three decades in prison before being released on license in May 2020, when he rekindled a friendship with an old friend, a court heard.

The pair met at his flat in October for social drinks, it was heard, before the woman woke up the next morning 'black and blue', with six fractured ribs and a collapsed lung.

She had swelling around her eyes and cheekbones and there was dried blood around her lips, Leeds Crown Court heard, and was rushed to hospital for treatment.

Frederick was arrested a short time later and, appearing in court this week, he was handed an extended prison sentence of five years.

Jailing Frederick again, Judge Geoffrey Marson slammed his and 'prolonged, persistent and motiveless attack', warning him he may never be released again.

Alphonso Frederick, now 65, carried out the sadistic killing of his first victim, Patricia Gammon, at a flat in Leeds, West Yorkshire, in 1984 in what became known as the 'body in the bath' murder

In 1984, Frederick, part of the criminal underworld, murdered 33-year-old Patricia Gammon as revenge for giving evidence against her former partner at a robbery trial.

At the time, a court heard the pair spent the evening drinking at different pubs before returning to her home in Leeds.

She was then beaten with a machete before being drowned in the bath, where she was found face down in the water.

Frederick, 29 at the time of the killing, was convicted of murder and spent 35 years in prison before being released on May 20 last year.

He had only been free for five months when he attacked his latest victim.

Leeds Crown Court heard the woman went to meet Frederick for a social drink at his flat in Leeds on October 15.

Prosecutor Christine Edgerton said the victim only recalled having a few drinks before waking up in extreme pain the following morning.

She added the offender called a taxi for the woman and that she travelled to the home of her daughter, who was shocked to see her mother 'black and blue' with bruises.

She was taken to Leeds General Infirmary by ambulance, where her devastating injuries were revealed, and she spent five days there being treated.

In a victim statement read to the court, the woman said: 'I am suffering from extreme pain and discomfort as a result of this crime which is causing me to lose sleep.

Frederick was handed an extended prison sentence of five years at Leeds Crown Court (above) after assaulting another woman just five months after his release on licence in May 2020

'I am barely able to walk, breathe or move as a result of my injuries.'

She added: 'I still feel anxious and stressed and suffer from nightmares, leading me to wake up in the night.'

Mark Foley, mitigating, said Frederick had not indicated any motive or justification for attacking the victim, adding: 'That will be a matter of great concern.'

Mr Foley added: 'It is difficult to mitigate. His recollections (of the assault) are poor.

'He does recognise that he did assault the complainant.

'He recalls the beginning of the assault. Clearly, drink played a part and that is an aggravating, not a mitigating, factor.'

Judge Geoffrey Marson QC warned the defendant he may never be released, adding it was 'troubling' to hear the attack appeared to be 'motiveless'.

Frederick appeared in court via a video link from prison, while the victim watched on from the public gallery as the sentence was handed down.

Judge Marson QC said: 'You should understand that, having regard to the fact that you were on life licence and committed this offence so soon after being released for an offence of murder, it is very likely that it will be very many years indeed, if ever, that you are released into the community.'

Frederick must serve a custodial period of three years, of which he must spend two-thirds in custody, followed by a further two years on licence.

Judge Marson added: 'The number of injuries indicates to me that this was clearly a prolonged and persistent attack upon her.

'It is very troubling to hear that you are not able to indicate any motive for the attack.

'It was clearly motiveless.'
An investigation has been launched after a female soldier was found dead in army barracks.

Emergency services were called to Larkhill Garrison on the outskirts of Salisbury, Wilts, yesterday.

Wiltshire Police were called at 12.20pm yesterday to the camp, which is home to the 47th and 32nd Royal Artillery regiments.

Emergency services were called to Larkhill Garrison (pictured) on the outskirts of Salisbury, Wiltshire after reports that a body of a woman in her 30s was discovered

The Ministry of Defence today said the soldier was a woman in her thirties and police confirmed the death is not currently being treated as suspicious.

A Wiltshire Police spokesperson said: 'We were called to Larkhill Garrison following the sudden death of a woman in her thirties.

'Her death is not being treated as suspicious.

'Our thoughts are with her family and friends at this difficult time. We would ask that their privacy is respected.'

Larkhill Garrison, near Salisbury, is the home of the Royal Artillery

An Army spokesperson added: 'We can confirm the death of a soldier on July 22.

'The circumstances surrounding this death are being investigated and it would be inappropriate to comment any further at this time.

'Our thoughts are with the soldier's family and friends at this difficult time.'
An assault captured on video shows a woman who finished using the bathroom at a Chicago-area gas station being repeatedly punched in the head by a male attendant as she tried to leave.

Nakeyah Smith slumps in front of a shelf as the employee, dressed in a neon visibility jacket, strikes her in the head.

'Open the door!' someone screams frantically in the video, which was filmed by a stranger and obtained by WBBM in Chicago.

The employee turned himself in two days after the incident, which sparked protests

An attendant repeatedly punches Nakeyah Smith in the head in video shot by a stranger

'Every time I close my eyes to go to sleep, that's just all I see,' Smith told the television station.

It is unclear from the report when the assault took place, though the attendant responsible for the attack turned himself in to Dolton police Tuesday afternoon.

Smith says she asked the man if she could use the bathroom at the 24-hour Shell gas station on 1445 E. Sibley Boulevard, 20 miles south of downtown Chicago.

He said no, but Smith went in after getting the OK from a female employee.

'She let me go to the bathroom,' she said.

Later, 'I hear him come from behind the counter and go to lock the door.'

Smith says she was trying to leave after using the bathroom when the employee attacked her

'Every time I close my eyes to go to sleep, that's just all I see,' she told WBBM in Chicago

The incident took place at a Shell gas station in Dolton, about 20 miles south of Chicago

She wet herself out of fear of what he might do next.

'It's a medical condition. I can't control it all the time,' Smith said.

When she went to unlock the door, 'he pushed me, I pushed him back,' Smith said.

'So I continued to let myself out and he started hitting me.'

The Dolton Police Department did not respond to requests for an incident report from DailyMail.com. An employee said the department only accepts faxed requests.

The video begins with the attendant grabbing Smith from the back as she tries to writhe out of his grip.

While the man assaults her, the female employee watches from behind a door as Smith's friends scream outside.

They eventually broke the front door glass and got her to safety, according to WBBM.

'Those were blows,' Smith's mother Tene said. 'He attacked her.'

By 10pm Wednesday, the gas station was closed after residents protested outside, with one woman holding a sign reading, '#Justice4Keyah.'

Others had complained about the attendant before, according to the station.

'When you get complaints, check into those complaints,' Tene said.

Dolton Mayor Tiffany Henyard said she was 'personally saddened' after watching the video

Dolton Mayor Tiffany Henyard released a statement about the incident on her Facebook page Thursday.

'I am personally saddened, hurt, and angry after viewing this horrifying video. Before any title I may have, I am a black woman first. This young ladys pain is also my pain,' she said.

Henyard added that she ordered the chief of police to work closely with the Cook County State's Attorney to make sure that 'proper' charges are brought against the attendant.

'This incident speaks directly to the issue of violence against women in this country. My heart hurts for this young woman. I am praying not only that she heals from the injuries she has suffered, but moreover the mental aspects in which she will now have to endure.'
Former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows accused Dr. Anthony Fauci of ignoring requests to probe a possible leak at a Wuhan lab that could be related to the outbreak of the coronavirus in 2019, during an interview with Fox on Thursday.

'He was putting out more press releases than he was signing checks to figure out where this virus started," Meadows told the cable network.

'Dr. Fauci not only had probable cause to look that it was a lab leak, but he looked the other way. You know, its time that we hold him accountable,' Meadows said on Fox News Primetime.

Former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows (left) said Dr. Anthony Fauci turned a blind eye to Covid-19's possible emergence from the Wuhan Institute of Virology. Fauci has refuted such claims

Mark Meadows and other Trump supporters suspect that a leak at the Wuhan Institute of Virology could have led to the outbreak of the coronavirus

This is not the first time Fauci has received accusations regarding the alleged origins of COVID-19 at the Wuhan Institute of Virology.

Earlier this week, Sen. Rand Paul questioned Fauci on gain of function  and the U.S. indirectly funding that research in China  on a few occasions. The theory has emerged in conservative circles as a potential answer to the origins of COVID-19.

Last month, the Kentucky Republican also accused Fauci of lying and demanded he be fired after a slew of his emails were made public.

Paul claimed to Fox News early in June that thousands of emails revealed by Buzzfeed News and the Washington Post proved Fauci may have been in-part responsible for the development of COVID-19.

The emails reveal that Fauci was warned privately of the possibility that the origins of COVID-19 were due to a lab leak in Wuhan  even though he publicly dismissed the ideas and allowed Democrats to call it a conspiracy.

The email revelation did not show Faucis personal take on the theory.

Fauci lashed out at Paul on Tuesday during a Senate hearing as he accused the Kentucky Republican of being a 'liar' who 'doesn't know what you're talking about' when it comes to COVID origins and gain-of-function research.

Fauci got quite animated during the exchange, as he pointed his fingers at Paul for being a 'liar'

Paul pointed back his pencil, and insisted the evidence shows National Institute of Health funding went to the Wuhan lab, who he claims then used that money to do research on how to make a bat coronavirus transmittable to humans and more infectious and deadly

The Fauci email leak in early June showed that the National Institute of Health was warned several times in January, February and April of 2020 by different experts that COVID-19 was likely the result of testing at the Wuhan lab in China.

On April 18, 2020, Fauci received an email from the head of a research group thats partnered with WIV. In the email, the individual was thanking Fauci or publicly insisting evidence doesnt point to the lab as the source.

Then, after mounting evidence supporting the lab leak theory was revealed in June, Fauci finally deflected by saying the origin is likely a natural occurrence, where it goes from an animal reservoir to a human.

In an interview with CNN, Fauci said he is 'keeping an open mind that it might be a lab leak' but dismissed the idea of bioengineering as 'far out'.
A former White House ethics chief is implying Friday morning that the only reason people would buy Hunter Biden's art is to curry favor with his father, the leader of the free world.

'This whole scheme makes absolutely no sense, unless people want to try to buy access to the White House or the administration or somebody else,' Richard Painter, who served as chief ethics lawyer under President George W. Bush said on Fox & Friends First.

'I doubt they're interested in just the art for the art's sake.'

Joe Biden's White House has come under fire recently amid plans for the president's only surviving son to host art exhibitions in New York and Los Angeles, before the artworks go up for sale - with some pieces expected to net upwards of $500,000.

A spokesperson for the gallery selling the paintings, Georges Berges Gallery, confirmed he would be in attendance.

Richard Painter, former White House ethics chief under President George W. Bush, seemed to dismiss the notion that people would be buying Hunter Biden's art for its own merits

Painter told Fox & Friends First the 51-year-old recovering drug addict should wait until after his father leaves office to sell his art

Painter points out that the 51-year-old recovering drug addict is 'not an established artist' - and with their half-a-million price tag, the math just doesn't add up.

'After all he made some money with a Ukrainian gas company, I think he's probably doing all right financially,' he added, referring to Hunter's time serving on the board of Ukrainian energy company Burisma while Joe Biden was vice president.

He suggested that if Hunter Biden really wanted to enter the art world, he would wait.

'The best approach for this, by the way, would be for Hunter Biden not to sell the art at all, just paint and sell it after his father leaves office,' Painter said.

He also criticized the Biden administration for a lack of 'transparency' on the matter.

'When the White House buys into a plan to keep the buyers of Hunter Biden's art secret, the White House is endorsing the exact opposite approach,' Painter said.

Hunter Biden has no professional art qualifications or training, but some of his paintings could fetch upwards of half a million dollars

Hunter Biden's paintings will be on display in New York and Los Angeles, and a spokesperson for the gallery selling his art confirmed he will be in attendance

Press Secretary Jen Psaki insisted Thursday that the president wouldn't be privy to who buys his son's art.

She also said Hunter himself will not 'discuss anything related to the selling of his art.'

'He's not going to have any conversations related to the selling of art, that will be left to the gallerist,' Psaki said during her daily briefing. 'As was outlined in the agreement that we announced just a few weeks ago.'

'And I would reiterate that the gallerist will be the only person who handles transactions or conversations in that vein and will reject any offer that is out of the ordinary.'

Press Secretary Jen Psaki insisted Thursday that Hunter Biden would not discuss the selling of his art, despite being in attendance with people who are likely prospective buyers

A former Obama administration official told CBS the arrangement proves the White House's focus 'isn't on government ethics' (pictured: President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden embrace Hunter after the president is sworn in January 20)

Psaki said this setup will allow the 51-year-old to 'pursue his passion' just like 'any child of the president.'

But with Hunter in attendance at both the East and West coast gallery showings, Painter doubts the White House's assurances.

'It's going to be very clear with people in the know as to who buys Hunter Biden's art,' pointing out that those in attendance would likely be 'prospective buyers.'

'The question is, are the American people going to know? The White House should insist on complete transparency,' Painter said. 'I hope they don't stay this course.'

Ex-staffers of Biden's former boss Barack Obama have also come out against the murky dealings.

Walter Shaub, who was appointed by President Obama and led the Office of Government Ethics from 2013 to 2017, blasted Hunter for the move in an interview with CBS News on Thursday.

'Is Hunter Biden going to walk around the art show with a blindfold on?' Shaub sarcastically asked.

'It just goes to show you the focus isn't on government ethics. It's just showing the child of a president can cash in on the presidency.'
Advertisement

Britain's daily Covid cases are down for the second day in a row, amid growing hopes that the third wave may no longer be growing out of control.

Department of Health bosses today posted another 36,389 positive coronavirus tests  a fall of almost 30 per cent on the 51,870 figure recorded last week.

Government data shows that 14 per cent fewer tests were carried out compared to last week, which may be partly behind the fall. And experts warn it's still too soon for the effects of Freedom Day on July 19  which top scientists warned would trigger an inevitable rise in cases  to appear in the data.

But in another glimmer of good news, separate data today suggested outbreaks were already beginning to shrink in the North East and North West of England, the two areas that were hardest hit by Indian Delta variant.

Despite the third wave appearing to be in reverse, hospitalisations and deaths are still going up because of the lag between patients getting infected and becoming seriously ill  and they will continue to increase for some time.

Some 870 Covid admissions were recorded on July 19, the most recent day figures are available for. This was up by a fifth in a week and the highest daily figure since February. Meanwhile, 64 deaths were posted today  up 30 per cent on last Friday.

Vaccines have drastically slashed the risk of people falling seriously ill but they are not perfect. A proportion of people who get infected will still die, although that fraction pales in comparison to what it was before the roll-out began.

It comes as a Government minister today refused to commit to scrapping self-isolation for the double-jabbed from August 16  despite fears the 'pingdemic' is already strangling the UK's recovery.

Environment Secretary George Eustice risked fuelling fury among businesses and MPs as he declined to give a categorical commitment that the exemption will take effect as planned for those who have been in contact with a positive case.

Government data shows that 14 per cent fewer tests were carried out compared to last week, which may be partly behind the fall

Business and MPs fury as minister hints self-isolation rules WON'T be scrapped for vaccinated Brits on August 16 A Government minister today refused to commit to scrapping self-isolation for the double-jabbed from August 16 - despite fears the 'pingdemic' is already strangling the UK's recovery. Environment Secretary George Eustice risked fuelling fury among businesses and MPs as he declined to give a categorical commitment that the exemption will take effect as planned for those who have been in contact with a positive case. The evasive stance came as ministers tried to cool rising tensions and warnings of food shortages by unveiling plans to exempt 10,000 critical workers from the self-isolation rules. Mr Eustice said staff at around 500 sites including supermarket depots will no longer need to quarantine if they come into contact with a positive Covid case. He stressed that firms will not need to apply to be covered by the 'big exemption'. The change will take effect for the first 15 locations today. However, supermarket store staff will not benefit from the get-out clause, and Mr Eustice incurred the wrath of other sectors that are being hammered as he made clear there is no prospect of hospitality staff getting the same treatment. A separate system will apply for a smaller group of workers in essential areas like nuclear power and defence - with calls for that list to be expanded. Pressure is mounting on the government to go further as PMI figures suggested the economy has drastically slowed down this month - with managers blaming absence of workers and shortages of raw materials. Although the index indicated growth continuing, the reading was the lowest since the lockdown started easing in March. Advertisement

Separate figures today revealed nearly 750,000 people in England were infected with Covid on any given day last week in the highest number since the second wave was still raging in January.

The Office for National Statistics' weekly surveillance report estimated that one in 75 people had the virus in the seven days to July 17, the equivalent of 741,700, as the epidemic grew by 28 per cent.

While cases are continuing to rise across England, the 28 per cent increase in the past week marks a slow down on the previous week, when the epidemic grew by 74 per cent.

The report was based on random testing of about 130,000 people in private homes across the country. It does not include tests in hospitals or care homes.

It means Covid is more widespread now than it has been since the last week of January, when there were estimated to be about 850,000 people infected at any given time in England.

The figures reveal that Manchester is still the country's Covid capital, with a 3.7 per cent positivity rate in the last week, suggesting one in 27 Mancunians were carrying the disease.

Unlike previous waves, the epidemic is now largely being driven by infections in younger age groups thanks to the vaccination programme which targeted elderly Britons first.

The ONS report shows that secondary school-aged children and adults under 24 were 12 times more likely to have had Covid last week than over-70s, and six times more likely than over-50s.

In the North West and North East, two regions hit hardest by the Indian 'Delta' variant, cases fell slightly last week and in the East of England the crisis appears to have levelled off in a promising sign.

Separately, the Government's Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) said England's R rate was between 1.2 and 1.4, unchanged from last week.

It means that on average, every 10 infected people are currently passing the virus to between 12 and 14 others. But the estimate lags several weeks behind the current situation because of the way the R is calculated.

Professor Kevin McConway, an expert in applied statistics at The Open University said: 'On the face of it, the bulletin seems not to tell us much that we didnt already know from the daily figures for new confirmed cases on the dashboard at coronavirus.data.gov.uk.

'Infections are rising across nearly all the country. But the dashboard figures can be biased, because they depend on the number of people who decide to be tested, or have to be tested because their work requires it or they need a test result in order to get into a location or venue.

'The types and numbers of people who are tested for those purposes can change over time, and its possible that some changes in the numbers of cases on the dashboard come from those changes rather than truly reflecting the progress of the pandemic.'

Nearly 750,000 people in England were infected with Covid last week as the epidemic grew by 28 per cent. The Office for National Statistics' weekly surveillance report estimated that one in 75 people had the virus in the seven days to July 17

Separately, the Government's Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) said England's R rate was between 1.2 and 1.4, unchanged from last week. It means that on average, every 10 infected people are currently passing the virus to between 12 and 14 others. But the estimate lags several weeks behind the current situation because of the way the R is calculated

Minister hints France could be dropped from 'amber-plus' travel quarantine list amid falling cases of Beta Covid variant France could soon be dropped from the 'amber-plus' travel quarantine list because of falling rates of the Beta variant, a Government minister hinted today. Anyone who arrives in Britain from across the Channel must still self-isolate for ten days, even if they are fully-vaccinated. Officials insisted the move was necessary because of the 'persistent presence' of the South African strain, which can partially evade vaccines. But Environment Secretary George Eustice today suggested the stricter rules could be scrapped when No10 next reviews the list at the start of August. New data showed just 1.3 per cent of new infections sequenced in France were Beta during the most recent seven-day period. Rates are up to five times higher in other European holiday hotspots, such as Spain and Greece. Outbreaks are also currently bigger in both destinations. Discussing the move to put France on the tougher list, Mr Eustice told LBC: 'There was a reason at the time that the advice was we should put France on that amber (plus) list. 'It was concern about the Beta variant and the fact that the vaccine might be slightly less effective against that. 'But as those rates come down obviously the evidence will change and it can be reviewed and we will want to be putting countries like France back onto the amber list in the normal way.' It comes as the great British summer getaway began this morning as the heatwave continued. Thousands of tourists headed to packed airports, with families keen to escape the 'pingdemic' chaos. Meanwhile, MPs have warned other Covid variants are being allowed to enter Britain unchecked because of a decline in genomic testing. Just 3 per cent of positive tests among travellers arriving from amber list countries are now being analysed in laboratories, a report claimed today. For comparison, the figure stood at 60 per cent in March. Advertisement

It comes as SAGE hailed the fact cases appear to be falling in some areas despite lockdowns being lifted and the country in the midst of a third wave.

In paper's published today but dated July 14, the expert group said it was not clear what was causing cases to slow because herd immunity was not within reach yet.

People may be adjusting their behaviours in the face of rising case numbers and taking extra precautions, it was suggested.

'A variety of approaches are showing tentative signs of slowing or reduced growth in areas that have previously been concerning, such as the North West of England and Scotland,' SAGE said in its consensus statement.

'It is possible that these areas may begin to see plateauing or decreases in cases in the coming weeks... It is difficult to attribute reasons behind this potential turnover of curves and its interplay with immunity.

'There is no current clear indication from observed local antibody prevalence data that herd immunity is driving this.'

The average number of people dying from the virus each day now stands at 57, which is double the figure earlier this month but still 20 times fewer than at the peak of the second wave.

And hospitalisations appear to be doubling roughly every three weeks.

But, like deaths, they are being kept five times lower than the peak in January thanks to the vaccine rollout, which saw another nearly 220,000 doses administered today.

It means that in total, 36.8million Britons  the equivalent of 69.5 per cent of adults  have been fully jabbed and 46.5m have had at least one dose, or 87.9 per cent.

Separately, a symptom-tracking study yesterday warned that Britain's Covid third wave has not peaked and cases will continue rising - U-turning on its findings the previous week.

King's College London scientists estimated 60,000 people were catching the virus every day in the week to July 17, the latest day data is available for  up 27 per cent in a week.

It predicted that 60 per cent of infections were still among unvaccinated Britons but the virus now appears to be more prevalent among the double-jabbed, compared to those who've only had one dose.

This does not mean vaccines do not work, and merely reflects the fact that most of the country has now received both doses, experts say.

Professor Tim Spector, the main researcher behind the app, last week claimed data showed the crisis had peaked. But today he admitted that hopes the third wave may already be receding 'have faded', after the team recalibrated their data and found cases had spiked.

Separate data from Public Health England today showed cases rose in 144 of 149 local authorities last week  or nearly 97 per cent. Adults in their twenties had the highest infection rate, with one in 86 testing positive for the virus in the latest seven-day period.

Other Covid-tracking scientists are still adamant that cases will start to fall this week, despite fears 'Freedom Day' will cause daily cases to spiral to over 100,000 within weeks.

Business and MPs fury as minister hints self-isolation rules WON'T be scrapped for vaccinated Brits on August 16 as crisis strangles UK's recovery - and government refuses to add hospitality workers to its 'useless' exemption list plan sparing just 10,000

The exemptions cover 16 groups: energy, civil nuclear, digital infrastructure, food production and supply, waste, water, veterinary medicines, essential chemicals, essential transport, medicines, medical devices, clinical consumable supplies, emergency services, border control, essential defence and local government

A Government minister today refused to commit to scrapping self-isolation for the double-jabbed from August 16 - despite fears the 'pingdemic' is already strangling the UK's recovery.

Environment Secretary George Eustice risked fuelling fury among businesses and MPs as he declined to give a categorical commitment that the exemption will take effect as planned for those who have been in contact with a positive case.

The evasive stance came as ministers tried to cool rising tensions and warnings of food shortages by unveiling plans to exempt 10,000 critical workers from the self-isolation rules.

Mr Eustice said staff at around 500 sites including supermarket depots will no longer need to quarantine if they come into contact with a positive Covid case.

He stressed that firms will not need to apply to be covered by the 'big exemption'. The change will take effect for the first 15 locations today.

However, supermarket store staff will not benefit from the get-out clause, and Mr Eustice incurred the wrath of other sectors that are being hammered as he made clear there is no prospect of hospitality staff getting the same treatment. A separate system will apply for a smaller group of workers in essential areas like nuclear power and defence - with calls for that list to be expanded.

Pressure is mounting on the government to go further as PMI figures suggested the economy has drastically slowed down this month - with managers blaming absence of workers and shortages of raw materials. Although the index indicated growth continuing, the reading was the lowest since the lockdown started easing in March.

Industry groups complained that the exemption scheme showed ministers did not 'understand how connected the food supply chain is' and were 'worse than useless' because there is no clarity about who will be covered. Councils said services were at risk from the wave of self-isolation and train timetables are also being cut back.

The UK Hospitality body demanded a 'more pragmatic solution', saying even people who are not vaccinated should be able to take tests and keep working.

The row came as owners of some of the country's largest producers including the UK's 'Chicken King' revealed they are at 'crisis point' - with a lack of poultry and milk on supermarket shelves and warnings of the 'most serious food shortages that this country has seen in over 75 years'.

Ranjit Singh Boparan, of the 2 Sisters Food Group, said the pingdemic was also 'masking' other issues, including Brexit-related problems and Covid-related supply, staffing and delivery woes as the Government exempted 10,000 critical workers from self-isolation if pinged.

Supermarkets have urged customers not to panic buy as a wide-range of products including meat, cheese, water and wine were missing from stores experiencing an epidemic of empty shelves.

Underlining the threat this morning, closely-watched PMI figures suggested the economy has drastically slowed down this month - with managers blaming shortages of workers and raw materials

Tesco in Skegness, Lincolnshire, some freezer shelves are empty due to the 'pingdemic' as industry leaders demanded immediate action

This MailOnline reader sent in this photograph of the empty milk aisle of his local Sainsbury's in Richmond, south-west London

A shopper walks past an empty fridge in a supermarket in Nine Elms, south London

Empty shelves in Adsa, Cardiff as more and more supermarket staff and delivery drives are forced to self isolate

Scots firms can apply for 'ping' isolation, says Nicola Sturgeon Key workers in critical roles in Scotland will be able to avoid self-isolation after close contact with coronavirus if they are fully vaccinated and are tested daily, Nicola Sturgeon announced today. Isolation will not be required for close contacts of infected people if their work is deemed to be essential and staff shortages could impact upon sectors such as health and social care, transport and food supplies. Affected industries will have to apply to the Scottish Government for staff to be exempt from the mandatory quarantine rules and health and social care staff are not included in the change. If the government deems a critical role can be exempt, the worker will still have to prove they have had two doses of coronavirus vaccine at least two weeks prior to any close contact, have a negative PCR test and agree to carry out lateral flow tests for 10 days after the contact. The Scottish Government announcement states that exemptions will be made on a temporary basis and last only for as long as there is an immediate risk to business or service continuity. Ms Sturgeon said: 'It is essential that lifeline services and critical national infrastructure are maintained and we are implementing these changes now  ahead of possible changes to self-isolation rules for close contacts that may apply more generally in future  to ensure staff shortages do not put key services at risk. 'We have seen significant staff shortages in a small number of organisations in recent days and we have worked with them to protect services. 'Applications for exemptions are being considered from today and we will consider applications as they come in. 'Clinical evidence tells us we can safely and effectively release some critical staff from self-isolation, with appropriate safeguards. 'However, this is a very limited change at this stage, to be applied on a case-by-case basis and only where absolutely necessary. 'We will not allow key services to be threatened by staff shortages, but equally we must continue to protect public health.' Applications for isolation exemption can be made via the Scottish Government website and will be required to demonstrate the organisation is part of the country's critical infrastructure, what steps have been taken to address pressure on the sector, and the impact of no action. They will also have to set out the intended scope of exemption, such as the location and number of staff affected. The government says that any exemption process for health, social care and local services will be different and announced at an as-yet-unconfirmed date. Advertisement

The closely-followed IHS Markit/CIPS composite output index, which measures different parts of the economy, hit 57.7, down from 62.2 in June to levels not seen since before lockdown restrictions started to ease. Anything above 50 is seen as a sign of growth.

Concerns about the loss of momentum also led to the lowest degree of optimism towards the business outlook for nine months, with companies struggling to manage large parts of the workforce off due to being told to self-isolate.

Some also reported that workers had taken unused holiday accumulated during recent lockdowns.

Around 32 per cent of those surveyed said they had seen a rise in business activity during July, compared to 16 per cet that signalled a decline, with looser restrictions, a boost in consumer spending due to greater numbers of 'staycations' and a strong order book in the manufacturing sector.

The pace of the rise in levels of new work was the slowest in the current five-month period of expansion, with some firms citing a drop in business and consumer confidence due to the pandemic situation, while others continued to report Brexit-related difficulties with export sales.

Manufacturers in particular said rising raw material costs, Brexit border checks and increased delays in global shipping was playing a part in the slowdown.

The UK services business activity index hit 57.8  a four-month low and down from 62.4 last month; the Flash UK manufacturing output index in the first half of July also hit a four-month low at 57.1  down from 61.1 in June; and the Flash UK manufacturing purchasing managers index (PMI) hit a four-month low of 60.4, compared with 63.9 last month.

While current staff absences continue to cause problems, there were also issues with recruitment, with employment growth reducing to its slowest rate since March.

Large number of staff departures and a lack of candidates to fill roles was highlighted by the survey.

Inflationary pressures are also growing, with wage inflation, higher transport bills and price hikes by suppliers all impacting the economy.

Mr Boparan  known as the Chicken King because of 2 Sisters' large scale involvement in the poultry trade  warned the Government needed to act now or face disaster.

He said: 'No-one could possibly have predicted that this toxic cocktail would come together at this time. It started with the pandemic  and in the last week or so with pingdemic, but since May this year the operating environment has deteriorated so profoundly I can see no other outcome than major food shortages in the UK.

'Supply of chicken and turkey is under threat. Our retail partners and the wider supply chain have worked together closer than ever before to ensure we retain food supply and this is of huge credit to everyone. But we are at crisis point.'

Mr Boparan, who featured on the Sunday Times Rich List in 2020 along with wife Baljinder with a fortune of 593million, added labour was a concern, reporting 15 per cent shortages among its 16,000-strong workforce with Brexit reducing available staff in the sector.

He said: 'The critical labour issue alone means we walk a tightrope every week at the moment.

'We're just about coping, but I can see if no support is forthcoming  and urgently  from Government, then shelves will be empty, food waste will rocket simply because it cannot be processed, or delivered, and the shortages we saw last year will be peanuts in comparison to what could come.'

There was a limited welcome for the announcement of exemptions from isolation requirements for food supply chain workers.

Ian Wright, chief executive of the Food and Drink Federation, told Times Radio: 'I think it's important because the interruptions in supply and the increasing erosion of choice and concerns that it might get worse were beginning to grow quite fast.

'I must confess I'm still a little bit mystified as to why the Government doesn't want to bring [the end of the self-isolation requirement on August 16] forward and I think it would be useful to know on exactly which grounds the hiatus is justified.'

But other industry groups warned the move does not go far enough. British Frozen Food Federation chief Richard Harrow said: 'The government announcement last night that parts of the supply chain will be allowed to test and release workers that are pinged by track and trace only goes part of the way. It shows that yet again government does not understand how connected the food supply chain is, only opening part is unlikely to solve the overall issue.

'Plus, who is in and who is out, who decides and how do they decide? Confusion continues to pervade and I have been advised no list until Monday. This is worse than useless.'

James Jamieson, Chairman of the Local Government Association, warned council services could be at risk if the rules are not eased.

'Councils continue to work hard to try and keep services running as best as possible, while protecting the health and wellbeing of our workforce. However, the large numbers of close contacts being required to self-isolate is having an impact on some council services due to staff shortages,' he said.

'Directors of public health, working in councils, are already under huge pressure as a result of the need to sign off on self-isolation exemptions for social care staff as well as many daily enquiries from other employers in their local area who believe their staff should be exempt. Clarity is urgently needed about what their role will be with regards to the application of exemptions locally while messaging from government must be crystal clear to avoid raising unrealistic expectations. The exemption approval process must also be quick and clear to understand.

'While we continue to discuss with government the implications of this guidance for local government, it appears it will not help alleviate the pressure on some important - albeit non-critical - local services. Residents will need to bear with us if they experience disruption to some services, if councils are forced to prioritise services that protect the most vulnerable in their communities.'

The TUC said if workers are being told not to self-isolate, they need to know that their workplaces are Covid-secure.

General Secretary Frances O'Grady said: 'The Government has got into this mess by failing to consult unions and employers in advance of reopening the economy.

'Ministers must replace the current inadequate back-to-work guidance with legally binding rules on face coverings and enforce the law on workplace safety properly.

'And they must bring back free workplace testing and ensure there is decent sick pay for all.

'Many staff working in sectors like hospitality don't earn enough to quality for even statutory sick pay. It beggars belief that ministers are refusing to fix this.

'The Government needs to be clear about who it classes as critical workers. The current proposals don't reflect the real world because businesses don't exist in isolation  they are part of complex supply chains.'

As Tory objections increased in volume, former business secretary Greg Clark said the Government should consider bringing forward quarantine exemptions for people who, after being identified as a close contact of a positive coronavirus case, test negative for the virus.
The trial of a woman accused of swapping pebbles for diamonds in a 4.2 million heist has been told her sister was wanted for switching 400,000 euros in cash for paper in a Swiss bank theft.

Lulu Lakatos, 60, has already claimed it was her late younger sibling, Liliana Lakatos, who posed as a gems expert called 'Anna' to steal from luxury jeweller Boodles in central London on March 10, 2016.

'Anna' placed seven expensive diamonds into a padlocked purse before switching it for a duplicate containing pebbles while the New Bond Street shop's boss, Nicholas Wainwright, was on the phone.

Prosecutors allege that Lulu was the fake diamond expert, but she denies conspiracy to steal and says it was Liliana.

She told jurors at Southwark Crown Court that her sister had confessed to her that she used her passport to commit the crime months before she died, aged 49, in a car accident in Romania in 2019.

The court has heard that Boodles' own gemologist, Emma Barton, picked out Liliana Lakatos as the person who stole the diamonds in an identification procedure five years after the theft.

Defendant Lulu Lakatos, 60, has already claimed her sister was responsible for the heist

Lulu alleges dead sibling Liliana Lakatos was behind the 4.2m Boodles heist in London

Jurors were told that Liliana had nine convictions for theft and money laundering between 2002 and 2012 and was wanted in Switzerland for what prosecutor Philip Stott described as a 'remarkably similar' crime.

Ioana Nedelcu, defending, told the court on Friday that an 'unknown perpetrator' had secured a 40 million euro loan to resource firm United Commodity AG under 'false pretences', demanding a 400,000 euro advance interest payment in return.

She said a woman, who 'could be identified as Liliana Lakatos', attended a meeting with the company's boss, Reto Hartmann, at AEK Bank in Oberhofen, Switzerland, on October 15 2014.

'Liliana Lakatos had Reto Hartmann open the safe deposit box, take the cash, check it and put it in eight bundles held in rubber bands into an envelope she had brought along with her, which she then wrapped in adhesive tape,' said Ms Nedelcu.

Nicholas Wainwright, Chairman of Boodles, which was hit by a 4.2million diamond theft

'When Reto Hartmann was distracted by a telephone call, she took advantage of the moment of distraction and exchanged the envelope with the cash wrapped in tape for a suitably prepared envelope containing paper.

'Afterwards, Liliana Lakatos left the bank safe, got into a cab and fled with the stolen goods in an unknown direction.'

But, in his closing speech to the jury, Mr Stott said it was Lulu Lakatos, not her sister, who was captured on CCTV switching the diamonds for pebbles at Boodles before handing them to an accomplice and fleeing to France.

'You can see her in the footage, it is her,' he said.

'What has happened here is very simple: The defendant has taken advantage of the fact that her sister sadly passed away in order to try and avoid the blame for this offence.'

The trial continues.
DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson today threatened to stop all goods checks in Northern Ireland if Boris Johnson does not hold firm in the protocol row with the EU.

Sir Jeffrey warned that his party is 'not going to be in the business' of implementing the divorce terms unless it believes they are right for the province.

He also suggested the unionists could suspend key parts of the peace agreement if a compromise could not be reached.

The intervention, in an interview with The Times, came after Ursula von der Leyen slapped down the PM's demand for the EU to 'look seriously' at UK proposals for overhauling the protocol.

The European Commission president said the part of the Brexit agreement that has brought social and economic strife to Ulster could not be re-written.

In a nod to resentment at the way Mr Johnson handled the original deal with Brussels, Sir Jeffrey - who is expected to become First Minister when a seat comes up at Stormont - warned he would not base his policy on 'trust alone'.

'We have to take our own view on these things,' he said.

Sir Jeffrey Donaldson warned that his party is 'not going to be in the business' of implementing the divorce terms unless it believes they are right for the province

Boris Johnson (right) and Lord Frost (left) have laid out proposals for overhauling the Brexit rules for Northern Ireland

Sir Jeffrey said his party had set out seven tests for approving any new arrangements, to ensure that they did not impose 'unacceptable' barriers between Northern Ireland and the mainland UK.

'Those seven tests are all based on commitments that the government has made itself,' he said. 'If the government doesn't live up to those commitments and if the outcome fails to remove the Irish Sea border then ... there is no way we can work and co-operate on a North South basis when the Irish government and the EU are undermining our relationship with Great Britain.'

Earlier this week ministers revealed a new plan to ease the deadlock over checks on goods including chilled meats to Northern Ireland.

Brexit minister Lord Frost said on Wednesday that the Protocol, part of the Brexit divorce deal agreed by the UK and Brussels, was undermining the Good Friday Agreement and urged the European Union to look at UK proposals for change.

Downing Street said the Prime Minister told Ms von der Leyen in a call to engage with solutions put forward by the UK because 'solutions could not be found through the existing mechanisms of the Protocol'.

Ms von der Leyen tweeted: ''The EU will continue to be creative and flexible within the Protocol framework. But we will not renegotiate.

Protests against the Northern Ireland protocol termsin Belfast earlier this month

'That was why we had set out proposals for significant changes to it. He urged the EU to look at those proposals seriously and work with the UK on them.

'There is a huge opportunity to find reasonable, practical solutions to the difficulties facing people and businesses in Northern Ireland, and thereby to put the relationship between the UK and the EU on a better footing. They agreed to remain in touch.'

But after the call Ms von der Leyen tweeted: 'The EU will continue to be creative and flexible within the Protocol framework. But we will not renegotiate.

'We must jointly ensure stability and predictability in Northern Ireland.'

The protocol was put in place to prevent a hard border with Ireland, but it has instead effectively placed a trade barrier in the Irish Sea.

Lord Frost said the economic and social damage caused by the arrangements would have justified the use of Article 16, effectively tearing up parts of the deal.

Lord Frost's proposals are thought to require changes to at least three of the protocol's articles.

He called for a 'standstill' period, preserving the current grace periods and suspending legal action taken by the EU against the UK while changes are negotiated.
The celebrity chef Mario Batali and his former business partner Joe Bastianich have agreed to pay out a $600,000 settlement to the 20 men and women who said they were sexually harassed while working at their restaurants.

New York Attorney General Letitia James announced the settlement on Friday following a four-year investigation into the alleged culture of rampant sexual harassment at the restaurants.

The investigation found a culture rife with sexual harassment at the Manhattan restaurants Babbo, Lupa and Del Posto, which closed permanently in April, with employees reporting that managers and colleagues groped them, kissed them against their will, or made sexual comments.

'Batali and Bastianich permitted an intolerable work environment and allowed shameful behavior that is inappropriate in any setting,' James said in a statement. 'Celebrity and fame does not absolve someone from following the law.'

Mario Batali (left) and his former business partner Joe Bastianich (right) have agreed to pay out a $600,000 settlement to resolve sexual harassment allegations at the restaurants they ran

Chef Mario Batali is seen at the grand opening of New York City's Eataly in 2010

'Every individual deserves to work in a safe environment, and today's agreement marks one more step towards remedying workplace harassment,' she added.

James' report alleged that Batali, a former Iron Chef who regularly appeared on the Food Network, himself sexually harassed a female server by making explicit comments to her and grabbing her hand while she was serving him and pulling it towards his crotch.

On another occasion, Batali showed a male server at Lupa an unwelcome pornographic video, the attorney general said.

Female employees specifically made complaints that chefs and managers blatantly favored male employees and made misogynistic comments degrading women in the workplace, the report found.

In several instances, a manager made comments about the female employees' appearance, including observations about their height and weight.

Some female employees said they were told to wear makeup and even to get breast implants, and that male colleagues would tell them to get on their knees or discuss the attributes of their mouths.

Mario Batali (left) and his former business partner Joe Bastianich (right) appear with former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg at Eataly's grand opening

Babbo is one of the three NYC restaurants that the duo operated. Batali surrendered ownership of his stakes as troubling allegations mounted

Victims who came forward said they wanted to see a change in the restaurant industry, where they say that all too often sexual harassment is viewed as routine or mere horseplay.

'Sexual harassment, discrimination, and retaliation should never be normalized in any industry or workplace,' said Juliana Imperati, a former line cook at Del Posto, in a statement.

'When my female coworkers and I were being sexually harassed by multiple people at Del Posto, the restaurant's leadership made us feel as if we were asking for it  as if it is a rite of passage to be harassed at work,' she added.

Female employees also complained that chefs and managers blatantly favored male employees and made misogynistic comments degrading women in the workplace.

One manager referred to several female employees in front of dining guests as 'little girl' and 'sensitive,' and said that 'females should not work in the mezzanine,' which was a main part of the restaurant, according to the report.

'Throughout the course of my employment at Del Posto, I endured constant, escalating sexual harassment,' said Brianna Pintens, a former server at Del Posto, in a statement.

'Management routinely ignored these behaviors, made excuses for the perpetrators, and often used victim blaming as a way to avoid having to deal with a workplace culture rooted in fear and humiliation,' she added.

New York Attorney General Letitia James announced the settlement on Friday following a four-year investigation into reports of rampant sexual harassment at the restaurants

Batali's oversight of workplace culture first came under scrutiny in 2017, when the restaurant news website Eater reported allegations of sexual harassment and sexual misconduct.

The celebrity chef denied an allegation of sexual assault, but said at the time: 'My past behavior has been deeply inappropriate and I am sincerely remorseful for my actions.'

In March 2019, Batali surrendered ownership of his stakes in B&B Hospitality Group, and sold his minority ownership in Eataly, an Italian food marketplace in Manhattan.

Later that year, he pleaded not guilty to charges of indecent assault and battery in Boston.

As part of the settlement, Batali, Bastianich and management company B&B Hospitality, now known as Pasta Resources, must pay $600,000 to at least 20 former employees, revise training materials in all B&B restaurants, and submit biannual reports to the attorney general's office to certify compliance with the agreement.
At least 147 unaccompanied minors were caught illegally crossing the United States-Mexico border into southern Arizona, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Border Patrol agents found the children alongside a group of adults and families around 7:15am Wednesday near a stretch of border on the Tohono Oodham Indian Reservation.

Most were identified as Guatemalan nationals. In all, 197 migrants were taken to a Border Patrol station in Tucson.

Agents with the U.S. Border Patrol's Tucson Sector encountered 197 migrants on Wednesday morning crossing from Mexico to Arizona via border land located on the Tohono Oodham Indian Reservation. U.S. Customs and Border Protection said there were 147 unaccompanied children, most of whom were Guatemalan nationals

Since the start of fiscal year 2021 - which spans from October 2020 to September 2021 - there have been 95,079 single children detained by U.S. Border Patrol agents at the southwestern border. At least 65,411 have been apprehended during the last four months

It was the second time this week that the team of agents had encountered a group of children traveling alone.

On Monday, agents patrolling the border near Sababe, Arizona, stopped 48 undocumented migrants for unlawful entry.

According to CBP, 39 were unaccompanied migrant minors between 5 and 17. All were processed for entering the U.S. without legal documents.

CBPs report last month showed that of the 188,829 migrants stopped crossing the border in June 15, 253 were unaccompanied children.

Since the start of fiscal year 2021 - from October 2020 to September 2021 - there have been 95,079 single children detained. But 65,411 were apprehended during the last four months.

A total of 33,239 children were stopped by agents for illegal passage through the southwestern border in all of fiscal year 2020.

DailyMail.com reached out to the Border Patrol team in Arizona for comment.

Of the more than 100 migrants who turned themselves over to U.S. Border Patrol agents on July 8 after crossing the United States-Mexico border Sasabe, Arizona, CBP said over 90 were single minors from Guatemala

Figures released July 16 show 188,829 migrants were encountered at the southwestern border in June, even more than U.S. Customs and Border Protection recorded in May

Under the administration of President Joe Biden, unaccompanied minors have been allowed to remain in the U.S. under the Title 42 policy.

However under former President Trump, the measure pushed CBP to immediately remove all migrants, including children, who were intercepted at the southwestern border due to the COVID-19 pandemic without granting an opportunity to request asylum.

The measure was put into place March 21, 2020 by Trump and pushed CBP to immediately remove all migrants, including children. The agency would send adults back to Mexico and the children would be placed in hotels then deported to their home countries.

A young female minor walks over others as they lie inside a pod at the Donna Department of Homeland Security holding facility in Donna, Texas, on March 30

Under Biden, CBP continues to expel most of the migrant families and single adults, ultimately forcing parents to send their children alone across the border in hopes of joining them later. In other cases, family members already in the U.S. get custody of the children.

Federal guidelines stipulate that children can't be held at facilities past 72 hours after they have been apprehended by the Border Patrol.

The law requires children to be transferred to the care of the Department of Health and Human Services [HHS]. The Office of Refugee Resettlement is in charge of providing longer-term shelters for the minors.
An Indiana math teacher has been arrested for allegedly molesting a 12-year-old girl during active shooter drills at their middle school.

Ian Gray, 38, was taken into custody Thursday and is now facing charges of child molestation, child seduction and sexual misconduct with a minor.

Gray was teaching at Fall Creek Intermediate School when he allegedly 'inappropriately touched' the sixth-grade girl multiple times over the course of the 2017-2018 school year.

According to court documents, which have been seen by FOX 59, Gray initially touched her thigh, but 'later went on to touch her breasts and genitals'.

The abuse is alleged to have occurred during active shooter drills in a 'small group room' where Gray would 'cover the door window'. It increased to a weekly basis before the girl's mother noticed 'a drastic shift' in her behavior.

Ian Gray, 38, was arrested Thursday, accused of molesting a sixth-grade student at Fall Creek Intermediate School in Indiana

According to the mother, the 12-year-old began 'self-harming' and acting out.

She said Gray had told other students that the victim was a 'bad influence' and that they should not be friends with her.

Gray left Fall Creek Intermediate School at the end of the 2017-2018 year.

He had reportedly taught there for more than a decade, but the-then principal said he did not suspect Gray of any inappropriate behavior.

A school counselor reportedly told investigators that she remembered the girl not wanting to go to Gray's class because he 'was too hard on her'.

The girl did not disclose the abuse.

The alleged abuse took place during active shooter drills at Fall Creek Intermediate School (pictured)

Gray was placed on administrative leave at the school where he now teaches in April. He tendered his resignation on Thursday.

In a statement, the Hamilton Southeastern School District stated: 'We are aware that a former school employee has been charged with alleged misconduct with a minor student. We have cooperated fully with the Fishers Police Department since its investigation began, and will continue to do so in coordination with the Hamilton County Prosecutors Office.'

'We believe strongly in protecting the safety and well-being of our students and that includes working with authorities to investigate allegations of wrongdoing that arise involving any student... To preserve the integrity of the investigation and protect the privacy of the victim, it is our districts practice to refrain from publicly discussing this matter. '
A convicted sex offender was arrested for the 1988 murder of an eight-year-old boy whose body was discovered in woods outside an Atlanta suburb.

James Michael Coates, 56, was taken into custody Wednesday after new DNA evidence tied him to the slaying of young Joshua Harmon.

He is now facing a string of charges, including felony murder, aggravated assault, sodomy, molestation and tampering with evidence.

Roswell police announced the arrest in a press conference Friday, but did not disclose the specific piece of evidence that implicated Coates in the crime.

'This was a tragedy that no family should endure,' Conroy said. 'The death of Josh and the fact that his killer remained free for such a long time is unimaginable.' Roswell Police Chief James Conroy stated.

'When you have something as tragic as the kidnapping and murder of an eight-year-old, that locks into your heart and that's something you don't want to give up'.

Joshua was reported missing by his parents on May 15, 1988, after he didn't return home for dinner at their apartment complex in Roswell.

His body was discovered two days later in a wooded area a short distance from the complex. Coates lived in the same apartment complex at the time, investigators said.

James Michael Coates (left) was taken into custody on Wednesday after new DNA evidence tied him to the slaying of Joshua Harmon (right) in 1988

Police said the case went cold, but they revisited leads over the years, and law enforcement technology improved.

With the permission of his family, police exhumed the boy's body in February 2021 in hopes of finding more evidence. Additional DNA testing was done on evidence from the crime scene, and police said it linked Coates to the crime.

Coates, who now lives in the town of Woodstock, was convicted of child molestation in 1990 and 1993, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.

After the 1993 conviction, he spent two decades in prison and was released in August 2013, according to Georgia Department of Corrections records.

Harmon went out to play on May 15, 1988 and never returned home for dinner

'Josh was an amazing young boy who had an uncanny relationship with nature and with God, so I know where he is and I know he's at peace': Harmon's aunt paid tribute to her late nephew after news of his alleged killer's arrest

Joshua's aunt, Marlene Carlisle, became emotional as she turned to investigators at Fridays news conference and thanked them.

Conroy said at the press conference that detectives, police officers, scientists and others who worked the case over the years 'never gave up hope in bringing Josh's killer to justice.'

One of the longtime investigators, former Georgia Bureau of Investigation agent Keith Howard, said that 'bringing this case together is a miraculous feat.'

'Everyone I've met throughout my involvement in this, which was over 20 years, was always passionate about making sure they solved this case,' said Howard, who is now chief deputy with the Morgan County Sheriff's Office.

Joshua's aunt, Marlene Carlisle, became emotional as she turned to investigators at Fridays news conference and thanked them. They 'always took anything and everything we had to say to heart and ran with it,' she said.

'Josh was an amazing young boy who had an uncanny relationship with nature and with God, so I know where he is and I know hes at peace,' Carlisle said.

Coates, who would have been 23 years old at the time he killed Harmon, would spend the rest of his life behind bars if found guilty.

Harmon disappeared from suburban Roswell, Georgia in 1988. His remains were found nearby two days later
Donald Trump's billionaire ally Thomas Barrack is being released on $250 million bond after being charged with illegally lobbying the Trump administration on behalf of the United Arab Emirates.

The 74-year-old reached a deal with prosecutors on Friday that will see him released from custody while he awaits trial on charges of illegal lobbying.

A federal magistrate judge in Los Angeles signed off on the conditions of the agreement, which will include surrendering his passport, complying with a curfew, and wearing an ankle bracelet with GPS monitoring.

The agreement also calls for Barrack to put up a $250 million bond, secured by $5 million cash, which would be forfeited if he does not appear for court proceedings.

Barrack, who chaired Trump's inaugural fund in 2017 and founded the private equity firm Colony Capital, waived his right to appear in federal court.

He will be arraigned in federal court in Brooklyn, New York on Monday.

Thomas Barrack reached a deal with prosecutors on Friday that will see him released from custody while he awaits trial on charges of illegal lobbying

Barrack, who chaired Trump's inaugural fund and was a frequent guest at the White House, was arrested in LA on Tuesday.

He and two others were charged with acting as unregistered foreign agents as they allegedly tried to influence US policy on the UAE's behalf while Trump was running in 2016 and later while he was president.

The other two men charged are Barrack's former assistant Matthew Grimes, 27, and Emirati businessman Rashid Sultan Rashid Al Malik Alshahhi, 43.

Grimes, of Aspen, Colorado, was also released on bond. He is a former executive at Barrack's company.

Al Malik is a businessman from the United Arab Emirates who prosecutors said acted as a conduit to that nation's rulers.

Barrack and Grimes were arrested in California while al Malik was at large, believed to be living somewhere in the Middle East, authorities said.

In court papers, prosecutors said al Malik was living in LA for years before fleeing the US three days after an April 2018 interview by law enforcement.

A seven-count indictment filed by federal prosecutors in Brooklyn alleged that Barrack, Grimes and Al Malik failed to register as lobbyists and used their influence to advance the UAE's foreign policy goals in the United States.

Barrack is also alleged to have repeatedly lied during an FBI interview about his dealings with the UAE.

The indictment goes to the heart of the US longtime close relationship with the UAE and directly ties its de facto ruler, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, to Barrack's charges.

Barrack was a prominent supporter of Trump's successful 2016 presidential campaign and directed his inaugural committee

Barrack, 74, (pictured left at the 2017 inauguration) was hit with seven-count indictment relating to trying to push the UAE's agenda and shape the foreign policy of the administration

Barrack raised $107 million for Trump's inaugural celebration, which was scrutinized both for its lavish spending and for attracting numerous foreign officials and businesspeople looking to lobby the new administration.

While the indictment made no allegations of wrongdoing by the inaugural committee, or by Trump  who was referenced only as 'the Candidate,' the 'President-Elect' and 'the President'  it said Barrack boasted that he had been a 30-year partner of Trump and could help the UAE gain US influence.

'The defendants repeatedly capitalized on Barrack's friendships and access to a candidate who was eventually elected President, high-ranking campaign and government officials, and the American media to advance the policy goals of a foreign government without disclosing their true allegiances,' Acting Assistant Attorney General Mark Lesko said.

Barrack's spokesperson has denied any wrongdoing, saying: 'Mr Barrack has made himself voluntarily available to investigators from the outset. He is not guilty and will be pleading not guilty.'

Prosecutors said Barrack provided UAE government officials with sensitive information about developments within the Trump administration  including how senior U.S. officials felt about a yearslong boycott of Qatar conducted by the UAE and other Middle Eastern countries.

'Worse, in his communications with Al Malik, the defendant framed his efforts to obtain an official position within the Administration as one that would enable him to further advance the interests of the UAE, rather than the interests of the United States,' prosecutors wrote in a letter seeking his detention. They noted that he has citizenship in the U.S. and Lebanon, a country with no extradition treaty with the U.S.

Barrack is the founder of the private equity firm Colony Capital, though stepped down as the company's chief executive in 2020, and in April resigned as executive chairman. He is pictured at the Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic in 2014

When Barrack tried to get Trump to appoint him as either the U.S. ambassador to the UAE or as special envoy to the Middle East, he wrote al Malik 'that any such appointment 'would give ABU DHABI more power!' prosecutors wrote.

Barrack served as an informal adviser to Trump's campaign in 2016 before becoming the inaugural committee chair. Beginning in January 2017, he informally advised senior U.S. government officials on Middle East foreign policy, prosecutors said.

Authorities cited several specific instances when Barrack or others allegedly sought to influence U.S. policies, noting that, in May 2016, Barrack inserted language praising the UAE into a campaign speech Trump delivered about U.S. energy policy and arranged for senior UAE officials to receive an advanced draft.

They said he also agreed to arrange meetings and phone calls between senior UAE officials and Trump, reviewed a PowerPoint presentation to be delivered to senior UAE officials on how to boost their influence in the U.S. with his help and repeatedly tried to conceal his conduct, even denying he'd ever been asked by al Malik to help the UAE.

Throughout 2016 and 2017, Barrack and Grimes received talking points and feedback from senior UAE officials in connection with Barrack's national press appearances and communicated on a dedicated cellular telephone which had a secure messaging application to facilitate communications with senior UAE officials, prosecutors said.

They said that after one appearance in which Barrack repeatedly praised the United Arab Emirates, Barrack emailed al Malik, saying: 'I nailed it ... for the home team,' referring to the UAE.

The billionaire is a longtime Trump ally and founder of the digital infrastructure-focused private equity firm DigitalBridge Group Inc, which was known as Colony Capital Inc before a rebranding announced in June.

Barrack stepped down as DigitalBridge's chief executive in 2020.

In April, he resigned as executive chairman of the firm but has remained as a non-executive director. Forbes estimates his wealth at $1 billion.

Barrack was a prominent supporter of Trump's successful 2016 presidential campaign and directed his inaugural committee.
The White House said on Friday it would continue to tackle COVID-19 misinformation online amid growing criticism that the Biden administration is turning itself into the ultimate arbiter of what is and what is not true.

Officials last week admitted flagging problem posts to Facebook and Democrats are pushing a bill that would put the Department of Health and Human Services in charge of labeling online misinformation.

'What we're going to continue to do is make the vaccine available, we're going to continue to work in partnership to fight misinformation and we're going to continue to advocate and work in partnership with local officials and entrusted voices to get the word out,' said President Biden's press secretary Jen Psaki in response to a question about the role of federal government in tackling the pandemic.

Experts in online manipulation say the strategy is wrongheaded and the impact of misinformation is exaggerated.

And if the Biden administration needed needed a crash course in the pitfalls of policing vaccine misinformation it came at Wednesday night's televised town hall.

Three times factcheckers called the president out for making misleading statements, most notably in saying: 'You're not going to get COVID if you have these vaccinations,' even as his own White House deals with 'breakthrough' cases of infection among staff.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki on Friday said the Biden administration would continue fighting COVID-19 misinformation despite the president's recent gaffes illustrating the pitfalls

Factcheckers dinged President Biden for saying at Wednesday's televised town hall: 'You're not going to get COVID if you have these vaccinations,' even as his own administration deals with 'breakthrough' cases of infection

The missteps triggered a fresh chorus from opponents saying the White House was ill-equipped to take on the role of factchecker-in-chief when even the president stumbled over the truth about the virus.

Republican strategist John Feehery said Biden's gaffes made him a constant source of misinformation.

'Trump wasn't that much better but at least everyone knew that Trump was Trump,' he said.

'No one assumed that Trump was going to be accurate. The problem with Biden and the Biden administration is they have put themselves as the top, most credible source and that's simply not true.'

The question cuts across political divides into philosophy and questions about the nature of objective truth. When our understanding of coronavirus and the pandemic is moving so fast, who gets to decide what is true, what is an exaggeration and what is misinformation?

The discussion comes amid a slew of initiatives to rein in the power of social media companies and hold them accountable for content posted on their sites.

The White House is reviewing Section 230 - a 1990s era regulations that protects tech companies from being held liable for their content, in the way that newspaper and magazine publishers are.

Democratic senators this week introduced legislation that would require internet platforms such as Facebook and Alphabet's Google to take down health and vaccine-related misinformation during public health emergencies or be held liable for its impacts.

It would set up the Department of Health and Human Services to issue guidelines on what is and what is not misinformation.

Facebook says it is wrong for the White House to single out a handful of social media companies for blame over vaccine hesitancy among the American population

Protesters holding placards gather at Indiana University's Sample Gates during a demonstration against mandatory vaccinations at this June demonstration

Last week the White House admitted it had been flagging dangerous misinformation to Facebook - such as claims that vaccines could cause infertility - for removal.

Republicans accused Biden of acting like a 'Cuban dictator' in the way it was pressuring private companies to censor speech.

'What the Biden White House is doingnamely, ordering big tech companies to ban Americans that do not regurgitate government approved messagingis what authoritarian regimes do,' said Sen. Marsha Blackburn in a letter sent to the White House.

'The American people deserve to know the extent of the White Houses coordination with big tech. President Biden should waive executive privilege and release the emails.'

Free speech advocates raised bipartisan concerns.

'No matter which party is in power, the government cannot be trusted to label "truth" or "fiction" any more than Facebook or Twitter can,' said the American Civil Liberties Union, reminding viewers of how at the start of the pandemic President Trump claimed that COVID-19 would just disappear.

Conservatives point to series of U-turns made by Biden or administration officials over COVID-19 to show the problems.

As the evidence changed, public health officials such as Dr. Anthony Fauci changed from urging people not to wear masks - to keep supplies available for medical workers - to urging people to adopt face coverings.

And Facebook once labeled claims that the virus escaped from the Wuhan Institute of Virology as 'misinformation,' only for Biden in May to ask his intelligence agencies to look again at whether the lab leak hypothesis might actually be true.

Last week Biden accused Facebook and other social media companies of 'killing people,' only to quickly row back and say it was posters of misinformation that were responsible for deaths.

However, people who have studied social media suggest governments tend to overestimate the reach of misinformation.

Free speech advocates worry about a future where government defines what is 'true' or 'false'

FACT CHECK REVEALS BIDEN FALSELY CLAIMED VACCINE WOULD PREVENT COVID AND HIS ADMINISTRATION HOLDS SIX-MONTH JOBS RECORD President Joe Biden offered an absolute guarantee Wednesday that people who get their COVID-19 vaccines are completely protected from infection, sickness and death from the coronavirus. The reality is not that cut and dried. The vaccines are extremely effective but 'breakthrough' infections do occur and the delta variant driving cases among the unvaccinated in the U.S. is not fully understood. Also Biden inflated the impact of his policies on U.S. jobs created in his first half-year in office, misleadingly stating his administration had done more than any other president. He neglects to mention he had population growth on his side in his comparison. A look at his remarks in a CNN town hall: PANDEMIC BIDEN: 'If you're vaccinated, you're not going to be hospitalized, you're not going to be in the IC unit, and you're not going to die.' THE FACTS: His remark accurately captures the strong protection the COVID-19 vaccines provide as cases spike among people who have resisted the shots. But it overlooks the rare exceptions. As of July 12, the government had tallied 5,492 vaccinated people who tested positive for coronavirus and were hospitalized or died. That's out of more than 159 million fully vaccinated Americans. The director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, said '99.5 per cent of all deaths from COVID-19 are in the unvaccinated.' ___ BIDEN: 'You're not going to get COVID if you have these vaccinations.' THE FACTS: Again, he painted with too broad a brush as he described in stark terms the disparity between those who got their shots and those who haven't. The disparity is real, but a small number of breakthrough infections happen and health officials say they are not a cause for alarm. No vaccines are perfect, and the government is keeping a close eye on whether new coronavirus mutants start to outsmart the COVID-19 shots. But for now, federal health officials say even when breakthrough infections occur, they tend to be mild - the vaccines so far remain strongly protective against serious illness. ___ BIDEN, when asked after the town hall about vaccinated people who get infected: 'It may be possible, I know of none where they're hospitalized, in ICU and or have passed away so at a minimum I can say even if they did contract it, which I'm sorry they did, i's such a tiny percentage and it's not life threatening.' THE FACTS: Once again, too far. That is evident from the CDC's finding that 5,492 vaccinated people who tested positive for coronavirus were hospitalized or died as of July 12. That's not 'none.' But he is correct that it is a small percentage of the more than 159 million fully vaccinated Americans. ___ BIDEN: 'Now, by the way, remember when I first got elected, the issue was, well, I said I was going to do a million shots a week, and people said, 'Biden can't do that' or "Biden team can't do that." And it was 2 million.' FACTS: Biden's initial goal was 1 million shots a day, not a week, in his first 100 days. His target was 100 million shots in the first 100 days. He then raised it to 200 million when the administration easily reached the target. JOBS BIDEN: 'We've created more jobs in the first six months of our administration than any time in American history. No president, no administration, has ever created as many jobs.' THE FACTS: His claim is misleading. While Biden's administration in the first half year as president has seen more jobs created than any other president - just over 3 million in the five months tracked by jobs reports - that's partly because the U.S. population is larger than in the past. When calculated as a percentage of the workforce, job growth under President Jimmy Carter increased more quickly from February through June 1977 than the same five months this year: 2.2 per cent for Carter, compared with 2.1 per cent for Biden. Since the late 1970s, the U.S. population has grown by more than 100 million people. It's true, though, that the economy is growing rapidly - it expanded at a 6.4 per cent annual rate in the first three months of the year - and is expected to grow this year at the fastest pace since 1984. Biden's $1.9 trillion rescue package contributed to the vigorous growth, but much of the expansion also reflects a broader bounce-back from the unusually sharp pandemic recession, the deepest downturn since the 1930s. Even before Biden's package, for example, the International Monetary Fund was projecting U.S. growth of over 5 per cent for this year. Biden is also leaving out the fact that the U.S. economy remains 6.8 million jobs short of its pre-pandemic level, and the unemployment rate is an elevated 5.9 per cent, up from a five-decade low of 3.5 per cent before the pandemic. CAR PRICES BIDEN: Said the price of a car is 'kind of' back to the same as it was 'before the pandemic'. FACTS: New car prices are significantly higher than then they were before the onset of the pandemic. According to the Consumer Price Index, new and used cars were 20% higher in June 2020 than they were in January 2020. That was 19% higher again on prices from June 19%. CHILD TAX CREDIT BIDEN: 'It's called the child tax credit. If you have a child under the age of 7, you get 300 bucks a month -- 350 bucks a month. If you have a child under -- between 7 and 17, you get a total of 200 bucks a month. FACTS: The age groups used to determine the brackets are 6 to 17 and not 7 to 17 as Biden suggested. Parents receive up to $250 a month for each child between 6 and 17 and $350 for those under 6. NONCOMPETE CLAUSES BIDEN: He criticized clauses in contracts that restrict employees' abilities to move jobs in a similar industry by saying, 'you have over 600,000 people out there signing - 6 million people signing a - I better check the number -- of -- signing noncompete agreements. Not because they have ... any secret, but because they were working for one fast-food restaurant, and they're told they can't get 10 cents more going across town, going to the other fast-food restaurant. Why? To keep wages down. FACTS: The numbers he used were not close to the real figures. A White House document published on July 9 suggests there are between 36 and 60 million workers under noncompete clauses, based off figures from the Economic Policy Institute. 'UP TO 20 REPUBLICANS' SIGNING LETTER SUPPORTING INFRASTRUCTURE BIDEN: 'You had up to 20 Republicans sign a letter saying, "We think we need this deal. We think we need this deal",' Biden said when discussing the bipartisanship in the ongoing negotiations over his infrastructure bill. FACTS: Republican Sen. Rob Portman said 11 Republican senators sent a letter to Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer suggesting they would vote no in the procedural vote on Wednesday. All 50 Republicans ended up voting against advancing the bill. Schumer is now trying to push through negotiations to launch another vote on Monday. Advertisement

Amil Khan, founder of Valent Projects which studies online manipulation, pointed out that social media users gravitate towards content they already believed to be true.

'So, the US administrations focus on what is factually accurate is actually misplaced,' he said.

'The real issue is that social media platforms push content designed to keep people commenting, liking etcetera for as long as possible.

'But that sort of content tends to be about things we feel strongly about. So, the problem actually centers around the ethics of the algorithms, not the content itself.'

For its part, Facebook says some 85 percent of its users in the U.S. had been vaccinated or planned to get the inoculation.

The Biden administration has chosen to blame a handful of American social media companies, Guy Rosen, Facebooks vice president of integrity, wrote in a recent post.

The fact is that vaccine acceptance among Facebook users in the U.S. has increased.

The White House did not respond to a request for comment about its strategy.

Conservatives expressed their anger in a letter to the president sent on Thursday, written by Cathy McMorris Rodgers, the top Republican on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and the three top Republicans in the House - Leader Kevin McCarthy, Whip Steve Scalise and Republican Conference Chair Elise Stefanik.

'The federal government's ongoing efforts to pressure private companies to censor speech that it disagrees with is alarming and an affront to the First Amendment,' they wrote, in a letter obtained by Fox News.

'It is the type of behavior we would expect from a Cuban dictator, not a President of the United States.'

They sent the letter to the Biden administration after the president's town hall performance where he falsely told the audience that 'you're not going to get COVID if you have these vaccinations', and fumbled an answer on FDA approval of the shots.

'Just like the other question, it's illogical and I've heard you speak about it because I'm not being solicitous, but you're always straight up about what you're doing. And the question is whether or not we should be in a position where you, um, are, why can't the, the, the experts say, we know that this virus is, in fact, um, uh, it it's going to be, excuse me, we know why all the drugs are approved or not temporarily approved, but permanently approved. That's under way, too. I expect that to occur quickly.'

Don Lemon then said: 'Well, that means you mean for the FDA.' Biden responded: 'For the FDA'.

He also said: 'If you're vaccinated, you're not going to be hospitalized, you're not going to be in an ICU unit, and you are not going to die.'

Elise Stefanik, the House Republican Chair, is one of four senior members of her party who wrote a letter to Joe Biden, accusing him of acting 'like a Cuban dictator'. She is flanked, to her right, by Steve Scalise, another author of the letter

On Tuesday Kate Bedingfield, the White House communications director, said that social media companies should be held accountable for publishing misleading information on the COVID vaccine.

She also said the administration is reviewing Section 230 - a 1990s era ruling that prevents tech firms from being held liable for their content, in the way that newspaper and magazine publishers are.

Biden's move is also being mirrored by a bill, introduced by Democrat Senators Amy Klobuchar and Ben Ray Lujan, to make tech firms liable for any misinformation on their platforms which they fail to remove. The 'misinformation' will be defined by the Department of Health and Human Services, under their proposal.

The Health Misinformation Act was introduced on Thursday, and has no Republican support.

In their letter, the House Republicans argue that government should not be involved in policing social media speech, pointing out that public health consensus has evolved.

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy was another of the co-authors of the letter

Masks were originally discouraged, and the idea that the virus could have escaped from a Chinese laboratory was initially dismissed as a conspiracy theory.

'This is the problem with your censorship mission,' they wrote to Biden.

'Not only are you attacking the First Amendment, but your 'truth' might be wrong.'

The White House has been seeking help from Facebook and other social media sites since February on stopping misinformation from going viral, such as the myth that the vaccine will implant a microchip tracker.

'Social media companies have a responsibility,' Bedingfield said on MSNBC's Morning Joe, echoing a message that has come out of the White House this week as they try to raise the vaccination rate.

'We're reviewing that and certainly they should be held accountable.

'I think you heard the president speak very aggressively about this.

'It is also the responsibility of the people creating the content.

'Again I go back to there are conservative news outlets creating irresponsible content sharing misinformation about the virus that's getting shared on these platforms.

'So it is a big and complicated ecosystem and everybody bears responsibility.'

The Biden administration is looking to make tech companies and social media firms end the spread of 'misinformation' about public health - but defining misinformation is problematic
The British Transport Police (BTP) has accepted there were 'serious failings' in its response to the Manchester Arena terrorist attack which left 22 dead and hundreds injured.

The force failed to share vital information with other emergency services in the immediate aftermath of the explosion at an Ariana Grande concert on May 22, 2017, an inquiry heard Friday.

Assistant Chief Constable Sean O'Callaghan said a declaration of a major incident was not passed on to other services and neither was an officer's communication, known as a METHANE message, which provides details of the scene.

Mr O'Callaghan, who was not on the force at the time of the bombing, also accepted that there was a failure of the Joint Emergency Services Interoperability Principles (Jesip) on the night of the attack.

Counsel to the inquiry Paul Greaney said: 'BTP did not, at least at any relevant time, co-locate at command level, they did not communicate effectively, nor did they co-ordinate.

Assistant Chief Constable Sean O'Callaghan (pictured at the inquiry Friday) said a declaration of a major incident was not passed on to other services

The scene close to Manchester Arena following the terror attack after an Ariana Grande concert in May 2017

'In the result, they didn't jointly understand the risk with emergency service partners and they did not share situational awareness?' - to which Mr O'Callaghan agreed.

He added that the 'critical pieces of information' were 'vital' to enable other emergency services to gain situational awareness.

Asked if he recognised these were serious failures, Mr O'Callaghan said: 'Yes, that is correct and a number of changes made have been put in place to address those.'

He said improvements made since 2017 included the training given to officers and the force's emergency plans.

The inquiry heard how in the two years leading up to the attack, representatives from BTP were only present at three of nine local resilience forum meetings for the area, which were designed to train public services for emergencies.

On the occasions they were present, the meetings were only attended by BTP inspectors or chief inspectors, the hearing was told.

Asked whether that was an unacceptable level of engagement, Mr O'Callaghan said: 'It's certainly not of the standard I have now put in place.'

He said the meetings were now attended by officers of superintendent or detective chief inspector rank.

He also told the inquiry the force had invested in explosive search dogs, with seven now based in the Manchester area, after their canine officer Mojo was the first on the scene at 11.44pm.

He agreed that further changes were necessary within the force following information revealed during the inquiry and said he would provide a statement on what additional changes would take place.

Before questioning Mr O'Callaghan on what went wrong for the force on the night, Mr Greaney told the inquiry there were a number of BTP officers who responded 'swiftly and bravely' within seconds of the explosion.

It comes after a control room operator told the inquiry on Tuesday that she failed to record or pass on pieces of 'significant information' in the aftermath of the bombing.

Rochelle Fallon was working in the control room of North West Fire Control (NWFC) on the night of the terror attack in May 2017, and fielded numerous calls.

The public inquiry had heard that fire crews did not attend the scene for more than two hours as they awaited further details of the incident.

Firefighters with specialist equipment were instructed to gather three miles from the scene, as members of the public, police and Arena staff moved casualties from the blast scene at the City Room foyer.

On Monday Ms Fallon's boss, Sarah-Jane Wilson, told the hearing that failures from NWFC in passing key information to fire officers contributed to the lengthy delay in crews arriving.

Pictured: Hashem Abedi, 23, admitted his role in the deadly attack which killed 22 people

Within the first half hour after the explosion, among calls logged by NWFC was that police officers were arriving, ambulances were en route and a paramedic incident commander was on site.

Ten minutes after the blast Ms Fallon was told by a Greater Manchester Police (GMP) call operator that a rendezvous point for emergency services outside Manchester Cathedral car park had been nominated with supervisors and officers attending.

Asked why she had failed to log that information, Ms Fallon said: 'It just must not have registered.'

She agreed with Nick de la Poer QC, counsel to the inquiry, that it was 'significant information'.

By 11.10pm, when a senior fire officer called for an update, the log contained information that ambulances had been directed to the booking office and a paramedic incident commander was on scene, but Ms Fallon did not mention that on the call.

She told the hearing it was 'easy to miss' such updates because of the small nature of the screen, the time it could take to upload when refreshing and also navigating 'system-generated nonsense'.

The 22 victims of the terror attack during the Ariana Grande concert at the Manchester Arena in May 2017. (top row left to right) Off-duty police officer Elaine McIver, 43, Saffie Roussos, 8, Sorrell Leczkowski, 14, Eilidh MacLeod, 14, (second row left to right) Nell Jones, 14, Olivia Campbell-Hardy, 15, Megan Hurley, 15, Georgina Callander, 18, (third row left to right), Chloe Rutherford,17, Liam Curry, 19, Courtney Boyle, 19, and Philip Tron, 32, (fourth row left to right) John Atkinson, 26, Martyn Hett, 29, Kelly Brewster, 32, Angelika Klis, 39, (fifth row left to right) Marcin Klis, 42, Michelle Kiss, 45, Alison Howe, 45, and Lisa Lees, 43 (fifth row left to right) Wendy Fawell, 50 and Jane Tweddle, 51

But she added: 'I should have given him that information and I haven't. I'm not going to blame the system for that. The information was there if I had taken the time to read through it.'

Ms Fallon told the inquiry that before the attack she had not received any scenario-based training.

She said: 'I think the only way to really learn the job of a control room operator is to actually do it, and to experience different incident types and work through them.

'If we had had some practical training I think that probably would have been much, much better.'

The inquiry into the attack was adjourned for a summer break and will resume on September 6.

Mr Greaney said in September the inquiry would hear more on the topic of the emergency response, before evidence about the experiences of each of those who died.

The hearing will then move on to the topics of radicalisation and preventability, some of which will be heard in closed sessions.
The office of CIA Inspector General Robin Ashton's review will focus on how sickened officers are cared for (pictured June 9)

The CIA inspector general is reportedly launching a review Friday into the handling of reported 'Havana Syndrome' cases that have plagued 200 American diplomats, intelligence officers and military members in every continent except for Antarctica.

It is expected to focus specifically on how sickened officers are cared for.

The review - which is not yet a formal investigation - comes a day after CIA Director William Burns assigned an unnamed intelligence officer the task of finding the source of the mysterious ailments, which were first reported by American diplomats stationed in Cuba.

News of the CIA's review, first reported by CNN, seems to come after mounting pressure over six years of frustration from lawmakers and victims.

People seemingly afflicted by 'Havana Syndrome' have reported symptoms like nausea, vertigo, hearing and sight issues and a ringing of the ears known as tinnitus.

Some US officers told the outlet it had been difficult to get adequate care due in part to Trump CIA Director Gina Haspel's skepticism over the matter.

Victims also complained about Haspel dragging her feet in responding to what they described to CNN as matters of both personal health and national security.

Lawmakers on the House Intelligence Committee expressed 'significant concerns with how some individuals were unable to access needed benefits and medical care' after speaking to people familiar with the mysterious situation.

New Hampshire Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen lashed out at the alleged lack of care victims received.

'It's shameful that U.S. public servants and their loved ones afflicted by these directed energy attacks have endured such hardships to access the care they need, and that we still do not have clarity on the causation,' the Armed Services Committee member said in a statement.

The lack of answers and reported resources for 'Havana Syndrome' victims has been a source of frustration since cases were first reported in 2016. New CIA Director William Burns (left) has been praised for his handling of the mystery while former CIA chief Gina Haspel (right) was reportedly criticized as too skeptical

Biden's new top spy is being lauded for demonstrating a 'personal commitment' to improving the situation for sufferers.

A former high-ranking CIA official praised Burns as a 'welcome change from the previous leadership team,' who he accused of disregarding victims and treating their suffering as an 'annoyance.'

Since taking over the agency Burns told NPR Thursday he reduced afflicted officers' wait time for receiving care from Walter Reed from 'more than eight weeks to less than two weeks,' and has also tripled the number of CIA personnel tasked with medical care for victims.

His new appointee to head the 'Havana Syndrome' task force - who was involved in the hunt for Osama bin Laden - comes after the retirement of Cynthia Rapp less than a year after taking the role.

Rapp was appointed by Haspel.

The former CIA analyst frustrated senators at an Intelligence Committee briefing earlier in 2021 when her answers on the incidents and how they were handled failed to satisfy them.

Since it was first reported in 2016 roughly 200 US diplomats, intelligence officers and others have experienced symptoms consistent with 'Havana Syndrome'

Symptoms include headaches, nausea, vertigo and even impediments consistent with traumatic brain injuries

Burns receives daily updates on the investigation, which covers employees who have reported cases this year.

He has met with those reporting injuries as have other top CIA officials. The agency has worked to reduce the wait time for its employees to receive outpatient treatment at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.

The CIA also replaced its chief medical officer with a doctor seen internally as more sympathetic to possible cases.

'We were treated so awfully in the past,' a 26-year CIA veteran said. 'Now theyre putting people in place who not only believe us but are going to advocate for our health care.'

Vienna recently became the latest hotspot for Havana Syndrome, with more than two dozen cases reported - making it the largest cluster outside of Cuba.

The mysterious condition was first reported in the fall of 2016 when a staffer at the US embassy in Havana suffered headaches, hearing loss, memory issues and other symptoms.

US intelligence officials still haven't released an official explanation for what is sickening dozens of Americans stationed overseas, though one theory involves targeted 'microwave' attacks from Russia.

However, the explanation lacks evidence in some of the reported cases and the intel community has not even been able to confirm they were attacks in the first place.

The United States embassy in Vienna, Austria. The cluster of two dozen cases in Vienna is the largest so far outside of Cuba

The reports in Vienna, as well as previously undisclosed reports that a US diplomat's term in Germany was cut short by the unexplained illness, brings the total number of cases to 200, NBC reported.

Among them, roughly half involved CIA officers or their relatives, roughly 60 have been linked to Department of Defense workers or relatives, and about 50 involved State Department personnel the outlet reported.

Possible cases among Americans abroad have now been reported on every continent except Antarctica and in the past year including reports of more than one American stationed in Kyrgyzstan with a baby, having experienced symptoms.

Additionally, two cases were detected close to the White House in recent months, with the US government now fast-tracking sensor technology to try and identify the microwave technology and track it down.

The suspected directed-energy attacks have baffled US investigators who are working to determine who and what is causing them since they first began in Cuba five years ago.

The United States Embassy in Havana, Cuba. The problem has been labeled the 'Havana Syndrome,' because the first cases affected personnel in 2016 at the embassy, pictured

One key analysis identified 'directed, pulsed radio frequency energy' as the most plausible culprit.

Published in December by the National Academy of Sciences, the report said a radio frequency attack could alter brain function without causing 'gross structural damage.' But the panel could not make a definitive finding on how U.S. personnel may have been hit.

And a declassified 2018 State Department report cited 'a lack of senior leadership, ineffective communications, and systemic disorganization' in responding to the Havana cases.

The report says the cause of the injuries was 'currently unknown.' The document was published by George Washington Universitys National Security Archive.

The report also noted that the CIA ultimately closed its Havana station, a victory for a potential adversary.
Advertisement

The bust of Confederate general and early Ku Klux Klan leader Nathan Bedford Forrest was officially removed from the Tennessee Capitol Friday, following a decades-long controversy over its placement there.

A seven-member State Building Commission voted 5-2 Thursday to remove it along with two others - Adm. David Glasgow Farragut and Adm. Albert Gleaves - and relocate them to the Tennessee State Museum.

However, the push to remove the bust, which was first installed at the Capitol in 1978, has sparked protests and demonstrations.

The GOP-controlled General Assembly refused for years to advance legislation calling for its removal.

The Nathan Bedford Forrest bust is removed from an alcove in the State Capitol by workers Friday

Workers load the Nathan Bedford Forrest bust onto an elevator as it is removed from the State Capitol

The bust was displayed prominently between the House and Senate chambers.

State troopers stand guard as workers remove the Nathan Bedford Forrest bust from the State Capitol and move it the Tennessee State Museum

A flatbed truck hauling the statues of Nathan Bedford Forrest, David Glasgow Farragut and Albert Gleaves makes its way to the Tennessee State Museum from the State Capitol Friday

Forrest's bust's new home will be the Tennessee State Museum, pictured above

However, momentum shifted when Tennessee Governor Bill Lee changed his stance in 2020 and called to remove the bust amid national outcry over the death of George Floyd while in police custody.

Floyd died in May 2020 after a Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for nine minutes during an arrest, sparking a new push to remove Confederate symbols, including the Bedford Forrest bust.

Lee's position was markedly different than when he first came into elected office in 2018. He had argued that 'the Ku Klux Klan is a part of our history that we're not proud of in Tennessee, and we need to be reminded of that and make certain that we don't forget it. So I wouldn't advocate to remove' the bust.

'I've said often times I think the removal of monuments is not the best approach to resolving the challenges that are presented with that conversation,' Lee told The Tennessean in late 2018.

The removal of the bust comes after Governor Bill Lee changed his stance in 2020 and called to remove the bust amid national outcry over the death of George Floyd in police custody in Minnesota.

Workers prepare scaffolding in front of a bust of Confederate general and early Ku Klux Klan leader Nathan Bedford Forrest at the State Capitol, Thursday, in Nashville

A decades-long effort to remove the bust from the Tennessee Capitol cleared its final hurdle Thursday, with state leaders approving the final vote needed to allow the statue to be relocated to a museum

'Wiping out history wipes out, also, the history that we're not proud of,' he added.

In February 2019, Lee announced he was open to the idea of adding historical context next to the bust in the Capitol.

But in the summer of 2020, Lee decided it was time for the Bedford Forrest bust to go, following a discussion with stakeholders on both sides.

Tennessee's black legislative caucus also has been particularly vocal about how painful it is to walk by the bust, displayed prominently between the House and Senate chambers, as they carry out their work each day.

'Much like this bust symbolizes the pain and suffering of slavery and terror, removing the likeness of Nathan Bedford Forrest from a place of honor in Tennessee's Capitol is a symbol for much needed reconciliation,' said Sen. Raumesh Akbari, a Black lawmaker from Memphis and the Senate's Democratic caucus chairwoman.

Workers dig up the remains of Confederate Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest and his wife June 4 to move the bodies from Health Sciences Park in Memphis

'No doubt we have work to do to achieve equality and justice for all people, but today's vote shows that progress is possible,' she said.

The bronze Bedford Forrest bust is 44 inches and roughly 3000 pounds.

Earlier this year, Tennessee's Historical Commission voted 25-1 to move the three busts just north of the Capitol building to the state's museum, noting it was better equipped to furnish the appropriate historical context.

However, the state House's top Republican leaders argued the bust could not be removed without approval from the State Building Commission.

House Speaker Cameron Sexton and Senate Speaker Randy McNally both expressed disappointment with Thursday's outcome.

'No one is arguing that Forrest is not a problematic figure. He is. But there is more to his story. His life eventually followed a redemptive arc which I hope is outlined in great detail in our state museum,' McNally said in a statement.

In June, the remains of Bedford Forrest and his wife were moved from Health Sciences Park in Memphis to a museum dedicated to the Confederacy 200 miles away.

Bedford Forrest's remains used to be buried under this statue of him at Health Sciences Park in Memphis. The statue, pictured here in 2013, was removed in 2017

The map above shows the location where Forrest's body was buried in Memphis (left) and the new site in Columbia (right)

Health Sciences Park was a flashpoint for Black Lives Matter demonstrations last year, with many outraged by the monument to Bedford Forrest. Pro-Confederate protesters also showed their support at the site for keeping Bedford Forrest in place.

When the exhumation finally was carried out, it took several weeks.
A Pennsylvania man has pleaded guilty to third-degree murder in the 2020 death of an 18-year-old Amish girl.

Justo Smoker was sentenced Friday to 35 and a half to 71 years in prison, with an additional 17 and a half years that could be added for a parole violation, in the death of Linda Stoltzfoos.

He also pleaded guilty to kidnapping, abuse of a corpse, tampering with evidence, and possession of an instrument of crime.

While the Stoltzfoos family did not appear in court finding it too emotional, Smoker apologized to the family saying 'I know Linda was a light. Because of me, the world is dimmer. All I can say is I'm sorry.'

Justo Smoker, 34, was charged with homicide in December in connection with Stoltzfoos' killing

Linda Stoltzfoos, 18 (left and right), was strangled to death and stabbed in the neck while walking home from church in the Bird-in-Hand area of Lancaster on June 21 last year

The family spokesperson Samuel Blank described Stoltzfoos as a caring, loving, timid teen with a big heart for children who needed help.

District Attorney Heather Adams addressed the plea deal that Smoker was given, explaining that it was necessary to locate Stoltzfoos' body to give her a proper burial.

The young girl's remains were found in rural Pennsylvania in April, 10 months after her disappearance.

The Lancaster County coroner used dental records to positively identify the body of Linda Stoltzfoos. The cause of death was asphyxia from strangulation, along with suffocation, the coroner, Dr. Stephen Diamantoni, said following the autopsy. He said the stab wound was a contributing factor in her death.

Time of Linda's disappearance June 21, 2020: Linda fails to return home from church June 22: She is reported missing July 11: Justo Smoker, 34, of Paradise Township, is charged with kidnapping and false imprisonment December 21: Smoker is charged with criminal homicide March 5, 2021: Judge rules there is enough evidence to charge Smoker with killing the teen April 21: Human remains are found April 22: Lancaster County DA Heather Adams says officials are confident the remains are that of Linda April 2: Lancaster County coroner conducts autopsy and rules that Stoltzfoos died of asphyxia from strangulation, along with suffocation Advertisement

Stoltzfoos was last seen walking home from church in the Bird-in-Hand area on June 21, 2020. Her remains were wrapped in a tarp and buried in a 3 foot deep grave along railroad tracks behind Dutchland Inc, a business where Smoker had worked. It is in the small town of Gap along Route 41.

Smoker, 35, of Paradise, was charged with homicide in December after being arrested in August. Officials previously said that the suspect's DNA was discovered on the victim's stocking.

Mervin Fisher, an uncle to Linda Stoltzfoos, told Pennlive that the family had hoped she would be found alive, but had been preparing for the worst.

'The not knowing is a long, dark tunnel without an end. And when you find the remains, you have the end in sight,' Fisher told Pennlive. 'It brings closure, and when there's closure, the healing process can continue.

When the body was discovered, local resident Debbie Matteoda said, 'For the family I feel terrible because they keep all this hope all this time that maybe she will show up, but then again it's a closure.'

Prosecutors have said friends and family reported that Stoltzfoos was happy and had never expressed any desire to leave.

Smoker was initially charged with felony kidnapping and misdemeanor false imprisonment then with homicide.

Adams said, 'Smoker's conduct on and around the time of Linda's kidnapping, along with physical evidence, supports the allegations that he kidnapped and murdered her.'

Stoltzfoos was reported missing on the evening of Father's Day by her dad after she failed to return home from a youth group she planned to attend. Investigators said Stoltzfoos never made it to the social gathering that night.

Surveillance footage observed by authorities captured Stoltzfoos walking alone on Beechdale Road, a route she typically took home after church. A red Kia Rio that matched Smoker's vehicle registration number also was seen in the footage.

In Ronks, where the vehicle was parked June 23, authorities found items of Stoltzfoos' clothing buried in a wooded area, prosecutors said.

'Smoker became a person of interest in the kidnapping after police received information about a red/orange vehicle seen in the Gap area on the afternoon of the abduction,' the East Lampeter Township Police Department said in a press release in July last year.

'Multiple witnesses in the area reported seeing an Amish female in the passenger seat of a vehicle driven by a male. Witness descriptions of the driver and vehicle are consistent with Smoker and his vehicle.'

The FBI offered a reward of $10,000 in July for information leading to her recovery.

The remains were found buried more than three feet down and wrapped in a tarp behind Dutchland Incorporated, the former workplace of Smoker in a rural area in the eastern part of Lancaster County, the DA said

Christopher Tallarico, the county's chief public defender, argued in March there was no proof that Stoltzfoos had ever gotten into Smoker's car, and he elicited testimony that her DNA wasn't found on samples taken from the car.

East Lampeter Township Detective Christopher Jones said DNA profiles recovered were insufficient to test.

Smoker has an extensive criminal history stretching back to 2005 and has spent the majority of his adult life behind bars

Smoker has an extensive criminal history stretching back to 2005 and has spent the majority of his adult life behind bars.

He was a high school wrestling all-star who had a 3.0 grade point average and earned a place on the Lancaster-Lebanon wrestling all-star team in 2003 before turning to a life of crime.

The 35-year-old was sentenced to serve 12-and-a-half years to 30 years in prison following a string of armed robberies in 2006.

Smoker pleaded guilty to the robberies, during which he and his brother, Victor, used a BB gun to rob four businesses between Aug. 8 and Aug. 13, 2006.

During the trial, Smoker revealed that he was adopted at age seven after he was found 'living on the street, just trying to survive', his defense attorney said.

'They raised me better than this,' Smoker told the judge of his adoptive parents. 'I'm sorry for what I did and the people I hurt, including my family.'

His adoptive father said Smoker had been 'trouble since we got him.'

The judge told Smoker at the 2007 hearing that he could have imposed a sentence that would have kept him in prison for twice as long, if not the rest of his life, Lancaster Online reported. But, the judge said he issued a sentence that ensures 'society is protected, but that you could still come out and lead a reasonable life.'

Smoker ended up serving nearly the minimum and was released on Feb. 28, 2019.

DA Adams said the surrounding area where the remains were found had been previously searched by police

The remains were buried and wrapped in a tarp behind the former workplace of Smoker in a rural area in the eastern part of Lancaster County, Adams said

The remains were recovered from a rural area in Lancaster County

Bird-in-Hand is known for its large Amish population, and tourists come to visit the Amish Village heritage museum there.

Pennsylvania and Ohio have the highest concentration of Amish communities, with 50 in each state.

The Pennsylvania Amish are known to be private people who believe that God has called them to a simple life of faith, discipline, dedication and humility.

Shunning technology, they believe that the Amish religion should be practiced, not displayed, and translated into daily living rather than focused on tangible symbols or complicated religious rituals.

Stoltzfoos' disappearance came a month after a 21-year-old US Air Force airman was arrested in the death of Mennonite Sunday school teacher Sasha Krause, 27, in Arizona.

Both the Amish and Mennonites belong to the Anabaptist denomination of Christianity and dress in similar garb, but unlike the Amish, the Mennonites allow modern technological advances in their daily lives.
Police searching for missing hiker Esther Dingley have found bones near the site where she last made contact with her boyfriend in November.

French police confirmed remains had been found at Port de la Glere but said it would take 'several days or even weeks' before they were properly analysed and any results obtained.

A mountain runner raised the alarm around 2pm on Friday after discovering what he believed could be the remains of a body.

Spanish police went to the area but had to alert their French counterparts after discovering the spot was just over the border.

French police have now taken charge of the investigation to try to confirm they are human bones and if they are, who they could belong to. Spanish police sources said they appeared to be human bones.

Police are analysing bones found near the spot where missing hiker Esther Dingley went missing late last year

British hiker Esther Dingley (pictured with her boyfriend Daniel Colegate) went missing November 22

A mountain runner raised the alarm around 2pm on Friday after discovering what he believed could be the remains of a body near the spot where missing hiker Esther Dingley went missing late last year.

French police chief Jean Marc Bordinaro said: 'We cannot say anything at the moment because the discovery of the bones is too recent and they must be properly analysed.

'We will not have a result for several days and possibly several weeks.'

A prosecutor based in Saint-Gaudens is expected to make an official statement if there are any changes to the current situation.

Spanish Civil Guard said the discovery was a matter for the French police to comment on as the bones had been found on their side of the border.

Civil Guard sergeant Jorge Lopez Ramos, whose elite mountain search and rescue team led an eight-day search for Esther on the Spanish side of the border before it was halted last December because of bad weather, confirmed late last year Port de la Glere was on the route Esther told her boyfriend she was planning to take before she disappeared.

Referring to the mountain pass by its Spanish name, he said at the time: 'Esther told her partner she was planning to spend the night in a nearby refuge on the French side of the border called Venasque before doing a long half-circle to re-enter Spain through a mountain pass called Puerto de la Glera and heading back down to Llanos del Hospital.

'It would have been a long day's walk or she could have spent the night somewhere and finished the following day.

'We don't know if she reached Venasque that night. It's shut at the moment and only an emergency part of it is open for people to sleep in and consume any food they have with them.'

Mr Bordinaro had previously admitted the possibility Durham-born Esther had suffered a mountain accident was a 'strong one.'

Specialist officers from Spain and France have carried out several searches of the area around the Puerto de la Glera hiking trail, where Esther was hiking before she went missing

Esther's partner claimed in a recent BBC interview he 'could no longer agree' with the idea she had suffered an accident

A Civil Guard source said: 'A mountain runner has found what could be human bones just over the French side of the border at Puerto de la Glera.

'He called the Civil Guard who went to the area but after confirming it was on the French side of the border they called the French Gendarmerie who went to the spot and have now taken charge of things.

'They appear to be human remains but it will up to French police now to analyse them.'

Another Spanish source said it appeared '90 per cent certain' they were human remains.

Puerto de la Glera - Port de la Glere in France - is close to the 8,796ft Pico Salvaguardia summit where Oxford graduate Esther last made contact with her partner Dan Colegate around 4pm on November 22 last year.

Specialist officers from Spain and France have carried out several searches of the area around the Puerto de la Glera hiking trail.

Esther's partner claimed in a recent BBC interview he 'could no longer agree' with the idea she had suffered an accident.

He said: 'The search has been so prolonged and so intense, that as far as I'm concerned the probability of an accident is now less than the probability of a criminal act.'

Spanish Civil Guard officers resumed the search for Esther in mid-June and have been supported by a helicopter from a permanent base in the town of Benasque, where the missing hiker was staying before she vanished.

A Spanish court probe that opened after the Durham-born 37-year-old went missing on November 22 remains open.

Missing Esther Dingley's camper van was spotted parked up in Benasque . Witness Lucie was walking her dog Tipo when she spotted the camper van with the light on and someone inside on December 2

British hiker Esther Dingley was seen at Eroski supermartket in Benasque, Spain, on Novermber 19, days before her sudden disappearance

A woman judge based an hour's drive away from the Pyrenees village of Benasque in Boltana remains in charge of the Spanish judicial probe sparked by Esther's disappearance.

Maria Saenz Martinez has yet to approve the return of the camper van Esther had travelled to Spain in to her boyfriend.

The vehicle remains at a Civil Guard station in Benasque where it was taken for forensic analysis soon after Esther vanished.

French investigators have made their own inquiries and share information with their Spanish counterparts on a regular basis but are understood to have obtained no new indications about what might have happened to the missing Brit since the suspension of the mountain search.

Esther was expected to spend the night in an unmanned shelter on the French side of the border the day of her last conversation with her boyfriend but it is not known if she ever arrived.

They spoke after she reached the summit of Pico Salvaguardia, which the French call Pic de Sauvegarde, for the second time in two days.

She was seen by several witnesses including an Olympic Spanish skier asking for some fruit hiking on the path leading up to the summit.

Esther's mum admitted in February: 'Each day has been nothing short of an excruciating hell for me, balancing on the edge of breaking down.

'Not knowing where she is or what has happened to our beautiful Esther is destroying me and our family.'
A naked homeless man was seen brazenly holding his penis while smoking a cigarette in broad daylight on Venice Beach in a disturbing video highlighting the city's growing crisis.

The shocking incident occurred on Thursday around 9am near the boardwalk as groups of children were walking nearby, witnesses told DailyMail.com.

In the video, it initially seems like the fully-exposed man is urinating as he stands against a palm tree holding his genitals.

However, he then remains standing for an extended period of time with his pants dropped around his ankles.

Scroll down for video

A fully nude homeless man was seen brazenly holding his penis while smoke a cigarette on Venice Beach on Thursday

The shocking incident occurred on Thursday around 9am near the boardwalk as groups of children were walking nearby, witnesses told DailyMail.com

In the video, it initially seems like the man is urinating as he stands against a palm tree holding his genitals

Two men then walk over to confront him and it appears one man takes his cigarette and then walks off.

The resident who took the video and asked to remain anonymous told DailyMail.com: 'Not sure what his plan was, but there were two women about 20 feet from him who were high out of their minds and walking around nude.'

The shocking incident comes amid a growing homelessness crisis in the popular LA beach town that has led many outraged residents to consider leaving the area.

Los Angeles sanitation services and the LAPD attempted to take action by conducting a massive clean-up operation to remove encampments from the boardwalk last week.

But DailyMail.com on Thursday revealed that new arrivals continue to swarm the area despite the effort.

The bystander said after he stopped recording the incident, he witnessed another man come over and 'beat' the homeless person 'with a metal pole.'

'He put his shorts back on and rode away on his bike,' he added.

'There were a bunch of kids going by unfortunately. This was right on the bike path. They were having a big party from around 7am-10am.'

The man remains standing against a tree with his pants around his ankles until being confronted by two bystanders

Two men are seen walking over to confront him but it is unclear what words were exchanged

One of the two men then takes the homeless man's cigarette from his mouth before walking off

The concerned local said the so-called party only stopped when Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva arrived on the scene.

'No arrests were made. Everyone went back into the tents when they saw the sheriffs coming,' said onlooker Terrance Williams.

'This is absolutely horrendous,' said Williams. 'Instead of getting better, it's actually getting worse here.

'Imagine how traumatic and disturbing this is especially for a child to witness. Where is law enforcement? This is unacceptable.'

In a separate video taken minutes later and just a few feet away, a woman in a blue wig was seen sunbathing in a what appeared to be a sheer bodysuit.

She was quickly spotted and approached by members of the Los Angeles County Sheriff Deputies Homeless Outreach Services Team who were patrolling the area nearby.

The officers are seen taking down her information as she begins to play a blue ukulele.

A witness told DailyMail.com that the woman seen in the video was at one point completely naked on the Venice Beach Boardwalk.

In a separate video taken minutes later and just a few feet away, a woman in a blue wig was seen sunbathing in a what appeared to be a sheer bodysuit

She was quickly spotted and approached by members of the Los Angeles County Sheriff Deputies Homeless Outreach Services Team who were patrolling the area nearby

The officers are seen taking down her information as she begins to play a blue ukulele

A witness told DailyMail.com that the woman seen in the video was at one point completely naked on the Venice Beach Boardwalk

'She was wearing some kind of body suit in the video, but before that she was walking around completely nude all morning.

'She and some other homeless woman were painting each other with blue paint which looked like a bucket of house paint not body paint,' an onlooker who wished to remain anonymous told DailyMail.com.

Prior to this so called party, a homeless man who had previously been detained from Venice Beach three weeks ago is seen back on the beach where he has set up his new home.

'He's a mentally ill man from San Diego who was detained several weeks ago following a violent random attack on Venice Beach,' said local resident Andrew Sullivan.

'Now he's living right on the beach in an encampment.'

Video of the same man shows him being arrested on the beach on June 29.

'It took almost twenty fire responders to detain him and safely get him into an ambulancenow three weeks later he's back.

'What is wrong with this picture? Hello? Where is the $5million to house the homeless and care for the mentally ill going,' Sullivan asked.
Advertisement

Google co-founder and billionaire Sergey Brin, 47, was spotted enjoying a lavish vacation at Lake Como in Italy with his wife and friends.

Brin and his wife, Nicole Shanahan, 35, were seen basking in the Italian sun as they took in the beauty of the popular European destination during a boat ride.

The Russian-American business magnate dove into the waters and swam across the lake as he was surrounded by friends and bodyguards.

This seemingly normal vacation is quite the contrast to that of Brin's fellow Google co-founder Larry Page, 48, who has become a recluse over the past several years - avoiding being photographed, except for a handful of times, since 2019.

The two both stepped down from their top positions at Google's parent company Alphabet Inc. in 2019, but Brin and Page are currently still the eighth and sixth richest people in the world, according to Forbes.

Sergey Brin, 47, and his friends board a boat on Lake Como in Italy

The billionaire and his wife were surrounded by friends and bodyguards as they enjoyed the sun on Lake Como

Brin sported a black speedo while vacationing at the popular Italian destination

The Google co-founder jumped in the lake with a friend enjoying his vacation

Brin has an estimated net worth of $112.1 billion with Page surpassing him at $115.9 billion.

In 2019, Brin publicly announced that he married patent lawyer and entrepreneur Nicole Shanahan in 2018 during a secret ceremony after three years of dating.

Shanahan, who gave birth to the couple's first child last year, shared the news with guests at a luncheon while announcing the start of a $6 million study at the Buck Institute for Research she and her husband's family fund are underwriting into the harmful health effects women experience after menopause.

Shanahan was a well-established Silicon Valley player before she met Brin, having founded the patent management and valuation company ClearAccessIP in 2013. The following year she was also named a Code X fellow at The Stanford Center for Legal Informatics.

Shanahan was an Asian Studies major at the University of Puget Sound, and after graduating attended law school at Santa Clara University

She also studied international trade at the National University of Singapore post-law school, and attended the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies just before enrolling at SCU.

Brin's wife Nicole Shanahan, 35, explored the lake on a paddle board

Brin and his friends took advantage of the beautiful weather in the Lombardy region of Italy

The group of friends took in the beautiful sites of Lake Como during a boat ride

Lake Como is a popular vacation destination among the rich and famous

With an estimated net worth of $112.1 billion, Brin is the eighth richest man in the world

The Russian-American billionaire is a business magnate, computer scientist and internet entrepreneur

Brin started Google with his co-founder Larry Page, 48, in 1996

Unlike other Silicon Valley couples, Brin and Shanahan have made no secret of their relationship, choosing to go public with the news that they were dating by appearing on the red carpet of the 2016 Met Ball with Brin's ex Anne Wojcicki and her then-beau Alex Rodriguez.

The carbon-conscious love square even arrived together in the same car, in a move that Vanity Fair later called 'head-spinningly civilized.'

Contrasting the civilized couple, Page reportedly has been living off the grid for more than a year, hiding out in Fiji on isolated islands away from tourists as the pandemic swept the world.

Fijian health officials even pressured a TV network to pull a story about him donating COVID-19 medical supplies to the country, as the tech titan went out of his way to avoid the public.

He has spent months in Fiji during the coronavirus pandemic - mostly on the island of Tavarua - and it has been rumored the billionaire has bought at least one island in the country's Mamanuca archipelago, sources told Insider.

Brin and his wife spent the summer day with their friends on the beautiful vacation spot

Brin and Page stepped down from their leadership roles at Google's parent company Alphabet Inc. in 2019

Since leaving Google, Page has become a recluse and rarely been photographed

This year, both Brin and Page joined the $100bn club when Alpahabet Inc.'s share price rose

Brin married his wife Nicole Shanahan, 35, in a secret ceremony in 2018

She was a well-established Silicon Valley player before she met her now husband

Page also was spotted on a smaller island called Namotu, which a sailor named Lorenzo Cipriani claimed Page bought in a blog post in August.

He had taken his private jet to donate COVID-19 medical supplies to Fiji last month as a second wave of the pandemic hit the country, which was reported by Fijian Broadcasting Company News on June 19, according to Insider.

However, that story has since disappeared from the state-owned news site - and sources told Insider that health officials in Fiji asked for it to come down, claiming that the information should not have been made public.

A source confirmed to DailyMail.com that the article had been removed after health officials asked for the story to be taken down because 'they didn't want the donation highlighted.'

The article appears to have also since been scrubbed from Google.

DailyMail.com has reached out to Fijian Broadcasting Company News for more information and additional comment.

According to Insider, the story had reported that Page flew from Hawaii to Fiji's Nadi International Airport to provide the country with medical supplies including masks, gowns and gloves.

Page has reportedly been living off the grid, hiding out in Fiji

One of the Mamanuca islands juts out of the ocean in this file photo. It has been rumored Page has bought at least one island in the country's Mamanuca archipelago, Insider reported

He has spent months in Fiji during the coronavirus pandemic - mostly on the island of Tavarua - and it has been rumored the billionaire has bought at least one island in the country's Mamanuca archipelago

An aerial view of Tavarua, where Page is said to have spent most of the pandemic. The heart-shaped island is in Fiji's Mamanuca archipelago

A photo of Page's jet was posted to Twitter on June 19 by a Fijian journalist, who captioned the post: 'One of the Co-Founders of Google Larry Page donated cartons of COVID-19 supplies to Fiji as the country battles its second wave of the virus.'

The plane's call sign 813QS, pictured on one of its engines, is licensed to Blue City Holdings, according to the Federal Communications Commission .

Blue City manages a fleet for Page and Brin, as well as former Google CEO Eric Schmidt, Insider reported.

Fiji's 'Blue Lane' initiative let the super wealthy visit the archipelago on their superyachts and private jets, even when other travelers were banned.

'Super yachts are welcomed with open arms for which access procedures are easier, while for sailing boats like ours it is not easy,' Lorenzo Cipriani wrote in his blog post.

'The government are promoting a campaign welcoming those who have a lot of money to spend and are awaiting the arrival of hundreds of luxury yachts.'

Another view of Tavarua Island, which is where Page is said to have spent most of the pandemic

Sources said that Page and his wife Lucinda Southworth (pictured together), who have two children, have been seen surfing on traditional and electronic surfboards

From a file photo in 2008 is a picture of Larry Page's old yacht, named Senses. Business Insider reports that he's downsized to at least one smaller yacht that is now moored in Fiji

Sources said that Page and his wife Lucinda Southworth, who have two children, have been seen surfing on traditional and electronic surfboards near the country's islands, and that 'he's good at it, too.'

Southworth is a research scientist and is the sister of actress Carrie Southworth.

The couple are very private and have not revealed the names of their two children who were born in 2009 and 2011.

In recent months, Google and companies like Apple, Facebook, Twitter, and Amazon have been hit with high-profile lawsuits and made to testify during congressional hearings.

Page, pictured with his wife, flew from Hawaii to Fiji's Nadi International Airport to provide the country with medical supplies including masks, gowns and gloves

Tavarua is one of a series of islands in Fiji's Mamanuca archipelago

Early this month, dozens of U.S. state attorneys general filed a 144-page antitrust lawsuit in federal court against Alphabet Inc's Google, court documents obtained by DailyMail.com show.

It claims Google violated the Sherman Act, the federal law prohibiting monopolistic business practices.

The lawsuit reads: 'Google has employed anticompetitive tactics to diminish and disincentivize competition in Android app distribution.'

'Google has not only targeted potentially competing app stores, but also has ensured that app developers themselves have no reasonable choice but to distribute their apps through the Google Play Store,' it added.

Google requires that some apps use the company's payment tools and give Google as much as 30% of digital goods sales.

The lawsuit reads that: 'Google also requires all app developers that sell content through the Google Play Store to sell any digital in-app content through Google Play Billing.'

'Google now stringently enforces this tie by preventing apps distributed through the Google Play Store from using, directing consumers to, or even informing consumers about alternative payment processing options that may provide lower prices.'

As the new CEO of Alphabet Inc., Sundar Pichai appeared before Congress in May - though Insider noted that he and Page talk regularly.

Pichai testified on a wide range of issues including extremism such as those who rioted at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, misinformation, cyberbullying, climate change and the coronavirus, the Washington Post reported.

Nell Minow, vice chair of consulting firm ValueEdge Advisors, called Page's relationship with the company he co-founded 'unusual' in comments to Insider.

'It's certainly unusual, and it's certainly not good corporate governance,' Minow said. 'You don't normally see someone who's still involved with the company hang a 'gone fishing' sign on the door and disappear.'
Lionhearted Yorkshire terrier Macy fought off a coyote after it attacked her 10-year-old owner Lily while they were out on a walk

A lionhearted Yorkshire terrier fought off a coyote twice her size to protect her 10-year-old owner after it attacked them.

Owner Lily Kwan, 10, said she had just seen fliers in her Toronto, Canada neighborhood on Tuesday warning people of a coyote chasing children in the area when the animal started snapping at her heels while she was walking her dog Macy.

In footage captured by a neighbor's security camera, Lily can be seen running down the sidwalk with her six-year-old rescue dog while the coyote follows in hot pursuit.

'I thought, 'Am I next, what is going to happen to me?'' Lily told Canada's WDAM 7.

'I was screaming for help but no one heard me,' said Lily. 'I saw this coyote trying to attack my dog and I tried to ring people's doorbells and knock on people's doors... this one neighbor let me in.'

As the coyote snapped at Lily's heels, she runs toward the safety of her neighbor's porch, looking back toward the dogfight

After chasing the girl and her dog all the way down the street, the coyote trotted away after a few moments of fighting

Despite her injuries, Macy chases after the fleeing coyote, making sure it's gone for good

But while Lucy made it to safety, Macy wouldn't follow her inside, instead tugging against the leash toward the coyote.

When Lily dropped the leash, the little dog whipped around to confront the coyote. After briefly screaming Macy's name, Lily runs onto the neighbor's porch and out of the camera's view.

Macy can be seen squaring off with the coyote, before it snatches her up in its mouth and shakes her violently. She yelps in pain, but keeps barking and chasing the coyote until it gives up and retreats.

'She's a super brave dog,' Lily said. 'I love her so much, and I just thought this tiny dog could protect this huge human being, trying to fight off this huge coyote.'

Lily's mother, Dorothy Kwan, was not present at the time of the incident, but obtained the video from the neighbor's home security system.

'My dog would do anything for our family, so I'm actually not surprised that she did that,' Dorothy Kwan said.

Macy was taken to the ICU on Tuesday, and returned home on Thursday with about 40 staples holding her wounds closed and drainage tubes

More than 600 backers have amassed more than $22,000 toward Macy's veterinary bills - she returned home from two days in the ICU on Thursday, and is expected to make a full recovery

Dorothy said she was shocked by the animal's brazen behavior.

'I would never guess that a coyote, you know, would come out during the day and especially with someone screaming and yelling it still was not fazed,' Dorothy said. 'It just kept coming after her and our dog, you know, despite all the yelling. It was quite aggressive.'

Macy was taken to the ICU on Tuesday, and returned home on Thursday with about 40 staples holding her wounds closed and drainage tubes.

'The amazing support we have received from friends, family, neighbors and complete strangers is overwhelming,' Dorothy wrote on a GoFundMe raising money for the little dog's vet bills.

'Her fever is gone and she's got her appetite back... What an absolutely courageous dog. I am so very proud of her. No coyotes will want to mess with her when she comes home. My feisty girl is a true fighter.'

As of Thursday evening, over 600 donors have given over $22,000 to the Kwan family and their brave pet, double the fundraiser's goal amount.
The cities of New York, Los Angeles and Chicago account for 13.4 percent of all unemployed people in the US, but only make up about 4.6 percent of the total population, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The BLS data show that the nation's three largest cities have unemployment rates dramatically higher than the national average of 5.9 percent in June, with Los Angeles and New York at 10.6 percent and Chicago at 8.2 percent.

Together, the three cities had a total of 1,272,464 unemployed people in June, accounting for more than one in eight of the 9.5 million seeking work nationwide.

The reason for stubbornly high unemployment rates in major cities is disputed, with some blaming differing policy on minimum wage and jobless benefits, with others insisting that the different job mix in those cities is to blame.

The large cities have a high proportion of jobs in the restaurant and hospitality industry, a field that many workers have been reluctant to return to.

The June unemployment rates of LA, Chicago and New York are seen against the US average

A 'Help Wanted' sign is posted in front of a restaurant in Los Angeles in May. Restaurants are desperate for workers but struggling to hire in many places

In recent history, the unemployment rate in the three major metros has hewn fairly close to the national average.

In January 2020, for instance, just before the pandemic struck, the national unemployment rate was 3.5 percent. In New York it was 3.6 percent, Chicago's was 3.9 percent, and Los Angeles was at 4.2 percent.

And as recently as 2019, unemployment in New York and Chicago was actually lower than the national average.

Job losses soared nationwide in the pandemic, but especially so in large cities, where lockdown restrictions were harshest and the hard-hit service and hospitality sector accounts for a larger proportion of jobs.

Liberal economists say that persistent woes for the service industry, with restaurants struggling to bounce back, accounts for high unemployment in major cities.

Yet restaurants in the three cities are desperate for workers and hiring as quickly as they can, with some in New York even cutting back hours due to staffing shortages.

The unemployment rates for the three cities are seen against the national average (purple) before and after the pandemic

Jobseekers complained that the pay offered by hospitality jobs was too low and said they preferred working in a different setting, one survey found

A recent survey from Joblist found that a third of former hospitality workers would not consider returning to the industry even though they are looking for a job.

However, the nation's fourth largest city, Houston, which has its own abundance of restaurants and bars, seems to be faring much better.

In May, the last month data are available, Houston had an unemployment rate of 6.6 percent (not seasonally adjusted), compared to the 5.8 percent national average.

Conservative economists argue that disastrous policy decisions are to blame for the higher unemployment rates in New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles, all of which are ruled by Democratic mayors and governors.

The three cities were among the last to ease economic restrictions during the pandemic, with harsh rules that limited capacity and even shut some businesses entirely.

As well, all three cities have a minimum wage of $15 per hour, which some argue makes it harder for small businesses to hire additional employees.

A sign for a business looking to hire workers in New York City in June. Businesses are struggling to attract workers, even in cities with high unemployment rates

Also, Democrat-run states have pursued a divergent policy on federal supplemental unemployment benefits.

The extra $300-per-week federal supplement, which comes on top of state benefits, has been canceled in nearly all Republican-run states, where lawmakers argued that the rich benefits discouraged the unemployed from seeking work.

Indeed, U.S. states putting an early end to federal unemployment benefits saw a larger jump in local labor supply in June than those planning to maintain the federal supplement until it expires in September.

State-level jobs data released earlier this month show that in the 26 states stopping benefits early an additional 174,000 people joined the labor force in June, by either taking jobs or beginning work searches, compared to 47,000 in the other states.

Some economists argue the federal benefit remains an economic lifeline, that many jobless Americans want to return to work but aren't able to because they can't access child care or remain fearful of contracting COVID-19.

But many of the states decided to end the benefits after some business owners complained of being unable to fill jobs.
For a much anticipated reunion, the family/child friendly flat seemed like the ideal place to rent.

But a mother says the advertised truly special celebrity-owned penthouse which she booked on Airbnb turned out to be filthy  in more ways than one.

She was appalled to find the 300-a-night flat owned by model Jasmine Lennard, ex-girlfriend of Simon Cowell, was adorned with inappropriate artwork. And she claims there was a sex toy in the wardrobe of the master bedroom.

The woman, who does not wish to be named, booked the 3,000 sq ft flat in Fulham, south-west London, for a reunion to celebrate being together for the first time since lockdown.

She also complained that the crockery and floors in the property, which has a private roof terrace with river views, were dirty.

A mother says the advertised truly special celebrity-owned penthouse which was an Airbnb in Fulham, south west London, and was owned by model Jasmine Lennard, Simon Cowell's ex-girlfriend, turned out to be filthy  in more ways than one

Two prints on the walls by celebrity photographer David LaChapelle showed supermodel Naomi Campbell posing naked on all fours and pouring milk over her breasts. Another print was of transsexual model Amanda Lepore, topless and snorting diamonds like cocaine.

The family, who had planned a quiet weekend in watching Englands Euro 2020 final, also found the TV was not working and an advertised third bedroom amounted to a blow-up mattress.

The mother paid 1,270 for four nights in the flat. After complaining to the host, they paid a further 1,052 for an Airbnb apartment in Kensington and moved out after one night.

She was appalled to find the 300-a-night flat owned by model Jasmine Lennard, ex-girlfriend of Simon Cowell, was adorned with inappropriate artwork. And she claims there was a sex toy in the wardrobe of the master bedroom

One of the prints on the walls by celebrity photographer David LaChapelle showed supermodel Naomi Campbell posing naked on all fours and pouring milk over her breasts

The mother said: This was supposed to be a special treat for my son as my husband and I hadnt seen him since before the pandemic. But the flat was a disaster. I was in tears and we were all very upset. It was a massive inconvenience having to find somewhere else and pay out again.

When Miss Lennard, 35, who appeared on Celebrity Big Brother in 2012, announced her engagement to businessman Mohammed Al Saif in 2019, he was said to have given her an 800,000 ring.

Mr Al Saif, a Saudi defence industry guru, is named as the Airbnb host for the listing, which says the flat is family/child friendly.

Another print was of transsexual model Amanda Lepore, topless and snorting diamonds like cocaine

But Miss Lennard says that one of their office staff manages it in his name and that he has no involvement in the management of the flat.

Her mother, actress Marilyn Galsworthy  who worked with the RSC and appeared in Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me  handed over the keys.

Miss Lennard said she paid for a deep clean ahead of the mothers arrival on July 10 and that her flat was in sparkling condition. She said her cleaners had not seen any sex toy. Airbnb has apologised and refunded the 1,270.

The company also asked Miss Lennard to make her listing more accurate, which she has done.
Dashcam video taken from a Texas state trooper's car shows a shocking scene after police chase a human smuggler's vehicle in Del Rio, and about a dozen illegal immigrants pour out.

The driver, a human smuggler, ditches the car on the side of the highway as the illegal immigrants try to flee through a fenced hedge. The trooper was able to catch the driver and several occupants, however some managed to escape.

The video, which was shot last week in the border town, is one of many recent examples of law enforcement encountering cars packed to the brim with people who have entered the country illegally.

As of last Wednesday, the Texas Deparment of Public Safety told Fox News that their troopers have been involved in 473 car pursuits since the start of Operation Lone Star, which began March 4.

Dashcam video taken from a Texas trooper shows a chase of a human smuggler's vehicle in the border town of Del Rio

About a dozen illegal immigrants could be seen pouring out of the smuggler's car

Operation Lone Star was created by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott amidst a wave of illegal immigrants from Honduras and El Salvador crossing the US-Mexico border. It deploys law enforcement in areas human and drug smugglers are known to frequent.

In the first two months, the Texas DPS made 598 criminal arrests and more than 16,000 referrals of illegal immigrants to the US Customs and Border Protection, according to a Valley Central news report.

On Saturday, Abbott said the operation had resulted in 52,000 illegal immigrants apprehended and 40 disrupted stash houses.

Meanwhile, scenes like the one in Del Rio have become commonplace. Fox News obtained video of a similar incident on the same day. Another trooper pulled over a truck causing the illegal immigrant occupants to flee.

Fox News' Bill Melugin reported that the driver and all of the occupants who ran were caught by authorities.

The smuggler can be seen as he bails, and at least a dozen illegal immigrants spill out and flee. Trooper focused on driver & caught him. Some of the passengers got away

Texas DPS told Fox News that their troopers have been involved in 473 car pursuits since the start of Operation Lone Star as of last Wednesday

Abbott has been critical of the Biden Administration's approach to the state's ongoing immigration issue, and committed $250 million for a new wall along the border after Biden scuttled the project in January.

'The bottom line is that, because of the current administrations complete abandonment of enforcing the laws passed by the United States Congress concerning immigration, there is an unprecedented increase of people coming across border, and the federal government has left it to the state of Texas and its counties to pick up the load of responding to the unprecedented amount of people coming into the country,' Abbott said earlier this month.

Last month, South Dakota Gov. Kristi L. Noem deployed up 50 National Guard troops to the southern US border in Texas, in a mission funded by GOP megadonor billionaire Willis Johnson, the Washington Post reported in June.
Advertisement

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Friday it is not the role of the administration to 'place blame' after the governor of Alabama called out Americans who have refused to get vaccinated for the rising COVID rates in the U.S.

'I don't think our role is to place blame, but what we can do is provide accurate information to people who are not yet vaccinated about the risks they are incurring not only on themselves, but also the people around them,' she said.

Psaki's comments came after Alabama Governor Kay Ivey blamed Americans who have refused to get vaccinated against coronavirus for rising COVID case rates. Ivey's state and others across the South are hammered by new infections - with three states in the region now accounting for 40 percent of active cases nationwide.

'Folks are supposed to have common sense. But it's time to start blaming the unvaccinated folks, not the regular folks. It's the unvaccinated folks that are letting us down,' Ivey, a Republican, told reporters on Thursday.

Psaki kept the White House response focused on educating people who are not vaccinated about why they should get the shot in the arm.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Friday it is not the role of the administration to 'place blame' after the governor of Alabama Kay Ivey called out Americans who have refused to get vaccinated for the rising COVID rates in the U.S.

Psaki also refused to entertain the possibility the administration would put vaccine mandates in place as the vast majority of new cases have been reported in people who are not vaccinated.

'That's not the role of the federal government,' Psaki said when asked about mandates. 'That is the role that institutions, private sector entities and others may take.'

President Joe Biden and his officials have take to calling COVID 'a pandemic of the unvaccinated'

She did express sympathy for Governor Ivey.

'We understand her frustration, and we understand the frustrations of leaders out there, and the public voices who are trying to say the right thing, advocate for the efficacy of the virus, save people in their communities.'

She also said any chance to face mask policy was in the hands of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

'We're always going to follow the guidance of our health and medical experts,' Psaki said.

President Joe Biden and his officials have take to calling COVID 'a pandemic of the unvaccinated' as they urge Americans to get their shot.

'We have a pandemic for those who haven't gotten a vaccination,' the president said this week at a CNN town hall meeting.

He said it was 'gigantically important' Americans get vaccinated.

'If you're vaccinated, you're not going to be hospitalized, you're not going to be in the IC unit, and you're not going to die,' Biden said. 'So it's gigantically important that ... we all act like Americans who care about our fellow Americans.'

Earlier, Biden had to walk back comments he made, insisting that Facebook 'isn't killing people' and instead blamed them for allowing 12 people to spread the majority of online vaccine misinformation.

'Facebook isn't killing people,' Biden clarified.

'These 12 people are out there giving misinformation, anyone listening to it is getting hurt by it,' he continued. 'It's killing people. It's bad information.'

'My hope is that Facebook, instead of taking it personally,' Biden said, 'that they would do something.'

Biden also assured 'we are not in a battle with Facebook.'

Previously, when Biden was asked if he had a message for Facebook, he responded: 'They're killing people. I mean it really. Look, the only pandemic we have is among the unvaccinated. And they're killing people.'

Facebook pushed back against that in a statement, lashing out at the administration for 'blaming a handful of American social media companies' for the declining vaccination rate.

'While social media plays an important role in society, it is clear that we need a whole of society approach to end this pandemic,' Facebook's vice president of integrity, Guy Rosen, wrote in a corporate blog post.

COVID-19 cases have increased by 312 percent in Alabama over the past two weeks

Cases in Texas have grown by 162 percent over the past two weeks

Cases in Missouri have grown by 108 percent over the past two weeks

Cases in Florida have grown by 500 percent over the past two weeks

The Delta variant, a highly contagious strain of the virus that originated in India, accounts for more than 80 percent of active cases

Missouri, Florida and Texas now account for 40 percent of current cases nationwide, White House COVID-19 coordinator Jeff Zients said Thursday. He noted that those three have some of the lowest vaccination rates in the country with 41.4 percent, 48 percent and 43 percent of residents fully-vaccinated, respectively.

'For the second week in a row, one in five of all cases occurring in Florida alone. And within communities, these cases are primarily among unvaccinated people,' he said.

In Ivey's state of Alabama - where only 42 percent of residents are fully vaccinated - daily new cases have increased by 312 percent over the past two weeks, from 275 on July 8 to 1,133 on July 22.

Zients noted, however, that several states with the highest proportion of new infections - including Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Missouri and Nevada - are now finally beginning to see their vaccination rates rise faster than the nation as a whole - a sign that the threat of the fourth wave is finally hitting home.

In the past week more than two million Americans received their first dose of a vaccine - a 14 percent increase from the week prior.

Florida in particular accounts for nearly 20 percent of active cases.

The state recorded 12,647 new cases on Wednesday, the highest total the state has recorded since the massive winter wave of the virus.

Cases in the state have grown by nearly 500 percent in the past two weeks, with a seven day average of 1,493 new cases on July 6, and 8,912 on July 20.

A majority of the cases are among the unvaccinated as well.

'If you look at the people that are being admitted to hospitals ... over 95 percent of them are either not fully vaccinated or not vaccinated at all,' Governor Ron DeSantis said Wednesday.

'These vaccines are saving lives. They are reducing mortality.'

While DeSantis is a supporter of the vaccines, he has previously opposed vaccine mandates, even banning the use of vaccine passport in his state.

Florida has the most vaccinated population of any state in the south, though, with 56 percent of residents having received at least one shot of the virus.

The Indian Delta variant, a highly contagious strain of the virus that originated in the south Asian nation, accounts for more than 80 percent of active cases in the state as well.

In the past week more than two million Americans received their first vaccine dose - a 14 percent increase from the week prior

Missouri was one of the first states to get hammered by the new, Delta Variant led, COVID surge sweeping across the nation.

The southwestern region of the state in particular was hammered at the start of this month.

Mercy Health and CoxHealth in Springfield, Missouri, the biggest city in the region, both were swamped with cases over July 4 weekend. Mercy in particular even faced ventilator shortages.

Missouri's situation has only gotten worse since then as well.

Cases have more than doubled over the past two weeks, from 1,077 average new daily cases on July 8 to 2,244 average new cases on July 22 - a 108 percent increase.

More than half of active cases in the state are of the Delta variant.

Many cases in the state can also be tied to Branson, Missouri, a small tourist destination is the southwest of the state without a mask mandate.

Missouri has a vaccination rate of 47 percent, a figure that Republican Governor Mike Parson is trying to raise.

On Tuesday, Parson announced that Missouri would become the latest state to launch a vaccine lottery.

What about your boss, Jen? Psaki promises to continue 'fighting' 'misinformation' after Biden falsely told CNN town hall 'you're not going to get COVID if you have vaccinations' and struggled to explain FDA approval

The White House said on Friday it would continue to tackle COVID-19 misinformation online amid growing criticism that the Biden administration is turning itself into the ultimate arbiter of what is and what is not true.

Officials last week admitted flagging problem posts to Facebook and Democrats are pushing a bill that would put the Department of Health and Human Services in charge of labeling online misinformation.

'What we're going to continue to do is make the vaccine available, we're going to continue to work in partnership to fight misinformation and we're going to continue to advocate and work in partnership with local officials and entrusted voices to get the word out,' said President Biden's press secretary Jen Psaki in response to a question about the role of federal government in tackling the pandemic.

Experts in online manipulation say the strategy is wrongheaded and the impact of misinformation is exaggerated.

And if the Biden administration needed needed a crash course in the pitfalls of policing vaccine misinformation it came at Wednesday night's televised town hall.

Three times factcheckers called the president out for making misleading statements, most notably in saying: 'You're not going to get COVID if you have these vaccinations,' even as his own White House deals with 'breakthrough' cases of infection among staff.

FACT CHECK REVEALS BIDEN FALSELY CLAIMED VACCINE WOULD PREVENT COVID AND HIS ADMINISTRATION HOLDS SIX-MONTH JOBS RECORD President Joe Biden offered an absolute guarantee Wednesday that people who get their COVID-19 vaccines are completely protected from infection, sickness and death from the coronavirus. The reality is not that cut and dried. The vaccines are extremely effective but 'breakthrough' infections do occur and the delta variant driving cases among the unvaccinated in the U.S. is not fully understood. Also Biden inflated the impact of his policies on U.S. jobs created in his first half-year in office, misleadingly stating his administration had done more than any other president. He neglects to mention he had population growth on his side in his comparison. A look at his remarks in a CNN town hall: PANDEMIC BIDEN: 'If you're vaccinated, you're not going to be hospitalized, you're not going to be in the IC unit, and you're not going to die.' THE FACTS: His remark accurately captures the strong protection the COVID-19 vaccines provide as cases spike among people who have resisted the shots. But it overlooks the rare exceptions. As of July 12, the government had tallied 5,492 vaccinated people who tested positive for coronavirus and were hospitalized or died. That's out of more than 159 million fully vaccinated Americans. The director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, said '99.5 per cent of all deaths from COVID-19 are in the unvaccinated.' ___ BIDEN: 'You're not going to get COVID if you have these vaccinations.' THE FACTS: Again, he painted with too broad a brush as he described in stark terms the disparity between those who got their shots and those who haven't. The disparity is real, but a small number of breakthrough infections happen and health officials say they are not a cause for alarm. No vaccines are perfect, and the government is keeping a close eye on whether new coronavirus mutants start to outsmart the COVID-19 shots. But for now, federal health officials say even when breakthrough infections occur, they tend to be mild - the vaccines so far remain strongly protective against serious illness. ___ BIDEN, when asked after the town hall about vaccinated people who get infected: 'It may be possible, I know of none where they're hospitalized, in ICU and or have passed away so at a minimum I can say even if they did contract it, which I'm sorry they did, i's such a tiny percentage and it's not life threatening.' THE FACTS: Once again, too far. That is evident from the CDC's finding that 5,492 vaccinated people who tested positive for coronavirus were hospitalized or died as of July 12. That's not 'none.' But he is correct that it is a small percentage of the more than 159 million fully vaccinated Americans. ___ BIDEN: 'Now, by the way, remember when I first got elected, the issue was, well, I said I was going to do a million shots a week, and people said, 'Biden can't do that' or "Biden team can't do that." And it was 2 million.' FACTS: Biden's initial goal was 1 million shots a day, not a week, in his first 100 days. His target was 100 million shots in the first 100 days. He then raised it to 200 million when the administration easily reached the target. JOBS BIDEN: 'We've created more jobs in the first six months of our administration than any time in American history. No president, no administration, has ever created as many jobs.' THE FACTS: His claim is misleading. While Biden's administration in the first half year as president has seen more jobs created than any other president - just over 3 million in the five months tracked by jobs reports - that's partly because the U.S. population is larger than in the past. When calculated as a percentage of the workforce, job growth under President Jimmy Carter increased more quickly from February through June 1977 than the same five months this year: 2.2 per cent for Carter, compared with 2.1 per cent for Biden. Since the late 1970s, the U.S. population has grown by more than 100 million people. It's true, though, that the economy is growing rapidly - it expanded at a 6.4 per cent annual rate in the first three months of the year - and is expected to grow this year at the fastest pace since 1984. Biden's $1.9 trillion rescue package contributed to the vigorous growth, but much of the expansion also reflects a broader bounce-back from the unusually sharp pandemic recession, the deepest downturn since the 1930s. Even before Biden's package, for example, the International Monetary Fund was projecting U.S. growth of over 5 per cent for this year. Biden is also leaving out the fact that the U.S. economy remains 6.8 million jobs short of its pre-pandemic level, and the unemployment rate is an elevated 5.9 per cent, up from a five-decade low of 3.5 per cent before the pandemic. CAR PRICES BIDEN: Said the price of a car is 'kind of' back to the same as it was 'before the pandemic'. FACTS: New car prices are significantly higher than then they were before the onset of the pandemic. According to the Consumer Price Index, new and used cars were 20% higher in June 2020 than they were in January 2020. That was 19% higher again on prices from June 19%. CHILD TAX CREDIT BIDEN: 'It's called the child tax credit. If you have a child under the age of 7, you get 300 bucks a month -- 350 bucks a month. If you have a child under -- between 7 and 17, you get a total of 200 bucks a month. FACTS: The age groups used to determine the brackets are 6 to 17 and not 7 to 17 as Biden suggested. Parents receive up to $250 a month for each child between 6 and 17 and $350 for those under 6. NONCOMPETE CLAUSES BIDEN: He criticized clauses in contracts that restrict employees' abilities to move jobs in a similar industry by saying, 'you have over 600,000 people out there signing - 6 million people signing a - I better check the number -- of -- signing noncompete agreements. Not because they have ... any secret, but because they were working for one fast-food restaurant, and they're told they can't get 10 cents more going across town, going to the other fast-food restaurant. Why? To keep wages down. FACTS: The numbers he used were not close to the real figures. A White House document published on July 9 suggests there are between 36 and 60 million workers under noncompete clauses, based off figures from the Economic Policy Institute. 'UP TO 20 REPUBLICANS' SIGNING LETTER SUPPORTING INFRASTRUCTURE BIDEN: 'You had up to 20 Republicans sign a letter saying, "We think we need this deal. We think we need this deal",' Biden said when discussing the bipartisanship in the ongoing negotiations over his infrastructure bill. FACTS: Republican Sen. Rob Portman said 11 Republican senators sent a letter to Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer suggesting they would vote no in the procedural vote on Wednesday. All 50 Republicans ended up voting against advancing the bill. Schumer is now trying to push through negotiations to launch another vote on Monday. Advertisement

Facebook says it is wrong for the White House to single out a handful of social media companies for blame over vaccine hesitancy among the American population

The missteps triggered a fresh chorus from opponents saying the White House was ill-equipped to take on the role of factchecker-in-chief when even the president stumbled over the truth about the virus.

Republican strategist John Feehery said Biden's gaffes made him a constant source of misinformation.

'Trump wasn't that much better but at least everyone knew that Trump was Trump,' he said.

'No one assumed that Trump was going to be accurate. The problem with Biden and the Biden administration is they have put themselves as the top, most credible source and that's simply not true.'

The question cuts across political divides into philosophy and questions about the nature of objective truth. When our understanding of coronavirus and the pandemic is moving so fast, who gets to decide what is true, what is an exaggeration and what is misinformation?

The discussion comes amid a slew of initiatives to rein in the power of social media companies and hold them accountable for content posted on their sites.

The White House is reviewing Section 230 - a 1990s era regulations that protects tech companies from being held liable for their content, in the way that newspaper and magazine publishers are.

Democratic senators this week introduced legislation that would require internet platforms such as Facebook and Alphabet's Google to take down health and vaccine-related misinformation during public health emergencies or be held liable for its impacts.

It would set up the Department of Health and Human Services to issue guidelines on what is and what is not misinformation.
Boris Johnson was accused yesterday of misleading the nation by claiming people who are told to self-isolate are five times more likely to be infected.

He made the assertion in a press conference on Monday, saying it was 'essential' to maintain home quarantine for ten days.

But the Public Health England research he cited was six months old and carried out before the vast majority of the public had been vaccinated against Covid.

It also involved only those who had been alerted by NHS Test and Trace as close contacts of positive cases.

The Prime Minister implied it covered the NHS Covid app, which had not been rolled out at the time. The app tends to be less reliable at identifying close contacts than Test and Trace and can 'ping' people through walls.

Boris Johnson was accused yesterday of misleading the nation by claiming people who are told to self-isolate are five times more likely to be infected in a press conference on Monday

The research by Public Health England was carried out in December and January when the vaccination programme had only just started.

Now, nearly 90 per cent have had one dose and almost 70 per cent two doses and their chances of becoming infected are massively diminished.

Matthew Lesh, head of research at the Adam Smith Institute, said: 'Boris Johnson's claim that people are five times more likely to be infected with the virus after being asked to isolate is deeply misleading.

'Rather than Boris making things up, NHS Test and Trace should be releasing weekly statistics on how many people who are asked to self-isolate from Test and Trace and the app subsequently return a positive test.'

Paul Hunter, a professor of medicine at the University of East Anglia, said the benefits of isolating after being pinged were 'minimal'.

Speaking to BBC's Newsnight he added: 'It does have some value in reducing transmission, but that is based on modelling work that was primarily done last year when almost none of us had had the vaccine.

Blue bars show the number of 'pings' sent by the NHS app each week; red bars show the number of people contacted by Test and Trace call handlers; and yellow bars show the number of people who tested positive for Covid

Infections were rising in England by about 67 per cent on June 30, for example, and at the same time the number of alerts sent to phones rose by 63 per cent. Even earlier this month 'pings' were rising in line with cases  infections rose by 48 per cent on July 7 while alerts jumped by 46 per cent. But by July 14, cases across England were rising at twice the rate of alerts - with a 34 per cent increase in infections compared to the 17 per cent rise in pings that reached phones

'I think the value has subsequently declined. There remains probably some value, but it's probably quite minimal now and ... nowhere near worth the harm that's being done to businesses, and society as a whole.'

NHS figures on Thursday showed that a record 618,903 pings were sent out via the NHS Covid app in England and Wales in the week to July 14.

Another 427,210 people were reached by NHS contact tracers, meaning that 1,046,113 orders to isolate were issued last week, up 20 per cent on the week before.

The PHE research found that more than 10 per cent of those contacted by NHS Test and Trace tested positive for the virus following a PCR test.

At the time, about 2 per cent of the general population were infected with Covid although the current figures are much lower, at about 1 per cent.

Mr Johnson told the press conference that Covid isolation was still essential. He added: 'I want to explain that people identified as contacts of cases are at least five times more likely to be infected than others.

Data shows 600,000 alerts were sent by the NHS app in the week ending July 14, a 17 per cent rise increase on the previous seven days and another record high. The red line show the cumulative number of tracing alerts sent throughout the pandemic, while the blue bars represent the number each week

'This pandemic is far from over and that's why it is essential to keep up the system of test, trace, and isolate.'

Downing Street last night refused to retract the figure and the Department of Health repeated it in a press release put out hours after the Mail called to query it. The Government has promised that adults who have been double jabbed will be exempt from quarantine from the August 16, if they are pinged or contacted by Test and Trace.

But ex-health secretary Jeremy Hunt warned ministers they would lose 'social consent' if they did not do this immediately, with people refusing to self-isolate.

He told vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi on Thursday: 'Does he not think it's time for the Government to listen to public opinion and scrap the ten-day isolation requirement immediately for people who have been double jabbed in favour of having to isolate until they have done a negative PCR test?

'Otherwise we risk losing social consent for this very, very important weapon against the virus.'
The last time Sue Gratrick saw her younger sister, Lynda, she was heading out through the front door of their family home.

The date, one she will never forget, was November 21, 1983.

A few hours after 15-year-old Lynda had left, slamming the door following a petty, sisterly squabble, she was raped and strangled by Colin Pitchfork.

Nearly four decades on, the guilt Sue feels about that night is still palpable.

News that 61-year-old Pitchfork, who murdered both Lynda Mann and, three years later, Dawn Ashworth, a 15-year-old from a neighbouring Leicestershire village, is about to be freed from prison has compounded that guilt with fury and fear.

For despite the anguished protests of both girls' families, the Parole Board declared the former baker fit for release from jail.

Haunted: Big sister Sue (right) with tragic Lynda, who was raped and strangled by child killer Colin Pitchfork

A last-minute bid by the Government to keep Pitchfork behind bars failed to overturn that devastating decision.

Their only solace is that a proposal to keep him off the Sex Offenders Register after his release from prison, on the grounds that his crimes were committed so long ago, has been rejected this week.

Sue, who was 17 when her sister was killed, is now struggling to come to terms with the fact the man who cruelly snatched away Lynda's life will not be spending the rest of his own in prison.

'I still can't believe he is going to be free and out there in the world,' says the 56-year-old mother and grandmother, who now lives by the sea in Lincolnshire but has asked us not to reveal exactly where.

'When he was jailed, the police promised us that he'd never see the light of day again,' she says. 'How wrong they were.'

Today, for the first time, Sue reveals the agonies her family endured after Lynda's murder nearly 38 years ago, on a dark, secluded footpath close to their home in the village of Narborough, Leicestershire .

And she describes how that unspeakably evil act still impacts their lives today.

'What Pitchfork did to Lynda never goes away,' she says. 'After that night, our lives changed for ever. That was the end of normal, and we were never the same again.'

Her sister's horrific murder ultimately tore the family apart. Their mother, Kath Eastwood, split from the sisters' stepfather, Eddie.

Sue and Kath also fell out during the grief-filled years which passed before Pitchfork was finally caught.

Colin Pitchfork was the first murderer to be convicted using DNA evidence and was given a minimum 30-year sentence in 1988 for raping and killing Lynda Mann and Dawn Ashworth, both aged 15

Tragic: Lynda Mann (pictured) was one of two girls to be strangled to death by evil Pitchfork, who is being released after serving 33 years in prison

Sue, who has suffered from depression ever since her sister's death and has also had suicidal thoughts, is still haunted by the feeling that what happened to Lynda should have happened to her instead.

'I was always the rebellious one, the one who got in trouble. Lynda was much better behaved,' says Sue, a mother of one who lives with her taxi driver husband, Stephen. 'I've always felt it should have been me he killed that night.'

Until Lynda was snatched away, the pair had been typical teenage sisters, living at home with their mother, stepfather and two-year-old half-sister, Rebecca.

Sue's lingering memories of their shared childhood are filled with British seaside holidays, walks with the family's black-and-white dog, Sukey, and watching Blue Peter together religiously.

The girls got on well, she says, but like all siblings they sometimes bickered; over their tastes in music  Lynda liked OMD while Sue preferred Iron Maiden  or whose turn it was to babysit for their toddler sister.

Lynda was 'the clever one', she says.

'She was good at school. Not like me  I'd left when I was 16 and I was on the dole when she was killed,' she adds.

'Lynda would have stayed on for A-levels because she really enjoyed languages. She wanted to be an interpreter when she grew up.'

Sue relates the events of the night Lynda died with forensic precision. It was a Monday evening  'darts night' for her mother and stepfather.

Pitchfork, who changed his name to David Thorpe, has been seen on day release in Bristol in recent years

Earlier, the family sat down for dinner together. She remembers what they ate: mince and mashed potatoes, with dandelion and burdock to drink.

'It was my turn to babysit Rebecca, so I had to stay at home,' she recalls.

Lynda was meant to be babysitting for neighbours but the couple cancelled at the last minute and she returned home unexpectedly.

'We had a slight argument because I'd invited a lad around and I wanted a bit of privacy,' says Sue. 'So she went off again. I didn't think anything of it.' But the quarrel between the two sisters took on a tragic significance after Lynda's murder.

'If it wasn't for me she would probably have stayed home,' says Sue. 'I still feel guilty about that and terrible that the last thing we did was argue.

'It still sticks with me now. I can still see her, going out of the door but I didn't know she wasn't going to come back.'

Sue has replayed that moment over and over again in her mind: Lynda, dressed in jeans and a black donkey jacket and wearing a tartan mohair scarf.

'The scarf was mine,' says Sue. 'Our grandparents had bought us one each, but she was wearing mine that night.'

Later that evening Pitchfork used that scarf to strangle Lynda. It is details such as these that Sue cannot get out of her head.

'I've never worn a scarf since,' she says. 'And I couldn't bear to see my daughter wear one either.'

Mother Kath Eastwood with daughters Sue (left) and Lynda Mann (right), who would be tragically strangled to death by her big sister's scarf at just 15

Lynda went to visit a schoolfriend that evening. On the way home, she took a short-cut along a path known locally as 'the Black Pad' which cut between fields and the grounds of a psychiatric hospital.

Pitchfork  already known to police as a serial flasher  was lying in wait.

He had just dropped his wife off at an evening class and had left their baby son sleeping in a carrycot in the back of his car.

At home, Sue was becoming worried that Lynda hadn't returned.

'It got really late. I remember thinking she'd be in trouble with my mum because it was a school night and then I got a really sick feeling, that something was wrong but I told myself I was being stupid,' she says.

'When my mum and stepdad got home they were worried. They said: 'Where is she? She should be back.' They called around Lynda's friends, places she might have gone. At about midnight they called the police.'

By the morning, with still no sign of Lynda, the girls' mother was beside herself.

'The police were out looking and Mum was so worried,' Sue says. 'I went into the village and I was asking people if they'd seen her.

'Then a lad I knew came up to me and said: 'You've got to go home. They've found Lynda.'

'I could see from the look on his face what that meant. I was told afterwards that I made this really weird crying noise and fell to the floor. Someone helped me up and I was taken home.

Artist's impression of Pitchfork previously appealing the length of his sentence at the Court of Appeal in London

Victims: Furious relatives of the two schoolgirls murdered by a notorious paedophile condemned the decision to let him go free. Left: Lynda Mann, right: Dawn Ashworth

'The police were there. I was taken round the back of the house by one of my mum's friends, who told me they'd found Lynda  and she was dead.

'I was in shock for a long time after that. It's the kind of thing that happens on the telly. You never think that it will happen to your own family.'

Over the days that followed, Lynda's death dominated the news. At one point, Sue saw footage of her sister being taken away in a body bag. 'That's when it really hit home,' she says. 'It was the first time I heard that she'd been raped and strangled.'

Her stepfather identified Lynda's battered body and was so disturbed that he developed a temporary stutter. During the days and weeks that followed, the family home was turned upside down.

At one stage, Sue's stepfather was also taken away for questioning and Sue herself was summoned to the station to speak to a detective who told her: 'We know you know who did it.'

'They thought I was covering up for someone,' she says. 'I said to him: 'Why would I protect my sister's killer?'

Police officers took Sue's diaries away, as well as rolls of undeveloped film from her camera. They probed the most intimate details of her life, and wanted the names of all the boys she knew, including the one who had visited her the night Lynda died.

'If I'd written a boy's name down in my diary, they wanted to know if I'd had some kind of relationship with him or if she had. They asked about intimate stuff. I've not seen my diaries since.

'It caused huge problems in my friendships because they interviewed people I'd mentioned in the diary. There was no privacy, which is a nightmare when you're a teenager.'

Pictured: Volunteers take tests to help the investigating police officers find the murderer of Leicestershire schoolgirls Lynda Mann and Dawn Ashworth on January 5 in 1987 (file photo)

Unbelievably, having struggled to find any leads on the case, detectives brought a medium to the family's home.

'She sat in Lynda's room wailing and screaming and making out she was talking to Lynda,' says Sue. 'It was horrible and very upsetting for my mum.'

A month after Lynda's death, Christmas passed in a blur. A friend of Lynda's came round with the presents Lynda had bought and hidden at the friend's house the weekend before she had died.

'She'd bought me a book about heavy metal bands,' says Sue. 'It was such a painful moment.'

It wasn't until three months after the murder that the family were finally able to hold a funeral.

'We were just coming to terms with the idea she was dead,' says Sue. 'It made it all so raw again.'

In contrast to their very personal grief, the event couldn't have been more public. Hundreds lined the streets as the funeral cortege passed, and the church was packed. There was also a heavy police presence in case the killer turned up.

Lynda and Sue's father, who had been absent for much of the sisters' lives, also made a surprise appearance.

'It was a lot to deal with all at the same time,' says Sue.

Shock, grief, the clash of private and public, made the atmosphere at home increasingly fraught.

'My mum became so quiet. She focused on my sister, Rebecca. We argued a lot. I didn't get on with my stepdad even before Lynda was killed. And I suppose I was jealous of Rebecca because she got all the attention. I couldn't get rid of the feeling it would have been better if I'd died, not Lynda.'

Less than a year after losing her sister, Sue moved in with her boyfriend. She got married for the first time when she was just 19.

Her mother and stepfather moved away from the area, to Lincolnshire. 'We kept in touch but I didn't see much of them after that,' Sue says. For three years their lives were in limbo and then, in July 1986, Pitchfork struck again  raping and strangling Dawn Ashworth, 15, on another stretch of the same footpath where Lynda had died.

Sue learned of this second murder from a newspaper billboard.

'I was really scared, knowing that he was still out there and free to kill again,' she says.

Police arrested a 17-year-old with learning disabilities who worked at the neighbouring psychiatric hospital and had been spotted near the murder scene. After being questioned, he confessed to killing Dawn, but not Lynda.

Detectives brought in University of Leicester scientist Alex Jeffreys who had been developing a ground-breaking genetic profiling technique.

Hailed as the most significant breakthrough in resolving serious crime since fingerprinting, the technique proved that DNA in semen samples taken from Lynda and Dawn was from the same man  but not the one in custody.

A police van containing Richard John Buckland, a learning disabled man who pleaded guilty to murdering Dawn but was later exonerated after DNA evidence proved it was Colin Pitchfork

When Leicestershire Police staged the first ever mass DNA screening by taking blood from 5,000 local men, Pitchfork came close to slipping the net again after persuading a bakery colleague to give a blood sample in his place.

He asked for the favour because, he claimed, he'd already taken the test for a friend who had a conviction for indecent exposure when he was younger.

The colleague was overheard in a pub bragging about what he'd done, and both men were arrested. When told his DNA matched the samples taken from the bodies of both teenage girls, Pitchfork confessed to the killings and to two other sex attacks.

Sue attended Pitchfork's trial at Leicestershire Crown Court in 1988, where he pleaded guilty to both murders.

'His eyes were cold  like a shark's,' she recalls. 'There was no soul, no light behind them. He showed no remorse.'

He was handed a minimum 30-year tariff for his 'particularly sadistic' crimes after the then Lord Chief Justice said that for 'the safety of the public, I doubt if he should ever be released'.

Once the minimum term expired, the only legal reason not to release Pitchfork would be that he is a 'risk to the public', and the Parole Board has declared he is not.

Sue insists that a man capable of such evil can never be safe to walk the streets. The idea he will be free again, she says, makes a mockery of the justice system.

For nearly four decades, she and her family have been serving their own life sentence. Unable to erase from her mind what Pitchfork did to her sister, his hideous crimes impacted the way she raised her own daughter, Hannah, who is now 28 and a mother herself.

'I was over-protective and paranoid about Hannah when she was growing up,' says Sue. 'I was frightened for her to be out alone.

'Pitchfork has given us all a life sentence. He took away our happiness and it was impossible ever to get it back.'

She is devastated that the fight to keep him behind bars has failed and, above all, afraid for the safety of other young women who may cross the killer's path.

'For as long as he is alive, I will be looking over my shoulder,' she says.
He helped save the lives of UK troops and displayed extraordinary courage under fire against the Taliban  yet was cruelly rejected when he sought refuge in Britain.

But now the years-long ordeal of Afghan interpreter Fardin Yarri and his family is at an end as they begin a new life in this country, thanks to the Mail's Betrayal of the Brave campaign.

The faces of the translator, his wife Marzia and their six children are lit up with an increasing sense of relief and eventual joy in our inspiring series of pictures showing their journey to the UK.

Arriving in Britain, Fardin and his family are now quarantining in a hotel in Manchester, and the gleeful happiness of the former interpreter and his daughter Faryal, five, is palpable as they play in their bedroom

Hundreds of former translators and their families hope to arrive Britain in the coming weeks in the biggest rescue operation by the UK in nearly 50 years

The family took the ten-hour 'Freedom Flight' from the airport at Kabul. There were many empty seats on some of the flights, much to the dismay of translators on board who feared colleagues were being needlessly left behind.

However, the Ministry of Defence said passenger numbers were restricted because of limits on aircraft payloads.

Arriving in Britain, Fardin and his family are now quarantining in a hotel in Manchester, and the gleeful happiness of the former interpreter and his daughter Faryal, five, is palpable as they play in their bedroom.

Speaking yesterday, Fardin, 40, said it was 'a dream come true'.

Just a week ago he was worrying that Taliban gunmen would make him their latest victim after a series of killings since US and UK forces pulled out. He said: 'I had forgotten what safety felt like.

'Only those who have lived with fear can know truly how good finally finding safety feels, especially as a husband and father  it brought tears of happiness.'

Fardin is the first translator from a Freedom Flight to be pictured unpixellated. He said: 'We no longer have a need to hide. I want to show a happy Afghan family to the people of Britain and to your readers who supported us.'

Hundreds of former translators and their families hope to arrive Britain in the coming weeks in the biggest rescue operation by the UK in nearly 50 years.

'Afghanistan is falling apart and everyone who worked for the British and the Americans is frightened, wanting to escape,' Fardin said. 'We know the insurgents want revenge and say we are responsible for the death or capture of their fighters. It is a matter of honour to them that we are hunted down. I am very thankful to Boris Johnson and the British Government for helping us come to this country.

'Most of all, we would like to thank you [the Daily Mail] for fighting for us. What you have done to save us can never be forgotten and you are with us.'

Fardin, known as 'Faz' to British Paratroopers, was with 88 soldiers who were cut off and surrounded by up to 500 Taliban in the outpost of Musa Qala in Helmand in a siege that has been likened to the celebrated Battle of Rorke's Drift during the Anglo-Zulu War in 1879.

Pictured interpreter Fardin Yarri while working in Afghansitan. Just a week ago he was worrying that Taliban gunmen would make him their latest victim

Former Afghan interpreter for UK forces Fardin Yarri poses with his family - wife Marzia, sons Farhang, 14, Farhad, 11, Farham, nine, and daughters, Faryal, five, and six month-old Farmather at Kabul airport before taking the 'Freedom Flight' to the UK

He monitored Taliban radio and provided details of their attacks, positions and plans as the men of Easy Company  a mix of Paratroopers and the Royal Irish  held out for 56 days in 2006. After surviving constant fire from machine guns and mortars, Fardin helped officers broker the truce that allowed the soldiers to evacuate the outpost.

Following ten months on the frontline, Fardin was moved from Helmand to Kabul because his brother, an interpreter, was killed by a Taliban sniper. He served for more than a decade despite numerous death threats from insurgents.

But when he was made redundant in November 2017, officials said he did not qualify for resettlement in Britain because he had not served a full year on the frontline. There was an outcry after this newspaper first reported Fardin's plight in January 2018. The late Paddy Ashdown, former Lib Dem leader and an ex-Royal Marine, said it was the 'most outrageous' of 'the many disgraceful cases of the heartless and shameful policy we are adopting towards Afghan interpreters'.

Fardin learnt last December that he qualified after Defence Secretary Ben Wallace allowed 'discretion' to be used when judging if a translator should get sanctuary.

He waited a further seven months before being told he was on his way to the UK with Marzia, 35, and sons Federal, 17, Farhang, 14, Farhad, 11, Farham, nine; and daughters Faryal and six month-old Farmather. 'I had forgotten what it is to be able to relax, to sleep and not to have to worry,' Fardin said. 'The children are so excited, they are bouncing on the beds saying 'we are free'.

'We are living in three rooms of a quarantine hotel, yet we feel free.

'It is a very good feeling.'
Vaccines have reduced tidal waves of coronavirus deaths to a ripple even as cases have surged, analysis reveals.

Covid hospital patients are typically younger, less sick and being discharged faster than in previous waves, as the elderly reap the benefits of getting their jabs sooner.

People are now much less likely to be infected, end up in hospital, need a ventilator or die. And there was more cause for optimism last night as Department of Health figures showed daily infections dropping to the lowest level for ten days.

Yesterday another 36,389 cases were recorded  down nearly one third from the 51,870 reported last Friday. Britain has now recorded a week-on-week drop in cases for two days in a row  the first time this has happened since early May.

The Daily Mail audit  based on Government data  compared key indicators from the current wave with those last autumn and winter. The first wave of the pandemic in spring last year has been excluded because there was so little testing.

The graph shows the number of deaths during three waves of the pandemic, with the blue line indicating the current wave, the yellow line showing the autumn wave beginning August 5 and the red line showing the winter wave starting November 29

Our analysis reveals:

During the winter wave, when daily cases were averaging what they are now, there were almost 27 times more Covid deaths each day and nine times more people in hospital;

There are currently 125 patients on a ventilator for every 10,000 daily new infections, compared with 2,312 per 10,000 cases at the same point in the previous wave;

People aged 54 and under account for 60 per cent of virus patients admitted to hospital in England during this wave, compared with just 22 per cent during the winter wave;

Some 87.6 per cent of people have now received at least one dose of the vaccine, up from 28.9 per cent at the same time point in the winter wave.

NHS doctors say the impact of the hugely successful vaccination effort is clear on hospital wards.

It means more staff are free to tackle the record backlog of routine surgery, including hip and knee replacements, which was severely disrupted last year.

Dr Kevin O'Kane, a consultant in acute medicine at a large hospital in central London, described 'almost apocalyptic' scenes that filled him with fear at the start of the pandemic. 'I have never seen so many sick people in such a short space of time suffering in the same way,' he said.

The graph shows the number of patients admitted to hospital per 10,000 Covid-19 cases across the last three waves of the pandemic

But the 58-year-old, a doctor for more three decades, said: 'Now we are in a very different position. The message is: the vaccination works.

'With the patients admitted, the vast majority will not have severe illness and won't go into intensive care. The demographic is different.

'The youngest person we have had is 22. Then we have people in their 40s and 50s rather than the very old people we saw in previous waves. We had six pregnant ladies a couple of weeks ago. It's a whole new ball game.' The seven-day average for daily Covid infections earlier this week was 46,024, with 711 hospital admissions, 567 patients on ventilators and 42 deaths.

But during the winter wave, when infections were at a similar level of 46,231 on January 17, the seven-day average for deaths was 1,119  27 times higher than now. And there were 37,561 Covid patients in hospitals  nine times as many.

Professor Andrew Goddard, president of the Royal College of Physicians and a consultant gastroenterologist at Royal Derby Hospital, said: 'We are nowhere near as bad as in previous waves. Then everything felt very Covid-focussed  a lot of Covid wards had people requiring ventilators. Now it feels busy with the other stuff you would see in a very busy winter. I speak to respiratory physicians around the country. They are seeing younger people, not the type of patients in previous waves.

'The length of stay seems to be coming down. The average length of stay is down from ten days to around seven or eight. Those two days might not sound like much but it frees up 9,000 bed days and that's a huge number.' While the outlook is very different from previous waves, medical experts warn hospitals could yet be overwhelmed  with a 'horrendously busy' few months feared.

During the current wave, the number of daily ventilated patients per 10,000 Covid-19 cases in declining, while it was rising rapidly during the winter wave

Yesterday 870 patients were admitted to hospital, the highest daily figure since February 25. But deaths remain extremely low compared to previous waves, with 64 recorded yesterday. Vaccines have played a role in protecting people from the worst effects of the virus.

But doctors have also learned which drugs work best and how to treat patients to give them the greatest chances of survival.

People aged 75 and over account for 19 per cent of patients admitted to hospital with Covid in England during the current wave, which has so far lasted just over two months.

At the same time in the winter wave, this age group had made up 44 per cent of all virus patients. In contrast, people aged 54 and younger accounted for 22 per cent of Covid admissions by this stage of the winter wave but they now account for 60 per cent.

The number of beds occupied in hospital per 10,000 Covid-19 cases is also on the decline during the current wave, while it was rising in the winter

Professor Dame Clare Gerada, former chairman of the Royal College of GPs and a leading clinician, said: 'We are not seeing the level of deaths we have previously. Some young people tragically will die but the rate of death in comparison to the numbers of infections we are getting is tiny. In a bad winter we have 60 to 100 deaths per day from flu, so current rates are on par with that.' Currently, for every 10,000 new coronavirus cases there are around 125 patients on a ventilator and nine deaths. At the same time period in the winter wave, there were 2,312 patients on a ventilator and 509 deaths for every 10,000 new infections.

Akshay Akulwar, a clinical fellow at a large hospital Trust in Essex and a spokesman for Doctors' Association UK, said: 'The number of Covid cases is almost the same as January but we are not seeing the same level of hospitalisation and deaths and intensive care admissions. We are busy, as the number of A&E admissions is on average up 10 to 12 per cent across most sizeable hospitals.

'We are seeing patients with Covid but also seeing patients who have not been able to go and see their GP. People with debilitating conditions are trying to bypass their GP and see us.'

Yesterday's infection figures from the Department of Health suggest the relentless rise in infections over the past two months, driven by the Indian variant, is levelling off.
The Alaska man who says he was stalked by a bear in the wilderness and rescued by the Coast Guard after he had scrawled 'SOS' on the roof of his shack has been identified and is recovering at home.





Richard Jessee says he was riding his ATV with a trailer attached to it to it in Nome last week when he says the bear 'came out of nowhere', picked it up like 'a toy' and tossed it.

He was on his way to mine for gold in the region, as he does every summer.

He said: 'The bear came out of nowhere. It rolled my bike and the trailer over like it was a toy car.'

He claims that the ATV sank in the river, taking his cell phone with it, leaving him alone in the wilderness to fight off the bear.

Richard Jessee says he was riding his ATV with a trailer attached to it to it in Nome last week when he says the bear 'came out of nowhere', picked it up like 'a toy' and tossed it

He fired a shot from his pistol to scare the bear then escaped to his cabin where for four days, he cowered while the bear 'stalked' him.

He got the roof to make a plywood SOS sign which, miraculously, the Coast Guard noticed during an atypical pilot mission on July 16.

They took him to the hospital, where he was treated for minor injuries, then was released.

Jessee told The Nome Nugget that he was still in shock over the entire ordeal. He says the bear tried 'for days' to get into the cabin but couldn't, even though he didn't have a door.

Coast Guard chpper spotted the man standing near a shack with the words 'SOS' and 'help me' scrawled on its tin roof.

A Coast Guard crew en route to Nome, Alaska on Friday spotted a man in a remote mining camp 40 miles from the city (pictured) waving both of his arms in a plea for help

'There was no doubt about it: the bear was trying to get into my cabin. I dont know why it was so aggressive. Maybe it had cubs nearby,' he said.

Lieutenant Commander Jared Carbajal was piloting a helicopter for a mission near Nome when he had to take a different route because of the weather.

He said: 'We were flying near a lot of old mining sites, and my copilot noticed a guy waving at us. He was waving two hands over his head, and thats usually sign of distress, so we turned to fly over to check it out and make sure he was okay. As we came up, we noticed on top of his roof, he had painted "SOS HELP ME."

They flew him to a hospital where James West Jr., chief of Nome Emergency Services, was waiting.

In an interview with DailyMail.com on Friday, he said: 'He was carrying a revolver on his side, and I told him, "Youre going to have to remove your revolver."

'And he replied, "No, Im not.

Jesse explained to him that he used that gun to shoot at the bear, after it knocked him off his bike then pounced on him.

'He had some bruising on his knee, and he was complaining of possible broken ribs, but nothing major.

'There were no bite marks or anything like that. He was mostly just shaken up. And he said, "Well, yeah, Im a lucky man, I got a shot off." He didnt know if hed hit the bear or not, but he was able to get away.'

This is the patch of Alaska where he was found - it is in the westernmost part of the state, near Russia

'Ive seen a hell of a lot worse. I had one friend of mine get mauled and lose a major portion of his face a few years ago. Any time you have a bear mauling, its usually bad. I expect the worst.'

Jesses greatest concern was that hed left his mining gear at the cabin, and was anxious to retrieve them after his hospital stay.

'He was more worried about his stuff, which he left out in the open. Thats all he had to his name at that point.'

West has known Jesse for years. Theyd occasionally see each other at the local Polar Cafe in Nome, where locals would gather for coffee before heading off to work. Jesse would frequently return to Nome to get supplies for his gold mining activities out in the wilderness.

'Just out of the blue, hed pop into the cafe and wed chit-chat. Wed sit at what we call the bullsh*t table, where wed solve all the worlds problems.'

West described Jesse as 'rough looking' guy with a white beard and ponytail, 'who looked like a Hells Angel.'
Rep. Ilhan Omar on Friday demanded that President Biden explain his justification for the administration's first airstrike on Somali, and warned him that the country's deep-seated problems could not be fixed from 30,000-feet.

'It is critical that we realize we are not going to simply drone the Al-Shabaab problem to death, and that any kinetic action is part of a broader strategy focused first and foremost on the security of Somali people and the stability of the Somali state,' she said, referring to the Al-Qaeda linked Jihadi group that controls a chunk of the country.

The Pentagon on Tuesday confirmed that U.S. forces conducted an airstrike near Galkayo, 430 miles northeast of Mogadishu.

Spokeswoman Cindi King said it targeted members of Al-Shabaab.

'A battle-damage assessment is still pending due to the ongoing engagement between al-Shabaab and Somali forces, however the command's initial assessment is that no civilians were injured or killed as a result of this strike,' she told AFP.

In a letter to President Biden, Rep. Ilhan Omar demanded justification for the administration's first airstrike on Somalia. 'It is critical that we realize we are not going to simply drone the Al-Shabaab problem to death,' she said, adding that a broader strategy was needed

Map locating Galkayo in Somalia, where the US military conducted an air strike targeting Al-Shabaab militants

Al-Shabaab, an Al-Qaeda affiliated jihadi group, has been fighting the federal government since 2007 and controls swaths of southern and central Somalia

Security forces inspect at the site after a bomb exploded near a police convoy in the Somali capital of Mogadishu on July 10, 2021. Regional police chief Farhan Qarole escapes unhurt

The last strike of the Trump administration was launched on Jan. 19.

The US military command for Africa (AFRICOM) said it killed three Shabaab militants in two strikes.

Biden assumed office the next day and immediately limited the use of drones outside U.S. theaters of war, overturning the policy of President Trump, who gave his commanders a free hand in Somalia and Libya.

Omar, who grew up in Somalia and represents a district with a large Somali-American population, praised how the new administration was grappling with the 'vexing legal, moral, and policy problem of the ongoing drone program.'

But in a letter sent to Biden, she said she was concerned that AFRICOM reportedly decided it did not need White House approval because it was justified by 'collective self-defense.'

That phrasing, she wrote, could mean different things and needed further explanation.

'Under the Trump Administration, airstrikes in Somalia increased dramatically with no apparent gains in either weakening Al-Shabaab, advancing Somali security and stability, or pursuing American interests in the region,' she wrote.

'On the contrary, the increase in strikes corresponded with an almost doubling of terrorist attacks on civilians committed by Al-Shabaab.

'It is critical that we realize we are not going to simply drone the Al-Shabaab problem to death, and that any kinetic action is part of a broader strategy focused first and foremost on the security of Somali people and the stability of the Somali state.'

President Biden tightened control of airstrikes outside U.S. theaters of war on taking power, reversing President Trump's approach which gave more control to commanders

A member of Somalia's al Shabaab militant group sits during a public demonstration to announce their integration with al Qaeda, in Elasha, south of the capital Mogadishu in 2012

Members of Somalia's Al Shabaab militant group parade during a demonstration to announce their integration with al Qaeda, in Elasha, south of the capital Mogadishu in 2012

The New York Times reported that the strike was ordered as Al-Shabaab battled members of the Danab, an elite American-trained commando force.

'There were no U.S. forces accompanying Somali forces during this operation,' said King in an emailed statement.

'U.S. forces were conducting a remote advise-and-assist mission in support of designated Somali partner forces.'

Drone strikes multiplied during Trump's term, going from 11 in Somalia in 2015, to 64 in 2019 and 54 in 2020, according to the non-governmental group Airwars, which monitors civilian deaths in bombings around the world.

Just before he left office, Trump ordered the withdrawal of some 700 special forces soldiers who were deployed in Somalia to train and advise the Somali army.

Somalia has been gripped by conflict since the collapse of its central government in 1991, sending the country into a seemingly neverending cycle of warlordism, extremism and chaos.

A federal government was set up in neighboring Kenya and returned to Mogadishu in 2007. But Al-Shabaab has been fighting to overthrow it ever since and frequently attacks civilian as well as military targets.

The jihadists have warned politicians against taking part in elections due to start this month after months of deadlock and delays.

Meanwhile, the Biden administration is reviewing its Somali operation. One option would leave smaller number of troops in southern Somalia where Al-Shabaab is strongest.
The killing of a former military translator by the Taliban has sparked new alarm among interpreters fearing attacks as Western forces pull out of Afghanistan.

Sohail Pardis is reported to have been beheaded by extremists after he was attacked outside Kabul.

His family said he was dragged from his vehicle after being shot as he tried to escape a Taliban checkpoint on a road in Khost.

Villagers who witnessed the horrific incident are said to have explained to the Red Crescent how Taliban shot his car before it swerved and stopped.

Witnesses said Pardis was dragged out of his car to be beaten, shot and beheaded.

Sohail Pardis is reported to have been beheaded by extremists after he was attacked outside Kabul

Pardis, 30, seen here was father to a nine-year-old daughter and had worked as an interpreter

Mr Pardis, 30, the father of a nine-year-old daughter, had worked as an interpreter for US forces for 16 months and had applied to be relocated on security grounds to America.

He was rejected because he had been dismissed having been terminated in 2012 after failing a routine polygraph, or lie detector, test. He was never told why he failed the polygraph.

The screenings were conducted through a contracted company. Hundreds of translators who failed the tests say they had issues with the questions asked and did not believe them to be reliable.

They claim their contracts were terminated for what they say was unjust cause. The US government has also said it will not be reviewing the cases.

The body of Pardis is seen here in this image shared by one of his fellow translator colleagues

A US Embassy spokesperson in Kabul said they were are 'actively working on every possible contingency to make sure that we can help those who have helped us.'

'We have long said we are committed to supporting those who have helped US military and other government personnel perform their duties, often at great personal risk to themselves and their families.

'To be clear, our embassy in Kabul will continue to operate after our forces draw down. SIV processing will continue, including for those individuals who remain in Afghanistan, and we will continue to surge resources to process applications to the fullest extent possible,' a spokesperson said.

Pardis was looking for a way out of Afghanistan but was not able to qualify for the Special Immigrant Visa because of his termination.

In a statement issued in June, the Taliban had said it would not harm those who worked alongside foreign forces.

Pardis is seen captured on video dancing at en event where soldiers were present

Pardis' brother places a rock on the fallen translator's grave

Pardis' body lies on a baron hillside in Afghanistan in what is a makeshift gave

Pardis' brother says prayers at the gravesite noting the unsafe situation in the country. 'I'm so worried about the safety of my family. There's not much work in this country, and the security situation is very bad,' he said to CNN

'They were telling him you are a spy for the Americans, you are the eyes of the Americans and you are infidel, and we will kill you and your family,' his friend and co-worker Abdulhaq Ayoubi

Ayoubi, also a former translator, is devastated by the loss of his friend and co-worker as has a plea for the U.S. President. 'We kindly request President Biden to save us. We helped you and you have to help us.'

Days before his death, Pardis told a friend he had been receiving death threats from the Taliban, who upon discovering he worked as a translator for the U.S. Army for 16 months, accused him of being a traitor and a spy.

'They were telling him you are a spy for the Americans, you are the eyes of the Americans and you are infidel, and we will kill you and your family,' his friend and co-worker Abdulhaq Ayoubi told CNN.

Pardis' little girl is now being looked after by his brother, Najibulla Sahak.

The family, have had to leave the Afghan capital, Kabul, fearing for their safety and the possibility they could be targeted next.

'I'm so worried about the safety of my family. There's not much work in this country, and the security situation is very bad,' he said.

Several former interpreters for UK and US forces have reported being attacked by the Taliban in recent months. Pictured, former Afghan interpreters, who worked with US troops in Afghanistan, hold signs during a demonstration about their safety,

Around 300 Afghan translators are believed to have been murdered since 2014, according to nonprofit No One Left Behind (pictured: former Afghan interpreters who worked with US troops demonstrate in front of the embassy in Kabul on June 25)

At least seven ex-Coalition translators have been killed this year, taking the total since 2014 to more than 350.

Several former interpreters have reported being attacked by the Taliban in recent months  one had a bomb placed under his car, another was caught in an ambush by six gunmen.

Britain and America have rejected dozens of cases of translators whose jobs were terminated, with many still to be decided amid warnings that an emboldened Taliban seeking revenge will hunt down and murder those left behind.

Reports of Mr Pardis's brutal death come days after a video emerged allegedly showing the execution of 22 Afghan commandos who surrendered to the Taliban.

The House passed the legislation, dubbed the Allies Act of 2021, with a decisive 407-16 vote

In the United States, on Thursday, the House almost unanimously agreed to streamline the visa process for thousands of Afghan translators who aided US troops over its 20-year occupation of their country, easing the path to evacuate for many as Taliban insurgents gain ground at an alarming pace.

Lawmakers passed the bipartisan Allies Act of 2021 in a decisive 407-16 vote.

Five Democrats and three Republicans abstained, and 16 'no' votes came entirely from the House GOP.

The Allies Act aims to streamline the process for the Afghan nationals in ways that include increasing the number of special immigrant visas (SIVs) available by 8,000, reducing the amount of duplicative paperwork required and waiving the requirement to demonstrate an imminent threat to their safety - given the overarching situation.

House Judiciary Chair Jerry Nadler opened the discussions on the bill Thursday

The legislation comes as the US military approaches Joe Biden's September 11 deadline for a full withdrawal two decades after the US embarked on its longest war.

As US troops depart, the threat faced by some 18,000 Afghan translators and their 53,000 family members left behind skyrockets as the Taliban takes more territory in the embattled region.

But for the Afghans who have been rejected, it feels as though America has abandoned them.

Ayoubi, Pardis' friend and co-worker, also failed a polygraph test and was terminated, even though he received a medal for helping to save the life of an American sergeant who stepped on a bomb. He feels as though he was let go unfairly.

'I thought we would have a beautiful Afghanistan. We never thought of this situation like now,' he said.

US Army Officers are helped by their interpreters as they speak to an elderly villager during an operatio in October 2009. (File photo)

'We kindly request President Biden to save us. We helped you and you have to help us.'

Earlier in July, Biden pledged to evacuate Afghan interpreters and their families who had worked alongside American troops in Afghanistan.

'Our message to those women and men is clear: There is a home for you in the United States, if you so choose and we will stand with you, just as you stood with us,' Biden said.

'Each day as we continue to draw down our presence in Afghanistan, threats to the lives of those who supported our cause are increasing exponentially,' House Judiciary chair Rep. Jerry Nadler, who co-sponsored the bill, warned on the House floor Thursday.

Texas Republican Rep. Michael McCaul said the Afghan interpreters who aided US troops now have 'a bullseye on their back'

While the Biden administration announced it would begin evacuating a small group of 2,500 translators and relatives who have applied for SIVs to the US at the end of July, the New York Democrat said that was 'not enough.'

'We must keep our promises to these brave men and women - their lives depend on it,' he said.

The broad coalition of support led by military veteran Jason Crow includes progressive Democrat lawmakers Sheila Jackson-Lee, bipartisan military veterans Seth Moulton and Adam Kinzinger, and Republicans such as Michael McCaul and Tom McClintock, among others.

Speaking on the House floor ahead of the vote Thursday, Texas GOP Rep. McCaul grimly warned the Afghan government is 'likely going to fall to the Taliban' - leaving those who helped the US with 'a bullseye on their back.'

'They will be killed if we don't get them out of there,' he said plainly.

An Afghan National Army soldier stands guard at the Bagram Air Base on July 3. US troops are set to fully withdraw from the region by September 11, 20 years after first deployment

Colorado Rep. Jason Crow, a retired Army ranger who served in Afghanistan, said the translators who aided US troops 'earned a path to safety.'

'Those Afghans knew the risk that their service posed to them and their families, and yet they signed up to help because they believed that we would have their back,' Crow said.

The Biden State Department announced earlier this week that it would house 700 interpreters and their families at Fort Lee military base in Virginia, where they will be allowed to finish the SIV application process.

It continues on a promise from the White House to begin evacuating interpreters by late July, when Biden said interpreters could be send to third-party countries 'if they wish to leave' that way.

The administration is currently looking for a way to evacuate an additional 4,000 applicants to an overseas location, The Hill reports.

The administration will prioritize evacuating those who have already begun applying for their SIV, a process which could take up to 800 days.

However, the normally drawn-out process has faced even more delays over the last year due to State Department backlogs, a lack of translators to help process paperwork and the COVID-19 pandemic.

The initial evacuation will likely be carried out by civilian chartered planes rather than military aircraft.

Many interpreters who helped the US military over its 20-year conflict in Afghanistan are facing increasing threats to their lives as the Taliban gains ground. Afghan government security forces in the country have set up check points (seen here) to search people and vehicles ahead of the Muslim holiday Eid al-Adha

Dubbed Operation Allies Refuge, the effort will be spearheaded by the US Air Force.

Around 300 Afghan translators are believed to have been murdered since 2014, according to nonprofit No One Left Behind.

Biden's new evacuation plan comes amid an escalation in violence between US-backed Afghan troops and the Taliban.

The extremist group announced last week that it had seized a strategic border crossing with Pakistan.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid tweeted a video purporting to show Taliban fighters in the town of Spin Boldak along the border.

Residents of the Pakistani border town of Chaman reported seeing the Taliban's signature white flag flying just across the boundary line and Taliban fighters in vehicles driving in the area.
The late-night telephone calls were not at all what you would expect from a Church of England vicar contacting female members of his congregation.

Summoning selected women to his lavishly appointed home in Sheffield, the Reverend Chris Brain wanted help with what became known as putting him to bed. At the very least this meant giving him a massage, often while he was naked.

For some of his young followers, it stopped there. But for others, the encounters are said to have gone much further, with kissing and cuddling leading to intimacy described by one as covering the whole spectrum of abuse.

Messianic: Rev Chris Brain is said to have had a desire to control others.His every need was attended to by an inner circle of miniskirted nuns

The main musical driving force in Candescence, as it was known, was his future wife Lynn, whom he had first met at school. She was two years younger than him; they married when Brain was 21. Pictured, Brian newly wed to Lynn

And Brain, a married father of one who was then approaching 40  so about twice the age of some of his alleged victims  did not confine himself to nocturnal massage sessions.

His every need was attended to by an inner circle of miniskirted nuns. And scanty clothing was also in evidence at his rave-like Nine OClock Service (NOS), which began each Sunday night at 9pm for nearly a decade.

With bikini-clad dancers cavorting on stage, some technical wizardry and celebratory dance music, the Nine OClock Service was designed to attract youngsters more used to clubbing than churchgoing. But although it was a great success, pulling in large congregations at a time when many churches struggled to fill a few pews, NOS collapsed in 1995 after complaints about Brains activities.

No further action was taken against him at that time. But this month it was revealed that, following the emergence of the MeToo movement, the Church has recently been contacted by women who gave harrowing testimonies about their experiences at his hands.

It is thought dozens of others are preparing to come forward with allegations of sexual exploitation and psychological abuse; and church authorities are braced for a flood of claims for damages.

The Right Rev Pete Wilcox, Bishop of Sheffield, has said these claims are being taken very seriously.

The law firm representing the alleged victims has advised them not to give interviews about their experiences at this stage  but a disturbing foretaste of the sort of details that might emerge can be found in two damning exposes of the activities of Brains church at the time.

One was a BBC Everyman documentary called Breach Of Faith. The other was The Rise And Fall Of The Nine OClock Service, a book by investigative journalist Roland Howard, who described Brain as a man who had, according to many, a megalomaniac desire to control other people.

The alleged victims of his cult-like movement were all the more angry because senior clerical figures including George Carey, then Archbishop of Canterbury-elect, gave Brain their full backing, fast-tracking his ordination and providing financial support for the services that managed to lure in so many young clubbers.

Brain knew that demographic well. Born in 1957, he was from Harrogate, North Yorkshire, where his father was a photographer who was also said to have run a modelling agency, leading Brain to boast that he spent his childhood surrounded by beautiful women.

Leaving grammar school with indifferent exam results, he embraced Christianity soon afterwards, claiming God had told him to start a rock band to show young people that you didnt have to be square to become a believer.

The main musical driving force in Candescence, as it was known, was his future wife Lynn, whom he had first met at school. She was two years younger than him; they married when Brain was 21.

In 1978, the Brains and the rest of the band moved to Crookes, a suburb of Sheffield known for its student population. There they began attending St Thomass, a church where Brains growing influence led to him being invited to hold the first Nine OClock Service in 1985.

Grabs from video on YouTubeThe Nine O'Clock Service was a youth-orientated alternative Christian worship service started in 1986 at St Thomas' Church in Crookes, Sheffield

The service and the group associated with it grew to national prominence, but the service was stopped in 1995 following allegations of sexual and emotional abuse

The NOS congregation grew rapidly. By 1988 there were 400 members, with alternative-looking youths dressed in black queueing down the street to enter. But the church authorities really started to take notice in 1989 when David Lunn, the Bishop of Sheffield, welcomed 100 young people into the church at one NOS confirmation service alone.

But even back then, there were disquieting signs. One former NOS member, identified only as Sarah, told the BBC how Brain sat next to her throughout that ceremony, whispering questions about what she was wearing underneath her cassock.

In 1990 he was invited to meet George Carey, who was about to become Archbishop of Canterbury. He told Brain he would like to see a Nine OClock Service in every town and city in Britain, and invited him to contribute to a book he was writing about modern evangelism.

It was also decided that Brain should be ordained in two and a half years, instead of the usual four.

With his star in the ascendant, Brain then began to adopt a lifestyle more typical of a U.S. televangelist than an Anglican vicar in training.

There were allegations that he required members of the congregation to cut themselves off from friends and family. And there is no question that they were required to donate a proportion of their income to NOSs coffers, with some even remortgaging their homes and donating their savings to the cause.

When Brain and his wife moved into a large Victorian townhouse in the city, one NOS member called upon to help decorate it recalled his surprise at the expensive fittings and the amount of trouble taken over the smallest detail.

Countless hours were spent finding the right pedal bin for the kitchen. It was colour co-ordinated, easily the plushest house Id ever worked on.

It was to this house that Brain summoned his late-night masseuses. One, not part of the group currently lodging complaints with the Church of England, spoke to the Mail this week, on condition of anonymity.

Hed say things like Im knackered, can you come and give me a massage? she recalled.

She describes how she once arrived to find him lying on his bed in only his boxer shorts. Then in her early 20s, she remained fully clothed throughout  but after she had massaged his back, he turned over, visibly aroused.

When she made it clear that she would go no further, Brain didnt insist. But she wonders now whether younger women, more vulnerable than her, would have found it harder to say no.

I didnt find Chris controlling or coercive but I have since agonised over whether I missed things and allowed other women to be abused. I just dont know.

Later the massages were taken over by a select group of women known as the Homebase Team. The idea was that, like nuns of old who cared for monks out on their missions, they would perform tasks including cooking, cleaning, walking their dog and, after the birth of the Brains daughter Ruth, helping with childcare.

That Brain had other chores in mind became clear when one woman groomed for Homebase was dropped after rejecting his physical advances.

Those women chosen were required to don rave gear, including Lycra leggings and/or miniskirts, to dye their hair black and wear heavy make-up.

The word got around that Chris had these Lycra lovelies, former NOS member Mel Lloyd told the BBC. They were all these incredibly thin . . . attractive women.

The youngest member of the Homebase Team was Nadia (not her real name). Like others, she was reluctant to give Roland Howard details of exactly what Brain expected of her, but said that she felt she had to please him to please God.

He was the first person Id ever been sexual with and I feel that, because that was abusive, I will find it hard to trust any man. I think it will take me a long time to believe that someone isnt just after sex and my body.

Like real nuns, the Homebasers were required to be celibate  except with Brain. And he subjected them to frequent psychological abuse.

He would either find peoples weaknesses and exploit them . . . or plant suggested weaknesses in the person concerned, wrote Roland Howard. Then gradually he would make them acknowledge these weaknesses, turning the ratchet farther each time, until he would be screaming at them to sort themselves out or face expulsion from Homebase.

Brain is also said to have blurred the boundaries between friendship and sexual contact outside this inner circle, often placing his head in the laps of other female NOS members and asking them for massages.

For that ceremony, he insisted on wearing the exact robes worn by Robert De Niro in the 1986 film The Mission

The exact robes were eventually secured from Paramount Studios at great expense

One was whacked on the bottom with a ruler. Others were offered what was termed sexual healing, with Brain helping them to realise their potential as women.

All that was just clever language, said Sarah, the target of Brains lewd remarks at that mass confirmation. Basically it was about one bloke getting his rocks off with about 40 women.

That nobody challenged him for so long was testimony to his power and charisma. But the ego apparent at his ordination in 1992 would eventually prove his downfall.

For that ceremony, he insisted on wearing the exact robes worn by Robert De Niro in the 1986 film The Mission. They were eventually secured from Paramount Studios at great expense.

This did not sit well with members of the congregation, and neither did Brains flaunting of designer clothes and dining at high-end restaurants.

Members of his entourage invited to those meals learnt always to order the same as him. To pick something different from the menu was seen as trying to stand out and make a power grab.

These delusions of grandeur did not go unnoticed by all. Stephen Lowe, Archdeacon of Sheffield at the time, became disturbed by the messianic aura around Brain with his shoulder-length black hair, grand pectoral cross and fawning entourage.

There was this feeling of Jesus and his Disciples, or Jesus surrounded by a bevy of women, that was increasingly worrying, he told Roland Howard.

Lowe was relieved when, in 1994, Brain announced that he wanted a rest from leading the church, holidaying in a luxury villa in the Canaries for two months with his wife and the Homebase Team.

Such a holiday today would be about46,000. Half the cost was paid by Jon Ingham, an NOS member who mortgaged his house to raise the money.

Although he was allowed to join the Brains on the holiday he had paid for, Ingham was not allowed to relax. Every day he was required to play squash with Brain and to let him win.

Back in England for Christmas 1994, the Brains moved into a 17th-century farmhouse in the Pennines donated by two senior members of the congregation. Refurbished to his detailed specifications, the five-bedroom property included a spiral steel staircase, televisions suspended from the ceilings and four state-of-the-art ghetto-blasters nestled between plants, paintings and objets dart.

As Roland Howard pointed out, his annual expenditure was closer to an Archbishops than an average parish priests. But Brain was about to endure what he likened to his own crucifixion.

Today he goes by his first name  James  and is the director of a Manchester-based business consultancy

In his absence, disillusioned members of the congregation found the courage to voice concerns about sexual and emotional abuse within NOS to the Church  and in August 1995, its services were finally stopped.

This was a development that Brain seemed to regard with some bemusement in the BBC documentary filmed soon afterwards.

For a priest in a church setting, Id have to say I was involved in improper sexual contact [with] a number of women, he admitted, before expressing surprise at the idea that he might resign.

I would have thought the thing a Christian community would want to see is somebody who is repentant and somebody who is willing to change.

But by the time the documentary was screened, he had resigned.

Today he goes by his first name  James  and is the director of a Manchester-based business consultancy. He had not responded to several attempts to contact him for comment by the time the Mail went to press; and we know little about his life and work today, except what can be gleaned from his companys rather impenetrable website.

That website promises, among other things, to guide people to discover, rediscover or clarify their purpose.

Which is something many NOS followers were seeking when they turned to the Rev Chris Brain, a man who may be about to embroil the Church of England in one of its biggest sex scandals.
Her sense of shock, and the awful aura of menace that closed in on her, still haunt former prisoner Amy Jones.

Jail should have been a place free from the predators who had sexually assaulted and raped her in her childhood, but the terrifying presence looming over her suggested anything but.

'The look in her eyes was frightening,' Amy says, her voice quiet but assertive. 'She leered at me before lunging forward and grabbing my breasts hard. She squeezed them and I cried out in pain. I was terrified she would rape me.'

The prisoner who sexually assaulted Amy  we cannot legally identify her, so we shall call her J  is a transgender woman, with a Gender Recognition Certificate (GRC), and therefore referred to by the female pronoun, but still had male genitalia.

Amy was equally well aware that J still had male genitalia because she often intimidated her and fellow female prisoners at HMP Bronzefield in Ashford, Middlesex, by exposing them.

Moreover, J was serving time for a serious sexual assault on a child and was clearly a danger to other inmates. Yet she had secured a coveted job as a cleaner at the prison gym where Amy also worked. And it was while she was in the gym's lavatory block that J assaulted her in 2017.

'What were the officers even thinking, letting her clean toilets in which women would be in a state of undress and alone? Why was there a child sex offender with a penis cleaning the toilets of the gym in a women's prison?'

J had already stridently asserted her 'right' to be treated exactly like other women prisoners, although this clearly terrorised them.

Predator: Karen White, a transwoman who sexually assaulted two women inmates while in prison

'When J went for a shower, the prison put a sign on the door saying that no one else should enter, because they knew it could upset the women if they saw her naked, but J objected to this and said it was an infringement of her human rights,' says Amy.

'She said, 'I am a woman and I want to shower with other women.' Just before she assaulted me, she was seen with the shower curtain open, her genitals in full view of the other women.'

Amy, 38, mother to a daughter, is an articulate woman; small in stature with thick, auburn hair and milky white skin.

On the day we meet, in a cafe, she has been released from prison, just over halfway through a nine-year sentence which she began in 2016, for drug-related crime. She is smartly dressed in a black shirt and cream trousers; quick-witted, innately intelligent  but also very angry.

The reason? This month Amy learned that she had failed in a judicial review challenge to the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) policy in relation to the allocation of high-risk transwomen prisoners  including sex offenders like J  to female prisons.

Amy has also brought a separate civil action for damages against Sodexo, the company which runs HMP Bronzefield, and the MOJ.

She argued, through her lawyers, that the law currently discriminates against women prisoners and that the Government has failed to take into account the provisions of the Equality Act which allow for certain single-sex exemptions, permitting men and women to use separate facilities in particularly sensitive circumstances.

The case, for which Amy did not give evidence, involved legal arguments only; neither has J faced any police investigation or charges for the alleged assault.

In a judgment handed down by email, Lord Justice Holroyde accepted there were real concerns raised by Amy, and that 'a substantial proportion of women prisoners have been the victims of sexual assaults and/or domestic violence'.

He accepted that many would 'suffer fear and acute anxiety if required to share prison accommodation and facilities with transgender women with male genitalia and convictions for sexual and violent offences against women'.

He also allowed that the statistical evidence showed the proportion of trans prisoners previously convicted of sexual offences was 'substantially higher' than for non-transgender men and women prisoners.

Between 2016 and 2019, 97 sexual assaults were recorded in women's prisons, the judgment said.

As of March 2019, there were 34 transgender women without GRCs allocated to a woman's prison (Pictured: stock image of women's jail)

Of these, it appears that seven were committed by transgender prisoners without a GRC. It is not known whether any were committed by transgender women with a GRC because they are, apparently, disregarded in Government figures.

But the judge said the statistics '. . . are so low in number, and so lacking in detail, that they are an unsafe basis for general conclusions'.

As of March 2019, there were 34 transgender women without GRCs allocated to a woman's prison. The number of transgender prisoners with a certificate  of which J is one  is thought to be in single-figures across the prison population as a whole.

Male-born trans prisoners were first allowed to request a transfer to women's jails in England and Wales in 2016. Just a year later the risks of the policy were made clear when a convicted rapist was moved to women's jail HMP New Hall in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, and sexually assaulted two women inmates.

Karen White identified as a woman but was still legally a man and had not undergone surgery.

She was jailed for life in 2018 by a judge who branded her a 'highly manipulative' predator.

Despite the history of such assaults, this month the court decided that, ultimately, the rights of transwomen trumped the concerns of natal female prisoners.

For Amy, who was given legal aid to pursue the case  from which she did not benefit financially  the ruling is profoundly unjust.

Contending that the law needs to be changed, she says the equation is a simple one: 'If a transwoman is in for violence against women, or sex offences against women or children, you should not be in prison with women.' Transwomen prisoners were already housed at Bronzefield when Amy arrived there, soon after the law was changed to accommodate them in female prisons.

'I was a bit shocked because I knew they were sex offenders. An officer told me that, off the record,' she says. 'The other women in prison who knew were in shock and angry, too.

'It's like putting a crack addict in a crack house, or an alcoholic in a pub. Sex offenders should never be in prison with women. Most women in there have gone through child abuse and domestic violence and rape. What if someone is raped?'

She continues: 'J would wear a long flowery skirt and sit with her legs wide open. A number of the other girls said it was very distressing to see that.'

Prosecutors claimed White (pictured) - who had a history of sex attacks - used a 'transgender persona' to gain access to vulnerable females. White was ordered to serve a life sentence in a male prison for the jail sex attacks

Since her release, Amy has been supporting women victims of domestic abuse on a voluntary basis. Her own story highlights how the sexual violence perpetrated against her shaped her life and led to her spiral into addiction and crime.

Growing up in a big family in South London, she was raped at 13  coincidentally the same age as one of the children who was sexually assaulted by J; a crime that led to her conviction  and began drinking and smoking crack.

'I then went out of control and began my life of crime, stealing in order to pay for my drugs. Sexual predators would target me, especially when I was in and out of care.'

At 15, Amy was sent to the youth offender wing of a prison, which was the start of a string of drug-related crimes and prison sentences.

Although she hated prison, Amy tells me that away from male sexual predators, and among other women who had been through similar experiences, she felt safe for the first time in her life.

'But I stopped feeling safe knowing trans sex offenders were housed beside me,' she says. Her fears were, sadly, not misplaced: a year or so into her sentence she was sexually assaulted by J.

It is pertinent, too, that she was working at the time in the prison gym  a vital provision because it allowed prisoners to 'let off steam, talk to others and get off the wing for a bit', generally improving their mental health. But these benefits were nullified when J was given the job of gym cleaner.

The sexual assault took place in the toilets of the gym, which were left unguarded and without CCTV.

'It was supposed to be my sanctuary,' says Amy. 'I felt so distressed. Prison is an awful place to be under any circumstances, and this just made it 100 times worse.'

It seems that J  wielding the threat that any criticism of her behaviour would be considered 'transphobic'  was permitted concessions that would not be granted to other women prisoners.

Although rules state that most cosmetics purchased from outside the prison are banned, J was allowed to have toiletries brought in, including perfume in glass bottles, heated rollers, make-up and a razor to shave her face.

'Trans prisoners claim they have to disguise their beards and want to look feminine so they are given special privileges,' explains Amy.

She believes that J had planned the assault and knew that it was likely she would be in the gym when J was cleaning.

'I think she targeted me on purpose and waited until the coast was clear. After it happened, I went back to my room and couldn't stop shaking. It brought back feelings of trauma about all the previous times when I've been attacked by men. I went to the senior officer and told her what had happened and asked why a child sex offender with a penis was allowed to clean the women's toilets in the gym?'

The officer simply said: 'Everyone deserves a second chance.'

Amy adds: 'Sex offenders are master manipulators, and if they sniff vulnerability they target it. At the same time, they are going on about their human rights and scaring the prison officers into looking the other way. After J assaulted me, I'd see her around the prison on a regular basis. She would leer at me and smirk.'

Amy and a number of other women heard that J had been sent to the segregation unit as punishment for not taking the medication that prevented her penis from getting erect, 'which begs the question: 'Why was she still allowed around us?'

Appalled by the inadequate response from prison officers to the assault, and frightened of what would happen next, she took legal action against the prison service and applied to move jails. Extraordinarily she was transferred to HMP Downview in Banstead, Surrey, which had just established a separate wing for high-risk transwomen with a GRC.

The new unit was originally intended for up to 15 female prisoners who were being released on temporary licence, but it was never used for this purpose.

By awful coincidence, it was recommissioned for high-risk transwomen prisoners. Initially three such transwomen were housed there, but since then all have successfully challenged their allocation to this wing as 'transphobic'. All are now back in the general prison population.

On arriving at Downview, Amy was horrified to discover J was also in the same prison: 'The reception officer told me and I felt like I had been punched in the stomach. They moved me for my own protection, and then I ended up back in the same prison as this person who had sexually assaulted me.'

At Downview she discovered she was far from alone in being terrified of J. 'Quite a few women were scared of J, because she would rub up against them in the dinner queue with an erect penis.

'She would wear very tight trousers which made it obvious she had male genitals. The prison officers protected her more than they did us. They were terrified of being accused of transphobia.'

So as J continues her sentence in the general prison population, Amy's fears are for the women still terrorised by her.

I meet her on the morning the judgment is made public and as the news comes through she looks distraught.

'I am on the outside now,' she says, with tears in her eyes, 'but what about those young girls, so vulnerable and tiny? Who will protect them now?'

ThE judgment recognises that housing transwomen with convictions for sexual offences creates a real risk, but considers the prison service has put measures in place to manage that risk.

But the evidence seems to belie this. Indeed, Amy's case against the prison services was bolstered by evidence from another prisoner at HMP Bronzefield who also complained of assault by J.

Amy has also brought a separate civil action for damages against Sodexo, the company which runs HMP Bronzefield, and the MOJ (Pictured: File photo of an English prison)

The woman, who provided a statement for the legal case, reported two assaults  one in the line for dinner and one in her room. J pressed her genitals against the woman's buttocks.

Yet the prison did not report the assaults by J on either woman to the police.

'The staff turned a blind eye to this behaviour. They protected themselves and didn't speak out as they were worried that they would get into trouble because of the trans policy in prison; a policy which doesn't consider the impact on women prisoners,' says Amy.

She adds: 'I have nothing against transgender people. It is the sex offenders that I have a problem with. This kind of thing is happening to women all the time in prisons. I owe it to them to continue to raise this issue and to get the public up in arms about it. Even though we are prisoners and have committed crimes, we are all human beings.'

Meanwhile, Ian Whiteside, prison director at HMP Bronzefield, offers: 'As this case is an ongoing legal matter, we are unable to comment further except to say that the safety and welfare of all those living and working within our prisons is of paramount importance to us.'

Amy would contest this. 'Some female prisoners have been punished for 'transphobic behaviour' when complaining about transwomen being housed among us. It's outrageous. How could they not recognise the danger we were in?

'J is a serious sex offender. This judge's decision is insulting to her victims, to all female prisoners and to women everywhere. At least this case will have alerted the authorities to how dangerous J is.'

Amy believes the outcome of the case is so iniquitous that she intends to continue to campaign.

'I want to train as a lawyer,' she tells me. 'I want to help women who have been unfortunate enough to end up in prison because of the abuse they suffered in childhood and beyond.

'I would never have imagined this; that sex offenders would be allowed to prey on the most vulnerable women in society.'

Pseudonyms have been used.
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki on Friday refused a reporter's request to release information on staff who have tested positive for COVID-19 despite being vaccinated.

During a press briefing Psaki was asked if the White House was 'trying to hide something' by withholding who and how many people tested positive.

'No but why do you need to have that information?' she retorted.

'Transparency,' the reporter said. 'The interest of the public. A better understanding of how breakthrough cases work here in the White House.'

Her answer, from an administration that has pledged to be the most transparent in history, comes as at least two COVID cases emerged in Washington following meetings Speaker Nancy Pelosi held with Texas state lawmakers who fled in a bid to stall a controversial voting rights bill.

Press Secretary Jen Psaki refused to say how many breakthrough COVID cases the White House has had amid a number of positive cases after a DC event with Texas Democrats

Psaki admitted Tuesday that a staffer at the White House and in Pelosi's office have tested positive - and that 'there have been' other breakthrough cases as well.

The press secretary's excuse for why the White House is staying silent is that the pandemic is in a 'different place.'

'Those who are vaccinated are protected from serious illness, most are asymptomatic - if they are individuals who are vaccinated who get the virus. And, you know, we are in a different place in terms of the impact of individuals who may have, as you said, breakthrough cases,' Psaki explained.

After being pressed she simply pointed to CDC efforts to track breakthrough cases around the US.

The official maintained that all White House staff were offered a vaccine - though they haven't mandated getting the shot nor would she state what percentage of President Biden's staff are vaccinated.

The contentious exchange comes as the US grapples with a significant spike in COVID cases and a small but alarming increase in deaths.

Psaki also said the White House would not be mandating staffers to get vaccinated nor would she disclose what percentage of staff already have been (White House stock image)

The Delta variant, a highly contagious strain of the virus that originated in India, accounts for more than 80 percent of active cases

Psaki also said Friday it is not the role of the administration to 'place blame' after the governor of Alabama called out Americans who have refused to get vaccinated for the rising COVID rates in the U.S.

'I don't think our role is to place blame, but what we can do is provide accurate information to people who are not yet vaccinated about the risks they are incurring not only on themselves, but also the people around them,' she said.

Psaki's comments came after Alabama Governor Kay Ivey blamed Americans who have refused to get vaccinated against coronavirus for rising COVID case rates. Ivey's state and others across the South are hammered by new infections - with three states in the region now accounting for 40 percent of active cases nationwide.

'Folks are supposed to have common sense. But it's time to start blaming the unvaccinated folks, not the regular folks. It's the unvaccinated folks that are letting us down,' Ivey, a Republican, told reporters on Thursday.

Psaki kept the White House response focused on educating people who are not vaccinated about why they should get the shot in the arm.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Friday it is not the role of the administration to 'place blame' after the governor of Alabama Kay Ivey called out Americans who have refused to get vaccinated for the rising COVID rates in the U.S.

Psaki also refused to entertain the possibility the administration would put vaccine mandates in place as the vast majority of new cases have been reported in people who are not vaccinated.

'That's not the role of the federal government,' Psaki said when asked about mandates. 'That is the role that institutions, private sector entities and others may take.'

President Joe Biden and his officials have take to calling COVID 'a pandemic of the unvaccinated'

She did express sympathy for Governor Ivey.

'We understand her frustration, and we understand the frustrations of leaders out there, and the public voices who are trying to say the right thing, advocate for the efficacy of the virus, save people in their communities.'

She also said any chance to face mask policy was in the hands of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

'We're always going to follow the guidance of our health and medical experts,' Psaki said.

President Joe Biden and his officials have take to calling COVID 'a pandemic of the unvaccinated' as they urge Americans to get their shot.

'We have a pandemic for those who haven't gotten a vaccination,' the president said this week at a CNN town hall meeting.

He said it was 'gigantically important' Americans get vaccinated.

'If you're vaccinated, you're not going to be hospitalized, you're not going to be in the IC unit, and you're not going to die,' Biden said. 'So it's gigantically important that ... we all act like Americans who care about our fellow Americans.'

COVID-19 cases have increased by 312 percent in Alabama over the past two weeks

Cases in Texas have grown by 162 percent over the past two weeks

Cases in Missouri have grown by 108 percent over the past two weeks

Cases in Florida have grown by 500 percent over the past two weeks

Missouri, Florida and Texas now account for 40 percent of current cases nationwide, White House COVID-19 coordinator Jeff Zients said Thursday. He noted that those three have some of the lowest vaccination rates in the country with 41.4 percent, 48 percent and 43 percent of residents fully-vaccinated, respectively.

'For the second week in a row, one in five of all cases occurring in Florida alone. And within communities, these cases are primarily among unvaccinated people,' he said.

In Ivey's state of Alabama - where only 42 percent of residents are fully vaccinated - daily new cases have increased by 312 percent over the past two weeks, from 275 on July 8 to 1,133 on July 22.

Zients noted, however, that several states with the highest proportion of new infections - including Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Missouri and Nevada - are now finally beginning to see their vaccination rates rise faster than the nation as a whole - a sign that the threat of the fourth wave is finally hitting home.

In the past week more than two million Americans received their first dose of a vaccine - a 14 percent increase from the week prior.

Florida in particular accounts for nearly 20 percent of active cases.

The state recorded 12,647 new cases on Wednesday, the highest total the state has recorded since the massive winter wave of the virus.

Cases in the state have grown by nearly 500 percent in the past two weeks, with a seven day average of 1,493 new cases on July 6, and 8,912 on July 20.

A majority of the cases are among the unvaccinated as well.

'If you look at the people that are being admitted to hospitals ... over 95 percent of them are either not fully vaccinated or not vaccinated at all,' Governor Ron DeSantis said Wednesday.

'These vaccines are saving lives. They are reducing mortality.'

While DeSantis is a supporter of the vaccines, he has previously opposed vaccine mandates, even banning the use of vaccine passport in his state.

Florida has the most vaccinated population of any state in the south, though, with 56 percent of residents having received at least one shot of the virus.

The Indian Delta variant, a highly contagious strain of the virus that originated in the south Asian nation, accounts for more than 80 percent of active cases in the state as well.

In the past week more than two million Americans received their first vaccine dose - a 14 percent increase from the week prior

Missouri was one of the first states to get hammered by the new, Delta Variant led, COVID surge sweeping across the nation.

The southwestern region of the state in particular was hammered at the start of this month.

Mercy Health and CoxHealth in Springfield, Missouri, the biggest city in the region, both were swamped with cases over July 4 weekend. Mercy in particular even faced ventilator shortages.

Missouri's situation has only gotten worse since then as well.

Cases have more than doubled over the past two weeks, from 1,077 average new daily cases on July 8 to 2,244 average new cases on July 22 - a 108 percent increase.

More than half of active cases in the state are of the Delta variant.

Many cases in the state can also be tied to Branson, Missouri, a small tourist destination is the southwest of the state without a mask mandate.

Missouri has a vaccination rate of 47 percent, a figure that Republican Governor Mike Parson is trying to raise.

On Tuesday, Parson announced that Missouri would become the latest state to launch a vaccine lottery.

What about your boss, Jen? Psaki promises to continue 'fighting' 'misinformation' after Biden falsely told CNN town hall 'you're not going to get COVID if you have vaccinations' and struggled to explain FDA approval

The White House said on Friday it would continue to tackle COVID-19 misinformation online amid growing criticism that the Biden administration is turning itself into the ultimate arbiter of what is and what is not true.

Officials last week admitted flagging problem posts to Facebook and Democrats are pushing a bill that would put the Department of Health and Human Services in charge of labeling online misinformation.

'What we're going to continue to do is make the vaccine available, we're going to continue to work in partnership to fight misinformation and we're going to continue to advocate and work in partnership with local officials and entrusted voices to get the word out,' said President Biden's press secretary Jen Psaki in response to a question about the role of federal government in tackling the pandemic.

Experts in online manipulation say the strategy is wrongheaded and the impact of misinformation is exaggerated.

And if the Biden administration needed needed a crash course in the pitfalls of policing vaccine misinformation it came at Wednesday night's televised town hall.

Three times factcheckers called the president out for making misleading statements, most notably in saying: 'You're not going to get COVID if you have these vaccinations,' even as his own White House deals with 'breakthrough' cases of infection among staff.

FACT CHECK REVEALS BIDEN FALSELY CLAIMED VACCINE WOULD PREVENT COVID AND HIS ADMINISTRATION HOLDS SIX-MONTH JOBS RECORD President Joe Biden offered an absolute guarantee Wednesday that people who get their COVID-19 vaccines are completely protected from infection, sickness and death from the coronavirus. The reality is not that cut and dried. The vaccines are extremely effective but 'breakthrough' infections do occur and the delta variant driving cases among the unvaccinated in the U.S. is not fully understood. Also Biden inflated the impact of his policies on U.S. jobs created in his first half-year in office, misleadingly stating his administration had done more than any other president. He neglects to mention he had population growth on his side in his comparison. A look at his remarks in a CNN town hall: PANDEMIC BIDEN: 'If you're vaccinated, you're not going to be hospitalized, you're not going to be in the IC unit, and you're not going to die.' THE FACTS: His remark accurately captures the strong protection the COVID-19 vaccines provide as cases spike among people who have resisted the shots. But it overlooks the rare exceptions. As of July 12, the government had tallied 5,492 vaccinated people who tested positive for coronavirus and were hospitalized or died. That's out of more than 159 million fully vaccinated Americans. The director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, said '99.5 per cent of all deaths from COVID-19 are in the unvaccinated.' ___ BIDEN: 'You're not going to get COVID if you have these vaccinations.' THE FACTS: Again, he painted with too broad a brush as he described in stark terms the disparity between those who got their shots and those who haven't. The disparity is real, but a small number of breakthrough infections happen and health officials say they are not a cause for alarm. No vaccines are perfect, and the government is keeping a close eye on whether new coronavirus mutants start to outsmart the COVID-19 shots. But for now, federal health officials say even when breakthrough infections occur, they tend to be mild - the vaccines so far remain strongly protective against serious illness. ___ BIDEN, when asked after the town hall about vaccinated people who get infected: 'It may be possible, I know of none where they're hospitalized, in ICU and or have passed away so at a minimum I can say even if they did contract it, which I'm sorry they did, i's such a tiny percentage and it's not life threatening.' THE FACTS: Once again, too far. That is evident from the CDC's finding that 5,492 vaccinated people who tested positive for coronavirus were hospitalized or died as of July 12. That's not 'none.' But he is correct that it is a small percentage of the more than 159 million fully vaccinated Americans. ___ BIDEN: 'Now, by the way, remember when I first got elected, the issue was, well, I said I was going to do a million shots a week, and people said, 'Biden can't do that' or "Biden team can't do that." And it was 2 million.' FACTS: Biden's initial goal was 1 million shots a day, not a week, in his first 100 days. His target was 100 million shots in the first 100 days. He then raised it to 200 million when the administration easily reached the target. JOBS BIDEN: 'We've created more jobs in the first six months of our administration than any time in American history. No president, no administration, has ever created as many jobs.' THE FACTS: His claim is misleading. While Biden's administration in the first half year as president has seen more jobs created than any other president - just over 3 million in the five months tracked by jobs reports - that's partly because the U.S. population is larger than in the past. When calculated as a percentage of the workforce, job growth under President Jimmy Carter increased more quickly from February through June 1977 than the same five months this year: 2.2 per cent for Carter, compared with 2.1 per cent for Biden. Since the late 1970s, the U.S. population has grown by more than 100 million people. It's true, though, that the economy is growing rapidly - it expanded at a 6.4 per cent annual rate in the first three months of the year - and is expected to grow this year at the fastest pace since 1984. Biden's $1.9 trillion rescue package contributed to the vigorous growth, but much of the expansion also reflects a broader bounce-back from the unusually sharp pandemic recession, the deepest downturn since the 1930s. Even before Biden's package, for example, the International Monetary Fund was projecting U.S. growth of over 5 per cent for this year. Biden is also leaving out the fact that the U.S. economy remains 6.8 million jobs short of its pre-pandemic level, and the unemployment rate is an elevated 5.9 per cent, up from a five-decade low of 3.5 per cent before the pandemic. CAR PRICES BIDEN: Said the price of a car is 'kind of' back to the same as it was 'before the pandemic'. FACTS: New car prices are significantly higher than then they were before the onset of the pandemic. According to the Consumer Price Index, new and used cars were 20% higher in June 2020 than they were in January 2020. That was 19% higher again on prices from June 19%. CHILD TAX CREDIT BIDEN: 'It's called the child tax credit. If you have a child under the age of 7, you get 300 bucks a month -- 350 bucks a month. If you have a child under -- between 7 and 17, you get a total of 200 bucks a month. FACTS: The age groups used to determine the brackets are 6 to 17 and not 7 to 17 as Biden suggested. Parents receive up to $250 a month for each child between 6 and 17 and $350 for those under 6. NONCOMPETE CLAUSES BIDEN: He criticized clauses in contracts that restrict employees' abilities to move jobs in a similar industry by saying, 'you have over 600,000 people out there signing - 6 million people signing a - I better check the number -- of -- signing noncompete agreements. Not because they have ... any secret, but because they were working for one fast-food restaurant, and they're told they can't get 10 cents more going across town, going to the other fast-food restaurant. Why? To keep wages down. FACTS: The numbers he used were not close to the real figures. A White House document published on July 9 suggests there are between 36 and 60 million workers under noncompete clauses, based off figures from the Economic Policy Institute. 'UP TO 20 REPUBLICANS' SIGNING LETTER SUPPORTING INFRASTRUCTURE BIDEN: 'You had up to 20 Republicans sign a letter saying, "We think we need this deal. We think we need this deal",' Biden said when discussing the bipartisanship in the ongoing negotiations over his infrastructure bill. FACTS: Republican Sen. Rob Portman said 11 Republican senators sent a letter to Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer suggesting they would vote no in the procedural vote on Wednesday. All 50 Republicans ended up voting against advancing the bill. Schumer is now trying to push through negotiations to launch another vote on Monday. Advertisement

Facebook says it is wrong for the White House to single out a handful of social media companies for blame over vaccine hesitancy among the American population

The missteps triggered a fresh chorus from opponents saying the White House was ill-equipped to take on the role of factchecker-in-chief when even the president stumbled over the truth about the virus.

Republican strategist John Feehery said Biden's gaffes made him a constant source of misinformation.

'Trump wasn't that much better but at least everyone knew that Trump was Trump,' he said.

'No one assumed that Trump was going to be accurate. The problem with Biden and the Biden administration is they have put themselves as the top, most credible source and that's simply not true.'

The question cuts across political divides into philosophy and questions about the nature of objective truth. When our understanding of coronavirus and the pandemic is moving so fast, who gets to decide what is true, what is an exaggeration and what is misinformation?

The discussion comes amid a slew of initiatives to rein in the power of social media companies and hold them accountable for content posted on their sites.

The White House is reviewing Section 230 - a 1990s era regulations that protects tech companies from being held liable for their content, in the way that newspaper and magazine publishers are.

Democratic senators this week introduced legislation that would require internet platforms such as Facebook and Alphabet's Google to take down health and vaccine-related misinformation during public health emergencies or be held liable for its impacts.

It would set up the Department of Health and Human Services to issue guidelines on what is and what is not misinformation.
Even in the cloak and dagger world of Cold War espionage it was a sinister  if improbable  plot.

Communist agents drew up detailed plans for a disinformation campaign using threats to kill MPs in an attempt to blame the CIA for Earl Mountbatten's murder.

Codenamed Operation Mount, it aimed to wreck the UK's special relationship with the US during Margaret Thatcher's premiership by suggesting American operatives, rather than IRA terrorists, had blown up Prince Charles's beloved great-uncle on his fishing boat in Ireland in 1979.

The disturbing conspiracy involved Communist spies posing as CIA agents to bombard Enoch Powell and former home secretary Merlyn Rees with 'threatening and insulting' letters and messages saying their 'continued physical existence' was at risk.

The 'Kafkaesque' plot was part of a broader operation by the Czech agents  who worked as a surrogates to the Soviet KGB  to stop the US deploying more nuclear weapons in Europe.

Communist agents drew up detailed plans for a disinformation campaign using threats to kill MPs in an attempt to blame the CIA for Earl Mountbatten's murder

The conspiracy has emerged in declassified files from the Czech security service archives dated January 1984 and marked 'Top Secret!'

Agents hatched the plan after a Guardian newspaper report said Mr Powell had wrongly suggested that the CIA may have had a hand in Mountbatten's murder.

Mr Rees, who had previously served as Northern Ireland Secretary, was also quoted in the report suggesting the CIA had contacts in both parts of Ireland.

Seizing on the article, the Czech spy headquarters planned to 'prepare multiple exclusive letters' to send to the MPs, highlighting the Guardian report speculating about US involvement in the death of Lord Mountbatten 'who is close to the Royal Family and an opponent of Nato's core strategy'.

The disturbing conspiracy involved Communist spies posing as CIA agents to bombard Enoch Powell and former home secretary Merlyn Rees (pictured) with 'threatening and insulting' letters and messages saying their 'continued physical existence' was at risk

The file said: 'E. Powell and M. Rees will be warned in the letters that if they do not refute the information and if they fail to stop bringing up the topic, they can expect the worst possible personal consequences, since the interests of Nato are more important than the political activities of former members of the British Parliament and their continued physical existence.

'The contents of the letters should be insulting and threatening, and they should provoke public statements by both MPs,' the file said. It continued: 'During the preparation of the letters, glued clippings from newspaper articles and other methods used by the CIA, of which we are aware at headquarters, should be utilised.'

Once written, the letters were due to be sent from Brussels, Washington and London over eight weeks in a coordinated plan to keep the MPs 'feeling intimidated for a lengthy period'. It suggested the letters would become gradually more threatening.

Operation Mount was part of a broader plot named Operation Sepie, described as the 'fight against the deployment of missiles in Europe'.

'The operation should call into question the so-called special relationship between Britain and the USA and must lead to interventions in Parliament.'

Professor Anthony Glees, an intelligence and security expert from the University of Buckingham, said it was not a surprise and showed that hostile intelligence agencies interfering in internal politics to cause mischief did not start with Putin's Russia.

'The Stasi [East German spies] were more hands-on during the Cold War and would ship guns to the IRA. This was more subtle and sophisticated, and Kafkaesque in its dimensions. Instead of guns and bullets the ammo was fake ideas and fake news.'
Maricia Bell, 25, has been accused of attacking three Asian women aged 75, 63 and 34 along with a 23-year-old Asian man

A woman has been arrested for an allegedly attacking four Asian people over the course of several months in Queens, New York.

Maricia Bell, 25, is charged with hate crimes after allegedly attacking three women aged 75, 63 and 34 along with a 23-year-old man.

The four incidents were all separate and began on March 23 but saw Bell punch her victims or even use a metal tool as part of the alleged attack.

During the first assault, Bell is alleged to have yelled at her victim, 'Why are you talking to me?' before punching the man in a parking lot in Flushing.

A similar assault was then committed against a 34-year-old woman inside a bodega in Pomonok on June 16.

The following month, on July 11, she is accused of hitting a 63-year-old woman in the face while the victim was walking near 72nd Avenue and Parsons Boulevard, also in in Pomonok.

The latest incident happened early on Wednesday morning about a block away from where she is alleged to have hit a 75-year-old woman with a hammer.

Bell has been charged with a number of hate crimes together with assault, harassment and robbery, according to police.

Bell has five prior arrests including one from March for which she was charged with assault as a hate crime according to the New York Post.

71-43 Kissena Blvd. in Pomonok/Flushing, Queens. On March 23, at 8:55am, at 71-43 Kissena Blvd, the suspect, allegedly Maricia Bell, looked at the victim, asked, 'why are you looking at me?' and then punched the 23-year-old Asian man in the face causing minor scratches

The alleged assaults are just one of many that have targeted Asians citywide, with close to 100 anti-Asian hate crimes being reported to authorities this year, according to the NYPD with at least 260 since the start of the pandemic.

Activists and police officials say many additional incidents were not classified as hate crimes or went unreported.

In December 2020 an Asian Hate Crime Task Force was formed within the NYPD, to encourage victims to report the attacks.

Bill de Blasio, mayor of New York City, said last month that the city was working to increase communication with community leaders, creating a website to help people report and respond to attacks, and focusing subway patrols on possible bias crimes.

'If you dare to raise your hand against a member of our Asian communities, you will suffer the consequences,' he said.

Anti-Asian hate crime reported to police in 15 of America's largest cities and counties, rose 169%, from 32 to 86, in the first quarter of 2021 in comparison to the first quarter of 2020

Anti-Asian hate crimes reported to police in 15 of America's largest cities and counties, rose 169%, from 32 to 86, in the first quarter of 2021 in comparison to the first quarter of 2020, according to an analysis of official preliminary data by the Center for the Study of Hate & Extremism (CSHE) at California State University, San Bernardino.

For instance, Asians form 35% of San Francisco's population. In the first quarter of 2020, the number of reported hate crimes went from five to 12 which is an increase of 169%.

Similarly, 14.5% of New Yorkers are Asian. The number of filed reports went up from 13 to 42 which leads to a total of 223%.

At least 11.6% Angelenos in Greater Los Angeles Area are Asians. The number of cases has gone up from five to nine which is about 80% increase. In Boston, Asians form about 9.7% of Bostonians. Their number of reported crimes has also gone up from five to eight which is about 60%.

Former President Donald Trump repeatedly called COVID-19 the 'Chinese virus,' and was accused of stoking hatred towards Asian-American people.

People participate in a protest to demand an end to anti-Asian violence in April in New York

The protest which numbered close to 3000 and was made up of activists, residents and local politicians, march across the Brooklyn Bridge after a rise in hate crimes against Asians

Brandon Elliot kicked Vilma Kari to the ground and hit her repeatedly after yelling a racial slur at her in Manhattan. He was out on parole for murdering his own mother at the time

In March, Vilma Kari was walking to church in midtown Manhattan when Brandon Elliot, 38, approached her, knocked her to the ground and kicked her repeatedly.

Elliot kicked her to the ground and hit her repeatedly after yelling a racial slur. He was out on parole for murdering his own mother at the time.

In another incident in the same month in San Francisco, Xiao Zhen Xie said she was standing at a traffic crossing on Market Street on Wednesday when a man punched her in the face.

The 76-year-old grabbed a stick to defend herself and began beating the man. She then lunged at him again while he was being taken away on a stretcher.

In May, an Asian dad was punched in the head 14 times in an unprovoked attack while pushing his toddler's stroller through San Francisco in broad daylight.

The 36-year-old father, who identified himself as only 'Bruce', was walking his baby in Mission bay neighborhood of San Francisco on Friday afternoon when a man came up to him and punched him from behind.

He was seen on surveillance footage getting knocked to the ground and blocking the 14 blows to his head and back as his son's stroller slowly rolls away. When his attacker backs off, the father is seen protectively running to his son's stroller while pedestrians and customers look on in shock.